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    Police charge 46 men, including one for possessing a knife, over violent scenes outside Aston Villa’s with Legia Warsaw

    POLICE have confirmed that 46 men have been charged after the violent scenes outside of Aston Villa’s clash with Legia Warsaw – including a man in possession of a knife.West Midlands Police announced yesterday that 46 Legia fans were in custody following Thursday’s serious disorder outside Villa Park at the Europa Conference League match.
    Violent scenes marred Aston Villa’s clash with Legia Warsaw on ThursdayCredit: Rex
    Cops were attacked by the visiting fans outside of the stadium
    Police have now confirmed 46 men have been chargedCredit: Rex
    Uefa have reported Legia to Uefa after the shocking scenesCredit: Rex
    Now a statement from the police has confirmed: “We’ve charged 46 men over Thursday night’s violence outside Villa Park.
    “Of those, 43 have been charged with a public order offence, while two have been charged with assaulting police officers and another has been charged with possession of a knife.
    “Those charged are aged between and 21 and 63, and around 40 are believed to be from Poland. A small number are believed to be UK residents.
    “All apart from one of the men is due in court today. He has been bailed to appear at a later date.
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    “A special court has been set up at Birmingham magistrates and will begin hearing the cases this morning.”
    It continued: “We are continuing to review CCTV and body-worn video footage to identify further suspects in what was an appalling and violent public disorder.
    “It is now known five officers suffered minor injuries in the disorder.
    ASTON VILLA TROUBLE TIMELINEAccording to Villa the following timeline outlines Legia’s refusal to follow normal procedure.
    10:30am – Match Day meeting during which Legia failed to accept their ticket allocation and informed those in attendance they would not be able to confirm if they would until 2.30pm.
    2.30pm – Legia officials miss the first deadline to report back.
    3.00pm – Legia officials miss the second deadline to report back despite repeated calls to them.
    4.00pm – Legia officials finally confirm they wish to receive their ticket allocation, with a pick-up point arranged at the stadium.
    6.00pm – Villa hand over tickets to Legia to distribute among their fans.
    7.00pm – Police who have penned Legia fans into the Witton Lane car park, close to the Doug Ellis Stand they will occupy, begin to release fans.
    7.05pm – Legia Ultras orchestrate violence and try to storm through police lines to gain access for ticketless fans, four police officers are injured in the ensuing violence.
    8.00pm – The match kicks off – no Legia fans have been allowed into the away section.

