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      in Soccer

      Dad of Tottenham star Son Heung-min ‘fined over child abuse’ as he issues grovelling apology in court

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      SON HEUNG-MIN’s father has been fined over child abuse and issued a grovelling apology in court.Woong-jung Son and his brother Heung-yun Son were sentenced on Friday in a South Korean court.Son Heung-Min’s father had been found guilty of child abuseCredit: AlamyWoong-jun Son is a best-selling author for his book about raising the footballerCredit: Facebook/Tottenham HotspurThe pair were fined three million won which is the equivalent of £1,700.They were both charged for having insulted and hit young players in the football academy run by Woong-jun Son.As well as being fined, the two, along with another coach, will have to undertake 40 hours of anti-child abuse training.The defendants have a week to appeal the decision.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAfter the sentencing, Woong-jung Son apologised to the court.He insisted that the coaching staff at his academy have “never spoke or acted in a way that was not based on love for children”.Woong-jung Son is a best-selling author for his book about training his son, Son Heung-Min, to become one of the best in the world.Meanwhile, the Tottenham star is currently in the treatment room for a hamstring injury.Most read in FootballThe forward picked up the knock while playing for the North London outfit in the Europa League clash against Qarabag.Tottenham fans concerned as footage emerges of Brennan Johnson after late winner against CoventrySo far this season, Son has featured in seven matches in all competitions for Spurs, scoring twice.He has been outshone at the club by the sparkling recent form of Brennan Johnson.The Welsh winger has started to justify his £50million price tag that the club paid to prize him away from Nottingham Forest in 2023.Johnson has scored six goals in 10 appearances this campaign, including goals in his last three Premier League games. More

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      Law student who aimed vile racial slur at Arsenal star Bukayo Saka dodges jail after insisting he was not being racist

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      A LAW student who called Arsenal and England ace Bukayo Saka a “monkey” has dodged a jail term after insisting he was not being racist.Suhel Ali, 20, put an audio message on X/Twitter, calling Saka, 23, a “fing black piece of s**t” following Arsenal’s 0-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in May last year.Law student Suhel Ali, who called Arsenal and England ace Bukayo Saka a ‘monkey’, has dodged a jail termThe Arsenal fan also called Bukayo Saka the N-wordCredit: GettyThe Arsenal fan, of Wembley, North London, also called him the N-word and said: “You’re a f***ing monkey.”The second-year law student admitted posting an offensive message.Westminster magistrates chair Kieran O’Donnell told Ali: “Your lawyer said your intention was not to be racist, but whoever heard it would have heard racial abuse.“But you are of previous good character.”READ MORE ON SAKA”You have no previous convictions. You are remorsefulAli, who, like Saka is of Nigerian heritage, got a 12-month conditional discharge with £111 costs.Wing wizard Saka scored in Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Southampton on Saturday.He is set to star for England against Greece at Wembley.Most read in FootballBukayo Saka declares ‘this is Arsenal’s year’ and they will win Premier League title More

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      Ex-Celtic star Anthony Stokes JAILED then BAILED after 100mph car chase with thousands of pounds worth of cocaine

