this is bbc news. the headlines. protests break—out in syria calling for protection of minorities, after the burning of a christmas tree near hama. president—elect trump vows to pursue death penalty for violent criminals after president biden commutes 37 federal death sentences. american airlines has resumed us flights, after grounding all its aircrafts briefly due to a vendor technology issue. and pope francis holds a special christmas eve ceremony — opening the holy door at the vatican to mark the beginning of thejubilee for catholics around the world. now on bbc news, it's sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday this christmas eve. i'm chetan pathak, coming up on tonight's programme...

what next for marcus rashford and manchester united — they're not the only club with problems to solve — we look ahead to a big boxing day in the premier league. we'll also be at brighton and hear about their big plans for their home stadium — and why they want to move the away supporters. and from playing football to playing santa — fulham's alex iwobi spreads some festive cheer by opening up his own temporary shop to help those in need. welcome along, thank you forjoining us. most sport takes a christmas break for a night or two, but on boxing day, football will return with a bang as it always does. for now it looks to be a three horse title race

in the premier league — liverpool and chelsea both play at home on thursday whilst the champions manchester city will be hoping for a change in fortune and the teams at the bottom will be hoping for some festive cheer too. alex fletcher reports: liverpool, top of the premier league at christmas. festive cheer for all around and field, just one defeat all season and a four point gap at the top of the table. the perfect christmas present. with three games to come in the bottom half, there could be a happy new year on merseyside. but there is still momentum further south. ~ . there is still momentum further south. . ., ., ., ., south. we are ahead of our expectation _ south. we are ahead of our expectation in _ south. we are ahead of our expectation in terms - south. we are ahead of our expectation in terms of - south. we are ahead of our expectation in terms of the south. we are ahead of our- expectation in terms of the way we are playing and in terms of points. i set already it's not about the pressure for the players are for the club or for

me. it'sjust for players are for the club or for me. it's just for me, players are for the club or for me. it'sjust for me, the reality, it's not about the pressure. reality, it's not about the pressure-— pressure. chelsea have surprised _ pressure. chelsea have surprised everyone - pressure. chelsea have surprised everyone this pressure. chelsea have - surprised everyone this season, including their manager. and despite resistance to the the idea that they are in a title race, it's them and arsenal leading the chasing pack. but what about the rest? from champions to chasers, manchester city have slid down the table. the 12 games of christmas have whatjust one win. providing unfamiliar territory for pep guardiola. took them back at our best and we will take time because we will have players, but you have to get results as quick as possible. it will help us to reduce that distance and come back to the players.— back to the players. following his appointment _ back to the players. following his appointment last - back to the players. following his appointment last week, i his appointment last week, there is also unfamiliar territory for ivan you're rich, who takes control of the struggling southampton and find themselves eight points adrift at the bottom, and without a

win in seven league games. plus the new minister is well aware of the task at hand. it is auoin of the task at hand. it is going to _ of the task at hand. it is going to be _ of the task at hand. it is going to be very - of the task at hand. it is going to be very tough l of the task at hand. it is going to be very toughjob. i know— going to be very toughjob. i know that in the history, nobody— know that in the history, nobody stays in the partnership with the — nobody stays in the partnership with the situation, but like i said. — with the situation, but like i said. i— with the situation, but like i said, i think we can do with something exceptional, the guys are very— something exceptional, the guys are very motivated to do something, never nobody did. its something, never nobody did. as it -ets something, never nobody did. it gets set something, never nobody did. is it gets set to move beyond christmas, they will turn the page into a new year. plenty of sides looking for resolutions to the early—season fall. pep guardiola there with his head down. another team desperate for answers is manchester united. their manager ruben amorim says marcus rashford does want to play for the club — amid speculation the striker wants to leave old trafford. rashford's missed united's last three games after saying he was ready for a new challenge.

