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    If Mason Greenwood stays at Man Utd I’ll stop supporting the club, says Channel 4 star Rachel Riley

    COUNTDOWN co-host Rachel Riley has vowed to stop supporting Manchester United if they welcome back Mason Greenwood.The keen Red Devils fan has spoken out as the Premier League club prepares to end the ex-England striker’s suspension in days.
    Rachel Riley has threatened to quit supporting Manchester United
    A decision on Mason Greenwood’s United future is about to be announcedCredit: Getty
    Protests over the club’s approach were held outside Old Trafford on MondayCredit: Getty
    Channel 4’s Countdown co-host Rachel posted on Twitter: “I won’t be able to support United if Greenwood remains at the club.”
    Her comments came after The Sun revealed how Greenwood is expected to be reinstated at United as early as next week.
    Greenwood, 21, hasn’t played for the first team since being arrested in January last year for attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
    All charges against him were dropped in February but the footballer remains suspended by United.
    Read More On Manchester United
    There has, however, been recent talk suggesting a possible return from their head coach Erik ten Hag.
    Members of Manchester United Women’s team have reportedly raised concerns about the prospect of Greenwood returning to the training ground.
    And protests were staged at Old Trafford before United’s opening match of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers last Monday.
    Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Rachel, 37, was responding to broadcast comments from another female United fan, named Em, saying she would “walk away from my club” if Greenwood returned.
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    Rachel told her 684,000 Twitter followers: “I’m with Em, I won’t be able to support United if Greenwood remains at the club.
    “We’ve all seen and heard enough. Pretending this is ok would be a huge part of the problem.
    “It would be devastating for my club to contribute to a culture that brushes this under the carpet and send a message to perpetrators everywhere that you can continue to act as you wish with no consequences.
    “I really hope they do the right thing.”
    DECISION DUE IN NEXT FEW DAYS
    Essex-born Rachel has previously shown her love of United in Instagram posts including visits to Old Trafford to cheer them on.
    She also revealed how she kitted out daughter Maven in team colours aged just eight months old.
    Rachel even combined presenting duties with watching them in action thanks to an out-of-shot TV behind the Countdown board.
    She also used her Twitter account to criticise United fans who flew a banner above a match mocking then-club chief Ed Woodward.
    Greenwood, suspended on full pay of £75,000 a week, has been training alone – following drills drawn up by United’s coaching staff.
    His last game was on January 22, 2022, in a Premier League clash against West Ham United, which United won 1-0.
    He was charged in October last year and was due to stand trial in November this year.
    But prosecutors withdrew the case on February 2 after his alleged victim and a dozen more witnesses refused to co-operate.
    United’s chief executive Richard Arnold is expected to make a decision on Greenwood’s future over the next 48 hours.
    But the announcement will be delayed until after the England Lionesses’ World Cup final this Sunday against Spain.
    Bradford-born Greenwood has scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for Manchester United, having joined the club as a six-year-old.
    He was given his England debut by manager Gareth Southgate as a late substitute against Iceland in September 2020, though has not played for the country since.
    UNITED TALKS ‘IN FINAL STAGES’
    United said in a statement yesterday the club had completed “a thorough investigation” into the allegations against Greenwood.
    They added: “This has drawn on extensive evidence and context not in the public domain.
    “We have heard from numerous people with direct involvement or knowledge of the case.”
    United said the welfare of his alleged victim had been at the forefront of the internal investigation.
    But the statement went on: “We also have responsibilities to Mason as an employee, as a young person who has been with the club since the age of seven, and as a new father with a partner. 
    “The fact-finding phase of our investigation is now complete, and we are in the final stages of making a decision on Mason’s future. 
    “Contrary to media speculation, that decision has not yet been made and is currently the subject of intensive internal deliberation.
    Read More on The Sun
    “This has been a difficult case for everyone associated with Manchester United, and we understand the strong opinions it has provoked based on the partial evidence in the public domain. 
    “We ask for patience as we work through the final stages of this carefully considered process.”
    Rachel says she will no longer support United if they allow Greenwood backCredit: Getty
    Rachel has shared on Instagram photos showing her love of the club
    The Countdown co-host has urged Old Trafford bosses to ‘do the right thing’
    Greenwood was cleared of all charges against him in FebruaryCredit: AFP More

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    Fans convinced Jules Breach is a lucky charm after England’s Under-21s break 39-year trophy drought with Euros title

