this is bbc news. the headlines... after three years of deadlock, power—sharing well return to northern ireland as the main parties, sinn fein and the democratic unionists, give their support to a draft deal. democratic unionists, give their support to a draft dealli democratic unionists, give their support to a draft deal. i believe that parachuting support to a draft deal. i believe that pa rachuting can support to a draft deal. i believe that parachuting can work. that requires everyone to step up —— power—sharing. sinn fein‘s commitment is to do all in our power to make this happen. we believe that isa fairand to make this happen. we believe that is a fair and balanced to deal and the basis for allowing us to go back into government and dealing with all the difficult issues we need to deal with. iran has again rejected suggestions that msl was responsible

for wednesday's plane crash in tehran —— a missile was responsible. the us has imposed new sanctions for the attacks on us military bases in iraq. a21 the attacks on us military bases in iraq. a 21 year woman who disguised herself as a teenage boy to groom and a sexually assault girls is jailed for eight years. the cheshire teenager helped during a seizure by his online gaming rent 5000 miles away. an assault on prison staff by two inmates waiting fake suicide belts is being treated as a terrorist attack. —— wearing fake belts. preparing to leave homes, residents of a town in australia in the path of a bushfire being whipped up the path of a bushfire being whipped up by the path of a bushfire being whipped up by gale force winds. any moment it will be time for sports day. a quick look at what is coming up for you this evening on bbc news. after three years of deadlock,

power—sharing well be returning to northern ireland. 0ne power—sharing well be returning to northern ireland. one of the team who worked on the mh 17 crash investigation will tell us how they think the abelian plane crash investigation should be handled —— the iranian. and jeremy at 1030 and 1130 this evening at the political commentator dry matter and a political writer and academic my good fellow. all head now for sportsday. hello, this is sportsday on bbc news. i'm ben croucher. coming up in the programme... we look at how sport has responded to the destructive bushfires in australia. former premier league referee bobby madley reflects on the video that got him the sack. i cannot apologise enough for it. that is not me being blase about it.

i let myself down and i let a lot of people down, but a lot of people under stress that i should not have done. and a day shy of her 19th birthday, boxer caroline dubois tells us how she feels about stepping up to the senior ranks. also coming up on sportsday... fancy buying manchester united for £20 million? that's what michael knighton nearly did just over 30 years ago. he didn't and tells us it was the biggest mistake of his life. welcome to the programme. we'll start sportsday with the story that has dominated the news for months now. the australian bushfires continue to devastate large swathes of the country, killing at least 27 people since september, destroying the lives of thousands having already burned through an area five

times the size of wales. sport can seem irrelevent at these moments. whilst some have cancelled and some are continuing, some are being used to raise awareness and crucially millions of pounds to help those hardest hit. joe lynskey has been looking at the impact of the bushfires on sport and how sport is doing its bit to give something back. in ten days' time, the first tennis major of the year starts in melbourne. but right now in australia, a more important issue is in the air. the deadly bushfires have destroyed around 2000 homes, building it back again will take unprecedented funding and no sport has stepped in. today, the cricketing legend shane warne assault his baggy green cap at auction. it has raised more than half £1 million. it isjust really die for everyone and unthinkable for some of these people and what they're going through. every

dressing images which break your heart. cricket here makes an impact. the test captain met rescue workers who have been fighting the bushfires and players are giving cash for wickets and sixes. glenn maxwell's pledged $250 per each big bash hit. that idea has spread around the world. brighton's goalkeeper will give up every top flight save this weekend. the images that you see, some that i have seen, looking like hell on earth. choppers flying over the top end of the smoke, it is quite daunting to look at. though hamilton has bypassed exams and given six figures in one go. his spirit are still assessing if the australian grand prix can happen. that is scheduled for a month after the tennis final. major stars here have pledged cash to. she did it every time she gives her coach a rough ride. there is no doubt on how the smoke will affect by, but for

110w the smoke will affect by, but for now the estoril open is going ahead. when the temperature becomes at an extreme level and they look at the humidity and wind speed, and have the option to suspend a play on the outside courts and closely the riffs on the outside courts and they say they will do the same in the air in quality index becomes too dangerous. they will play an exhibition match before the tournament starts. fundraising is all they can do for now, and has the pirate radio, sport feels very small. —— does the fires rage on, sport feels very small. tennis is pretty much based in australia forjanuary and the bushfires have seriously affected tournaments and preparations for the australian open. british number six katie swan was due to play an event in canberra last week but so severe was the pollution that it had to be moved to a different city. she told us just how bad it's been on the ground. it has actually been crazy. it is so