    “Two of these were from West Midlands Police, two from West Mercia and one from Derbyshire. They are receiving support at this time.
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    “Two dogs from West Midlands Police and two horses from Thames Valley were injured and are recovering.”
    Det Supt Jim Munro, who is overseeing the criminal investigation, said: “Our investigation is very much continuing and we’ll be reviewing footage and speaking to witnesses over the coming days.
    “To charge this number of people so soon after such a major disorder has taken a huge effort by staff who have been working around the clock.
    “We’ve had a number of messages of thanks from the club and fans who were present on Thursday night and saw the policing operation first hand, and we are really grateful for that support.”
    Villa have reported Legia Warsaw to Uefa following the shameful scenes of violence.
    Sources close to Uefa claim the Polish side’s fans face being banned from all future away games after the shameful incident.
    The chaos lasted over 90 minutes and was described by one cop as “the worst violence I’ve experienced in 28 years.”
    Police struggled to disperse the Legia Warsaw fansCredit: PA
    Two police dogs and two horses were injured in the violence scenesCredit: Reuters
    Mounted officers joined riot police and dog handlers to try and disperse around 2,000 Legia fans who had been penned into a nearby car park prior to kick-off.
    Four cops were injured in the disorder as they were attacked with flares, bricks, metal poles and tree branches.
    After Villa secured their place in the knockouts with a 2-1 win, Assistant Chief Constable Damian Barratt said: “This was appalling and completely unacceptable disorder.
    “What we saw was 90 minutes of planned violence, with one officer saying it was the worst he had seen in 28 years of policing.
    “Our officers bravely put themselves in harm’s way and I would like to commend each and every one of them for their efforts.
    “We are committed to charging and remanding any and all responsible for attacking our officers and endangering the public.
    “We had no issues with the home fans and would like to thank them and Aston Villa for their support and kind words last night and this morning.
    “The only issues inside the ground last night were from a small number of away fans who had managed to get into home areas.
    “We will be liaising with the club and footballing authorities in the coming days to discuss last night’s appalling scenes.”
    No away fans were allowed into Villa Park for the matchCredit: Getty
    Home fans were also kept inside the stadium during half timeCredit: Reuters
    Aston Villa went on to win the match 2-1 and secure a place in the knockoutsCredit: EPA
    Villa swiftly dismissed claims by some Polish media outlets that were trying to lay blame on them for failing to provide enough tickets to Legia fans.
    And they have contacted Uefa to report the unacceptable conduct of Legia Warsaw officials ahead of the high-risk tie.
    Visiting teams to Villa Park would usually receive 5 per cent of capacity, which amounts to around 2,600 tickets for away supporters.
    However, trouble flared during Legia’s last visit to England when they lost 3-1 to Leicester City in 2021 as 20 police officers were injured that night when Polish Ultras ran riot.
    In light of that, Villa agreed a revised figure of 1700 tickets with Legia officials nearly four weeks ago, with the full approval of Uefa.
    However, when Legia fans again fought with Dutch police during their recent tie in Alkmaar, Uefa banned their fans from their next away tie against Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia.
    At that point, the UK Safety Advisory Group – which passes safety certificates for major events – refused to sanction the full 1700 allocation and slashed it by almost 700 to 1002 tickets.
    That decision was completely out of Villa’s control and was ratified by Uefa.
    Villa claim Legia failed to convey that message to their fans immediately, which led to around 1,000 ticketless fans travelling to the UK.
    Furthermore, Villa have accused Legia of being obstructive during a Match Day meeting on the morning of the match.
    But Legia Warsaw released a statement earlier today blaming Aston Villa for the incident and claimed they did not listen to advice from them to ensure safety.
    And they also stated that the English club even escalated the already tense atmosphere by reducing the number of tickets for their fans.
    It read: “Regrettably, as a consequence of both actions and inactions by the Aston Villa F.C. club, unfavourable incidents unfolded.
    “In declining to embrace our constructive critiques and recommendations, the hosts bear full responsibility for the situation.”
    Legia also added that they are not responsible for people that have no official ties to their club, saying: “No club should bear accountability for the actions of unidentified individuals lacking match tickets.”
    At the customary meeting attended by representatives of both clubs, Uefa, broadcasters, security staff, police and emergency services, Legia stunned Villa representatives by refusing to confirm if they would accept the reduced ticket allocation.
    SunSport understands Legia representatives seemed determined to adopt and endorse their Ultras motto of: ‘Don’t leave anyone behind,’ and were reluctant to accept the reduced allocation.
    The police have confirmed that all apart from one of those arrested are due in court todayCredit: Reuters
    Uefa observers were present at the Witton Lane car park and witnessed the shocking scenes of violence which followed.
    They immediately launched an investigation into the shocking scenes but were quick to praise West Midlands Police and Villa for their handling of the explosive situation.
    It now appears certain Legia will face a lengthy ban from travelling to away fixtures after “off the scale violence,” erupted for the third time in recent away trips.
    At the height of the violence Villa raced to collect fire extinguishers from the stadium and nearby supporters hall and supplied police with them to try and douse the flames from hundreds of flares.
    At one flashpoint Legia thugs tried to overturn a police van which was blocking their route.
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    SunSport understands some Legia fans arrived in the UK hell-bent on causing mayhem and spoiling for a fight with police or Villa fans. 
    We understand border police found Mixed Martial Arts mitts and gum shields in the luggage of some fans, who had clearly come prepared to battle. More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo facing $1BILLION lawsuit in the USA over Binance cryptocurrency adverts

