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      in Soccer

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

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      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. 
      Most read in Football
      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’

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      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.
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      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.”
      Most read in Football
      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

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      in Boxing

      Mike Tyson called me the world’s toughest white guy but my boxing dream died…I was broke & almost killed by machete gang

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      STEPPING into the ring, 17-year-old Joe Egan stood his ground as blow after blow rained down on him from his ‘ferocious’ sparring partner Mike Tyson.It was the start of a lifelong friendship – and a promising boxing career – with the heavyweight champ, who dubbed the Irish fighter “the toughest white man on the planet” .
      Big Joe Egan was a champion amateur fighter dubbed the ‘toughest white man on the planet’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The Irish fighter is a close pal of Mike Tyson and was his sparring partner
      But after 80 wins in US Golden Gloves bouts and seven Irish titles, Joe’s dreams were cut short by a horrific car accident, sending him into a downward spiral that saw him shot twice in a gang attack, accused of attempted murder and jailed for shipping stolen cars abroad.
      Now ‘Big’ Joe, who made his boxing comeback at the age of 38 and went on to star in a Hollywood movie, tells The Sun about his incredible life – from being bullied at school to losing his girlfriend to Michael Flatley.
      While few would mess with the 6ft 1in hardman now, Joe – the eldest of seven kids – was mercilessly bullied by older kids in the Ringsend suburb of Dublin and in the UK, where his dad moved to find work.
      “When I was seven or eight, I made my Holy Communion, and two of the bully boys, who were 15 or 16, tried to take away my Communion medal,” he says.
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      “I held on to it and I got my two front teeth knocked out. 
      “When I got bullied it was physical, and when you got an arm broken or a nose broken the doctors would say ‘It’ll heal in a week’.
      “In all my years in boxing I only ever had one tooth knocked out. The boxing ring literally was a safe place for me, compared to the years of bullying.”
      Joe’s dad encouraged him into the ring as a young boy and in his first fight, at 12, he was pitted against future middleweight champ Steve Collins, who he says “pounded me to a pulp, absolutely hammered me. I lost on points but I went the distance.”
      Most read in Boxing
      Tyson even visited Joe’s late mother several timesCredit: YouTube
      At 17, he travelled to the US to train with the Irish Boxing Team and met heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson who asked him to stay on in the States as a sparring partner for a new heavyweight hope, Mike Tyson.
      The pair – who remain close friends 40 years on – bonded over their experiences of being bullied, sharing the ring for over two years and living together in New York’s Catskill Gym. 
      Tyson gave him his flattering “toughest man” title after their first sparring session, when he was the fourth fighter in the ring and the only one to stay standing after three minutes.
      “If you are going to get battered you might as well get battered by the best,” Joe says. “I got battered by Mike Tyson and I got battered by Lennox Lewis when I fought him in 1985. 
      “It was a privilege to share the ring with both of them and it is an honour to say Mike Tyson has been my close friend for 40 years now. He visited my mother at home in Ireland four times.”
      Shot by machete-wielding gang 
      As well as going the distance with champion Lewis, and wearing the green vest of the Irish boxing team 11 times, Joe’s proudest achievement was a win against World Heavyweight Champion Bruce Seldon in 1988.
      But after going pro in 1990, his promising career was cut short by injuries sustained in a car accident and his life began to “spiral out of control”.
      Joe ploughed his money into the Lyndhurst pub in Erdington, Birmingham, where he says he upped takings from £1,000 a week to £16,000 a week.
      But it was here the brawler faced his most terrifying opponents yet, in the summer of 1998.
      “I had a demand for £500 a week protection money from a racketeering gang in Birmingham,” he says. “I bow down to royalty only out of respect but no man out of fear. After telling them no, the following week, on July 26, 1998, they attacked my pub. 
      “There were 37 of them armed with handguns, shotguns, machetes. It was a horrific day. 
      “It was savage. I got shot twice while trying to help a man who had fought in World War II, only to get shot at in a pub in a Birmingham housing estate by scum. It was a nasty 25-minute experience.”
      Joe took over the Lyndhurst in BirminghamCredit: Frank Peters
      The war veteran was shot in the hip and Joe was shot in the arm and nose, but says he was “lucky nobody died”.
