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      Meet the team full of Premier League rejects including former Man Utd star Fred who are the best side in Europe

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      WHEN being asked who the best team in Europe are football fans would be likely to say the usual suspects such as Manchester City, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.However, right now, the best team on the continent are Turkish outfit Fenerbahce.
      Edin Dzeko leads the line for FenerbahceCredit: Getty
      Dusan Tadic joined the club in the summerCredit: Getty
      Ex-Man Utd star Fred has featured in 13 of their 18 games so farCredit: Getty
      The Istanbul-based side have a 100 per cent record after 18 games in all competitions this season.
      This includes the league, Conference League group stage and Conference League qualifiers.
      During the incredible run, they have already scored 53 goals while conceding just ten.
      Such a record would lead many to imagine them to have a host of world-class talent in their ranks.
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      But the reality is a far more modest line-up.
      They are spearheaded by a number of Premier League rejects.
      They include ex-Manchester United star Fred, Chelsea flop Michy Batshuayi, former Manchester City ace Edin Dzeko and ex-Bournemouth forward Joshua King.
      Dusan Tadic, formerly of Southampton and Ajax, as well as ex-Liverpool and Rangers man Ryan Kent, also feature in the squad.
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      Dzeko, 37, leads the way for Ismail Kartal’s team with nine goals and seven assists.
      Attacking midfielder Sebastian Szymanski also has nine goals so far, with right wingers Irfan Can Kahveci and Cengiz Under on eight and six respectively.
      Tadic, 34, has six goals and four assists, while Batshuayi has hit the target four times for them in Europe.
      King also has four goals to his name spread across ten appearances, though he is set to be sidelined for nearly a month after suffering a second degree tear in his left ankle.
      Fred has featured in 13 of their 18 games so far, contributing four assists since his £13million transfer from Man Utd in the summer.
      The 30-year-old thought he had made an instant impact with a stunning debut goal before it was ruled out for offside.
      In goal is Dominik Livakovic, who was on the transfer radar of Man Utd and Nottingham Forest in the summer.
      Ex-wonderkid Emre Mor is also in the team, albeit in a far less prominent role – with the former Borussia Dortmund star appearing just once and not being registered in their Conference League squad.
      Read More on The Sun
      They face Pendikspor and Trabzonspor in their next two league games.
      Their toughest tests will arrive in November and December, when they play Besiktas and Galatasaray.
      Michy Batshuayi has been on target four times this seasonCredit: Rex
      Joshua King also features but is currently injured after suffering an ankle injuryCredit: ANP More

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      What did Alejandro Garnacho say about Andre Onana?

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      MANCHESTER United’s Alejandro Garnacho and André Onana have hit the headlines following a tweet celebrating the keeper’s match-day heroics on social media.The episode has resulted in the FA speaking to Garnacho — but what did the winger say about Onana?
      Alejandro Garnacho and teammate Andre Onana in an image shared on Instagram by OnanaCredit: Instagram
      What did Alejandro Garnacho say about André Onana?
      Alejandro Garnacho is being spoken to by the FA over a deleted social media message congratulating his Manchester United team-mate Andre Onana, it’s understood.
      Onana secured United’s 1-0 victory over FC Copenhagen with a match-winning penalty save in stoppage-time in their Champions League group game on October 24, 2023.
      After their victory, Garnacho posted a snap of himself and other United players celebrating the keeper’s heroics on X, formerly Twitter — including two gorilla emojis.
      Despite Alejandro quickly deleting the post, the FA were made aware of it and have since liaised with the 19-year-old to investigate the matter.
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      While there is no suggestion of racism behind the message, it is likely the winger will be hit with a suspension if the FA adopt the same approach they have in the past.
      The FA has previously punished footballers over controversial social media posts that were deemed offensive — even when the meaning was unintentional.
      But Onana has since taken to social media to defend his young teammate.
      Over two Instagram stories, he wrote: “People cannot choose what I should be offended by.
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      “I know exactly what @garnacho7 meant: power and strength.
      “This matter should go no further.”
      Garnacho also shared Onana’s defence of him on his Instagram.
      Who is Alejandro Garnacho?
      Alejandro Garnacho Ferreyra was born on July 1, 2004, in Madrid, Spain.
      His father, Alex Garnacho, is Spanish, and his mother, Patricia Ferreyra Fernández, is Argentinian — meaning Alejandro is eligible to play international football for both Spain and Argentina.
      Having been involved in the youth setups at Getafe and Atlético Madrid, Garnacho joined the Manchester United Academy in 2020, with the Reds paying the Spanish side a reported fee of £420,000.
      Alejandro signed his first professional contract with United in July 2021, and has since worked his way through the ranks into the first team.
      Though he represented Spain at youth level, Garnacho has opted to play his international football for Argentina.
      In March 2022, he was called up to represent the South American country in their two World Cup qualifiers that month.
      The Argentina international is being tipped to become one of the top wingers in world football.
      Who is André Onana?
      André Onana was born on April 2, 1996, in Nkol Ngok, Cameroon.
      He joined the Barcelona La Masia youth system from the Samuel Eto’o Academy in Cameroon in 2010.
      The keeper signed for Ajax in 2015, making 214 appearances for the Dutch giants and winning three Eredivisie titles.
      In July 2022 André joined Inter Milan on a free transfer, winning the Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana and reaching the Champions League final in his sole season at the club.
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      In 2023 Manchester United signed Onana for an initial £43.8million.
      Since making his debut in 2016, André has made over 30 appearances for the Cameroon national team. More