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      FORMER Celtic and Hibs star Anthony Stokes has been handed a 15-month jail sentence over a seizure of almost £3,300 worth of cocaine and a high-speed car chase in Dublin.The ex-Celtic and Sunderland player, who was over the alcohol limit, drove at 100mph and nearly collided with another motorist shortly after midnight on January 6, 2023.Former footballer Anthony Stokes who was sentenced to 15 monthsCredit: CollinsAnthony StokesCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun GlasgowHe was sentenced by Judge Grainne Malone at Dublin District Court today after it emerged that he failed a recent drug test.The former footballer also entered an additional guilty plea to possessing 86 illegal street tablets in Cabinteely, south Co Dublin, about ten days after the traffic pursuit, which the judge regarded to be an aggravating factor, and she refused to suspend any of the sentence.Stokes, supported in court by his girlfriend and mother, showed no emotion as the judge jailed him and imposed a five-year driving ban.However, he lodged £840 and was released on appeal bail shortly after the judge imposed the sentence.Last month, Judge Malone had adjourned sentencing Stokes, 36, until today for a treatment report to prove he is off drugs, but it found he still had traces of cocaine in his system.Defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens said her client was young, fit, and healthy and asked the judge to consider a community service order.Ms Stephens said father-of-three Stokes had been in denial about his problems, “is trying to battle his demons,” and could need intensive psychological assistance and “proper residential treatment”.Judge Malone said Stokes could have faced up to two years’ imprisonment. Most read in FootballHowever, she gave him credit for his guilty pleas and imposed sentences totalling one year and three months.Finalising the case, she noted the evidence about the nature of his driving, the speed and length of the chase, the fact that he was uninsured, and the low alcohol reading, and she added that the drug offences were very serious.Ex-Arsenal star Jay Emmanuel-Thomas charged with importing drugs after £600,000 worth of cannabis seized at airportHe pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine hidden in a sock, and having the drug for sale or supply. At his previous hearing, the judge heard how his drink issues spiralled into cocaine addiction when his football career ended.Stokes admitted driving while over the alcohol limit and four counts of dangerous driving during the pursuit from the Naas Road to the Phoenix Park.The ex-Premier League star also admitted not producing a driving licence and not having motor insurance.Garda Radoslaw Konczewski recalled observing the ex-footballer speeding on Walkinstown Avenue at around 12.20 am. The officer activated his patrol car lights, but Stokes failed to stop and continued to the Long Mile Road junction, “which he entered at speed, breaking a red light”.Anthony Stokes in action for HibsCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun GlasgowStokes drove to the Naas Road, broke another red light at a major junction and continued to Ballyfermot Road, breaking two pedestrian red lights and one at a junction.He continued to Kennelsfort Road Upper, broke a red light, and “almost collided with a car on the Chapelizod bypass”.The accused, who had a passenger in the car, went to Knockmaroon Road and stopped at the closed gates of Phoenix Park. Stokes abandoned the vehicle but was caught following a short foot pursuit.The car chase lasted about 10 minutes.Garda Konczewski estimated that Stokes reached a speed of 160km/h at some stages and around 140km/h when he drove through Ballyfermot village.Gardai brought his car to Crumlin station. Cocaine worth €3,700 was found in wraps inside a sock, kept in the air vent on the driver’s side. His DNA was also found on the sock.The court heard he also provided a urine sample, which was over the alcohol limit, but he was “fully cooperative” and “he was a pleasure to deal with”.Stokes had one prior conviction in this jurisdiction for assault causing harm in 2013, which resulted in a suspended sentence and a £25,000 compensation order. The judge noted he also had a record of failing to turn up to court and has spent time in custody in another jurisdiction, but details about that were not available.In the mitigation plea, Ms Stephens said he had been a talented footballer scouted at 14 from Cherry Orchard Football Club in Dublin by Arsenal in London. He began playing for Sunderland when he was 17 and went on to more success with Celtic in the Scottish league.However, he had laboured under addiction from a young age.His adoptive parents moved over with him to help their son pursue his dreams, but after he turned 16, he began abusing alcohol. That problem progressed at the end of his career to cocaine abuse, which he was “heavily using at the time of this incident”.The court also heard that he reacted badly to the end of his career.The defence said Stokes also developed gambling problems but was featured in a documentary highlighting difficulties and mental health difficulties for up-and-coming footballers without parental supervision at a very young age.Appeal bail was set at €1,000 if he intends to challenge the jail sentence. A second male is also before the courts in relation to the drug seizure.Stokes had just been jailed in Scotland for five months after breaching strict court orders against contacting his ex-girlfriend and her family.He repeatedly messaged Eilidh Scott and her parents in defiance of a ban.He appeared from custody in handcuffs at Hamilton Sheriff Court after causing repeated delays to the case.He was also banned from contacting Scott for five years and her parents for a year.READ MORE SUN STORIESOur New YouTube ChannelSubscribe to our new Scottish Sun Sport YouTube channel for all the latest football news, views and amazing moments.We’ve got every major development covered from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and the rest of the Scottish Premiership.Plus we have TWO brilliant new podcasts to watch every week…MONDAYGo Ballistic with Roger Hannah and special guest Kris Boyd will dissect all the weekend action and deliver their no-holds-barred reaction.WEDNESDAYRobert Grieve and Bill Leckie chew over the tastiest topics in Scottish football and offer their unique takes in their Coffee Club.FRIDAYGo Ballistic is back with Roger Hannah and top tipster Jim Delahunt looking ahead to the weekend games and analysing the biggest talking points.Subscribe now and don’t miss a thing. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Instagram model Luisa Kremleva to go on trial over ‘false rape claims’ about AC Milan star Theo Hernandez

