The Independent

Tyson Fury shook off the ring rust to make a successful comeback by registering an emphatic points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Anthony Joshua watched from ringside ahead of a potential all-British showdown later this year as Fury secured his first win since defeating Francis Ngannou in October 2023.

A dominant display after coming out of retirement for the fifth time was rewarded with scores of 120-108 120-108 119-109 from the judges.

Makhmudov was outclassed by Fury’s footwork, hand speed and ringcraft and the Canada-based Makhmudov’s plodding, upright style was tailor made for the former two-time world champion.

The rugged Makhmudov was tiring as early as the fourth round and his limitations made him an ideal opponent for Fury after 16 months of inactivity, providing tough rounds without ever threatening an upset.

There was no pomp and ceremony from the bear-wrestling Makhmudov as he marched straight into the ring to the sound of an air raid siren.

In contrast, Fury’s entrance for his Netflix debut began with ‘Blue Moon’ being played as a tribute to his late friend Ricky Hatton before he put on a show by dancing on stage while fireworks and flames went off around him.

The pyrotechnics ended there as once the action got under way Makhmudov advanced with crude, one dimensional attacks that were easily evaded.

Makhmudov is at his most dangerous in the early stages and while he continued to stalk Fury around the ring, shots were piercing his defence by the end of the second round.

His pace had already slowed and Fury was beginning to find his rhythm, showing far better footwork and hand speed.

There were warning signs in the fourth as Makhmudov landed, although Fury showed a flash of class when he punished one lunging attack and he finished the round strongly.

There was a gulf in class in their skill levels with the one-paced Makhmudov showing strength in the clinches while proving an easy target, although he was absorbing the blows without being hurt.

There was plenty of respect between the rivals as they touched gloves at the end of each round and even during the rounds, but as the halfway stage came it was becoming increasingly one-sided.

The eighth was Fury’s strongest round yet as he landed telling blows that troubled Makhmudov, including sharp right uppercuts.

Makhmudov had completely run out of ideas beyond wrestling the taller man and in the 10th he was beginning to wobble as crisp shots found their mark when he was pinned against the ropes.

There could be no disputing Makhmudov’s bravery as he plodded back to his corner in exhaustion at the end of the 11th and a round later it was all over with the 12th ending with a wild exchange of blows.

Fury and Joshua exchanged words after the fight with ‘The Gypsy King’ calling out his rival from the ring upon grabbing the microphone, with Joshua replying “I’ll tell you when I’m ready”.

The Premier League relegation battle looks set to go right down to the wire with four clubs seemingly battling to avoid the one remaining spot in the drop zone.

Perhaps Wolves or Burnley could still pull off the greatest of escapes but, in all likelihood, they will crash into the Championship and then be joined by one of Tottenham, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds.

Relegation for a Spurs side that won the Europa League last season, reached the Champions League knockout stage this term and has spent just one season outside the top flight since 1950 would go down as one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history but their chastening 3-0 defeat to Forest in their final game before the March international break and Igor Tudor’s catastrophic spell in charge has made that a real possibility. Roberto De Zerbi is now the man tasked with engineering an escape and avoiding disasters

Friday night saw the north Londoners drop into the relegation zone for the first time after West Ham thumped Wolves 4-0 to leapfrog their bitter rivals into 17th. Forest and Leeds are just above the Hammers but with six or seven games remaining for each, there will be plenty of twists and turns still to come.

Here’s how the crucial relegation run-in is shaping up.

Position: 15th | Played: 31 | Points: 33 | GD: -11

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? The fixtures have fallen fairly kindly for Leeds and the chances are there for them to secure Premier League football next season. Three wins would definitely be enough to survive and two may well do it, so they’ll be eyeing up home fixtures against the current bottom two – Wolves and Burnley – to get over the line. Away games against relegation rivals Tottenham and West Ham also look like prime opportunities to get results on the board.