terrible what is going on here at the moment. a devastating. i arrived in canberra about ten days ago and me and my coach woke up with jet lag and we could actually smell smoke from our apartment. and we did not really know what it was and then when the sun came up you could see outside that it was completely covered in smoke. i didn't know what that meant, really, so i started to look online at the air quality and it was showing that it was the worst air quality in the world —— in a canberra. which was pretty worrying, we will advise not to go outside and to try and buy masks so that we were outside we could breathe, basically. and not in all the smoke. they were able to move the tournament to a different city, so we ended up

staying in canberra for three days without able to practice our religion is the gym because the smoke was inside as well as outside. we took a flight —— to practice in the gym. what has been the sense from the local community downed officials and people you have spoken to about how severe and unprecedented this situation is? yeah, honestly, everyone is devastated and you can see. i have been following on social media have all the players are trying to come together to raise as much money as possible in any way that they can. i did not realise the severity of the situation until i arrived and i was in canberra and adjusting on the use every day the devastation —— and are just seeing on the news every day. it is so sad. sport can seem pretty trivial at times like these, but it has been affecting preparations

ahead of the australian open. how different have your preparations had to be as a result? yeah, i think, like you said, when you look at what other people are having to deal with at the same, it is not a big deal for us. —— at this time. we are playing a sport we love, but there are definitely bigger things going on in the world. for me, preparing for that term it was always rough because i arrived in chelsea manning andi because i arrived in chelsea manning and i did not get to practice until friday afternoon once we had moved to —— friday afternoon once we had moved to——i friday afternoon once we had moved to —— i arrived in australia on tuesday morning. it is not a big deal compared to other things that are going on. katie swan speaking to me from melbourne where she's in australian open qualifying next week. 18 months ago bobby madley was one of england's top referees. a recognisable face in a premier league football ground — he was living out his dream. then — after sending

a video to a friend mocking a disabled person — he was sacked, destroying his career and his reputation. now trying to rebuild his life in norway, he's been speaking to the bbc about how he's come to terms with it i'm embarrassed of myself now. i'm embarrassed. and this isn't an embarrassment because i got caught. now i look and think, 0k. i didn't have social media then — we weren't allowed social media accounts. i have a social media account now and i'm very, very conscious of everything that i put on there — every word i put on there, everything i like on there — because i now know that anything taken out of context can reflect on me as a person. as i said, i let myself down. i cannot apologise enough for it. this is not me being blase about it. i let this is not me being blase about it. ileta this is not me being blase about it. i let a lot of people down and i put a lot of people in distress that i should not have done. the effect that it had on my family was tough. notjust me personally, but the effect it had only a lot of people.

yeah, not a good decision there. i still struggle sleeping, to be honest. it is like anything else. i put the story out there, but nothing in life has changed —— i have gone without employment for 18 months. to live in norway, within six months you have to have a job. suedes are getting a bar, to end up getting into the air is —— i ended up getting a job in a bar. it got me out and started speaking to people again. now we love the premier league and come to watch the premier league and come to watch the premier league football and then they look at the guy in the bar. it was all right, it was not embarrassing. i think it was the right time for a mental health. i am still struggling. i am mental health. i am still struggling. iam not looking present day. i had a good family around me here in derby and an incredible family in england. —— i am not looking for sympathy. i have an incredible brother. he has been

promoted to the premier league. it is on my face all the time. i am so proud of him for what he has achieved as an individual, but it is not something you can never walk away from. the premier league is massive here, football is a massive pa rt massive here, football is a massive part of my life, so i cannotjust dismiss it and walk away. i am celebrating his achievements and he has got an internationalist as well, but it is a little bit bittersweet. i have told him this, because of course it is because i still had that feeling of that is what i had andi that feeling of that is what i had and i know that one decision premiered when decision from my former employers means that i do not have that now. and that is tough mentally have that now. and that is tough m e nta lly to have that now. and that is tough mentally to come to terms with. and if you want to hear more from bobby madley — who's now trying to rebuild his career in norway — you can watch the full interview with mark clemmit in football focus on bbc one from midday tomorrow. 0n the pitch, after the fa cup and league cup over the last week — the premier league returns tonight. ahead of their match against west ham, sheffield united have announced manager chris wilder has signed a new four and a half year contract. watching to see if he can

celebrate with a win are conor mcnamara and rob green. it isa it is a big boost for sheffield united today. manager chris wilder who has seen to promotion of any last three seasons has been rewarded with a new contract and a big one as well. for any happier takes him to the end of the season in 202a. i am looking forward to watching this game to date with former england goalkeeper rob green. that is a good reward for sheffield united's coach because he has earned it. he is a blade, isn't he. he has been here for a blade, isn't he. he has been here fora numberof years, blade, isn't he. he has been here for a number of years, he blade, isn't he. he has been here fora number of years, he is a sheffield united fan, he has always been consistent. it has been consistently players as well. they have been reaping the rewards from it and everyone knows where they stand. they had a good understanding of how everything works. and as a chef are delighted that, what more do you wantthe season have had so far they would not have been able to play. -- far they would not have been able to play. —— is a sheffield united fan.