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      Man Utd star Andre Onana breaks his silence after teammate Alejandro Garnacho shares ‘controversial’ social media post

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      MANCHESTER United star Andre Onana has broken his silence on Alejandro Garnacho’s controversial social media post.The Cameroonian goalkeeper, 27, came to United’s rescue with a late penalty save against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
      Andre Onana’s penalty heroics helped United to a vital win on WednesdayCredit: EPA
      The late penalty save sparked jubilant scenes within Old TraffordCredit: Getty
      Alejandro Garnacho is facing a probe into a social media postCredit: Alamy
      It allowed his side to hold on to a vital 1-0 win, sparking jubilant scenes among players and fans alike at Old Trafford.
      Argentine winger Garnacho later took to X, formerly Twitter, and posted a snap of the players celebrating with Onana following the penalty heroics – captioned with two gorilla emojis.
      He swiftly edited and then deleted the post, but the FA has been alerted and are liaising with the 19-year-old as part of a probe into the matter.
      There’s no suggestion of racism behind the message, but he may face a suspension if the FA adopt the same approach they have in the past.
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      However, Onana has now taken to his own social media to defend the teenager.
      Over two Instagram stories, he said: “People cannot choose what I should be offended by.
      “I know exactly what @garnacho7 meant: power and strength. This matter should go no further.”
      The comments were shared by Garnacho on his own Instagram account.
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      But the FA is understood to have sought Garnacho’s observations on the original post.
      Speaking about the post today, United manager Erik Ten Hag said: “We are talking with the FA. I can confirm that and want to emphasise we are together.
      “We are United and you see that in the post of Andre Onana.”
      It comes after Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani was suspended for three games for writing “Gracias Negrito” to a friend while playing for United in 2020 – after the footballing body found it a racial term.
      Cavani asserted the message “was intended as an affectionate greeting to a friend” following an apology.
      But he was slapped with a £100,000 fine and made to complete face-to-face education.
      A year earlier, Manchester City’s Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva was handed a one-match ban and £50,000 fine after he posted an image of the popular Conguitos chocolate bar, which has long been accused of racist undertones.
      The Sun has approached Manchester United for comment.
      Onana came out in defence of his teammate on InstagramCredit: Instagram
      Onan’a post was shared by Garnacho on his own InstagramCredit: Instagram
      Onana also posted a photo of the pair celebrating together with a fist-bump emojiCredit: Instagram More

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      Parking wardens slap Borussia Dortmund’s team bus with £50 fine after 1-0 win over Newcastle United