Tricky contests? Their first game after the international break, away to high-flying Manchester United, is their toughest remaining fixture on paper and leaving Old Trafford with anything would be hugely impressive. That is their only game against a team currently above 10th in the standings but a trip to Bournemouth in April and hosting European football-chasing Brighton in their penultimate fixture won’t be easy. Will an FA Cup quarter-final against West Ham straight after the international break prove to be a welcome distraction or a hindrance?

Final straight? Leeds will be desperate to have secured safety by the time they travel to West Ham on the final day but if not, that could be a high-octane shootout for survival. Games against Brighton and Spurs immediately preceding that are too unfriendly as finales go.

Position: 16th | Played: 31 | Points: 32 | GD: -12

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? The three points they picked up by securing their first Premier League win since late January by hammering Tottenham 3-0 in the final match before the international break could prove vital with a tricky-looking remaining schedule. A home fixture against seemingly doomed Burnley is a golden opportunity for Forest to collect three more points and one further win in addition to that could be enough to get over the line. A home game against a mid-table Bournemouth side who may have nothing to play for on the final day could be their best chance.

Tricky contests? Games against three of the current top six still await Forest with trips to Man United and Chelsea on the docket as well as Aston Villa heading to the City Ground just three days after Forest travel to Porto for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. A trip to Wearside to face this season’s surprise package Sunderland at the end of April is also a tough ask.

Final straight? It’s not the best with a journey to Old Trafford on the penultimate day of the season far from ideal although, as mentioned above, hosting Bournemouth on the final day could offer a chance to snatch the points required if things aren’t wrapped up by then. A home match against a floundering Newcastle as their antepenultimate fixture could also be worse. Things could be complicated if they are still going in the Europa League by that point, however.

Position: 17th | Played: 32 | Points: 32 | GD: -17

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? Their impressive form since hugely damaging back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Nottingham Forest at the start of the year have seen West Ham go from doomed to having a genuine chance of survival – even climbing out of the bottom three by thumping Wolves 4-0 straight after the international break. They may well be questioning exactly where the form that has seen them claim five wins and three draws from their last 11 league games was earlier in the season but a trip to struggling Crystal Palace next suddenly looks like a golden chance to keep the momentum going. Welcoming Leeds to the London Stadium on the final day also looms incredibly large.

Tricky contests? The Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H) run from late April to early May does not look very friendly. The games before and after that run appear to be much better chances to pick up the points the Hammers need to pull off an impressive escape.

Final straight? If West Ham can get through that three-game stretch with a realistic shot at survival then an away game against Newcastle and a home clash with Leeds to finish the season might just be the ticket to get them clear of the drop zone. The final-day showdown against Daniel Farke’s side could be an all-time classic but won’t be a pretty watch if both sides are still fighting for their lives. However, the fact that the Whites are coming to the London Stadium at least plays into Nuno and co’s hands.

Position: 18th | Played: 31 | Points: 30 | GD: -10

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? At the moment, Spurs can’t pick up points from anywhere... They haven’t won for 14 league matches, with their last Premier League triumph coming against Crystal Palace back in December and their most recent attempt being a 3-0 hammering by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest. On paper, a game away to Wolves at the end of April is a good opportunity for three points, as is a potentially pivotal clash with Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium three matches from the end of the campaign, but every clash is tough currently. Roberto De Zerbi is now in charge and his first game is away to Sunderland on Sunday. Can he get off to a flying start?

Tricky contests? Sidestepping the obvious quip of ‘every single one’, given their recent form, away games at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and Chelsea in May don’t look too fruitful. Even home fixtures top-half sides Brighton and Everton suddenly look that much more dangerous as well.

Final straight? Leeds at home as the third-last game is absolutely huge. Should that game go awry and Spurs head into the final two matches in the relegation zone, then a trip to Stamford Bridge and clash with Everton to finish up appear unlikely to provide succour.

This could genuinely go in any direction and you’d have to be a brave person to predict the outcome with any confidence.

