hello this is bbc news. the headlines. the future of the brexit deal is still in doubt, as theresa may is on a quick tour of european capitals — including brussels — where she's meeting leaders to ask for more assurances on the northern ireland backstop. what has been shown to me from those meetings is there is a shared determination to deal with this issue and address this problem. but the european commision president jean claude juncker rules out any option of renegotiating the brexit deal. the deal we have achieved is the best deal possible, it's the only deal possible. there's no room whatsoever for renegotiation. in westminster? — labour leaderjeremy corbyn faces increasing pressure to hold a vote of no confidence in the government. uk coastguards pick up six more migrants claiming to be iranian, as they crossed the english channel. 100 other people making

the same journey have been detained in the last month. scientists from nasa find signs that major glaciers in the east of antarctica are melting away — a part of the continent that was thought to be more stable. in a moment it will be time for sportsday but first a look at what else is coming up this evening on bbc news... we'll have all the latest developments from westminster on brexit, as the prime minister speaks to eu leaders to rescue her deal. later we speak to a traveller and science writer about the special allure of antarctica, as scientists discover glaciers are melting in the eastern part of the continent. and at 10:40 and 11:30 tonight we'll be looking at tomorrow's front pages with conservative commentator tim montgomerie, and the director of the cross—party think—tank demos, polly mackenzie.

now on bbc news it's time for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm hugh ferris. the headlines this evening. both could be through, both could be out. it's a nail—biting night for liverpool and spurs in the champions league. pep guardiola calls raheem sterling an ‘incredible person‘ after the forward was subjected to alleged racist abuse and the manchester city boss warns that ‘racism is everywhere‘. fewer kick offs than ever at 3pm on the saturday of fa cup third round weekend... is the magic being diluted? also coming up in the programme... a new car... new drivers... the new formula e season starts this weekend. and we‘ve had a closer look at what to expect. hello again.

welcome to sportsday. we‘re going to need some calculators over the next couple of days for the final round of matches in the champions league. five of the eight groups have actually been decided... but of the ones that haven‘t, well it could get complicated, with liverpool and spurs fans in particular having to really crunch some numbers tonight. joe lynskey can tell us more. in football, the mood and momentum can change very quickly. liverpool went top of the premier league on saturday, tonight they could be out of the champions league. three defeats away from home mean they now have to beat napoli, but european nights at anfield bring out a different force. we have to create a special atmosphere with the way that we play, and we have to use that atmosphere as well. i‘m really looking forward to it. it‘s a big opportunity for us. well, napoli won the first meeting

between these teams 1—0, and that result could have a bearing on who progresses to the knockout stage, because even if liverpool win tonight it only takes them level with napoli on nine points, and in that case the superior team is decided by their head—to—head record across the two group games. a 1—0 scoreline tonight would be enough to take liverpool through, but if napoli score an away goal, jurgen klopp‘s side will have to win by two clear goals. it‘s a bit less complicated for spurs, who know they‘ll definitely be through if they beat barcelona. but that‘s easier said than done in the nou camp. when barcelona lost here last month it was their first home defeat in two years. but spurs come here with more to play for. the spanish champions are already through, and that could mean their superstars start on the bench. of course, different names may have different quality to add to the team. but i think they‘re going to be strong, they are going to try to win.

there is little room for sentiment in this competition. defeat could leave these sides with thirsty nights in the europa league. for spurs and liverpool, this last group match is already knockout football. that spurs are even in contention is an achievement after only picking up one point from their first three group games... but the size of their final task could barely be bigger. patrick gearey is in barcelona. barcelona is one of the most daunting places for visiting teams to come in world football, goals from everywhere in this site and they can be a terrifying prospect to play against. but there are some reasons for spurs to be confident, some locals are muttering about the state of the defence in this badalona team. there are concerns about the manager and his style of

play and an over reliance on lionel messi. so we could get quite an entertaining match later. the spurs fa ns entertaining match later. the spurs fans are gathering in the city in pretty large numbers. they know that if their team can come here and win it would be one of the most famous european nights in the history of the club. for liverpool they have home comforts helping them to make the knockout stages... but considering how well they‘re doing in the premier league... how disappointing would it be to miss out in the champions league. it‘s a question i asked former liverpool defender stephen warnock. i think hugely disappointing with the progress they made last year in the progress they made last year in the competition, they showed they can compete at that level and they wa nt to can compete at that level and they want to do that. and to go out, you are looking at the summer transfer window. and people wondering if the clu b window. and people wondering if the club is really regressing in the way. so for me they have to stay in the competition and they really need