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      A FAMOUS Instagram model has been dragged into a court trial after allegedly falsely accusing AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez of rape and physical assault.Luisa Kremleva claimed she had been raped by the footie star in a £70,000 Porsche Cayenne near a glitzy Spanish nightclub in 2017. Luisa Kremleva claimed AC Milan star Theo Hernandez raped her inside a Porsche car in 2017Credit: InstagramLuisa, who became popular after starring in several Spanish TV shows, was reportedly arrested in 2020 after she failed to attend multiple court summonsCredit: InstagramHernandez, who was never arrested, admitted to having sex with her but said it was consensualCredit: RexSpanish nightclub Olivia Valere where the couple met in 2017Credit: Trip AdvisorThe Spanish TV star also claimed the French footballer, who moved to Serie A from La Liga in 2019, had caused her knee injuries after pushing her out of the vehicle. She said in a newspaper interview back then: “I have proof of the attack which are on my backside and my knees.”I would love it if Theo apologised. It’s the least I deserve.”Hernandez, who was never arrested, admitted to having sex with her but said it was consensual.read more world news Spanish police sources back then confirmed to The Sun they were investigating a sexual assault allegation. However, a court shelved the case after a judge ruled that there was no evidence to support the alleged crimes were committed. Prosecutors then found CCTV footage that showed the model had suffered her knee injuries in an accidental fall outside the nightclub.They alleged in their indictment Kremleva had acted “maliciously” in accusing Hernandez of raping her as he refused to go home with her after having “consensual” sex in the car.Most read in FootballLuisa, who became popular after starring in several Spanish TV shows, was reportedly arrested in 2020 after she failed to attend multiple court summons. But she had denied reports of being arrested by cops. Her mum said on Spanish TV: “My daughter is not under arrest. She went to pick up a court notification. With time the truth is going to come out.”The model subsequently wrote on social media: “I have not been arrested. I have not been convicted of any crime. The truth will come out.”Court sources have now confirmed that Kremleva’s one-day trial has been scheduled for October 28 at a court in Malaga, Costa De Sol. A chance to request the suspension of the trial was given to all the parties involved in the case, but no such requests were made. While the defendant will have to appear in court, it is not known whether Hernandez will have to turn up in person or will be able to give evidence via video link.Public prosecutors have said in a pre-trial indictment they would like her to receive a two-year prison sentence along with a £12,000 fine if convicted.The model said in a newspaper interview she has ‘proof’ that she was sexually assaultedCredit: InstagramTheo Hernandez moved to AC Milan in 2019Credit: Getty More

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      Arsenal and Chelsea to be dragged into Man City vs Premier League legal battle as landmark case leads to bitter war