      He adds: “The gang that attacked me had burned down some pubs before in the Birmingham area. They even burned down the pub  belonging to my old boss, Harry.
      “Then afterwards I got charged with attempted murder. I was defending myself.” 
      Dumped for dance millionaire
      Faced with jail, Joe ran up huge legal bills as he fought the charge, and his business went under. He was eventually tried for attempted murder and found not guilty.
      At the same time, his relationship with fiancee Lisa Murphy fell apart in bizarre fashion.
      “When Lisa saw that I was a sinking ship, she jumped ship to Michael Flatley,” he says. 
      “He was the biggest star of Irish dancing in the world, earning a million pounds a week. 
      “It doesn’t bother me now but at the time it was very upsetting. 
      “Mike Tyson called me ‘the toughest white man on the planet’, but even my heart has been broken by a woman. 
      “There was a lot of anger there at the time, but it wasn’t always an angry relationship. There was a lot of love at one time. I thought we’d be together forever.
      “But I don’t hold a grudge against Michael or Lisa anymore.”
      After a six-year romance, Lisa split from the Lord of the Dance star who is now battling cancer, and Joe says: “I sincerely hope he wins this fight.”
      Joe with former fiancee LisaCredit: Newsteam
      She went on to a high profile romance with Michael FlatleyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Jail time
      With problems piling up, Joe says he got “involved in criminality” and in 2001, he was jailed for two and half years for his part in an international car-ringing gang.
      “My business was failing and I ran out of money so I got involved with crime to pay for my legal fees,” he says. 
      “I got grassed on and sent to prison. It shouldn’t have happened. I hadn’t been in trouble with the law before but all these things happened in my life. 
      “I don’t believe crime pays. Tragically, I was forced to go down that road but I regret it. 
      “The only time I saw my dad cry was because I was going to prison. The shame I had, the disgust I had for myself, the hurt and pain I had caused him, I was so ashamed of myself. 
      The only time I saw my dad cry was because I was going to prisonBig Joe Egan
      “I told him I’ll never get into trouble again. 
      “It’s not nice being locked up, you’re confined for 23 hours a day. I wouldn’t recommend it. But what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”
      While in prison, Joe trained in the gym and on his release he announced his comeback, at the age of 38, after a 12-year absence.
      He won in the fifth round, against a pal in Dublin, and says: “It was good to be back as Joe the boxer and not Joe the criminal.” But he went back into retirement after the lone fight.
      New life
      His days in the ring finally over, Joe turned to acting after meeting Brit star Tamer Hassan and signing up with his agent, who sent him to audition for the 2009 Guy Ritchie hit Sherlock Holmes.
      Cast as a boxer who fights Robert Downey Jr’s fictional detective, Ritchie told him, “I’ve been trying to get you in one of my films for a long time,” adding that Downey Jr had also suggested him because of his “fearsome reputation”. 
      “I couldn’t believe that these people even knew me, but they knew me because of my close friendship with Mike Tyson,” he says.  
      “When he told me the amount I was getting paid, it was more than any of my professional fights. 
      “I said, ‘Guy, for that money, Robert Downey Jnr can really hit me if he wants to. I’ve been beaten up for a lot less.”
      Although the fight scene was dropped, the boxer instead filmed a specially-written prison scene as a character named Big Joe. 
      He went on to appear in Prize Fighter with Russell Crowe and has since made guest appearances in numerous TV shows, including Brassic in 2019. 
      Big Joe squares up to Sherlock in the 2009 movieCredit: Warner Bros
      The former boxer (far left) in the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in LondonCredit: Alamy
      Joe with A-lister Robert Downey JrCredit: Twitter
      Joe’s colourful life has earned him some high-profile pals including Ricky Hatton and heavyweight champ Tony Bellew, who is set to enter the I’m A Celebrity camp this week as a late arrival.
      More controversially, he has also been associates with notorious gangsters, including Daniel Kinahan, from the infamous Irish organised crime family, and Gerry Hutch, who was the prime suspect in the 2016 murder of David Byrne at a boxing weigh-in at the Dublin Regency Hotel, which sparked a tit for tat feud amongst rival gangs that left dozens dead.
      He previously told the Irish Mirror the horrific attack was “wrong on every level”.
      He added: “David Byrne was my friend and I know his dad Jaws Byrne since I was a little boy.
      “That room was full of boxing fans and boxers, so to go in and spray a machine-gun in a room full of people that weren’t involved in any criminal activity, that’s so wrong on so many levels.”
      While his career in the ring was short, he had no regrets.
      “I had nothing else to prove to anybody, nothing left to prove to myself,” he says. “I’ve been hit in the chin by some of the best punches in the world but they never once knocked me down – something I can be proud of.” More