    FANS are convinced that presenter Jules Breach is a good luck charm after she presented Channel Four’s coverage of England’s Under-21 Euros victory last night.England supporters were unable to follow the U-21s progression through the earlier rounds after no broadcaster picked up the rights for the tournament.
    Breach headed up Channel Four’s European Under-21 coverageCredit: Instagram @julesbreach
    She was joined by Stuart Pearce and Shaun Wright-PhillipsCredit: Channel 4
    She presented BT Sport’s Score showCredit: Instagram @julesbreach
    Breach has often presented England games for Channel FourCredit: Getty
    But after England beat Israel 3-0 in the semi-finals to set-up a final with Spain, Channel Four announced they would be showing the game.
    Breach was joined by pundits Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stuart Pearce as they presented England’s 1-0 victory over the Spaniards to clinch the title.
    The Young Lions survived late drama to overcome Spain after conceding a controversial 96th minute penalty.
    James Trafford – who has been linked with a move from Manchester City to Burnley completed an incredible double-save from the penalty to preserve England’s victory.
    READ MORE ON JULES BREACH
    And fans are saying that presenter Breach, 36, was a good luck charm that played her part in England’s victory.
    A West Ham fan said: “I think you must be the lucky charm Jules, in one month you’ve fronted a show with West Ham becoming European Winners & England U21 European Winners ⚽⚒️🦁🏆”
    Breach called that Trafford would save Spain’s last minute penalty.
    Channel Four posted the behind-the-curtain look on their Twitter which shows a clip of Breach saying: “I actually fancy him to save this.
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    “I don’t know why.
    “Six foot six isn’t he? Massive!”
    Fans reacted to her mystic powers of prediction, with one fan saying: ““6ft 6 ineeee, he’s massive!” Never change Julesy!”

    Another said: “What a nice trio of people.”
    While a third added: “Think we should encourage all pundits to just offer a height measurement and a one word description of what that looks like moving forwards. Can’t argue with the logic!”
    England’s Young Lions clinched the title thanks to a deflected goal through Curtis Jones.
    In contrast to the free-flowing football of the earlier rounds, the final was a cagey and bad-tempered affair.
    England legend Ashley Cole was sent off as the coaching staff of both team’s clashed.
    Spain’s fitness coach, Carlos Rivera was also sent off for his role in the shoving match.
    Read More On The Sun
    Following the drama of Trafford’s penalty save, Morgan Gibbs-White and Antonio Blanco were both sent off despite being substituted.
    The spicy final ended in with 30 fouls, 11 yellow cards and four reds handed to players and coaches on the bench. More

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    England fans apologise to ITV’s Sam Matterface as they slam ‘bored’ Channel 4 commentators during Malta clash

    FANS apologised to ITV’s Sam Matterface as they claimed Channel 4’s commentators were even worse.Viewers couldn’t believe how “bored” Steve Bower and former Three Lions star Andros Townsend sounded during England’s 4-0 win in Malta.
    Some viewers claimed C4’s coverage of Malta vs England made them regret past criticism of ITV commentator Sam MatterfaceCredit: Rex
    Callum Wilson’s penalty rounded off England’s 4-0 Euro qualifying win in MaltaCredit: PA
    ITV’s main man Matterface has also divided the opinion of armchair critics, receiving mixed verdicts online even at Soccer Aid.
    But as England strolled to a third victory in three Euro 2024 qualifiers, a few fans did an about-Face.
    One posted: “I’m sorry ITV. I’ll never slag off your coverage or Sam Matterface again!
    “Channel 4 is making a 3-0 d***ing sound like a Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace 0-0 stalemate.”
    READ MORE ENGLAND NEWS
    Another agreed, writing: “Never thought I’d say it, but the punditry and commentary on ITV might be better than Channel 4. “Don’t get too excited @sammatterface. You’re still stealing a living.”
    Viewers were also quick to blast the broadcaster’s host Jules Breach and pundits Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe and Jill Scott for treating Gareth Southgate’s side like world-beaters despite poor opposition.
    Not to mention their “Boyzone-inspired” outfits.
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    One observer wrote: “Channel 4 commentators acting like England are on fire and beating a strong International team, this Malta.
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    “Probably the same level as Faroe Islands and San Marino, lets beat an actual quality team before we go over the top.” More

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    Football cult hero Adebayo Akinfenwa handed surprise new job in completely different sport

    FOOTBALL cult hero Adebayo Akinfenwa is set for a shock boxing debut.However, Akinfenwa won’t be joining a series of other senior athletes that have tried their luck in the ring.
    Football cult hero Adebayo Akinfenwa is set for a new role in a different sportCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Adebayo Akinfenwa is crossing over to boxing for a non-fighting roleCredit: Rex Features
    According to talkSPORT, the Beast will be Wasserman Boxing’s MC and ring announcer for Friday night’s show on Channel 5.
    The striker will attend the boxing event, which will be headlined by Lyndon Arthur and Boris Crighton.
    This won’t be the first time the Islington-born star crosses over to the fight game.
    Akinfenwa also appeared on British promotion PROGRESS Wrestling last year.
    Read More on Football
    The 40-year-old accompanied Olympic boxing star Anthony Ogogo for his fight against Malik at PROGRESS Chapter 145 – Wrestling Witch Face – Trick or Treat.
    The centre-forward announced his retirement from football in May after the League One play-off final, which saw his Wycombe Wanderers side lose 2-0 to Sunderland at Wembley.
    However, Akinfenwa returned to action less than a year later when he signed for Isthmian League side Faversham Town.
    The club stated: “Faversham Town F.C have landed a major coup, signing a hugely popular former professional striker.
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    “Adebayo Akinfenwa 40, joins the Lilywhites to further help bolster their frontline in their battle against relegation as he comes out of retirement.”
    The former Wimbledon star made his debut earlier this month against Lancing. More