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      MANCHESTER CITY’S legal brawl with the Prem is set to drag rivals, including Arsenal and Chelsea, into the fight.In what was hailed a landmark ruling, the Prem champs claimed victory as an element of the rules on commercial deals involving companies linked to clubs’ owners was judged “unlawful”.Manchester City claimed victory in a dispute with the Premier LeagueCredit: GettyMan City’s legal battle with the Prem is set to drag Arsenal and Chelsea inCredit: GettyArsenal and Chelsea are believed to have ploughed hundreds of millions into the club in loansCredit: AlamyIt related to shareholder loans not being included in the “Associated Party Transaction” calculation.Arsenal owners the Kroenkes are believed to have ploughed nearly £260million into the club in loans. Chelsea received £146m in the first year of their new ownership model.Brighton’s Tony Bloom has put £373m into the Seagulls, while Everton, who are subject to a takeover from The Friedkin Group, have the highest shareholder loans at £451m.That has been loaned at low or even zero interest and will almost certainly now need recalculating.Read More on FootballFormer Master of the Rolls — the country’s second most senior lawyer — Lord Dyson and two fellow judges agreed the rule preventing City from responding to the Prem over “Fair Market Value” of two proposed deals was “procedurally unfair”.But a number of City’s other claims against Prem rules “failed”, including that the League wrongly applied its regulations.Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Brentford, West Ham, Fulham, Wolves and Bournemouth gave evidence on behalf of the Prem.It has all left battle lines drawn even deeper — with the case into City’s alleged 115 financial breaches still being heard.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSCity launched the case after tighter rules were voted in by Prem clubs at a meeting in February.The club said yesterday: “The Tribunal found both the original APT rules and the current (amended) APT Rules violate UK competition law and procedural fairness . . . ”Man City vs Fulham: Player Ratings Breakdown“The Premier League was specifically unfair in how it applied those rules to the Club in practice.“They deliberately excluded shareholder loans while the Premier League reached decisions in a procedurally unfair manner.”City’s case centred on two sponsorship proposals, with First Abu Dhabi Bank and Etihad Aviation Group.But while the Arbitration Tribunal — which heard evidence in June — did side with City on some matters, League bosses claimed THEY had won.A Prem spokesman said: “Manchester City brought a wholesale challenge to the APT Rules.“The club was unsuccessful in the majority of its challenge.“Significantly, the Tribunal determined the APT Rules are necessary.“It rejected Manchester City’s argument that APT Rules were to discriminate against clubs with ownership from the ‘Gulf region’.“Except in two respects, it found that Manchester City’s arguments were unfounded.”READ MORE SUN STORIESBut League chiefs believe they need only make minor changes — and new rules will be tabled for club chiefs to vote on as soon as next week.The spokesman added: “In the meantime, the Premier League will operate the existing APT system, taking into account the findings made by the Tribunal.”Man City vs the Premier League: Q&ABy Martin LiptonBOTH Manchester City and the Premier League were claiming a win after their legal scrap over Associated Party Transactions.SunSport sifts the claims to try to explain the latest issues.What was the case about?City were furious that Prem bosses brought in new tougher regulations – by the smallest possible majority under League rules – in February. They were aimed at blocking clubs bypassing financial controls by earning “unfair” amounts via sponsorship from a company with the same owners, or selling players on the cheap to teams under the same ownership umbrella.Why were City so upset?The Etihad club argued that the rules were illegal and had been deliberately aimed at them by rivals and were both flawed and politically driven. They also branded the “two thirds support” rule that has been part of Prem regulations since its inception as a “tyranny of the majority”This was an Arbitration Tribunal – explain that?Under Prem rules, any club has the right to ask for Arbitration if they are unhappy about the regulations or due process. The three retired judges heard evidence in June and their full ruling was distributed to the 20 Prem clubs on Monday afternoon.And what did they say?Depending on who you listen to, they either totally vindicated one side or the other. The actual answer is that there were “wins” for both City and the Prem. But it’s your choice which ones meant more.OK, what were City’s wins?Maybe the most important one in terms of the repercussions. That both the new rules and the previous version – brought  in after Saudi Arabia’s PIF bought Newcastle in 2021 –  were “unlawful” as they exclude shareholder loans to clubs in any APT calculations.  City also won over their claims that the rulebook prevented them from responding to Prem decisions over whether two proposed deals with Abu Dhabi companies represented “Fair Market Value”, access to the “databank” of comparable deals and the time it took for decisions to be reached.That sounds pretty big. So what about the Prem’s side?The key finding as far as the League is concerned is that the Tribunal backed the concept of APT rules as well as the Fair Market Value tests. Additionally, City’s challenges to the actual decisions on the two proposed deals “failed”. Prem bosses insist the “rulebook has been found to comply with competition and public law standards and is an effective and necessary system”.Is that it, then?Of course not. That shareholder loan issue is a big deal, given that it is believed owners have loaned around £1.5bn at low or preferential rates across the Prem. Those loans will almost certainly have to be calculated at commercial rates now, unless the owners convert them into shares. But the League is convinced the main thrust of the rules remains valid.And what will be the impact on the “115 charges” case?Probably nothing. That is an allegation of breaking the rules, while this matter was City questioning whether one small element of the current rulebook was legitimate. But City are using the same legal team, headed by £10,000 per hour Lord Pannick KC. And the stakes on the bigger case are a great deal higher. More

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      in Boxing

      I married my coach before he tried to KILL me, then fell in love with rival – now Sydney Sweeney will play me in movie