they have lost their last two league games ina they have lost their last two league games in a low, against liverpool and manchester city, but this is a nice boost for anyone. timed well. a key game and one that they will see asa key game and one that they will see as a winnable game. in the premier league, you're going to get runs like that when you're not going to win frame and because you proudly only played a couple of games and they have been against top teams, so they have been against top teams, so they have been against top teams, so they have acquitted themselves very well in the premier league against all types of opposition and i came here to watch them play liverpool and they were really unfortunate to lose that game, so they will come out today full of confidence and the crowd will give them a real buzz. just a quick one on west ham, could not have dreamt for such a good start —— can he keep it up? not have dreamt for such a good start -- can he keep it up? from devices within the west ham camp, it was night and day that was one of the descriptions —— from within the we st the descriptions —— from within the west ham camp. debate has been

transformed into david myers, whether it is a long—term thing it is something we will have to wait and see —— david myers. it is one of ones those that may not have excited the west ham fans initially, but as you say, if he keeps any streak of three goals a game and conceding none, then realistically, they have got to be happy. west ham, if they went nternet game move five points clear of the relegation zone. if a sheffield united win, they move back into the top five. you can hear more from eight o'clock on a five live. still to come on sportsday... we speak to the man made infamous when he nearly bought manchester united around 30 years ago. does he regret not completing the deal? it was a mistake not to complete on the contract. there is no question about that. it was the biggest mistake of my life. and there's always entertainment at a jurgen klopp press conference. i need to know now. google it, we have time.

we'll tell you what he was dying to know in a little bit. gb boxing today officially launched the olympic boxing qualifying tournament that will be staged in london's copper box arena on the olympic park. around a50 boxers from 50 european countries are set to take part. caroline dubois will be one of them and the bbc‘s the young sports personality of the year has been speaking to our 0lympic sports reporter david mcdaid about her hopes for 2020. caroline dubois is the champion!” had a0 fights and a0 wins and i have 1a—time european championship, world champion. obviously i'm doing good not to have beaten before —— four time the open championship. i do not wa nt to time the open championship. i do not want to get beat. she has her sights

trained on singer success and has a surprise chance to make this summer's tokyo olympics. it has only come about after last year's qualifiers were postponed, allowing the teenager to become old enough to fight. i the teenager to become old enough to fight. i was thinking really in the long term, but because of what has happened, everything has fallen in line, so it is really good. and the fa ct line, so it is really good. and the fact that nobody has been alleged, by any last year has been a blessing in disguise, really. and for those that are younger and just coming through, it is made for us, really. she has yet to take on seasoned opposition and her perfect record to date, she knows, will count for nothing when it comes to the qualifiers. i never think about what happened in the past i might have achieved. i know! happened in the past i might have achieved. i know i will be set to begin seniors and those who are older than me, possibly more expense, possibly had my pets, and books that deliver, i am sure i will be coming up against girls who have gone to the olympics —— possibly had more fights. i will need to bring

the best game i can. the 19-year-old light weight is widely tipped to be a su ccess light weight is widely tipped to be a success and she backs herself to. the biggest challenge for me will d eftly the biggest challenge for me will deftly be myself. in the fight against myself, being able to step up against myself, being able to step up and mature enough to get into the ring wear that has loads of people there. if i can get in the ring, get out of the ring, knowing that i get 100%, i know there nothing else. happy birthday to her for tomorrow. the next day heralds the start of the the masters snooker at alexandra palace with one notable absentee. ronnie o'sullivan — seven times a winner — has opted to give the tournament a miss this year. barry hearn — the man who runs the sport — has told the bbc it's a decision he believes o'sullivan will regret. geniuses are not normal people and ronnie is definitely not a normal person, but extra disappointed because he has a fabulous record at the masters. he does not have to travel very far, it is his home tournament. he has a legion of fans who will be disappointed he is not there and it is one of those

decisions that we have all made in oui’ decisions that we have all made in our lives, where we will probably look found nowhere later in the future and go, i should not have done that. that was a waste. and we are all on this earth for a short amount of time, we have to maximise. and ronnie is a sad loss for the masters. there is no two ways about it. not an irreplaceable loss because trump is number one and there are other great players in this event. well, you can follow the masters live on bbc television. judd trump is the defending champion. the coverage begins on sunday on bbc two at10'clock and is also on the bbc sport website. let's rattle through some of friday's other sports news... for the fourth time in five months, jurgen klopp has been named premier league manager of the month. his right back trent alexander arnold has won the player of the month for december too. rafa nadal has helped spain to the semi finals of the inaugural atp cup in sydney. having lost his singles match, nadal and partner pablo carreno busta won their doubles rubber to set up a semi final against hosts australia. serbia play russia in the other semi final.