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      PARKING wardens slapped German football side Borussia Dortmund’s team bus with a £50 fine following their 1-0 win over Newcastle United.North Tyneside council confirmed the penalty charge after Wednesday’s Champions League at St James’ Park
      Borussia Dortmund’s team bus faces an unexpected setback as it gets a parking ticket following their Champions League clash with NewcastleCredit: Twitter
      The fine will be reduced to £25 if it is paid within 14 days.
      The council said: “We hope the ticket and the grey North East weather didn’t dampen their trip.”
      And it joked about how it might have a word with United manager Eddie Howe and his team to see whether they could collect the fine when they play again in Germany on November 7.
      Newcastle United are playing in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
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      It was reported that football supporters were seen brawling outside the Magpies’ St James’ Park ground ahead of last night’s 1-0 home defeat.
      There was a heavy police presence on the streets approaching the ground and cops have now revealed eight men and a woman have been detained.
      Dortmund supporters were heard chanting in both German and English as fights reportedly broke out between rival fans, with cops attempting to keep them apart.
      Clips have emerged on social media showing clashes ahead of the UEFA Champions League loss for manager Eddie Howe’s home side.
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      Footage showed fans trading blows over a metal fence, while in another police protected by helmets ushered Dortmund supporters draped in scarves towards the ground. More

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      Jude Bellingham tipped for huge position change for England with £115million Real Madrid ace taking LaLiga by storm

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      GARY LINEKER believes Jude Bellingham could end up as a striker for England after his outstanding goalscoring start for Real Madrid.The Brummie midfielder has netted 11 times in 12 matches for the 14-time champs of Europe, operating largely as a ‘false nine’.
      Jude Bellingham has been prolific since joining Real MadridCredit: EPA
      Gary Lineker thinks Bellingham could play as a striker for EnglandCredit: Doug Seeburg
      The star has mostly played in midfield for the Three LionsCredit: Getty
      Lineker, who scored 48 goals for England and won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup, said: “The way he has started at Real gives Gareth Southgate a great option. 
      “If something happens to Harry Kane — or after he is finished because Harry is now 30  — Jude could play at centre-forward, as a false nine if you like.
      “He is now scoring poacher’s goals. He’s even doing the ‘easy’ bits that I used to do!
      “He has been playing as a No 10 for England in his last few games.
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      “He can play in a deeper role as a No 8, he is probably the most complete English footballer I’ve ever seen and he’s only 20.”
      Bellingham, who also scored for England against Scotland last month, makes his El Clasico debut for Real in Barcelona tomorrow — a fixture in which Lineker once scored a hat-trick for Barca.
      And Lineker added: “No one knows what Jude’s best position is because he is so good in several roles but I could see him playing up front for England.”
      Bellingham meanwhile has declared himself fit for Saturday’s El Clasico.
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      The midfielder was taken off at the end against Braga in the Champions League on Tuesday with a knock.
      Bur boss Carlo Ancelotti said it was not serious and nothing more than tiredness.
      And Bellingham, sent a clear message when he said: “I will be ready and available for El Clasico.”
      Barcelona chief Xavi had to call up EIGHT academy players for their Champions League tie against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday as the Catalans grapple with key injuries  — including striker Robert Lewandowski.
      He will likely be joined on the sidelines by midfielders Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Sergi Roberto as well as defender Jules Kounde.
      The club are hopeful winger Raphinha will be ready while forward Joao Felix said he is “fine” after limping off in  Wednesday’s game. More

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      Lionel Messi is winning Ballon d’Or thanks to flawed voting process that cost Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland top gong