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      in Soccer

      Shakira’s lawyer blames ex PIQUE for £7m tax fraud bill & says she’d have saved a fortune if she fell for Ramos instead

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      SHAKIRA’S lawyer has blamed Gerard Pique for her tax woes – and said she would have saved £100million by dating his rival star Sergio Ramos instead.Pau Molins said her 11-year romance with the retired Barcelona footballer led to her facing six tax fraud charges instead of three.
      Shakira’s lawyer Pau Molins blamed Pique for her £7million tax fraud billCredit: Getty
      He said the pop star would have saved millions of pounds dating Sergio Ramos insteadCredit: Instagram @sergioramos
      The Colombian singer arrived at Barcelona’s court with her lawyer Pau MolinsCredit: AFP
      After finalising a plea deal yesterday, the lawyer claimed Spain’s tax laws are not fair to everyone.
      He said residents in Madrid – where Ramos played for Real – do not pay wealth tax.
      But those living in Catalonia, where Shakira lived with Barca ace Pique, are required to pay wealth tax.
      In turn, if Shakira had lived with Madrid-based Ramos, she would have saved around £100million due to the Real player not residing in an area where a wealth tax is paid.
      more on Shakira
      Currently, Andalucia and Madrid are the only regions in Spain where wealth tax is exempt.
      Speaking on the singer’s relationship with Pique, Molins said: “Shakira’s infatuation has cost her 120million euros.
      “If she had fallen in love with Sergio Ramos instead of Gerard Pique, it would have cost her a lot less”.
      He went on to add: “They go on about the equality of all Spaniards, but it turns out that if you’re resident in Catalonia you can go to jail for a crime they couldn’t imprison you for in Madrid.”
      Most read in Football
      He claimed this boiled down to the fact that there was no wealth tax in the Spanish capital.
      Molins also insisted he had wanted to go to trial, saying: “I thought we could have won,” but said Shakira had decided to make a deal.
      He went on to defend his client, claiming: “With international artists, it’s very difficult.
      “Where do they live if they spend all their lives travelling? In 2011 Shakira did a world tour and visited 74 countries.
      “It’s very complicated to determine where they should pay their taxes.”
      Shakira admitted six counts of tax fraud yesterday at a court in Barcelona and agreed to pay £7million in a deal to dodge a lengthy eight-year prison sentence.
      She said she accepted the charges for the sake of her sons Milan, ten, and Sasha, 8, and so she can move on with her career.
      In a statement issued through her representatives, Shakira said her lawyers were confident she would win the case but she opted to avoid a trial that would likely span several months.
      The singer said: “Throughout my career, I have always strived to do what’s right and set a positive example for others.
      “While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have decided to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her 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.”
      The prosecution case is centred on whether Shakira was a resident of Spain or the Bahamas between the start of 2012 and the end of 2014.
      She claimed she was a resident in the Bahamas between the three years in dispute – and says she shouldn’t have been considered a Spanish resident for tax purposes, despite starting to date her ex Gerard Pique in 2010.
      Her court trial, due to last until December 20 over 12 sessions, did not go ahead as a result of the plea bargain deal.
      Judge Manuel del Amo confirmed in open court after hearing the singer’s guilty plea that in light of the agreement, he was handing her a three-year prison sentence – six months for each of the six counts of tax fraud she had admitted to.
      He then added her prison time would be replaced by a fine.
      Earlier this year it emerged Shakira is also facing a separate tax probe in Spain, and is running separately to the case that went to trial on Monday.
      Officials confirmed in July a court near Barcelona had agreed to investigate her at the request of state prosecutors for suspected 2018 tax breaches.
      The wealth tax in Spain is an annual tax payable on the total net value of assets held on December 31.
      Spanish tax residents pay tax on their worldwide assets.
      Shakira arrived in Barcelona last weekend from Miami ahead of her performance at the annual Latin Grammys in Seville on Thursday where she scooped up three awards.
      Spain football star Ramos handed her an award at the ceremony – where she took a brutal swipe at Pique in her acceptance speech.
      She returned to Barcelona with her brother Tonino, assistant Lili Melgar, and her two children and spent the weekend at her old family mansion in nearby Espluges de Llobregat.
      Shakira said she struck the last-minute deal for her children
      Shakira celebrates at the Latin Grammys with sons Milan and Sasha More