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      CHRISTY MARTIN had a life and career fit for the big screen – and her story from escaping death to marrying an old opponent is heading to Hollywood.The boxing legend was stabbed and shot by her ex-husband and trainer Jim Martin after years of abuse. Christy Martin survived a murder attempt from her ex-husband and trainerCredit: ReutersJim Martin coached and married ChristyJim is now serving 25 years in prisonIt threatened to bring a tragic end to one of the sport’s most inspiring and influential careers. But after overcoming the frightening ordeal, Christy revealed in a Netflix documentary how surviving that day was her greatest victory.She said: “I came to some realisation that I got my 50th win when I got off the floor, November 23, 2010.”Christy’s boxing journey began in 1986 when she was dared by her friends to enter a toughwoman contest. READ MORE IN BOXINGShe knocked out all three of her opponents and pocketed $300 while becoming hooked on the sport. Christy was then put in contact with coach Jim by a promoter – and her life would never be the same. Jim – embarrassed at the thought of even training a women – instructed his boxers to try break Christy’s ribs and punch her out the gym.He soon found out that was not an option. Most read in BoxingJim, speaking from Orange County Jail in Florida, said: “Christy’s got a granite chin. “You hit her with a sledgehammer and she’s still standing there looking at you.”Inside the astonishing real life story of Christy Martin, who Sydney Sweeney will portray in upcoming Hollywood biopicChristy was forced to fight for free to even get a shot by promoters, earning as little as $60 if she ever did get paid. But as her KO streak grew so did her relationship with Jim – before one day something out of the ordinary happened.Christy revealed: “After one of the fights, you know you’re so excited and everyone’s so happy. And I kissed him.”I don’t even know what happened.”Christy had grown up a secret lesbian, hiding it from her family despite being in a relationship with an old school friend Sherry Lusk. She soon went public with her relationship with cornerman Jim – who was 25 years her senior and even older than her dad. The two married in 1991 after buying their rings from Walmart and three years later Christy was signed to legendary but controversial promoter Don King. King was initially going to watch tapes of Martin’s previous fights to help him decide whether to give her a contract – but after his TV stopped working he instead made her shadow box in front of him and saw enough to give her a deal.The two married in 1991Credit: GettyJim trained Christy during her riseCredit: AFPBut King was not the only iconic boxing name to take notice – an incarcerated Mike Tyson was among Martin’s admirers.So much so by the time he came out of jail in 1995 – after serving three years for a rape charge – he wanted her on his undercard.Tyson said: “I believe I was in jail and they were talking about “Coleminer’s daughter”, she’s knocking out people, she’s really exciting.”I’m like, ‘Get the f*** out of here.’ But then I started going to some of her fights. “She throws a lot of hard punches, crowd-pleasing. She gave everybody their money’s worth. So I said, ‘Put Christy Martin on my undercard.'”Martin made history by fighting in the first-ever women’s bout on pay-per-view the night Tyson knocked out Frank Bruno in 1996. She was booed into the ring with fans convinced it was no more than a novelty act – but Martin was cheered out.Martin fought Lisa Holewyne in 2001 and made jibes about her opponent’s sexuality – despite her secret lesbian past.She throws a lot of hard punches, crowd-pleasing. She gave everybody their money’s worth. So I said, ‘Put Christy Martin on my undercard.’Mike Tyson She admitted: “I said a lot of rude comments about homosexuals. But also, Jim did encourage that type of behaviour.”And I would tell him, ‘Jim, you don’t understand, I’m gonna keep saying this stuff and somebody from my past is going to creep up.”As Martin’s career as a star boxer reached its height in the early 2000s – her private life was the opposite. She wanted to bring in a new trainer – but husband Jim would not tolerate the thought – and made it known during a sparring session. Christy said: “He knocked me out. I’d never been knocked out. I’d never been dropped even. “You know when you’re hitting someone in the right spot. You know when you’re hitting someone hard enough to knock them out. “He knew exactly what he was doing. Is it abuse? Yeah, he’s smart. He disguised it. “All I wanted to do was leave him, all I wanted to do was live my life freely.”Christy Martin and Lisa Holewyne fought in 2001 before later getting marriedCredit: AFPChristy begged for Jim to divorce herCredit: GettyIn 2003, Christy stepped up to super-middleweight to challenge Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila despite the ONE STONE weight difference. Laila dominated the bout but Jim refused to pull Christy – perhaps on purpose as punishment.Christy said: “He could’ve stepped up and stopped it. I could always say, ‘Jim stopped it, I didn’t quit.’ “But I quit and that’s hard for me to live with.”In the years following, Christy and Jim became hooked on cocaine, even using it while training for fights. Christy said: “If I was hitting the heavy bag, I’d say, ‘Jim, I’m so tired. Do you have any more?’ He’d say, ‘Keep hitting the bag.'”He would go cut a line, I’d still have my gloves on. I was high all the time. But I couldn’t stop, I didn’t want to stop.”The relationship was disintegrating behind the scenes and Christy pleaded for divorce. She said: “I would tell him, ‘You know I’m a lesbian, so let’s get divorced! I’m begging you to please divorce me.'”I went as far as to write up a contract, I’ll take care of all these expenses, just please leave.’ “He hit me and knocked my tooth through my lip. Blood went everywhere.”Jim denied that Christy asked for a divorce. But he made her fight on in the ring. In 2010, Christy reconnected with her old partner and friend Sherry on Facebook – but she claimed Jim threatened to kill her if she left.Eventually, Christy did walk out and Jim released explicit images of her in retaliation.”This was my revenge,” he admitted. But the compromising pictures pale in comparison to what would come next as on November 23, 2010 an argument broke out between Christy and Jim. ‘Please don’t let me die’Following a physical altercation, Jim stabbed Christy four times and ignored her desperate pleas to help. Christy said: “He stopped everything and just left me laying there… I could hear my lung gurgling. So I know it’s filling up with blood.”He’s walking in and out of the room to see if I had to died yet. I’m begging him, ‘Please don’t let me die. I’m sorry Jim, I made a mistake. Truth is, I love you.'”But then by the time I realised he can’t let me live I was like, ‘Oh, f*** you. I never loved you. You’ve been a piece of s*** the whole time. I’m your personal ATM, you’ve done nothing but use me.'” Jim did eventually walk back towards Christy – only to fire a shot into her torso. Christy remembered: “He stands at my feet with my own pink 9-millimeter. I told him, ‘You don’t have the balls to shoot me.’ And he shot me.'”My mind’s like, ‘No, I don’t wanna die. I have to get out. I have to save me. Some way, I have to save me.'”Jim callously left Christy to die – but she was not done fighting yet. My mind’s like, ‘No, I don’t wanna die. I have to get out. I have to save me. Some way, I have to save me.Christy Martin after being stabbed and shot by her ex-husbanfAs her former trainer took a shower, Christy miraculously escaped the house on to the road where a stranger took her to hospital.Jim fled and slept in a tool shed behind an abandoned home – still clutching on to a blood-soaked knife – until police found him.The murder attempt exposed Christy’s sexuality – but she received widespread support from the boxing world. Amazingly less than a year after the attack – with a bullet still lodged in her back – Christy began training for a comeback bout.And she was seconds away from winning her return fight only for the ringside doctor to pull her out after she broke her hand. Christy had just one more fight – losing in 2012 – before suffering a stroke. By that time, her and Sherry had split up and soon Holewyne – almost a decade from their bitter bout – got back in touch. Jim was also standing trial in 2012 and was later sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison for the attempted murder. Christy during the 2012 trialCredit: GettyJim was later sentenced to 25 years in prisonCredit: GettyFive years on from Jim’s sentencing, Christy married former rival Holewyne in 2017 with the two happily together to this day.She said: “I love her without question and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I’m happy in my own skin.”Christy – who was inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in 2020 – now works as a promoter and motivational speaker. And her incredible life story is set to be depicted by Sydney Sweeney in a biopic directed by David Michod. Sweeney, 26, told Deadline: “I grappled and did kickboxing from 12-19 years old. “I’ve been itching to get back into the ring, train, and transform my body. “Christy’s story isn’t a light one, it’s physically and emotionally demanding, there’s a lot of weight to carry. But I love challenging myself.”READ MORE SUN STORIESDespite all the accolades in and outside the ring, Christy’s biggest triumph was surviving her evil husband. She said: “That was not just my 50th win but that was my biggest win of my life.” Christy Martin beat Lisa Holewyne a decade before they fell in loveCredit: GettyThe two are now happily marriedCredit: GettySydney Sweeney is set to play Christy in a Hollywood biopicCredit: Getty More