It will surely all come down to the final day when West Ham host Leeds in a showdown for the ages, Spurs play Everton and Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth. Leeds generally have the kindest fixtures and although the goals have dried up for them recently, they should have enough to survive given the current cushion.

Forest could be adversely affected by their Europa League run and will probably need to have survival wrapped up going into the final couple of games, while West Ham’s boosted their chances with that Wolves win.

Meanwhile, Spurs are desperate to get a new manager bounce under De Zerbi. At this stage, we’ll say they won’t get one and condemn Tottenham to the Championship for next season. But everything will change week by week.

After months of utter misery at Tottenham Hotspur, there is genuinely a changed mood around the training ground. The players, according to numerous sources, “love” Roberto De Zerbi.

They feel engaged, like they’re actually progressing.

It is more than just the energy that comes from a new manager – since Igor Tudor certainly didn’t inspire this response - or even the clarity that comes from actually having a permanent coach again.

De Zerbi offers an idea, and enthusiasm.

This is precisely why some around the club are said to be conspicuously confident of staying up - even if we won’t see whether that is actually justified until we watch his new team in a few games. The situation remains complicated, and highly pressurised. Others at Spurs, of course, remain anxious.

Amid that, though, a private quip from one player illustrates a genuine difference the squad have felt.

They feel that De Zerbi has already coached them more than Thomas Frank, Ange Postecoglou and Tudor combined.

Training has so far been “excellent”, with players responding very “positively”.

Again, if this sounds like the sort of thing always said in such situations, it wasn’t like this with Tudor. It hasn’t been like this at other relegation-threatened clubs, which opens up a whole other discussion about how this survival scrap will develop.

At Spurs, however, they can already see why Pep Guardiola so admires De Zerbi. To give a much-criticised hierarchy their due, too, you can see why they were so adamant on getting the Italian.

Spurs actually went back to De Zerbi several times.

With Mauricio Pochettino essentially ring-fenced until the USA’s World Cup is over, the former Brighton coach quickly became their number-one target.

Spurs didn’t want to persevere with stand-ins, given the huge uncertainty that the generally underwhelming profile of temporary candidate fostered.

They wanted someone permanent, to also illustrate a proper vision; something that could inspire.

When De Zerbi’s camp gave their hardest no in the process to taking over this season, Spurs did consider other high-profile options.

An informal approach was made to Fulham over Marco Silva, who now feels like he has been a potential Tottenham manager for so long that it’s just one of those things that is never going to happen. No deal could be struck. The possibility remains that Silva actually commits longer to Fulham.

I have similarly been told that Spurs did investigate whether Unai Emery was possible. But Aston Villa just wouldn’t countenance letting him go, and the Basque would also have designs on returning to one of the absolute top-tier jobs were he ever to leave Villa Park.

There is some speculation over whether the timing of that could be influenced by this season. Returning to the Champions League is seen as absolutely key for Villa, due to just how drastically the guaranteed money from qualification changes the club’s prospects.

Spurs know all of that too well.

With other appealing options just proving too difficult to get, though, Spurs kept going back to De Zerbi.

Now, the first great test is just about keeping them up.

There remain doubts about whether the squad has the “character” for this, especially when a phrase constantly used is that the players have too much football “scar tissue” there.

And yet this is also where De Zerbi’s own character may be so important, even amid the debate over how it can take teams a while to internalise his ideas. There is still a lot of quality in that squad. That should allow them to absorb what he wants more quickly.

And if there are doubts about their “personality” for this, that is what De Zerbi also supplies. He’s got bags of personality. He may well need it if West Ham United do beat Wolves on Friday, putting Spurs into the relegation zone before their Sunday trip to Sunderland.

Of course, it is also one reason why some clubs end up seeing him as “trouble”, but that’s not a concern for now.

The crucial point is that it’s unusual to get someone so good at that end of the table, but then that comes from how it’s unprecedented to have a club of Spurs’ wealth down that end of the table.