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      in Soccer

      Benjamin Mendy launches ‘multi-million-pound’ claim against Man City over unpaid wages after being cleared of rape

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      BENJAMIN Mendy has reportedly launched a multi-million pound lawsuit against Manchester City over unpaid wages.The defender, 29, has filed a claim with the Employment Tribunal over “unauthorised deductions from wages”.
      Benjamin Mendy at the Parc des Princes on August 12Credit: AFP
      Benjamin Mendy in action for FC Lorient against AS Monaco at Stade du Moustoir on September 17Credit: Getty
      He was acquitted of single counts of rape and attempted rape in July earlier this year.
      The acquittals followed a jury clearing him of six alleged rapes and one attempted sexual assault in January.
      Mendy’s football career was placed on hold for more than two years after he was accused of attacking two women during lockdown-busting parties at his Cheshire mansion.
      He has now returned to professional football with French Ligue 1 side FC Lorient five days after his acquittal – making his debut in September.
      Read more sport
      But Mendy is now seeking a return of pay owed until the end of his contract, which expired in June, Sky Sports News reports.
      A statement from lawyer Nick De Marco KC, acting on behalf of Mendy, said: “Nick De Marco KC (instructed by Laffer Abogados (Madrid) is acting for the former Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy in a multi-million-pound claim for unauthorised deductions from wages.
      “Manchester City FC failed to pay Mr Mendy any wages at all from September 2021, following Mr Mendy being charged with various offence all of which he was subsequently acquitted of, until the end of his contract in June 2023.
      “The claim will come before an Employment Tribunal.”
      Most read in Football
      His last appearance in the Premier League came in August 2021 in a 1-0 defeat for Man City against Tottenham.
      In a statement via his solicitor following his acquittal, Mendy vowed to begin “rebuilding his life”.
      Jenny Wiltshire, the head of serious and general crime at Hickman & Rose, said: “Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for focussing on the evidence in this trial, rather than on the rumour and innuendo that have followed this case from the outset.
      “This is the second time that Mr Mendy has been tried and found not guilty by a jury.
      “He is delighted that both juries reached the correct verdicts.
      “It has been almost three years since the police started investigating this matter.
      “Mr Mendy has tried to remain strong but the process has, inevitably, had a serious impact on him.
      “He thanks everyone who has supported him throughout this ordeal and now asks for privacy so he can begin rebuilding his life.”
      Mendy playing for City against Southampton at the Etihad stadium in November 2018Credit: AP:Associated Press More

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      in Soccer

      Former pro-footballer Wayne Heseltine fined after his XL Bully Bruno mauled dog and its owner 