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      I was in prison FIVE times before I turned my life around to become an EFL star… now I’m a full-time church pastor

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      ON October 28, 1988, Ricky Junior Otto was sentenced to four years in prison aged 20 — the last of his five jail terms.He accepts he was a thug, bully and out-and-out menace to society — a product of a violent culture which ruled with fear growing up in Hackney, East London.EFL hero Ricky Otto is now a church pastorCredit: SuppliedOtto exclusively revealed how two inmates serving a combined 41 years during his time in Wandsworth changed his lifeCredit: AlamyBut following the time he served at Wandsworth, on this occasion for armed robbery, Otto walked out on January 25, 1990 an entirely different person to the one who arrived.And, remarkably, it was two inmates serving lengthy sentences who provided him with a lightbulb moment that changed his life forever.Now 56, Otto revealed: “It was these two guys — one was doing 24 years for murder, the other 17 for manslaughter.“They had watched me playing football in the gym and realised I had a talent and expressed this in the most incredible way.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“They told me something that day I have never forgotten: ‘Don’t serve the time, let the time serve you’.“From that moment I understood what they meant: ‘Don’t just sit in prison doing nothing but rather start preparing yourself now for when you are released’.“After that I became a gym orderly and started to prepare myself mentally and physically for a life after prison. It was just the kick up the backside that I needed.“When I walked out of Wandsworth in 1990, I knew it was a new beginning — with football being my escape into a new world.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe former winger said: “My immediate thought was to re-engage with my old team-mates who were now playing for amateur side Haringey Borough.“After a few games I got injured and I was sent for treatment at non-league Dartford. I ended up playing four games for them.Leicester City Players Under Fire for Harassing Fan “My performances caught the eye of Leyton Orient management duo Frank Clark and Peter Eustace.“They knew of my past and did not judge me but offered me a week’s trial, which was the opportunity of a lifetime that I’d been dreaming of while serving my time.“The trial was successful and I signed my first professional contract ten months after being released and just a couple of weeks before my 23rd birthday. It was the best birthday present ever!”After playing in the reserves and learning the game, Otto eventually got the chance to make his league debut when he was made sub for Orient’s fourth-tier game at Fulham in 1991, just 15 months after his release.He continued: “It was the last game of the season. I played the last 15 minutes, I should have scored too. But I was on the pitch playing and I had this wonderful feeling of achievement.”The following season he played 32 league games for the O’s, scoring his first goal at Hartlepool in September 1991.Otto said: “It was flattering that Barry Fry — then with Barnet — had watched me play against his side in the London Cup final and was clearly impressed.“When Barry joined Southend in April 1993 he signed me for £100,000. I don’t think I played in a better side at the start of the 1993-94 season.They knew of my past and did not judge me but offered me a week’s trial, which was the opportunity of a lifetime that I’d been dreaming of while serving my timeRicky OttoSunSport“Had Barry not been headhunted by Birmingham I genuinely believe we would have gone on to make the play-offs in what was the Championship at the end of that season.“We had such a wonderful camaraderie, with wins against big clubs with multi-million-pound budgets like Sunderland, Derby, Stoke and Middlesbrough. We were flying!”Otto’s next move was to link up with Fry again at Birmingham — this time in an £800,000 switch to St Andrew’s.His greatest football memories include his stunning equaliser against Liverpool at Anfield in the 1995 FA Cup and playing for City in the Football League Trophy final the same year — when his assist provided the extra-time winner for Paul Tait in front of over 76,000 fans at Wembley.Otto said: “I remember travelling on the coach to Wembley with a sea of Birmingham fans walking towards the stadium.“I had that pinch-me moment where I couldn’t believe I was going to be playing at Wembley.”After Birmingham, Otto played at Charlton, Peterborough and Notts County on loan.It was while he was with County, under Sam Allardyce, that he suffered a cruciate ligament injury which ultimately ended his career.I remember travelling on the coach to Wembley with a sea of Birmingham fans walking towards the stadium.I had that pinch-me moment where I couldn’t believe I was going to be playing at WembleyRicky OttoSunSportHe said: “I did manage to play again but I was never the same player. I’d lost that yard of pace and I always had that twinge of pain when I was playing.”After ten years, he knew his career was over.He added: “Having left school with no qualifications this was a period when I had think what I was going to do for the rest of my life.“Of course, I could have slipped back into my old ways before football but I knew I had to build another chapter to my life.”Instead, he trained as a probation officer, later creating his own consultancy working with offenders and those at risk of offending.Ricky said: “My work has enabled me to engage with some of the country’s most prolific offenders.“Being able to relate to their journey, I am able to use the same old adage that was spoken into my life when incarcerated: Don’t serve the time, let the time serve you.“For nearly 20 years I have primarily worked with adults. However, over the last two years I’ve been working with Walsall Youth Justice Service as a Resettlement Disproportionality Officer.”READ MORE SUN STORIESEven more remarkably, father-of-three Ricky is a committed Christian and, after passing his degree in Theology, is Pastor of ARC Birmingham Church. He is currently studying for a Masters degree.Yet in reflection of his extraordinary 56 years, Otto readily admits: “Without a shadow of a doubt, football saved my life.” More

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      Fifa launch desperate mission to prevent transfer fees from being SCRAPPED after landmark Lassana Diarra case