the two—time marathon winner has been suspended for doping and possibly tampering with samples. rugby league side red star belgrade are to apply to join the rugby football league. they've already already played in the challenge cup in this country but are now hoping to join the likes of new york and ottawa to enter the third tier as early as 2021. manchester united fans of a certain vintage might remember this man. michael knighton celebrating his agreement to buy the club. the deal though was never completed, but he claims his blueprint was the catalyst for the club's huge commercial success as he's been telling stuart pollitt. manchester united football club has been sold for around £20 million. the new owner is property tycoon michael knighton. august 1989, old trafford, michael mountain and itself to manchester united man's any unique way —— michael knighton. i don't keep yuppies in front of the

stretford end —— i doing keepie uppies. i media bobber too. iwas never richard branson a rupert murdoch, but i made enough to buy manchester united and when that opportunity came along it was a no—brainer. opportunity came along it was a no-brainer. manchester had woken to more newspapers and regulation that the deal was in rents. more newspapers and regulation that the dealwas in rents. later more newspapers and regulation that the deal was in rents. later he pulled out of the deal. why did it not happen? the negative press became too much. i did not need to own the football club to initiate my blueprint. 19's blueprint which against united has proved prophetic. he predicted huge growth in tv rights, dominance of satellite broadcasting and untold commercial opportunities. so you could regret pulling out of it now?” opportunities. so you could regret pulling out of it now? i have changed my view on this. for the first few years, probably for a decade after, i thought well, that was that. looking back now, it was a

mistake not to complete on the contract, there is no question about that. it was the biggest mistake of my life. i could still be chairman of manchester united. europe trade asa of manchester united. europe trade as a chancer. how do you feel about that? looking back, how can you blame them? -- you are portrayed as a chancer. no one believed what i had said. what do you think of the current owners? clearly, they have certainly made a brilliant investment for themselves. manchester united hierarchy. i am not impressed by the executive management. i would not impressed by the executive management. iwould personally not impressed by the executive management. i would personally never put a chartered accountant in charge ofa put a chartered accountant in charge of a football club. you need a real football man. michael knighton, do you remember the ball juggler football man. michael knighton, do you remember the balljuggler had tried to take manchester united? michael knighton has been away from football for the last 20 years. now

he is back. there is a new book that has been written about him and he has been written about him and he has a new blueprint for football's future. you do not think that the bubble will burst? on the country. i have written blueprint too, is 2020 to 2035. i get the less prepared away, it was massively exploited, but i hope this time to be steering it through, in the back and, not as owner 01’. . . it through, in the back and, not as owner or... butjust in the background. so the famous bull juggfing background. so the famous bull juggling businessmen could be coming back to a club near you —— ball juggling. now — if one month ago, i said the name fallon sherrock to you. would you have known who she was? she shot to prominance by reaching the third round at the pdc world darts championship — the first female in history to win a match in the tournament and a major breakthrough in what's traditionally a male—dominated sport. you could say the same for bowls too. for the past 15 years, both men and women have been able to compete

for the open singles title but very few women have qualified. our sports reporter tom williams has been trying to find out why. every january, bowlers descend everyjanuary, bowlers descend here to test themselves. each eyeing a browed title. no woman has qualified this year. janice gower, the last to do it in 2017. none sense. three yea rs do it in 2017. none sense. three years ago, i got through only very strong link doping qualifier. you have to play six games, but i got through and play the open singles and played against mervyn king and it is my greatest achievement in bowls to get through. it is not like football, tennis and rugby where the physical element comes a lot of it is about mental ability and finesse. two others qualified alongside her that year, scotland's julie two others qualified alongside her that year, scotland'sjulie forrest was knocked out in round one, new zealand's debbie wilford made it to round two. kerry and davies made it

and any kosher, known as amy monkhouse back then got through as well. women think differently. they approach the head different they are deeply differently. should bowls follow diets's lead and invite women into the main draw —— fallon sherrock became the first women to win at the pd shirts. i think it is difficult to make spaces available. lam not difficult to make spaces available. i am not convinced that has the right way to do it. when you're talking about the world indoor championships, people should come through qualifiers. because then you have earned the right to be here. so for the 2010 winner, in a battle of the sexes this year. 18 women tried,

but failed to qualify. eight will compete for the lady's title instead