    CRISTIANO RONALDO is facing a lawsuit worth 1 BILLION DOLLARS after promoting Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.A filing in a US district court in Florida has alleged that the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid man, 38, “promoted, assisted in, and/or actively participated in the offer and sale of unregistered securities in co-ordination with Binance”.
    Cristiano Ronaldo could be set to enter a huge legal battleCredit: Reuters
    According to The Times, it has been claimed by the plaintiffs of the case that his endorsement of the company led to them making losses on their investments.
    Ronaldo’s representatives have been approached for comment.
    The Al-Nassr forward signed a multi-year deal with Binance last year to promote non-fungible tokens – also known as NFTs.
    These are virtual assets, used to prove ownership of an online picture or video, which can be purchased and sold.
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    Ronaldo and Binance collaborated to create an NFT collection in November 2022.
    The Portuguese icon claimed this would reward his loyal followers “for all the years of support”.
    Following the release of the NFTs, Ronaldo said: “It was important to me that we created something memorable and unique for my fans as they are such a big part of my success.
    “With Binance, I was able to make something that not only captures the passion of the game but rewards fans for all the years of support.”
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    Earlier this month, Binance’s co-founded and chief executive, Changpeng Zhao, pled guilty to charges of money laundering.
    He will personally pay a 50 million dollar fine as part of a 4 BILLION dollar settlement between Binance and the justice department.
    Ronaldo has been living in Saudi Arabia since he joined Al-Nassr midway through the 2021/22 season when his Man Utd contract was terminated.
    He has scored 32 goals and provided 11 assists in 38 games since arriving in the Middle East. More

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    ‘Maddy Cusack’s spirit was broken by football’, mum of Sheffield United star says – as club launch probe into her death

    MADDY Cusack’s spirit was “broken by football” the mum of the Sheffield United star has said, as the club begins an investigation into her death.Cusack,  27, died at her home address in Horsley, Derbyshire, on September 20.
    Maddy Cusack on the pitch in a game against Blackburn in August 2022Credit: Getty
    Her family say Sheffield United have launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding her deathCredit: Getty
    Derbyshire Police said at the time there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
    She was vice-captain of the Blades and the side’s longest serving player as well as their first to reach 100 appearances for the women’s team.
    A speech, read by her mum, Deborah, at a memorial service in October has now been published by her family, which has also been shared on the Maddy Cusack Foundation JustGiving page.
    The tribute said: “My beautiful daughter, Madeleine. The saddest and most utterly heart-breaking reason why I am having to stand here and speak to you today is because of football.
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    “From February this year, the indomitable, irrepressible spirit, the spirit called Maddy, the spirit that we had so fiercely protected, was allowed to be broken, taking her away from me.”
    In an additional statement the family revealed Sheffield United have agreed to appoint a firm to carry out a probe into the events surrounding Maddy’s death.
    The statement said: “Those who knew Maddy well will be aware that she had no long-standing mental health issues or troubles.
    “Not that there would be anything to be ashamed of if there were, but there were not. Those that didn’t know her need to know that.
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    “Maddy was a happy-go-lucky, care-free girl with everything to live for and last Christmas could be described as being at her happiest.
    “This all changed gradually from February this year.
    “It is no secret, nor should it be, that Sheffield United have agreed, at the request of Maddy’s family, to carry out a thorough external investigation into the events that her family believe contributed significantly to her passing at the tender age of 27.
    “The Maddy Cusack Foundation — Fierce, Determined and Spirited #MC8.”
    Cusack joined the club from Leicester in 2019 and also worked in the Blades’ commercial department as a marketing executive.
    An inquest was opened in October at Derby Coroner’s Court and adjourned, as a coroner awaits further details about the cause of her death.
    The hearing heard how it was Cusack’s devastated dad who identified her body.
    Assistant Coroner Louise Pinder told the short hearing Ms Cusack’s death was reported to Chesterfield Coroner’s Court by police on September 21.
    The hearing, which was only attended by members of the press, was also told her cause of death is yet to be ascertained.
    Ms Pinder added: “We are awaiting a police file and the medical cause of death, therefore I am adjourning the inquest for six weeks for further review then the inquest can be listed in due course.”
    Tributes poured in from across the world following the announcement of her death, which came as she entered a sixth season with her club – having signed a new deal in July.
    The club’s chief executive Stephen Bettis said in a tribute: “This is heart-breaking news for everyone at Bramall Lane.
    “Maddy had a unique position of being part of a number of teams at Sheffield United and was popular with everyone that she came into contact with.
    “Her personality and professionalism made her a credit to her family – she will be sadly missed.
    “While taking in the news and moving forward, the club will offer as much support as possible to Maddy’s family, friends and colleagues.”
    Deborah, Maddy’s mum has released a heartfelt tribute to her daughterCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
    Floral tributes were left outside the club at the time of Maddy’s deathCredit: Reuters More

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    I made £40,000 a WEEK as a Premier League star and captained my country at World Cup… now I can’t even afford a phone