after their 3—0 defeat to bournmouth, united are 13th in the premier league and go to wolves on boxing day. amorim says he wants rashford and all his players to meet the challenge ahead. like any other player, the best that they can be. if you have big talents, big performance, big talents, big performance, big responsibility, big engagement, push forward everybody. in this moment, some guys have a big responsibility here, because they are here for a long time. so this is may be one of the lowest moments in our club. so we have to face it and be strong in this moment. that is what i want for every player on the team. you can see all the boxing day fixtures in england, scotland and beyond on the bbc sport website. one of the teams not playing on thursday is britghton. on friday night they welcome brentford to the amex. the club's announced plans to redevelop the stadium, adding 700 seats and moving away fans to give themselves more of a home advantage. work is already under way on a new fanzone

outside the ground. our reporter james dunn has more. a symbol of brighton's most successful era. they reached new highs here, welcoming european giants to the annex. fix, european giants to the annex. bit of history. you can't ask for more, really.— bit of history. you can't ask for more, really. the site is now undergoing _ for more, really. the site is now undergoing its - for more, really. the site is now undergoing its biggest| now undergoing its biggest overhaul since it opened in 2011. ~ overhaul since it opened in 2011. ., ., ., 2011. we always want to challenge. _ 2011. we always want to challenge, the - 2011. we always want to challenge, the aim - 2011. we always want to challenge, the aim willl 2011. we always want to l challenge, the aim will be 2011. we always want to - challenge, the aim will be to compete _ challenge, the aim will be to compete for as high as we can for as— compete for as high as we can for as many years as we can. and _ for as many years as we can. and small_ for as many years as we can. and small little changes like what — and small little changes like what we are talking about today, _ what we are talking about today, mightjust help, we want today, mightjust help, we want to come — today, mightjust help, we want to come here, enjoy it, stay here — to come here, enjoy it, stay here stay— to come here, enjoy it, stay here stay later and the terrace is a big — here stay later and the terrace is a big part of that.— is a big part of that. already under construction, - is a big part of that. already under construction, the - is a big part of that. already j under construction, the new is a big part of that. already - under construction, the new van zone will open in the spring and a further 2000 outside, they will screen all major sporting events, notjust football on match days. a new

tier for hospitality will increase capacity by 700, and the following year, they will move away supporters. currently the way fans — move away supporters. currently the way fans are _ move away supporters. currently the way fans are here _ move away supporters. currently the way fans are here behind - the way fans are here behind the way fans are here behind the goal which can make them feel quite prominent, so the idea is to move them to this wedge in the southwest corner of the stadium and really make the most of that home advantage of the amex. the most of that home advantage of the amex— of the amex. what i prefer to be in front — of the amex. what i prefer to be in front of— of the amex. what i prefer to be in front of home _ of the amex. what i prefer to be in front of home fans? - be in front of home fans? managers present and past have sort of— managers present and past have sort of said it's not ideal, so it's always _ sort of said it's not ideal, so it's always been the plan, but the combination that all of the work_ the combination that all of the work we've been doing at the moment_ work we've been doing at the moment enables us to do this. it moment enables us to do this. it does — moment enables us to do this. it does need a bit of a refresh. we've see that this year with some of the club, make it a bit more blue and white. we dream of summer days drinking beer outside, and improve the atmosphere the amex, outside the ground as well as inside the ground. the expanding the club shop across two levels in moving the museum

across the stadium to the city centre. soon they will celebrate their hundred and 25th anniversary and spreading their wings. 25th anniversary and spreading their wings— their wings. james dunn, bbc news. former premier league official david coote will not appeal against his dismissal from the referees�* body the pgmol. coote was sacked earlier this month following an investigation by the governing body into his conduct, after a video, not verified by the bbc, allegedly showed him making derogatory comments about liverpool and theirformer manager jurgen klopp, which was circulated on social media. coote is also under investigation by the football association and uefa over his conduct. australia play india in the boxing day test on thursday. the series currently tied 1—1 with two matches to go after the third test was drawn. sam konstas is set to become australia's youngest male test batting debutant in over 70 years at the age of 19 — and his coach is looking

forward to seeing what he can do. sot what he is showing is an array of shots, able to put pressure back on opponents, gets his opportunity. so we are really excited for him, boxing day, the biggest stage, might as well get it out of the way early. philadelphia 76ers star joel embiid was ejected from his team's 111—106 win against the san antonio spurs after confronting a referee. embiid was given a third foul against him by when he charged victor wembanyama, knocking the frenchman to the floor with three minutes remaining of the first half. the 76ers player argued the call and then had to be restrained as he ripped off his protective facemask and continued his protest, leading to two technical fouls and his ejection from the match. sport will take a break around much of the world this christmas, just as it does every year.