to progress to light. some criticism for liverpool this season has come because of the champions league performances. that is the competition they traditionally do well in so they are going to have to raise their game in this competition just as they did against bournemouth in the premier league. no better way to go into the game coming off the back of that win. but napoli either saying, they also where the winners of the weekend so it will be a competitive game and both teams will have two given their all. jurgen klopp likes to try to invoke the atmosphere which he says is so important on nights like this. what is so special about the european nights at anfield? i think that the fa ns nights at anfield? i think that the fans are even more vocal but not just at anfield, it is english clubs in general. it is a tough environment to come into, we make it difficult for teams, the fans are

more passionate under the lights. i don‘t know what it is, the same for the players. european nights are so special for the english clubs for the none more so than at anfield because i am a liverpool fan. the none more so than at anfield because i am a liverpoolfan. well we must consider the other team as well, napoli laid very well in their first game between the two and they are ina first game between the two and they are in a pretty strong position and that could affect how things turn out later? i think they are in a tricky position as well because at home it is a different game but they are away from home. , and schlocky said he is going to attack liverpool but it could be dangerous to leave space in behind on a night like tonight. so i think it is more of a tricky game for napoli tonight, but their tactics will be. whereas

liverpool just have their tactics will be. whereas liverpooljust have to go out and win this by a couple of goals, that is it. sounds simple but that is the tactics they have to look at. we all look forward to that, thank you. manchester city boss pep guardiola says ‘racism is everywhere... and notjust in football after raheem sterling spoke out about the alleged abuse he received at the weekend... sterling was back in training today ahead of city‘s champions league match against hoffenheim tomorrow... with chelsea having suspended four supporters from attending matches while investigations continue into what happened at stamford bridge on saturday. he is an incredible human being. so... it is tough to understand today, you know, what happened years ago about the position, or the whole history of black people. so we have to protect how equal we are all together. it is tough to understand in the 21st century, to still be in that position

and the problems to accept diversity as a power position and to help us be better. we have to fight, but strictly for the human rights for everything to make a better society for the future for everyone. meanwhile lord 0useley. .. who‘s been chairman of anti—discrimination charity kick it out since it was founded in 1993 has announced he‘ll stand down at the end of the season. the organisation celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this year when 0useley admitted removing discrimination from football is a task which will never be completed. let‘s take a look at some of the other stories we‘ve been covering at the bbc sport centre today... paul gascoigne has denied sexually assaulting a woman whilst on a train from york to durham. he appeared in court today and pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault by touching. david silva has been ruled out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. he‘s the latest manchester city

player to pick up a problem. wtih pep guardiola saying he has only 15 fit players for their champions league match agaist hoffenheim tomorrow. and world rugby‘s player of the year johnny sexton has signed a new contract with irish rugby which means he will continue to play for leinster and ireland until 2021. british cycling and the former 0lympian jess varnish are once again at loggerheads, this time at an employment tribunal. varnish has claimed unfair dismissalfrom being part of the elite programme, and has begun her attempts to prove it. 0ur sports correspondent david 0rnstein was at the tribunal today. david, this is stage one of whatjess varnish hopes is at least two? it is and it relates back to her being dropped from the olympic programme in 2016. she intends to sue british cycling for sex discrimination and unfair dismissal. but to get there she has two first

prove that she was an employee. currently athletes are not classified as employees but essentially as a freelance. they receive financial grants from uk sport and they are tax—free. in this tribunal room, a very basic room with journalists, lawyers and some of her support team, she was arguing that she is an employee and that was because british cycling exerted extreme pressure on her, extreme control and more akin to an employer and employee relationship than a freelance. she gave numerous exa m ples of freelance. she gave numerous examples of how she felt under pressure but under cross—examination she was accused of being disingenuous. so this will continue over the coming days and we will have more evidence from both sides and it should be completed by the 17th of december. if she succeeds it could have huge ramifications for the whole funding structure of 0lympic the whole funding structure of olympic and paralympic stores dashed