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      FIFA will try to prove that the current transfer system is vital for smaller clubs – to prevent the Lassana Diarra ruling ripping up the footballing eco-system.Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Diarra’s victory at the European Court of Justice had his lawyer Jean Louis Dupont declaring the only possible outcome will be the end of clubs being able to demand fees for players.The Lassana Diarra ruling could rip up the football transfer systemCredit: GettyThe ruling could mean football clubs are no longer able to demand fees for their playersCredit: PADupont, who was also the successful lawyer behind the Jean-Marc Bosman case that upended European football in the 1990s, argued the decision would inevitably lead to US-style collective bargaining agreements between players and clubs and “trades” – swap deals – rather than transfer fees being paid.But while Fifa publicly insisted the defeat was a minor one relating to “only two paragraphs of two articles” of their transfer regulations, Zurich’s legal chiefs will now go all out to persuade the Euro Judges that they cannot afford to crash the system.West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady warned in her exclusive Sun column of the potential for “chaos and anarchy” if the potential repercussions do lead to players walking out on their contracts for better deals elsewhere.Fifa insiders conceded that the ruling would force a rewriting of some of the current rules regarding players who fall out with their employers.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThat would mean clubs engaging those players whose contracts were terminated would not be expected to pay any “fines” – with Diarra going to Court in 2014 after Belgian club Charleroi pulled out of a deal to sign him because they faced being hit by a demand for £8m from Lokomotiv Moscow.World chiefs also recognise that they can longer withhold processing International Transfer Certificate requests for players who are in conflict with a former club.But Fifa remains hopeful it can persuade the Court that its current rules are proportionate.The five Judges on the Court confirmed the need for “stability” in the football system, backing the existing two transfer registration windows which prevent players being able to move clubs at any time.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSIt is likely, though, that Zurich lawyers will attempt to argue that scrapping transfer fees wholesale would be a disaster for the entire economic fabric of the game.The business models of clubs in many European countries – especially France, Belgium, Holland, Portugal  and Scandinavia – are designed to develop and sell on talent to “bigger” markets.Top 10 highest paid footballers in the world revealed with no Premier League players making the top fiveIf those fees can no longer be demanded, with players free to simply break their contracts and move on, those clubs would no longer be capable of remaining solvent.The argument will almost certainly be that allowing players to tear up their deals without any sanctions or consequences would prove a death-knell for the sport outside the biggest and wealthiest markets.And Fifa will be backed by Europe’s most powerful clubs including the Prem Big Six.The Diarra ruling will now be a major topic of conversation when the European Club Association, which represents more than 700 clubs across the continent, holds its General Assembly in Athens this week.Transfer fees scrapped Q&A: How landmark ruling could mean NFL-style trades and stars suing for millionsFORMER Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra has won his landmark case at the European Court of Justice.SunSport’s Martin Lipton explains what it was all about – and what it might mean for the future of football…What was the case about?Diarra argued Fifa’s transfer rules were illegal after the world body backed Lokomotiv Moscow’s claim that he had broken his contract by refusing to train with them.Is that it?No. Belgian club Charleroi wanted to sign Diarra but were told they would have to pay the money he was fined by Moscow, while Fifa refused to issue an International Transfer Certificate unless they coughed up.Okay, so what does the ruling mean?Theoretically players will have the right to break their contracts and switch clubs without a fee changing hands – just like any employee in any other industry.Hang on – does that mean the END of transfer fees?Potentially, yes. Although players would have to want to move.We would basically end up with a US-style “collective bargaining” model where players would be free to move within transfer windows without impunity.Clubs might be able to “trade” players – swap deals – but with no extra cash changing hands.Is everybody agreed about this?Absolutely not. Fifa claimed the ruling “only puts in question two paragraphs of two articles” of its transfer regulations.Yet the Judges said the current rules were “prohibited” under EU law and “anti-competitive” as they “limit the freedom of action” of players to change employer.Read SunSport’s full Q&A with football on the brink of the biggest shake-up in 30 years…In a statement, the ECA said: “The ECJ did recognise the legitimacy of rules aiming at protecting the integrity and stability of competitions and the stability of squads.“It also recognised rules which aim to support such legitimate objectives, including the existence of registration windows, the principle that compensation is payable by anyone who breaches an employment contract and the imposition of sporting sanctions on parties that breach those contracts.“The football transfer system is designed to establish a balance between the rights of players to free movement and stability of contracts, together with the legitimate objectives of the integrity and stability of squads and competitions.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Crucially, the transfer system affords medium and smaller sized clubs the means to continue to compete at high levels of football, especially those who are able to develop and train players successfully.“The transfer system as a whole, and transfer fees and solidarity mechanism more specifically, are an efficient and effective means of wealth distribution from bigger clubs to smaller ones.”Inside Lassana Diarra’s legal case with FifaLASSANA DIARRA’S case with Fifa dates back to 2014 when he was playing for Lokomotiv Moscow.The former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder was in a dispute with Lokomotiv over wages – with the Russian side ultimately terminating his contract.The case was referred to Fifa’s Dispute and Resolution Chamber (DRC) which ruled against Diarra, fining him £16MILLION.During this time, Diarra received a new contract offer from Belgian side Charleroi.But Charleroi wanted clarification from Fifa that they would not be liable to pay any of the money owed to Lokomotiv.Fifa could not make that guarantee and the move never happened.As a result, Diarra brought new legal action against Fifa and the Belgian league claiming a loss of earnings.That started the long process that has led to this week’s groundbreaking judgment. 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