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      An EX-Manchester United footballer has been fined after his XL bully bit a labrador and its owner in a vicious attack.Wayne Heseltine’s dog Bruno had to be pulled off the labrador, called Daisy, by her horrified owner who thought he was ‘going to watch her die’.
      Ex professional footballer Wayne Heseltine appeared at Bradford Magistrates CourtCredit: SWNS
      Bradford Magistrates Court heard two-year-old Bruno sprinted towards Daisy while she was on a walk with her owner in the Cullingworth area of the city on June 24.
      Bruno appeared to lock his jaw around Daisy’s neck, leaving her helpless on the floor, the court was told.
      Heseltine’s son then came out of the house and helped pull the two dogs apart.
      Heseltine, who was out of the house at the time, admitted to being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control causing injury and was fined £960.
      MORE ON DOGS
      The former full back, who came through the Red Devils’ youth academy but never made a first team appearance, also has to pay £1,000 in compensation.
      Daisy was taken to the vets for cuts on her neck, while her owner sustained injuries to his hand.
      In a statement read out in court, the victim said: “I felt extremely distressed. I felt like I was going to watch Daisy die.”
      Heseltine, who was not at the house at the time, said the dog escaped through a hole in the fence behind the bin store. He also wanted to pay for the vet bills.
      Most read in Football
      The court heard he had no previous convictions and a “shield of good character”.
      He owns three other dogs and spent £2,800 on a four-week course to get Bruno home-trained.
      Heseltine, who played more than 50 games for Bradford City between 1992 and 1994, now earns around £50,000 a year as a contract manager, the court heard.
      The court heard magistrates recognised Heseltine had taken all the reasonable steps that a good owner would have taken.
      But they said the matter was “serious” and referenced the breed of dog as in the public interest given the imminent legislation.
      An order was issued meaning the dog must have a muzzle and lead on when in public.
      American XL Bully dogs will be banned by the end of the year, PM Rishi Sunak announced in September after a spate of terrifying attacks involving the breed.
      The PM said the breed will be outlawed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
      From December 31, XL bully dogs must be microchipped, and owners must keep them on a lead and muzzled in public. They must also be securely housed at home. More

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      in Soccer

      Vile football fan swerves jail for mocking supporters with Bradley Lowery pic for ‘banter’

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      A VILE football fan has swerved jail after he used a picture of tragic Bradley Lowery to mock Sunderland supporters for “banter”.Dale Houghton was seen smiling as he held up the image of the youngster, who died from cancer aged six, during a Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland game.
      Dale Houghton held up the photo to mock Sunderland fans
      He pleaded guilty after his sick act drew criticism from all football fansCredit: Facebook
      Bradley tragically died from cancer aged just sixCredit: PA:Press Association
      The 31-year-old admitted causing harassment, alarm and distress after his vile act drew criticism from all football supporters.
      Houghton appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today where he avoided jail.
      He was instead handed a 12 week sentence suspended for 18 months.
      Houghton also received a five-year football banning order and must complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
      Read more news
      District Judge Marcus Waite said his actions were “utterly appalling” and “disgraceful”.
      He added: “You showed callous disrespect to a brave young man who was rightly held in the highest esteem by football fans everywhere.”
      The sentence comes after Bradley’s mum Gemma previously slammed the “unforgivable” act, which took place on September 29.
      In a victim impact statement, she said: “This image made me feel so many emotions. I find it hard to put into words.
      Most read in Football
      “It is not just disrespectful to Bradley but also to other people who are going through the emotional trauma of dealing with cancer.
      “This image portrays negatively. I feel upset that these two men used this image to get a reaction from Sunderland fans. It was unforgivable.
      “I have nothing but loving memories of Bradley.”
      The court heard how Houghton’s antics had caused a “huge public revulsion”.
      Prosecutor Jade Short said the shamed football fan found it “enjoyable banter” as he was smiling throughout.
      The court was also told Houghton has lost his job as a window fitter following the sick act and is facing a ban from attending matches.
      Connie Combs, defending, said Houghton realised he was “out of line” and was “disgusted” by his actions.
      South Yorkshire Police have applied for a football banning order.
      A 27-year-old man who was also arrested has been released on bail while investigations continue.
      Brave Bradley’s battle with against rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma captured the nation’s hearts.
      He was diagnosed with the aggressive disease when he was just 18 months old, and tumours spread through his chest, lungs, lymph nodes, bone and bone marrow.
      After major surgery and gruelling chemotherapy, he pulled through and went into remission for 18 months.
      But the cancer returned in 2016, with his family dealt the crushing blow his disease was terminal.
      The footie-mad youngster had struck up a close bond with Sunderland captain Jermain Defoe, who led him out on to the pitch before several matches.
      Tragically, Bradley died in July 2017 in his devastated parents’ arms, with Defoe paying an emotional tribute to his “best pal”.
      Speaking after Houghton pleaded guilty last month, the ex-England star said he was “appalled and saddened”.
      Defoe said: “My thoughts at this time go out to Gemma and Carl [Bradley’s parents], who shouldn’t have to deal with incidents like this, but rather be praised for the amazing work they are doing with the Bradley Lowery Foundation in their son’s memory.
      “I urge the public to stand behind the family and continue support the Foundation and its projects.
      “Bradley was one of the most inspirational children this world has ever seen, and he will never stop inspiring us.
      “We love and miss you Brad. Love, your best friend forever.”
      Houghton arrives at court todayCredit: PA
      Bradley’s mum Gemma said the act was ‘unforgivable’Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Jermain Defoe, who developed a close bond with Bradley, also condemned Houghton’s actionsCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Ex-Premier League striker JAILED for failing to pay his beauty queen ex-wife £70,000

