good evening. this is bbc news. time for the latest headlines now. fresh warnings for travellers to avoid unnecessary journeys as snow, unnecessaryjourneys as snow, ice and strong winds continue to wreak havoc across the uk. at least 3,500 drivers were stranded on the m62 across the pennines last night, with more roads remaining closed throughout today. a66 is one that is a problem area but as you can see this is particularly bad and they are trying to get this open. it is impossible at the moment. airand rail at the moment. air and rail transport have been widely disrupted and people have been advised to avoid all be essential travel. in other news theresa may outlines her hopes for a future economic partnership with the eu, while setting out what she calls the hard fa cts setting out what she calls the hard facts about brexit. a man is convicted of attempted murder after trying to run over a muslim woman. the court heard she was targeted because she was wearing a headscarf.

ina a headscarf. in a moment it will be time for sportsday, first a look at what else is coming up on bbc news. we will bring you the stories of some of the heros of the snow, those who went out of their way to help others cope with those freezing conditions, we will hear about the wedding that might not have happened, had localfarmers not rescued the vicar and half the guest, who were stuck in the snow, and we will no doubt be discussing the weather and the other top peter storrieries when we review the front—pages with joel taylor from the metro and lynn davidson of the sun at10.40. so the metro and lynn davidson of the sun at 10.40. so that is all ahead here, but now it is time for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm hugh woozencroft. our main headlines this evening. after a torrid week — will arsenal's long serving manager arsene wenger make it to the end of his contract in north london? it's been controversial but from tomorrow the video assistant referee

could be here to stay on the biggest stage — we'll explain why. and katarina johnson thompson goes for gold at the world indoor championships in birmingham. stories when we and more success for britain at the track cycleling. good evening, plenty to come, including news on sir mo farah‘s future plans, but we start with the club farah is so fond of — arsenal. because it's been a terrible week for the north london club — back to back defeats to manchester city in the efl cup final and the premier league mean questions are once again being asked over the future of manager arsene wenger. patrick gearey looks at what's been another difficult season so far.

arsenal's seasons seems stuck on a loop. for the second time in five days it was manchester city for the second time in five days it was 3—0. the sight, the feelings, the noises echo. especially in a half empty stadium. arsenal have lost seven matches since the start of this year. they are 30 points behind city in the league. the manager says the problems are temporary but the rumours are he might be too. nothing is permanent in life, especially apart from a judgment, who are a lwa ys apart from a judgment, who are always permanent but the reality in life is nothing is permanent. it is down to you how you respond, and, what kind of focus and effort you show to change things round. how far away from thatshire sleeved mayday when arsenal won the fa cup,

his tenth major honour with the club. maybe spending gold would, a clu b club. maybe spending gold would, a club record fee of 46—and—a—half million went on striker alexandra lack zillion. he hasn't settled. underwestminstering form was followed by embarrassment at the hands of nottingham forrest, a defeat hands of nottingham forrest, a d efeat fa ns hands of nottingham forrest, a defeat fans felt epitomised the problem. sanchez went to manchester united not long later, swapped for mkhitaryan and the club transfer record went again. again. 5656 million on a player who missed a penalty. the last hopes of a domestic trophy ended on sunday where once the post match rants happened in the pub, now they vent on youtube. it's time for a change and it's time to change the whole structure of the club. welcome to the legacy, empty stadium, dead teams, no fight, no passion. it is that shrug that is the nub. it has become a simple of arsenal for many,

a feeling that though the time, place and weather differs, the pictures don't and the calls for the club's most profound change in a generation are growing ever louder. well, speaking of difficult seasons so far, the use of the new video assistant referee system hasn't exactly been seen as a stirring success. however, it could be in use at this summer's world cup in russia, if it's approved by football's lawmakers this weekend. but, as our sport news correspondent reports richard conway reports, it's not expected to arrive in the premier league, any time soon. stadium, dead teams, no fight, no passion. it the days when football got it wrong. some of the games gravest injustices. and the very reason the sports law makers must decide whether to give the go—ahead to video technology. a positive vote could see it used at this summer's russian world cup. if approved