    A PREMIER league star was raking it in on £40,000 a week during his playing days but now can’t even afford a phone.In the mid 2000s Lucas Neill was a footballing hero as captain of West Ham and played in the 2006 World Cup.
    Lucas Neill played 79 games for West Ham and captained the sideCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Neill in action for West Ham against Spurs in April 2009Credit: Getty
    He was living the high life too, with a Ferrari in his garage and holidays in the Maldives.
    Nowadays, Neill, 45, lives a very different life having gone bankrupt and was recently facing three years behind bars as he stood trial for failing to declare money he never knew he had.
    He had been accused of concealing more than £2million from creditors.
    As he battled his financial problems the lights would often go out because he didn’t have the money to top up his pay-as-you-go meter.
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    Last Monday though, a jury at Preston Crown Court took just 26 minutes to acquit him of the charges.
    Neill told The Times: “I’ve won my freedom, but I feel like I’ve lost in life.”
    During his financial hardship, his wife Lindsey Morris, a beauty therapist and personal trainer, became the breadwinner, as he only had his £900-a-month footballer’s pension.
    He blames himself completely for his financial ruin.
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    Neill, who is a dad-of-two, said: “I feel like I didn’t protect my family… And that hurts. I let my family down.”
    The Professional Footballers’ Association has warned that between 10 to 20 per cent of professional players go bankrupt when they retire.
    Nell had been advised to pump vast sums of money into a scheme which gave the promise of investing in British films in return for a huge tax break.
    The scheme appeared to be legitimate and were pushed heavily by accountants and financial advisers and the government had championed the investment tax relief.
    But the taxman eventually came sniffing around and forced those who invested in them to repay the money they claimed, which in many cases totalled up to tens of thousands of pounds.
    Neill said: “People say they want to advise you. Help you. People just constantly want to take a tiny slice out of you. Telling you they’re going to add value to what they’re doing. That’s just a lesson for all footballers.”
    He added: “Do you need these professional financial advisers? I was very successful in the world of football, but I clearly wasn’t ready for this other world — the world of business. And I’ve learnt the hard way.”
    HMRC told him he owed £400,000 and he had to sell seven or eight properties, losing money on each one, to pay it back.
    He then defaulted on a NatWest loan he had taken out to pay for a barn near Newcastle, which was held in an offshore fund.
    Neill was left owing the bank £737,000 – and was declared bankrupt in 2016.
    He said: “People couldn’t believe it, but I had nothing left. That was my rock bottom.
    “After 20 years of a football career and all this hard work, I’ve got nothing to show for it.”
    During a meeting with the insolvency service he was meant to list all his assets, but forgot to mention the 144 acres of land he had bought around the barn.
    The insolvency service investigated Neill for seven years, so he was unable to own his own home, or even take out a mobile phone contract.
    When he went bankrupt, the repossessed 144 acres was sold for £3m by a lender and after the loan was settled, the remaining £2.1m was put into Neill’s offshore trust.
    Neill claims he never knew about this but the insolvency service accused him of hiding the money from his bankruptcy proceedings.
    Now he has been found not guilty he is starting to rebuild his life and he also wants to find out what happened to the offshore funds.
    His defence lawyer, Joseph Kotrie Monson, of Mary Monson Solicitors, said: “Why would somebody ever put their family through all the pressure of bankruptcy, if they knew they had enough money in a bank account to pay off the debt and still have a million left over?”
    He’s now coaching women and girls at a football club and working as a project manager for a local digital firm.
    Neill also captained his national side AustraliaCredit: AFP
    Having been acquitted of the charges, Neill, seen here in 2015, is now rebuilding his lifeCredit: Getty More

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    I was West Ham captain & had a Ferrari on the drive… now I live in rented flat and almost went to jail over bankruptcy