but that's not the case in america. tomorrow, christmas day, will see two nfl games including the reigning super bowl champion kansas city chiefs away at the pittsburgh steelers. there's also the traditional nba games — first played on christmas day in 19117 — and has become the most—watched day of the nba's regular season. american sports broadcaster nick hamilton has been tellling me about the us sporting tradition on christmas day. traditionally, it was always the nba who dominated christmas day. a slate full of games, 5—6 games on christmas day but now the nfl is starting to intervene and revive their audience with christmas day games. at least two are going to be featured on netflix with a special presentation by the one and only beyonce at half—time and also mariah

carey, who arguing is one of the best christmas albums to date will be doing some pregame festivities as well. so the nfl in the nba will be going head—to—head on christmas day, so pick your choice, the nfl, nba, if not both.— so pick your choice, the nfl, nba, if not both. how was the nba, if not both. how was the nba feeling — nba, if not both. how was the nba feeling about _ nba, if not both. how was the nba feeling about that? - nba feeling about that? traditionally as you say that christmas to themselves. thanks giving for the nfl. now that's not the case, and attracting huge audiences and the gap for the nba is getting bigger. i can't imagine them being solely on board with wanting to share a day with the nfl. if you go back and look at thanks giving, the nba started to implement games on thanksgiving when normally that is the nfl day for a slate of games and sports. so with the nba ratings being down, i can't imagine them being great, so they will have to figure out a way to be able to engage audiences much better here in the us when it comes to the nba, especially in christmas day because how in the hell can you beat beyonce

at half—time, the nfl is definitely capitalised on opportunities to engage more audiences and to be able to be more diverse when it comes to their programming with streaming, especially with linking up with netflix. it's a time of year where premier league footballers are among the sportspeople trying to spread some festive cheer. fulham and nigeria international alex iwobi has gone a step further by opening up his own temporary shop. he's been giving out free food, including turkeys, to local residents struggling to pay for their christmas dinner. our reporter isaac fanin's been along with him. my my shop, hosted by me people and families are going to come in. and then by the end of it,

the finishing touch, there is a turkey. merry christmas. people often talk about footballers putting himself in the shop window of their performances, but the retail experience is a little different. born in lego is, little different. born in lego �*s, he grew up here in cannon town where his temporary minimart, alex expressed, is helping people who are struggling with their christmas shopping. just like sancho, he isn't charging for his presence. ii isn't charging for his presence.— isn't charging for his presence. isn't charging for his resence. .. , ., presence. ifi can help to liberate _ presence. ifi can help to liberate a _ presence. ifi can help to liberate a great - presence. if i can help to | liberate a great christmas presence. if i can help to - liberate a great christmas why not? i've always seen my parents give back, and with that as role models, it'sjust made me feel like when i get the position like where i am today or even if i was in less of the position i do my best to

give back of the position i do my best to rive bact , ., , give back when i first got my invitation, i— give back when i first got my invitation, i wept, _ give back when i first got my invitation, iwept, because l give back when i first got my l invitation, i wept, because i'm invitation, iwept, because i'm on a _ invitation, iwept, because i'm on a very— invitation, iwept, because i'm on a very low benefit. something like this, it's amazing. at least i can have christmas _ amazing. at least i can have christmas dinner with my famitx _ christmas dinner with my famil . f , family. they've seen them en'oy a fruitful year. i family. they've seen them en'oy a fruitful year. taking �* family. they've seen them en'oy a fruitful year. taking into i a fruitful year. taking into account the heartbreak of losing to the ivory coast back in february. irate losing to the ivory coast back in february-— in february. we wanted to win it, but you _ in february. we wanted to win it. but you just _ in february. we wanted to win it, but you just have _ in february. we wanted to win it, but you just have to - in february. we wanted to win it, but you just have to try - it, but you just have to try and go again. to play in such and go again. to play in such an occasion and be second in africa, it's something we should be very proud of, there's always another opportunity around the corner, of course coming back into club football and make sure i'm ready for fulham.- football and make sure i'm ready for fulham. what the thing you — ready for fulham. what the thing you want _ ready for fulham. what the thing you want to _ ready for fulham. what the thing you want to achieve i ready for fulham. what the - thing you want to achieve next? i'm having my best season to push on and see how many goals and assists i can get we have the players who haven't played

in europe in a long time for now, in europe in a long time for now. he's _ in europe in a long time for now, he's busy _ in europe in a long time for now, he's busy making christmas dreams come true. spreading festive cheer for dreams come true. spreading festive cheerfor some in need. plenty of build up to the boxing day games over on the bbc sport website. but for me and the team, all that leaves me with his time to tell you merry christmas, all the best, we will be back with you on boxing day, but until then, good night. a consultation with the motor industry on the phasing—out of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 because of climate change has been started by the government.