referees could call for help when dealing with goal, penalty, straight red cards and mistaken identity. a two—year experiment of the system is coming to an end and the man who helped device it knows what is at sta ke. helped device it knows what is at stake. football is almost nonstop, and people who were against the use of video technology would say, it will turn football into american football, or rugby or cricket, which is stop start, stop start, i think we have to remember when we debate everything else, that focus must be to maintain minimum interference in the flow and the motion of the game. 0therwise the flow and the motion of the game. otherwise we will spoil football. but critics say that is what is happening. this week's fa cup game between tottenham and rochdale was pa rt between tottenham and rochdale was part of the global trial. but lengthy delays and confusion over decisions have led to calls to delay oi’ decisions have led to calls to delay or abandon the plans. the holy grail of football is the world cup. surely, if it is not good enough for the fa cup we can't wheel it out

into the most prestigious tournament. not really at all. the opinions are fans are forthright. tournament. not really at all. the opinions are fans are forthrightlj reckon opinions are fans are forthright.” reckon it makes everything more excite, like i feel like it is like american football, like you wait, what's he doing and you see the guy doing this. it is a farce, it takes the fun out of the game. i like the controversy and the debate, like in the pub after the game the game needs it. it can only benefit the game having correct decisions all the time. fifa says video replays will raise the accuracy of factual decisions on the pitch, to 99%. despite that some premier league clu bs despite that some premier league clubs and managers are unconvinced and the league could opt to wait another year before adopting the technology, even if it is approved this weekend. the ambition is to try and eliminate game changing mistakes but as the trial has shown, if football thinks technology will stop controversy it has another think coming. wigan striker will grigg

is here, everyone. grigg. grigg: grigg. grigg. he scored. ido scored. i do not believe it! will grigg has done it again. a decent cross. grigg! will grigg has given league 0ne wigan the lead. grigg! will grigg has given league one wigan the lead. will grigg, with the only goal of the game. they have not had days like this at the dw for yea rs not had days like this at the dw for years but the fa cup is their cup tonight, again. will grigg, nice to see you, a couple of good goals there, big weekend ahead but we will start by talking about var: how have you found it? what experience, talking

to the other player, what do they think? it is positive. you know, so much at stake no a days, if a simple decision that can affect game asking resolved in a matter of seconds or minutes it is only going to benefit the game it could have benefitted northern ireland, there was that huge moment corey evans a penalty given against hip. you could have been on your way to the world cup. what different could that have made do you? it is massive. it had an unbelievable impact on northern ireland, and us as a team. it is a difference of making the world cup and not going, that could have been cleared up in a merse of seconds or minutes, the referee comes out and says it is the wrong decision, it is too late. like you said, if we could have had that at the time it would have been simple, overand done with and carry on the with the game. it is disappointing. having it gone through that, would you personally wa nt to through that, would you personally want to have var used in international matches from now on?

definitely. decisions like that can affect people's careers, lives and countries going to world cup or not. so yes, it is just a matter of clearing it up. i think, so yes, it is just a matter of clearing it up. ithink, you know, if it is done in 30 seconds or a minute it makes it easy, when it slows the game down, it starts to cause problems, that is when the players and fans aren't sure, if we could get it free flowing will make a difference. we are going to talk about manchester city. we saw your goal. a fantastic winner, a great moment for your, especially the form they are in, but what is the secret. how do you beat manchester city? we have seen the week arsenal have had. that is the million dollar question, ifi that is the million dollar question, if i had it that is the million dollar question, ifihad iti that is the million dollar question, if i had it i wouldn't be sitting here? they are playing such good football. they create chances left, right centre, they are a top quality side. you know, we had a lot of luck on the night, but, you know, it is one of those things, when you go to places like arsenal and win 3—0, it is hard to stop. it will take a

really good team to stop them. s what about the defensive effort from your team? it what about the defensive effort from your team ? it was what about the defensive effort from your team? it was incredible on the night? we were brilliant on the night. we had a game plan to get through the first 15 minutes then we wa nted through the first 15 minutes then we wanted to press them high, get in their faces wanted to press them high, get in theirfaces and wanted to press them high, get in their faces and their passing and we sort of had to retreat and it went o out the window. we defended for 90 minutes but if you can take your chances like we did you have a chance, teams in the premier league with the quality they have got, they have got to take the chances but manchester city are a top side at the moment. is that the advice you would get to the chelsea boss who meets them this weekend? unless he wa nts to meets them this weekend? unless he wants to sign me. i am joking! he will adapt, a similar approach like he did against barcelona, he will wa nt to he did against barcelona, he will want to counter attack, he will accept they won't dominate possession, it will be a good game, if they get it right on the day i am sure they will cause problems. there isa sure they will cause problems. there is a big game for your coming up in the immediate future, a quarterfinal