paralympic sports. and if she‘s successful she can go on to sue ford discrimination. the new formula e season kicks off in saudi arabia this weekend... with new technology... new drivers... including felipe massa... and also new versions of their electric cars. john watson‘s been to see one of those that you‘ll be able to watch in all 13 races that are live on the bbc. although frankly he didn‘t have to go far to find one... about 50 yards in that direction. here we are outside the studios at media city. 0ne here we are outside the studios at media city. one of the exciting things that we have here is a formula e car which we are going to ta ke formula e car which we are going to take a look that up close and personal ahead of the opening race in saudi arabia this weekend. it is all about harnessing technology and these essentially are road

manufacturers and these cars harnessed the most modern technology with the idea of them using that in future models. so we‘re going to ta ke future models. so we‘re going to take a closer look. and there it is. what a cutie. imagine taking that down to the shops! you‘re driving a carsimilarto this, down to the shops! you‘re driving a car similar to this, sam? it looks exactly like this alone with different colours and sponsors. they are incredible pieces of kit. formula e have broken the mould with this car. what is the best feature, the most modern and advanced feature we have? the steering wheel itself looks quite impressive. as you can imagine this area up to around here is the safety cell, the cockpit we sit in. behind that will be housed the battery. that has 52 kilowatts. the car can reach up to 170 more

miles an hour. and this will charge up miles an hour. and this will charge up faster than your phone? yes, faster than a smartphone. it is like having 20,000 double—a batteries repelling this forward. and there is no exhaust? and no clutch, just the pedal and off you go. it looks like the batmobile. every other has a very generic rear wing assembly but this has this kind of rear wing effect going on, not the most efficient aerodynamically but that means that we can race really close on the street circuits. we can overta ke on the street circuits. we can overtake better, it is more exciting racing and a very futuristic concept and look. i imagine you do not want conditions like this in saudi arabia

this weekend! i think it is going to be nice and warm. if anyone wants to watch it they can catch it at 12pm on the red button on the bbc. it is going to be exciting to have our first race live on the bbc. i hope that will enthrall and thrill the spectators at home. now three might be the magic numberfor many. but not for the fa cup third round it seems. less than a third of the fixtures for one of the football season‘s most famous weekends will kick off at 3pm on the saturday. the football supporters‘ federation have said the magic of the cup may be threatened by the changes... james burford reports. wilson is in the middle... saturday afternoons in the fa cup, some early 20th century right through to the current day, the 3pm kick—off is seen as sacred. but now it is

subject to change and the changes are not unanimously embraced. a lot of fa ns are not unanimously embraced. a lot of fans regard third round date in early january as of fans regard third round date in earlyjanuary as one of fans regard third round date in early january as one of the of fans regard third round date in earlyjanuary as one of the iconic days of the english season. it feels a bit like that is not, that is now being eroded because so many games are being moved. the great crowd lift their voices in community singing... the supporters federation ‘s argument is that an fa cup saturday is a national institution and should be protected. 0f saturday is a national institution and should be protected. of the 30 2/3—round fixtures to be played against the first weekend in january just ten are down for the regular on saturday afternoon slot, compared to previous years the games are much more spread out. we've never had less tha n more spread out. we've never had less than a third of the games being played at that time before and never had games being moved forforeign

television that are not ring shown anywhere domestically. many of our members think that is a step too far. a new deal which offers broadcasters around the world the option to show fa cup matches live only came into effect this season. while there has been plenty of criticism, the fa has offered the following defence of its tv deal. it says more money than ever before will be reinvested into the game. there is to be a significant increase in the prize money on offer. normally clubs will receive a slice of the pie. but the potential for more pictures and facilities at grassroots level. football continues to be one of the united kingdom ‘s most lucrative exports and as its global value continues to grow, it is the traditional values that many do not want to let go. now have you ever had one of those stares? the kind that tells you something very clearly without using a word. every mum and dad has perfected it. and, so it seems, has thierry henry. the monaco boss had just finished a prematch press conference

with his player benoit badiashile, who‘s just 17. and who didn‘t tuck in his chair as he left. and then after he got the look, he did. just have another look. he puts the chair back in. that‘s all from sportsday. you can follow all the champions league football this evening on the bbc sport website. we‘ll have more throughout the evening. good night. more now on our top story.

theresa may has been meeting european leaders after postponing a commons vote on her brexit deal. she‘s been asking fellow leaders to give further assurances on the deal she‘s negotiated. those assurances are focused on the future of the irish border — but many conservative mps want the deal to be renegotiated. let‘s take a look at the day‘s developments so far. theresa may is currently in brussels where she‘s been meeting