Reform passes soccer test

It was a tough call for Reform chiefs, especially the movement's soccer-phile head Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield.

But pragmatic compromise has won out, I now understand - the meeting will begin, and end, early, well before kick-off.

"Our AGMs have been sacrosanct," one senior figure told me, "but the Reform Movement clearly believes in the teaching of Rabbi Bill Shankley that England v Germany World Cup matches are more important than life and death."