against southampton, but first up blackburn rover, not far away from you guys, how are you approaching that game? how much motivation do you take having beaten the best team in the country? it has a massive effect. 0ur confidence is high. like you said it is a top of the table clash, it will be a tough game. but both teams going in full of confidence, we have done our homework, we will go into the game wanting to win it. it is not either side wanting a draw, you know, we know we have games in hand and if we win we go back to the top of table. that is what we will concentrate on. thank you for coming in to join us. i know you will be joining darren fletcher on 5 live so plenty to chat about there as well. so an important game for will this weekend, and another important weekend in the premier league. and once again there's key fixtures at the bottom of the table. and it hasn't been the best time

for west brom off the field lately. the chairman and chief executive dismissed — a stolen taxi incident while away in barcelona, and now, rumours of a dressing room clash after they were booed off following their defeat to huddersfield last time out. manager alan pardew thinks strong words, from the likes of chris brunt are be expected. we have made it more difficult because of what happened in barcelona and put the spotlight on ourself, in terms of professionalism and everything else that is go on. the stuff out of the dressing room was disappointing, we did have drug testers thes there, we had people not normally associated within the dressing room, having said that, i don't know what our fans, not sure if they would be disappointed with that, i think that would they expect us that, i think that would they expect us to do? not have words, not have

conflict after a performance like that? it's the scottish cup quarterfinals this weekend with celtic taking on greenock morton tomorrow as they continue the chase for a domestic treble. the morton chief executive has called for the game at celtic park to be called off given the very very bad weather that's hit us, especially north of the border. currently all the matches in this round are still on. the stadium has been a lot of work gone on round here, the pitch is fine, so that's, that's playable for the game and there is a lot of work gone on round the stadium to make it safe a n gone on round the stadium to make it safe an secure for all the supporters tory party, so we have played a lot of games so we have had a bit ofa played a lot of games so we have had a bit of a breather for a few day, it won't do us any harm. the guys are training very well this morning and we are set and ready for the game now. and we are set and ready for the game now. well, fingers crossed those games do still go ahead,, but the vast majority

of the calendar in scotland is already off. but how about about the rest of the country's sporting plans in the day's ahead? currently 21 matches in the english football league are off, with the vast majority of the rugby calendar moved to sunday to give pitches a chance to become playable. the landscape may well change, but it's not looking great for transport especially — bbc weather‘s chris fawkes has had a look at the prospects for us. it is the week that has brought disruptive snow but what does that mean for the all—important weekend sporting fencing churs? well, first of all, this weather front into the early hours of saturday bringing more snow across wales, the midlands, but the front will be fizzling out and we will be left with largely cloudy skies on saturday, cloudy but a lot of dry weather and although cold it won't be as cold as it has been. glasgow has been one of the yaifrs hardest hit by the snow over recent day, over a0 centimetres and i have seen

heroic efforts from shifting the snow from some of those glasgow fixtures, so hopefully the matches will go ahead. leicester the weather fine and dry on saturday. here are the fixtures in more detail. looking fine in leicester and glasgow. in west london, in wembley, we are looking at highs of round five degrees, staying cloudy. here is the chart for sunday. we have low pressure to the south—west with showers and this weather front pushing northwards, bringing showers with further hill snow across the north east of england, maybe some wintry showers too for eastern scotla nd wintry showers too for eastern scotland which could just about get carried along, with the eastleigh winds through the central belt so we might seea winds through the central belt so we might see a wintry shower any approximate but it won't be as disruptive adds the weather has been. staying dry in manchester but down to the south—west for the rugby fixtures on sunday, well, we are looking at heavy showers here close to an area of low pressure, showers

in exeter, temperatures match between exeter and sarsons but it will turn milder. manchester will stay dry with a cool eastleigh wind and similar temperatures in glasgow where we could see one or two passing wintry showers but essentially they shouldn't cause significant problems. to the live action, and it's time to talk athletics, because it's been another busy day at the world indoor championships in birmingham. great britain's katarina johnson thompson is the woman to beat in the women's pentathlon in the absence of the olympic champion nafissatou thiam. after a slowish start in the 60 metre hurdles, she was sixth, but kjt then performed well in the highjump, to move her into top spot and she then produced a personal best in the shot put — which is her weakest discipline. she now looks to seal a medal place and potentialy a gold