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    Channel 4 host Jules Breach brutally taunts Gerrard and Cole in opening line to coverage of England’s win over Italy

    ENGLAND heroes Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole were savagely taunted by Channel 4 host Jules Breach on live TV.Gerrard and Cole teamed up with Breach as well as legendary Lioness Jill Scott to cover the Three Lions’ 2-1 victory over Italy in Naples.
    Jules Breach trolled Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole before England vs ItalyCredit: Rex
    Jules Breach was joined by Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Jill ScottCredit: Rex
    The Liverpool legend and the ex-Chelsea star found themselves subjected to some brutal banter when the presenter introduced all three pundits before the Euro 2024 qualifier.
    The journalist presented the two golden generation stars and then pointed out how Scott is the only member of the panel that actually won something for England after last year’s women’s Euros triumph.
    Breach said: “I’m here alongside two members of the England golden generation…
    “And someone who has actually won something in an England shirt, Jill Scott!”
    Read More on Football
    But Gerrard and Cole took it on the chin as they started laughing at Breach’s quip.
    The former Aston Villa boss hit back by explaining how the reference was not in relation to Scott’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here win last year.
    The former Everton and Manchester City star in turn quipped: “That’s fine, I’ll just take the Euros. That’s fine.”
    That interaction left fans in stitches as they took to social media to join in on all the fun.
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    One supporter tweeted: “I thought Steven Gerrard was going to headbutt Jules Breach when she said ‘we’re joined by two players of the golden generation, and a player that’s actually won something for England’.”
    Another commented: “Class! That made me chuckle.”
    A third posted: “Introduction they wasn’t expecting.” More

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    Aston Villa and Everton in Moussa Dembele transfer battle with Lyon’s outcast striker available on cut-price deal

    ASTON VILLA and Everton are reportedly battling it out for the signature of Lyon’s Moussa Dembele. According to Foot Mercato the two Premier League sides are hoping they can attract the Frenchman after seeing him fall out of favour across the Channel.
    Moussa Dembele has made 159 appearances for Lyon, scoring 69 goals, but has found himself out of the team
    Dembele, 26, has only managed two goals in the Ligue 1 this season so far and has not been able to live up to his previous heights.
    The former Celtic man – who has long been linked with Manchester United – is available for a cut-price free with his contract set to expire in the summer.
    Everton are struggling for goals this season and have had long-standing injury issues with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who himself has only scored once this season in the league.
    Dembele would offer a different attacking option for Frank Lampard’s side who are languishing in the relegation zone.
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    Meanwhile, Aston Villa are in talks to sell Danny Ings to West Ham for around £15million.
    Unai Emery’s side did secure the signing of Colombian teen Jhon Duran this week.
    But Dembele would represent a ready-made replacement for Ings as the Villans look to continue to progress under the former Villarreal boss.
    Villa are rumoured to prefer a free transfer for the Lyon forward in the summer when is contract expires, but may have to change their opinion in light of Everton’s interest.
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    Lyon are said to be open to allowing Dembele to move away from the club in a transfer.
    The 26-year-old had a loan spell with Atletico Madrid in 2021, but failed to impress, making only seven appearances and failing to score.
    Former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette is currently the starting forward for Lyon, taking Dembele’s place, and has impressed on his return to the French outfit with 11 goals in 19 league appearances this season. More

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    England fan fury as Channel 4 website and app goes DOWN during Germany clash with supporters unable to watch