Either way, De Zerbi represents the “jolt” that has long been needed.

It explains the rationale of not waiting until the summer for a permanent coach. And such sudden disruptions to tend to have a disproportionate influence in relegation battles, after all.

Hence Nottingham Forest repeatedly making changes, even if the extent of that is obviously explained by Evangelos Marinakis’ idiosyncratic approach.

But that alone points to the potential importance of this switch.

Now, after a situation where it was hard to see where Spurs would pick up their next win, it’s hard to see the same quality elsewhere.

I should acknowledge that other clubs do see this as “a risk”, as was reported last week. And that also remains true. There’s the sense of surprise at a new project being started when a club is in the most problematic position possible.

Even if De Zerbi’s approach does take time to fully apply, though, he’s surely too good a coach to not come up with a gameplan to turn one or two individual matches.

De Zerbi will surely get that one win Spurs need to transform the feeling, and from that another to turn the survival race.

As most members will know, Inside Football does have a results prediction game every week – and it’s probably worth making a bigger one here. I think Spurs end up staying up with relative comfort now, that they extend a bit of a gap.

One figure who knows the new Spurs manager well sounds a note of caution, mind: “There’s never an issue with De Zerbi at the beginning…”

That may be enough for now. The truth will only be revealed by performances.Spurs nevertheless feel better prepared there than they have been for some time.

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Tyson Fury was on top form at the final press conference before his boxing return on Saturday and even took aim at “shocking” Premier League strugglers Tottenham.

Fury will step out to fight in the UK for the first time since 2022 when he takes on Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after 16 months outside the ring.

During an entertaining half an hour media activity inside The Pelligon in Canary Wharf on Thursday night, Fury claimed to be the “Money Man” of the division and insisted his rivals will be “begging” to fight him given his star quality as the latest sporting athlete to feature live on Netflix.

Fury, who also used the final press conference to promote the second season of his Netflix series, turned his focus towards relegation-threatened Tottenham during the final ember of the ‘Gypsy King’ circus.

Spurs, who play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and are the ninth richest football club in the world, are currently on a 13-match winless run in the Premier League and embroiled in a first relegation battle for 29 years.

“It has been four years since I’ve been boxing in the UK,” Fury started.

“I’ve been out in Saudi Arabia, which was fantastic for me. It was unbelievable.

“Yeah, to come back to England and fight here, in a stadium at Tottenham Hotspur, let’s hope I do a lot better than Tottenham are doing right now because they are shocking at the minute!

“But it’s an unbelievable experience you know to have 60,000 cheering fans for you on Saturday night.”

Given Tottenham have only won two home league matches during a difficult campaign, Fury will hope to avoid the familiar tale of a home loss in N17 this season.

Tottenham’s senior players have been urged to follow the example of Archie Gray if the club are to avoid a first relegation in 49 years.

Spurs are 17th after a 13-match winless run in the Premier League and with seven games left have turned to Roberto De Zerbi in a bid to retain top-flight status.

During a hugely disappointing season Gray has been a standout performer, and David Howells – who helped Tottenham avoid relegation twice in 1994 and 1997 – believes others must follow the lead of the 20-year-old ahead of Sunday’s trip to Sunderland.

“You definitely would hope that some of the older players would look across at Archie in the changing room and say, ‘look at this young man, he’s stepping up and it’s not fazing him, this is where we all need to be in terms of attitude and performance’. Yeah, absolutely he’s been the one consistent shining light,” Howells told the Press Association.

“I thought he was our best player again (against Nottingham Forest). I did say after the game against Atletico Madrid that he looked like an England midfielder, I did because he really looked the part.

“It is a credit to himself because a young lad like that, playing in a team that’s really struggling, he could sink but he’s actually gone the other way and been the best player in most of the games he has played.

“Yeah, massive credit to him and really exciting to see a young player like that at this time thinking about what he could become because the sky’s the limit.”

Gray’s consistent form for Spurs has occurred despite being used as a Swiss army knife again – after he started 18 games at centre-back during the 2024-25 campaign.