in this evening's events, which are two of her stronges. first the long jump which has got under way in the last half hour. she posted six metres 50 in herfirstjump, the best of the field so far. the 800 metres is the final event later tonight. well, sir mo farah is of course away from the track these days, and will be purely on the road as he aims to make his mark over the marathon distance. the four time olympic gold medallist is due to take part in the big half on sunday, weather permitting. going half the distance in a brand new race, we are used to seeing him racing and winning on the track in london, but 110w winning on the track in london, but now he is aiming to emulate that success on the roads. and today, sir mow was at city hall

to meet some of the other runner joining him for a to meet some of the other runner joining him fora bran to meet some of the other runner joining him for a bran new half marathon in the capital. a little different to the training camp he has left in ethiopia. it is a big shock coming to the uk, seeing the heavy snow but sunday hopefully should be good. i am excited, as pa rt should be good. i am excited, as part of the london marathon and this isa part of the london marathon and this is a great opportunity to see where iam and is a great opportunity to see where i am and if anything needs checking, we can work on it. is this very much seen as a warm up for we can work on it. is this very much seen as a warm up for the london marathon? it is a warm up. it is a warm up. most runners who are taking pa rt warm up. most runners who are taking part in the big major marathon like to test themselves and this is another test for me, but, this is my home town, so it comes with a bit of pressure. so for farah the aim to ta ke pressure. so for farah the aim to take what he learns this weekend into next month's london marathon, for the organiserser to see if a new event for the organiserser to see if a new eve nt ca n for the organiserser to see if a new event can become a regular part of the sporting calendar. the current

windy and wintry conditions here in london are hardly ideal either for the 1500 -- 15,000 london are hardly ideal either for the 1500 ——15,000 runners starting on sunday morning or the thousands hoping to line the route from their and back to the finish line. the race directors though say they are assessing the situation constantly, and remain confident that the race will go ahead. there is a huge amount of work going on at the moment to try and ensure that the route is clear, lots of parts of it are clear, there are just some parts that aren't and we are looking after the health and safety of both the runners, spectators, staff and the volunteers. so we will hopefully see the mobot, no the snow bot this sunday. mark stewart claimed bronze in the

160 lap points race, australia's cameron mier won gold. great britain have four medals in total with one gold, two silver and stewart's bronze. britain's eleanor barker she was involved in a heavy crash in the 0mnium elimination race. 0fficials stopped it barker has been able to get back on her bike to take part in the restart, the race currently under way, you can follow it on the bbc sport website and app and the red button. it looks like there has been another crash in that race, excuse me, in the opening event of the word triathlon series. the opening event of the word triathlon series. great britain'sjonny brownlee has crashed in the opening event of the world triathlon series in abu dhabi. he was leading in the early stages of the cycling leg before he slid off the road in wet conditions. he eventually finished seventh, with henri schoeman of south africa taking the honours. there's been terrible injury news for gymnast claudia fragapane.

she will miss next month's commonwealth games after snapping her achilles tendon. having won four golds at the last games in glasgow, she says she's heartbroken and doesn't know when she'll be competing again. jonny bairstow says he has no plans to stop playing test cricket to concentrate on just twenty20's and one day matches. england face new zealand in the third match of their one—day series overnight — and bairstow says he wants to continue playing in all formats. it is very much a personal opinion, very much personal decision, i won be going and playing solely white ball cricket for a long time. as i say it's an individual thing that people have to weigh up, within themselves. people have to weigh up, within themselves. now hulll fc‘s manu sika was already a hero in his native tonga having captained them to the semi—finals of the recent rugby league world cup. but when his island home was struck by a cyclone, sika returned to the country to help with emergency aid. tonight he returns to action with hull fc and matt dean caught up with him.

sigh loan get stay caused devastation last month. damaging homes and levering many without power and water. like the cyclone the story hit home for hull fc‘s manu sika. he felt he had to leave tame mates to return home. to see the damage that was done in tonga, it hurts but to be back there, to just to give a helping hand, distributing tools, to help clean up and handing out tents to those who lost their homes, and giving water, there wasn't much going round, it was good to go back and help out. he was a rugby league superstar in tonga, as team captain he was a poster boy for a country that lit up the rugby world cup, losing to england in the semifinal, following the cyclone he wanted to be home, and felt moved while doing his bit.