    A FORMER West Ham captain who once had a Ferrari on his drive now lives in a rented flat – and almost went to jail over his bankruptcy.Lucas Neill used to earn £40,000 a week as the Hammers’ skipper between 2007 and 2009.
    Lucas Neill captained West Ham from 2007 and 2009Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    The Aussie in action for the Irons in 2008Credit: Getty
    Neill played for Australia at the World CupCredit: AFP
    The Australian defender starred for the Socceroos at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
    At the height of his success he splashed out on a Ferrari and luxury holidays in the Maldives.
    But last week Neill appeared at Preston Crown Court charged with failing to declare money he never knew he had.
    The trial came after seven years of bankruptcy, with Neill facing three years in prison if convicted.
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    Neill has opened up about his financial ruin after a jury acquitted him in just 26 minutes.
    He told The Times: “Behind my chair in the dock were stairs going to the cells.
    “I’ve won my freedom, but I feel like I’ve lost in life.
    “I feel like I didn’t protect my family. And that hurts. I let my family down.”
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    Neill was accused of hiding more than £2million from his creditors as his money problems spiralled out of control.
    The star ploughed huge sums into a scheme which he thought would see him get big tax breaks in return for investing in British films.
    But HMRC ordered him to pay back £400,000 after probing the dodgy scheme – which had been touted to footballers by financial advisers.
    Neill was forced to sell over seven properties, losing money on each one.
    He then defaulted on a NatWest loan he had taken out to pay for a barn near Newcastle, which was held in an offshore fund.
    Neill was left owing the bank £737,000 – and was declared bankrupt in 2016.
    He said: “People couldn’t believe it, but I had nothing left. That was my rock bottom.
    “After 20 years of a football career and all this hard work, I’ve got nothing to show for it.”
    Neill forgot to mention 144 acres of land he had bought around the barn when listing his assets for repossession.
    The Insolvency Service probed Neill for seven years, leaving him unable to own a house or even buy a mobile phone contract.
    One morning his kids answered the door to bailiffs demanding a £400 council tax bill.
    But Neill has now been found not guilty of hiding the offshore money.
    He is now coaching women and girls at a football club while working for a tech firm.
    His lawyer Joseph Kotrie Monson said: “Now it’s time for him to enjoy his restored reputation and get back into the world of sport and broadcasting.” More

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    Barcelona legend Dani Alves faces nine years in jail after being accused of rape

    PROSECUTORS will accuse footballer Dani Alves of rape and demand he spends nine years in jail, paying his victim £130,000, court papers have revealed.The married 40-year-old former Brazil and Barcelona defender has been held in custody without bail since his arrest in January.
    Dani Alves faces nine years in jail after being accused of rapeCredit: Getty
    Claims against him had been referred to as a “sexual assault” until the seven-page pre-trial indictment was released in Spain yesterday.
    The dad-of-two has previously confirmed he had sex with a woman in a private toilet at a ­Barcelona nightclub last December, but insisted it was consensual.
    She said he refused to let her leave the cubicle and slapped her face.
    He has publicly apologised to his wife, model Joana Sanz, for cheating on her.
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    A trial date is still to be set.
    In an exclusive interview from his prison cell he claimed: “The only person I have to ask for forgiveness is my wife, Joana Sanz.
    “I have already done that here in prison, but I have to do it publicly.
    “Because the story is public, the offence I caused her is public and she deserves that public apology.”
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    Last December in Qatar he became the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup. More

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    Premier League chiefs urged to explain ‘inconsistent’ FFP probes after Man Utd and Wolves not investigated

    PREM bosses are being urged to explain alleged “inconsistent” FFP investigations.Everton were last week rocked by a ten-point deduction, while Manchester City face 115 charges, all vehemently denied.
    Man United were fined by Uefa in JulyCredit: Reuters
    Everton were docked ten pointsCredit: Getty
    The Toffees’ angry reaction included a vow that: “The club will monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.” 
    And one of the questions being asked is why Prem bosses have not investigated Manchester United or Wolves after they were both sanctioned for breaking Uefa FFP regulations.
    In July, United were hit with a £257,000 fine for what were described as “minor” breaches of the Uefa regulations between 2019 and 2022.
    Three years earlier, Wolves were fined an initial £175,000 for similar offences.
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    It is unclear if Prem legal eagles launched an investigation into whether either club had also broken League rules.
    But among the charges against City were five accusing them of “failing to comply with Uefa regulations, including Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations”.
    The penalty imposed on Everton raised hackles on Merseyside in particular, with extra scrutiny on what some critics described as double standards.
    Sun Sport understands questions are being asked by lawyers and other experts over why there has been action against Man City and Chelsea and none at all against two clubs who have been found guilty of breaching UEFA regulations. 
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    Wolves were also fined £175k for similar offences to UnitedCredit: PA
    The written reasons of the independent commission that heard the Everton case disclosed that Prem chief executive Richard Masters argued for a six point penalty being the starting point for breaching financial rules.
    That being the case, with guilty verdicts from Uefa having been handed down, it is felt to look inconsistent that Wolves and Manchester United have not been investigated and potentially charged by the League.