Igor Tudor only lasted seven matches at Tottenham this term but initially used Gray as a right wing-back and then left-back before the Leeds academy graduate got a run in his favoured central midfield position.

It was a similar story under Thomas Frank, who did at least give Gray his first run in midfield, but England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley believes that versatility is a positive, especially at a time when senior boss Thomas Tuchel is assessing options for this summer’s World Cup.

“I think midfield is probably his favoured position, but I always say to young players and especially if you’re picking a squad for a tournament, if you have a player that can play right-back, centre-back and centre midfield, it’s highly valuable,” Carsley told PA.

“It is better to play than not so it is finding a way of staying in the team.”

Gray had nailed down a midfield spot under Tudor and started to show an improved passing range along with his supreme levels of fitness, but a clean slate will begin under De Zerbi.

Nevertheless, Carsley feels Gray has made a leap in his development and it should earn the teenager a starting berth during a high-pressure seven-match spell.

Carsley added: “With player development, it seems to happen in spurts… to then ‘where did that come from?’.

“Definitely Archie is in that form at the minute that he’s looking powerful, looking strong, he can run with the ball, move the ball really well and bearing in mind he’s playing in a team that is not playing well, he is standing out and that’s testament to him.”

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Roberto De Zerbi has apologised for his comments surrounding Mason Greenwood and his past in a first Tottenham Hotspur interview since joining the club.

The Italian faced a backlash due to his stance on Greenwood during their time together at Marseille, having praised the former Manchester United attacker’s character.

In 2022, Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning bodily harm towards the same woman, though all charges were subsequently dropped in 2023, with the player denying any wrongdoing.

The former Brighton manager said Greenwood was a “good guy” and that he had paid a “heavy price,” adding: “It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described.”

In response to the criticism, including that of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST), De Zerbi said: “I never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone more broadly.

“In my life I have always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I’ve consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk. Those of you who know me well will know I’m not the type of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title.

“I’m sorry if this offended anyone and their feelings with this subject matter – I have a daughter and I’m very sensitive to these things, and I always have been. I hope that over time people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment I didn’t mean to take a stance.”

Spurs turned to De Zerbi after sacking interim head coach Igor Tudor last Sunday, with the club languishing in 17th place in the Premier League, just a point above the bottom three after a dismal season.

The 46-year-old also reiterated his long-term commitment to the club, even if Spurs drop down to the Championship: “I signed five years of contract because, for me, it is a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what.

“It’s a difficult moment for everyone at Tottenham but I think we have the right qualities to come out of this moment.

“I believe in the players. I think we have to remember who we are and who the players are, because we have very big players and we have to work on their confidence and qualities.”

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New Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has already been dealt an injury blow after midfielder Pape Sarr was unable to feature for Senegal in their friendly with Gambia.

De Zerbi was confirmed as Spurs head coach on Tuesday on a five-year deal, which does not contain a relegation release clause, despite the north London club being only one point above the Premier League bottom three.

With seven games left this season, De Zerbi has limited time to work with a team without a league win in 2026, but has immediately been affected by an ongoing injury crisis in N17.

Senegal midfielder Sarr joined up with his national team last week and featured in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Peru, but was left out of the squad to face Gambia on Tuesday due to a shoulder injury, according to Senegalese media.

Any potential injury to Sarr would be untimely for De Zerbi, who has already discovered a lengthy list of absentees at Tottenham’s Hotspur Way training ground, with Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus all previously sidelined or currently unavailable.

It adds to an already-complicated start to life at Spurs after De Zerbi’s appointment faced opposition from sections of the fanbase.

Three supporters’ groups produced “No to De Zerbi” statements last Friday, owing to past comments about Marseille forward Mason Greenwood.

Former Manchester United forward Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a woman after images and videos were posted online.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023 owing to “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light”, which meant there was “no realistic prospect of conviction”. Greenwood, who denied the charges, has since resumed his career and joined Marseille in 2024.