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      THEY will hand the Ballon d’Or to the world’s best player in a glittering awards ceremony in Paris on Monday.But Cristiano Ronaldo is unable to attend because he’s busy washing his hair.
      World Cup winner Lionel Messi is set to win his eighth Ballon d’OrCredit: Getty
      Messi now plays for Inter Miami in MLSCredit: AP
      The self-proclaimed GOAT ruled himself out of the running for football’s ultimate individual award when he flounced off to the desert at the start of the year.
      Because it seems that finishing runner-up in the Saudi Pro League is not quite enough to convince his fan boys to keep casting their votes in his favour.
      So now the trophy will be presented to the guy whose current team is next to bottom of the MLS (Eastern Conference).
      And poor old Cristiano will have a face like a slapped arse when arch-nemesis Lionel Messi displays his golden ball for a record eighth time.
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      Not that he has officially been confirmed as King Leo the 8th just yet.
      But let’s not kid ourselves that anyone else is in with a shout after the news of Messi’s impending coronation was leaked this week.
      The deal was sealed the moment he slipped on that negligee to lift the World Cup in Qatar last December.
      And you have to ask what more Erling Haaland could possibly have done to win first prize after the season he had for Manchester City.
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      The Norwegian phenomenon scored an unbelievable 52 goals to help City win a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup Treble.
      Yes, Messi won the French league with Paris Saint-Germain despite supporters demanding he be sacked for an unauthorised mid-season commercial trip to Saudi.
      But he’s not getting the Ballon d’Or for coming first in a one-horse race.
      He’s getting it on the back of six games for Argentina — presumably they’re not including the defeat by Saudi Arabia in their opening World Cup group match.
      Four of his seven tournament goals were scored from the penalty spot and you could argue that he wasn’t even the best player in Qatar.
      That was Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final and was the tournament’s top scorer, yet is 66-1 to be named World Player of the Year in his home city next week.
      At least Messi’s coronation will be the first time in 15 years that the award hasn’t gone to a player from Real Madrid or Barcelona.
      So maybe we should be grateful for small mercies.
      But it is obvious that the entire voting process is flawed when the judges are so much in thrall to two clubs from the same country.
      The great irony is that it is 63 years since Luis Suarez became the one and only Spanish-born winner of the award.
      No wonder Jude Bellingham was so keen to move to Madrid this year. He knows it’s the only way he will receive the universal recognition his brilliance deserves.
      Only four Englishmen (Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen) have ever won the Ballon d’Or in its 67-year history.
      And the last player to win it while playing for an English club was (surprise, surprise) Ronaldo when he was still at Manchester United back in 2008.
      Maybe Haaland can change all that by scoring 100 goals for City this season and winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup,Carabao Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup.
      He’d just better pray that Inter Miami don’t make the MLS play-offs.
      EYES OFF THE BALL
      EMMA RADUCANU claims it is because they can’t cope with her “provoking and challenging” questions that she has got through more coaches than ­National Express.
      It’s nearly two years since she won the US Open against all the odds — and she has hardly won a match since.
      Emma Raducanu claims her ‘provoking’ questions have led to her turnover of coachesCredit: Getty
      She hasn’t played since undergoing wrist and ankle surgery in May and is currently 283rd in the WTA rankings.
      But at least she still has her lucrative commercial contracts with Nike, ­Porsche, Dior, Vodafone, Tiffany and ­Wilson.
      So maybe her next ­“provoking” question will be “why do I need to bother with tennis?”
      CAUGHT OUT
      PATHETIC. There is no other word to describe England’s Cricket World Cup campaign following yesterday’s eight-wicket humiliation by Sri Lanka.
      Jos Buttler and his team of losers have now been hammered in four of their five matches and have still to play India, Australia, Holland and Pakistan.
      England have had a disappointing Cricket World Cup runCredit: Getty
      But, hey, at least we managed to beat the mighty Bangladesh, so it’s not all bad news.
      Captain Buttler will carry the can but he is by no means the only big name who has gone missing during the past three weeks.
      Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran and Moeen Ali have also failed to live up to their reputations as world-class players.
      Can’t bat, can’t bowl and can’t field, England are a team of complete all-rounders.
      EVER SO UNFAIR
      THE Premier League are demanding a 12-point deduction if Everton are found guilty of breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
      But no word yet on the proposed punishment for Manchester City, charged with 115 offences dating all the way back to 2009.
      Everton could face a points deductionCredit: Getty
      They haven’t even begun disciplinary proceedings against the serial champions because they’re being tied up in knots by City’s army of lawyers.
      And what about Chelsea, who spent more money in the past year than Everton have blown throughout Farhad Moshiri’s disastrous seven-year reign?
      I’m all for punishing clubs who break rules but there seems to be one law for the Big Six and another for the rest.
      ROCKETS BOOSTER
      PETROLHEADS finally had something to get excited about last weekend when Lewis Hamilton gave Max Verstappen his first proper race of the season at the US Grand Prix.
      However, their relief proved to be short-lived when Hamilton was disqualified because the floor of his car was ruled to be ‘too thin’.
      Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the US GP due to a fault with his carCredit: Reuters
      After watching Red Bull turn the dullest championship in history into a procession, you would have thought the authorities would welcome any kind of challenge to Verstappen’s utter dominance.
      Even if that meant the rest of the field driving rockets.
      WEBB OF INTRIGUE
      WHEN Darren England and his VAR assistant Dan Cook incorrectly ruled out a Liverpool goal at Spurs, they were immediately removed from duty by refs’ chief Howard Webb.
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      But there was no such sanction for Michael Oliver, despite Webb admitting the ref was wrong not to send off Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic against Arsenal.
      So, it seems that some referees are more important than others. More