what got me the most was the kids, they didn't have much. they lost their homes but they were still running round smiling, and enjoying themselves, so hopefully they can rebuild quicker than usual and get back to normal life. for manu sika normal life resumes back in the cold contrasting super league. incredible story there. next to the incredible impact of sir david tanner, the man who has masterminded great britain's success at the olympics and the paralympics over the last two decades. tanner left his job this week after 21 years and helped the likes of sir steve redgrave and dame katherine grainger reach their sporting dreams. sir david is well aware of the challenges of elite sport, including concerns over bullying — a problem that he says has never been the case for british rowing. integrity, among the staff is

fundamental, so we have always aimed to make sure our rowers are well looked after and indeed the staff, and i think i have a reputation myself for making sure that happens, bun when you have a lot of highly motivated people in one place, it is not whether you have issues that matter it is how you deal with them. 0thers matter it is how you deal with them. others have to be challenging and pushy and everything else, as do the fleetwood, so inevitably there is a degree of creative tension or whatever you like to call it which needs to be well handled, and i think we handle it very well. and you can see more of that report on sir david tanner so before we go just remember the sporting weekend is well under way. the world indoor athletics championships in birmingham it included elaine thompson of

jamaica, she of course a two time 0lympic jamaica, she of course a two time olympic champion, we will have a quick look at that race, it was a difficult one, as i say for ash a that philip but she has failed to reach the final, this of course the semifinal, she finished way down the field. she put in a good show, as you can see ivory coast going through, but at the moment not a good result for asha philip. and that is it for sportsday. thanks so much forjoining us — will grigg is on radio five live in a few minutes as they look ahead to the weekend's football. yet another day of disruptive snow

fall across many parts but as we go through the weekend, some of that snow should be again to thaurks because slowly very slowly, it is going to turn a bit less cold. there will be winty shower, a mixture of rain, sleet and snow, the radar shows this band of snow fall that has been pushing northwards, we have had freezing rain in the south, giving icy conditions can and all the while snow showers have continued in north east england and scotland. the showers continuing to work in through the night and further south this band of snow will wea ken further south this band of snow will weaken as it drifts into northern england and eventually northern ireland. it is going to be another chilly night for the vast majority, so there will be icy stretches, and potentially fog patches as well. but, over the last few days we have been bringing our cold air in from the east but we have lost that and it is this area of low pressure to the south—west that will be driving

things as we head into the weekend. that is why slowly but surely things will turn less chilly, through saturday, we will see this band of very light and patchy snow at this stage, pushing northwards, and down to the south, showerly rain working m, to the south, showerly rain working in, there could be snow over high ground but most will fall as rain, because temperatures particularly in the far south—west, will begin to creep upwards, still only one, two or three degrees further north and during saturday night we will bring this area of wet weather, with snow over the hills, that bill further north. 0n over the hills, that bill further north. on sunday, it continues to drift across northern england. snow over high ground but more likely rain close to the coast and at loy levels. a mixture of bright spells and showers down to south. snow showers across the north east of scotland, by this stage the temperatures quite a bit higher, two to eight degree, nothing to write home about but not nearly as cold as it has been. into the start of next week, low pressure still the dominant influence. not too many

white line, not too many isobars, so it won't be windy, but with this wind we will draw in some slightly less cold air, so if we take a look at the temperatures as we go through into the coming week, we will be up into the coming week, we will be up into double digits in the south. it will take a while to turn less cold further north. this is bbc news. the headlines at seven: fresh warnings for travellers to avoid unnecessaryjourneys as snow, ice and strong winds continue to wreak havoc across the uk. at least 3,500 drivers were stranded on the m62 across the pennines last night

with more roads remaining closed throughout today. a66 is always the one that's a problem area but, as you can see today, this is particularly bad, and trying to get this open is impossible at the moment. air and rail transport have also been widely disrupted — many passengers spent hours on trains going nowhere. around the uk, the military has been drafted in to help. in scotland, getting hospital staff to work. theresa may sounds a note of pragmatism as she outlines her plans for brexit.