    Pressed on whether any probe into Wolves or United had been launched or ended, a League spokesman declined to comment, citing policy only to confirm investigations against clubs when a charge is levied.
    However, it is known that Chelsea are under investigation after being fined £8.6m by Uefa in a “settlement” agreement in the summer.
    And while the City charges were only announced in February, it was known that the club were under investigation for at least 18 months beforehand.
    City have previously commented on the charges and claimed that it was “surprised” about the alleged breaches.
    A club statement read: “Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.
    “The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.
    “As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.” More

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    Shakira ‘plans bombshell behind-the-scenes TV show on ugly split from Pique’ dubbed a ‘diss track in documentary form’

    SHAKIRA is reportedly set to bare all in a bombshell documentary about her ugly split from former Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique.Once one of the world’s most glamorous couples in showbiz, Shakira, 46, and Pique, 36, are perhaps now better known for their bitter post-breakup feud then they were for their relationship.
    Shakira arrives at Barcelona Airport on Wednesday, November 22 after settling her huge tax billCredit: The Mega Agency
    Shakira attends the 24th annual Latin Grammy on November 16, 2023Credit: The Mega Agency
    Former Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique and Shakira were together 11 years and share two sonsCredit: Getty
    The Colombian pop star has released a number of diss songs taking aim at her ex since their shock split in June 2022.
    One in January with Argentinian DJ Bizarrap appeared to reference Pique’s new relationship with 24-year-old student Clara Chia Marti and claimed he traded a Ferrari for a Twingo and a Rolex for a Casio.
    Pique responded to the track by showing up to work in an £8,000 Renault Twingo and boasting of a sponsorship deal with Casio; he added the cheaper watch would “last a lifetime”.
    In a strange turn of events, Shakira then put a terrifying life-size witch doll on her balcony, facing her mother-in-law’s house in the same street, and blasted the song on repeat, neighbours said.
    Read more on Shakira
    Rumours of Pique allegedly cheating on the singer have long swirled, with Shakira reportedly learning of her ex’s infidelity upon finding an empty jam jar in their fridge.
    Neither Pique nor their children, Milian and Sasha, like strawberry jam and Shakira had only just returned from a trip, it was reported, leaving the star to conclude someone else had stayed in their home.
    Of the documentary supposedly in the works, Shakira expert and Spanish journalist Laura Fa said: “I think it will be about the drama she’s gone through and it will be called: ‘The cheating and me’.
    “It will be the Bizarrap song in documentary form.”
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    Many speculated Shakira could be filming something new when a cameraman travelled with her to court on Monday for her trial in Barcelona where she faced allegations of tax fraud.
    She was also reportedly seen flanked by two cameramen wearing “Film Crew” bibs as she left Barcelona’s El Prat yesterday to fly home to Miami.
    Pictures snapped of Shakira in the Barcelona Airport showed her smiling, looking glam with a bright lip, a red hat, and dark sunglasses.
    Another Shakira expert and journalist Lorena Vasquez said: “It’s clear Shakira is recording graphic material for an audiovisual project, a documentary or a documentary-style reality.
    “It seems nowadays like if you’re a famous person and you haven’t got your own documentary-style reality, you’re nobody.”
    The famous singer avoided a lengthy trial and up to eight years’ prison on Monday by admitting six counts of tax fraud and agreeing to pay a £7million fine in a last-minute plea bargain deal.
    It was alleged Shakira defrauded Spanish tax officials of £12.7million.
    She has previously claimed she paid the full amount the Spanish authorities said she owed before they filed charges, which came to nearly £15million with interest.
    The pop star said on Monday: “While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.
    “I need to move past the stress and emotional toll of the last several years and focus on the things I love – my kids and all the opportunities to come in my career, including my upcoming world tour and my new album, both of which I am extremely excited about.
    “I admire tremendously those who have fought these injustices to the end, but for me, today, winning is getting my time back for my kids and my career.”
    Shakira and Pique, who were together 11 years before their split, signed a child custody agreement last December following a marathon 12 hours of negotiations.
    The pop star moved to Miami with their sons in April.
    Shakira was all smiles at Barcelona Airport on Wednesday, November 22Credit: The Mega Agency
    Gerard Pique and his 24-year-old girlfriend Clara Chia MartiCredit: Instagram
    Shakira leaves the Audiencia Nacional on Monday, the day her trial beganCredit: The Mega Agency More