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      A FORMER Premier League striker has been jailed for a year after failing to pay £70,000 to his beauty queen ex-wife.Ex-Aston Villa striker Bosko Balaban, 45, failed to pay financial support to model Iva Radic, who was named Miss Croatia in 1995.
      Ex-Aston Villa striker Bosko Balaban was jailed for a year for failing to pay his ex-wifeCredit: Getty
      Balaban won’t be able to escape prison even if he pays the £70,000 owedCredit: Instagram @_boskobalaban_
      The footballer’s ex-wife is model Iva Radic, who was named Miss Croatia in 1995Credit: Instagram
      Balaban was married to Radic for more than a decade before getting divorced in 2017 and the pair have three children together – two daughters and a son.
      But the former Croatia international was given a conditional sentence of one year and four years of probation in 2021 as a result of overdue maintenance money.
      After failing to stick to the adhered time frame, the 45-year-old was imprisoned for one year in January with four years suspended, Belgian outlet HLN reports.
      The report says a court in Zagreb handed down the sentence and that there is ‘no escape’ from prison time, saying that he would still be jailed even if he paid the overdue money.
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      The former center-forward is best known for his four-year stint at Club Brugge, where he scored 58 goals in 118 appearances.
      He did, however, have a brief time at Aston Villa, appearing only eight times in the 2001/02 season without scoring.
      The following season, he was loaned to Dinamo Zagreb, the club from which Villa had purchased him only a year before.
      Balaban was ridiculed as one of the biggest flop signings of the Premier League era after Villa forked out £5.8million for his services – quite a lofty fee for 2001.
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      He has since worked as an agent after hanging up his boots, representing players such as ex-Leicester star Andrej Kramaric.
      Iva Radic has 113,000 Instagram followers and is frequently seen posting glamorous snaps.
      The model has also showcased her work with fashion giants Paco Rabanne, H&M and Chanel.
      In October, a former West Ham player who tried to help sell a £1.9million antique vase stolen during a heist at a Switzerland museum was jailed.
      Kaine Wright, 26, was caught in an undercover police sting along with accomplices Leslie Nkhwa, 47, and David Lamming, 31.
      The “rare pomegranate vase from the Yongle Period (1403-1425AD)” was stolen during a raid at the Musee des Arts d’Extreme-Orient in Geneva in June 2019.
      The trio attempted to flog it for £1million but later dropped the price to £450,000 in cash.
      It had been valued by experts for insurance purposes at £1.96million.
      Wright and Lamming were today jailed for three years after they were convicted of conspiracy to convert criminal property.
      Nkhwa, who pleaded guilty to the same charge, was handed a two-and-a-half year sentence.
      Southwark Crown Court heard the plot unfolded on July 30, 2020, when a man called Mr Steel emailed the China Guardian auction house in Hong Kong asking for a valuation.
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      The seller, later identified as Lamming, included photos of the item, which were compared with the stolen vase.
      Lamming also emailed the Art Loss Register based in Hatton Garden saying he was in touch with someone who had a vase that had been stolen from Switzerland.
      The former Croatia international was given a conditional sentence of one year and four years of probation in 2021Credit: Getty
      Iva Radic has 113,000 Instagram followers and is frequently seen posting glamorous snaps onlineCredit: Instagram More