    ENGLAND fans were left fuming with Channel 4 as coverage of tonight’s clash with Germany went down.The Three Lions were looking to end their miserable run of results, which has seen them relegated in the Nations League, against their old foes.
    Channel 4’s coverage of England’s clash with Germany went down on MondayCredit: Getty
    Those trying to tune in were met with this playback error messageCredit: Channel 4
    A jam-packed crowd was in attendance at Wembley to see Gareth Southgate’s team in action.
    However, the rest of England’s supporters unable to get to the national stadium were tuning into Channel 4.
    But just minutes into the first half of the game those that were watching via the Channel 4 website and app were no longer able to watch as both went down.
    Viewers online and on the All4 app were greeted with an unwelcome error message.
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    The broadcaster replaced ITV for coverage of Three Lions matches this year.
    But frustrated viewers took to Twitter to vent their anger at being unable to watch Southgate’s men in action. 
    One fan moaned: “Fancy sorting your app out so we can watch the game?”
    Another wrote: “Let’s just hope Channel 4 hasn’t got the rights to any of the World Cup games. All4 can’t handle it.”
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    And a third complained: “Dear Channel 4 why have you got the England game if your app doesn’t work? Please give it back to a proper channel.”
    As a fellow frustrated viewer tweeted: “One thing this international break has shown us is that @Channel4 should be nowhere near showing the football. Class app team!”
    And another joked: “Channel 4 certainly made a difference with English football. Now nobody can watch it!”
    A C4 spokesman said: “We apologise for the temporary technical issue that affected some viewers this evening.
    “The issue was resolved just after 9pm. 
    “The England vs Germany match is available to watch on catch-up.” More

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    England fans fuming as Channel 4 cut away from Gareth Southgate interview after fans boo Italy loss to show GOGGLEBOX

    ENGLAND fans were left fuming after watching their side suffer a dismal defeat to Italy.And it wasn’t just about the result.
    Gareth Southgate’s post-match interview was interrupted by GoggleboxCredit: Getty
    England were dismal as they suffered Nations League RELEGATIONCredit: Getty
    Channel 4 cut away from their post-match interview with Gareth Southgate to instead air GOGGLEBOX.
    The Three Lions put in another shoddy performance as their winless run extended to five matches.
    England watched on helplessly as Giacomo Raspadori’s 86th minute strike sealed the win for Italy.
    And the result condemned England to relegation in Nations League A, setting up a horror draw for Euro 2024.
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    Three Lions fans waited with bated breath for Southgate’s interview after the final whistle.
    With the World Cup on the horizon, supporters wanted to know what his thoughts on the performance were.
    But just before Southgate was due to speak, Nations League broadcaster Channel 4 ended their football programme.
    And they instead booted up an episode of reality TV show Gogglebox.
    England fans who had been waiting for answers from Southgate were left fuming.
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    Many blasted Channel 4 for the bizarre decision to cut away from the Three Lions gaffer.
    And it means that Monday’s dead rubber against Germany will be the final time fans can hear Southgate’s thoughts before the World Cup boots up in November.
    One tweeted: “Pretty stunned Channel 4 don’t have a post-game interview with Southgate. So many questions after that.”
    Another boomed: “Channel 4 not showing Southgate’s post-match interview until gone midnight because they’ve got to show Gogglebox?
    “Put it back on the BBC where it belongs ffs.”
    One yelled: “Just when you don’t think it could get worse, Channel 4 don’t show us the interview with Southgate.
    “We’ve got to go straight to people stroking their dogs and eating muffins in front of the TV.”
    GATE KEEPER
    Another cried: “Finishing before any interview with Southgate having to talk live about that dire match, purely for Gogglebox, is nothing short of a disgrace.”
    Southgate still managed to deliver his interview despite the cameras not being on.
    After being booed by travelling fans at the final whistle, he said: “There’s going to be a lot of noise but that will be around me and that’s absolutely fine. It’s my job to take that pressure for them.
    “I understand the reaction at the end because that’s the results we’ve had in this competition. It’s an understandable emotional reaction.
    “It is difficult for me to be too critical of the performance. We had more possession, more shots, more shots on target. For large parts we played very well.
    “We didn’t deal with the decisive moment defensively and we had moments to be more decisive in their final third and our quality wasn’t quite right.
    PRESSURE MOUNTING
    “It’s a spell where ultimately results are going to be the thing everyone reacts to but I thought there were a lot of positives for us as a team. A lot of good individual performances.
    “I personally thought the performance was a step in the right direction but I perfectly understand that because of the result that’s not going to be the reaction.
    “It is really difficult to pinpoint why we’re not scoring. I think we’re getting into the right areas and we had the moments we would have had in the past. People just didn’t deliver that final piece of quality.
    “We’ve said we’re not in an ideal situation in terms of numbers of players playing at a high level regularly. But we’ve got to keep working on it and make sure we stay on track. 
    “The players in the dressing room know this was a game they could have won. And if they take their chances and defend the goal better, then we do win.
    “It’s fine margins. We’re playing some of the biggest football nations and the fine margins are decisive.
    Read More on The Sun
    “We can’t say there’s no value to these games. These were important matches against top level teams. As I said there were a lot of reasons for the results in the summer.
    “Here, we haven’t got the result we needed or wanted. So we are in a run of bad results. It’s for us to put that right.”
    England fans at the San Siro BOOED off the team after the 1-0 defeatCredit: Getty More