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      FA speak to Man Utd star Garnacho after he posts then deletes ‘controversial’ message about Onana

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      MANCHESTER Utd star Alejandro Garnacho is being spoken to by the FA over deleted social media messages about team-mate Andre Onana, it’s understood.Onana had spared United’s blushes with a match-winning penalty save against FC Copenhagen in their Champions League group stage match on Wednesday night.
      Alejandro Garnacho could be in hot water after posting a now-deleted social media postCredit: Getty
      Garnacho posted a snap of his teammates celebrating with keeper Andre OnanaCredit: Alamy
      A post uploaded by Garnacho with two gorilla emojis was swiftly deletedCredit: Instagram
      And the young Argentine posted a snap of himself and other United players celebrating Onana’s heroics on Twitter – including two gorilla emojis.
      Despite swiftly editing then deleting the post, the FA were alerted to it and have since liaised with the 19-year-old winger to investigate the matter.
      And while there is no suggestion of racism behind the message, it is likely the athlete will be hit with a suspension if the Football Association adopt the same approach they have in the past.
      Previously, the FA has punished footballers over other controversial social media postings that were viewed as offensive – even if the meaning was unintended.
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      But Onana has since taken to social media to defend his young teammate.
      Over two Instagram stories, he wrote: “People cannot choose what I should be offended by.
      “I know exactly what @garnacho7 meant: power and strength.
      “This matter should go no further.”
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      Garnacho has also shared Onana’s defence of him on his own Instagram.
      In 2020, then-United striker Edinson Cavani was suspended for three games for writing “Gracias Negrito” to a friend – with an FA commission finding it a racial term.
      The Uruguay striker asserted that the message “was intended as an affectionate greeting to a friend” following an apology.
      Cavani was slapped with a £100,000 fine and made to complete face-to-face education.
      The previous year, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva picked up a one-match ban and £50,000 fine for posting the image of the popular Conguitos chocolate bar, which has long been accused of racist undertones.
      And while the swiftness of the post’s deletion and Garnacho’s youth will be factors taken into account, he may yet be made to pay for a moment’s unintentional foolishness.

      The FA are aware of the post in question and have sought Garnacho’s observations on it.
      The Sun has approached Manchester United for comment.
      Onana took to Instagram to defend his teammateCredit: Instagram
      The stalwart keeper urged the FA not to punish GarnachoCredit: Instagram
      Garnacho shared the goalkeeper’s defence of his postCredit: Instagram
      The winger is expected to receive the same treatment other players haveCredit: Reuters More

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      Watch Simeone and Rodgers’ awkward handshake after Celtic draw as fans slam ‘classless, disrespectful’ Atletico boss

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      BRENDAN RODGERS had an awkward handshake with Diego Simeone after Celtic’s draw against Atletico Madrid.The tacticians collided in Glasgow for last night’s Champions League group stage tie.
      Atletico boss Diego Simeone had an awkward handshake with Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers
      Fans slammed the Madrid manager as ‘classless’ and ‘disrespectful’
      Celtic pick up their first #UCL point of the season against Atléico Madrid, and Diego Simeone wasn’t sticking around to shake hands afterwards 👀 pic.twitter.com/bld5WOW3Td— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2023

      Celtic twice went ahead against the Spaniards, who ended the match with ten men.
      But Atletico held on to seal a 2-2 draw, boosting their qualification hopes while leaving Celtic’s hanging by a threat.
      At the final whistle, ex-Liverpool and Leicester boss Rodgers went over to shake hands with his counterpart.
      But Simeone had other ideas as he made gestures towards the pitch while keeping his back turned on Rodgers.
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      Celtic’s manager held out his hand for what seemed an eternity.
      However, when Simeone finally turned around, he simply slapped Rodgers’ hand while walking away at the same time.
      The Argentine didn’t bother looking up at his rival in the process either.
      And fans slammed his “classless, disrespectful” gesture on social media afterwards.
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      One said: “I feel ultimately Simeone is just a horrible man, shows no respect in the slightest for opposition, but in a way where he believes he deserves everything, not because of something he hasn’t done.”
      Another declared: “He was unlikable as a player and even less likable as a coach.”
      One noted: “Classless as per, horrible club.”
      Another boomed: “Absolutely zero class.”
      One chimed: “Wouldn’t know what sportsmanship was even if it hit him in the face.”
      Another added: “Has absolutely no class, never has had any.” More