In November, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a “good guy”, who had paid a “heavy price” and added: “It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described.”

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust explained on Tuesday they had “serious and far-reaching concerns” with this appointment.

It’s understood Spurs carefully considered and discussed the comments and sentiments around Greenwood with De Zerbi during negotiations.

Later on Tuesday, Spurs’ LGBTQI+ fan group Proud Lilywhites said: “Whilst we disagree with the managerial choice, in terms of culture and competence, we will continue to support the players without pretending to be comfortable with the appointment.

“Staying silent is not the answer. But choosing when and where to be vocal matters.

“Managers come and go. Executives come and go. Players come and go. Fans remain. We are the constant in this club.

“We will continue to represent the views of our members to the club, alongside the other supporter associations.

“This is not noise or reaction. It is a considered position and it is not going away.”

Spurs Reach added: “As a group of fans who care about inclusion, representation and how people are treated, this one doesn’t fully sit right with us, both culturally and in the bigger picture.

“That said, we’re Spurs through and through… our support for the club we love, the community and each other goes way beyond any one appointment.”

Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment as Tottenham manager “raises serious and far-reaching concerns” following his public support of former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) has said.

De Zerbi has signed a five-year contract at Spurs with the club facing a relegation battle, sitting just one point above the relegation zone with seven games remaining. De Zerbi, who previously managed Brighton in the Premier League, replaces the interim manager Igor Tudor, following the Croatian’s disastrous 44-day spell in charge.

But several Tottenham supporters’ groups, including Proud Lilywhites, urged the club to not appoint De Zerbi due to the Italian having backed Greenwood during his time in charge in charge of Marseille. The TST said those concerns were brought to the club directly while Spurs considered De Zerbi’s appointment.

Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a young women after images and videos were posted online.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023 owing to a “combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses” and due to “no realistic prospect of conviction”.

In November, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a “good guy” that had paid a “heavy price” and added: “It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described.”

In a statement, the TST said De Zerbi’s comments on Greenwood were “unnecessary, ill-judged, and deeply offensive to a significant number of supporters and, without doubt, will have left victims of male violence alarmed”.

The group said the appointment of De Zerbi could “create a divide among supporters at a time when we all need to be pulling together to back the team” and it was “concerning that the club would put us in this position right when the team needs fans the most”.

On De Zerbi’s comments, the TST said: “If those remarks reflect his genuine views, they cast a troubling shadow over the values of the club we love.”

The TST also called on Tottenham to “reassert its commitment to the values that fans hold dear - chief among them equality, respect, and integrity” and said any future messages from De Zerbi “must clearly and unequivocally reaffirm these values”.

Tottenham considered and discussed De Zerbi’s backing of Greenwood and his comments about him during negotiations with the Italian, but sporting director Johan Lange confirmed the club had landed their “number one target for the summer” and Spurs were “pleased to be able to bring him in now”.

In a statement accompanying Tottenham’s announcement, De Zerbi insisted he is committed to the club’s “ambition for the future”. The Italian lasted less than two seasons in his previous two spells at Brighton and Marseille, and he has been immediately thrown into a relegation battle.

The THST said: “While we recognise the limited pool of managers with recent Premier League experience, and the need to act with urgency as Spurs face the prospect of relegation, this appointment raises serious and far-reaching concerns, and many fans have been in touch with us to urge us to communicate the strength of feeling.”

In a statement following De Zerbi’s appointment, Proud Lilywhites said: “Whilst we disagree with the managerial choice, in terms of culture and competence, we will continue to support the players without pretending to be comfortable with the appointment.

“Staying silent is not the answer. But choosing when and where to be vocal matters. Managers come and go. Executives come and go. Players come and go. Fans remain. We are the constant in this club. We will continue to represent the views of our members to the club, alongside the other supporter associations. This is not noise or reaction. It is a considered position, and it is not going away.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been contacted for comment