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      Troubled boxing champion Scott Fitzgerald is jailed after KOing man outside pub in drink and drug-fuelled rampage

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      FORMER boxing champion Scott Fitzgerald has been jailed after floored a man outside a pub with a single punch.The Commonwealth gold medallist attacked Leevi Francis in a drink and drug-fuelled rage.
      Scott Fitzgerald has been jailed for punching a man to the ground outside a pubCredit: Reuters
      Leevi suffered a broken jaw and a cut below his eyebrow after being knocked unconscious outside the Grand Junction in Preston, Lancashire.
      Fitzgerald has now been jailed for 46 weeks after he pleaded guilty to GBH on the first day of his trial.
      Preston Crown Court heard how the boxer had been drinking all afternoon and smoked cannabis on November 27 last year.
      CCTV footage showed him “bouncing around the pub” before he went into the pool room.
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      Landlady Kirsty Allen kicked him out after he stamped on the floor hard close to the pool table.
      After being shoved outside by a group of drinkers, Fitzgerald first confronted another man.
      Seeing this, Leevi stepped in to help and was punched to the ground by the British light-middleweight champion.
      He lay unconscious for around a minute before being taken to hospital.
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      In a victim impact statement, Leevi said a plate inserted into his jaw causes him pain at night as he told how he lost two stone after being left unable to eat.
      He also revealed he has suffered socially since the attack and feels anxious about his son’s boxing hobby.
      Ayaz Qazi, defending, told the court how Fitzgerald’s successful career, which saw him win a gold medal for his country in 2014, was blighted by his drink and drug use.
      The lawyer said he is now banned from professional boxing but has remained sober while being kept on remand in custody.
      Mr Qazi added: “He is utterly aghast and ashamed of the way he was behaving, this loutish and disorderly behaviour in public.”
      Sentencing, Judge Richard Archer said Fitzgerald using his fists was the equivalent of using a weapon in a fight.
      He said: “You know, as somebody who is supposed to be trained to control aggression and channel it for the purposes of professional sport, that when to behave that way – even by your own admission under the influence of drink and drugs – is entirely unacceptable.
      “You risk very serious consequences for your victim.
      “A professional boxer who under the influence is unable to charge the power in those fists could all so easily have rendered a man not just unconscious, but dead.
      “It is fortunate you are not facing a much more serious charge. There are many people who face those charges based on a single blow.”
      The sentence is the latest drama in the boxer’s troubled personal life.

      In 2021, worrying pictures emerged of super-welterweight champ lying on the street outside a pub.
      Fitzgerald took to social media to reassure fans after promotor Eddie Hearn voiced his concerns over the pictures.
      The boxer had been kicked out of a pub after drinking and taking drugsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The British light-middleweight champion pleaded guilty to GBHCredit: Getty
      He has struggled with drinking and drugs, his lawyer saidCredit: Getty More

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      Cardiff WILL lodge £80million legal action against Nantes over Emiliano Sala death as club look at Tevez precedent

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      CARDIFF CITY have confirmed they will lodge an astonishing £80million-plus legal action against Nantes over the transfer of Emiliano Sala – just as The Sun first revealed.The club has been taking detailed legal advice for many months on this landmark case, more than four years after the tragic death of the Argentinian striker in the plane crash in January 2019.
      Cardiff are lodging an £80m legal action against Nantes over the transfer of Emiliano SalaCredit: Getty
      The striker tragically died in a plane crash travelling from the France to Wales in 2019Credit: AFP
      After failure to get satisfaction with Fifa, the Sport of Arbitration and the Swiss Federal Tribunal, the Championship club will next week lodge their legal papers in the French courts.
      A Cardiff statement said yesterday: “The Swiss Federal Tribunal has decided the Court of Arbitration for Sport does not have jurisdiction to deal with Cardiff City’s claim for damages against FC Nantes.
      “This is not a surprise and the club has already prepared separate legal action against them which will be started straight away.”
      They maintain that “FC Nantes must be held responsible for the accident” which they allege was “organised by their agent” Willie McKay who organised the ill-fated flight with a pilot who did not have a commercial licence, did not have the appropriate papers to fly at night, and who was actually a part time DJ and plumber!
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      The Welsh club added the legal action will be to “recover what the club paid for Emiliano and additional damages for further consequential losses”.
      They were forced by Fifa to pay the full £15m transfer fee, despite claims that he was not properly registered as a Cardiff player, but the main compensation claim will be the cost of relegation from the Premier League £100m minus the £20m parachute payments.
      Fifa originally imposed a three-window transfer embargo when Cardiff refused to pay the first instalment of the £15m fee.
      Cardiff failed in their appeal to CAS in January and agreed to pay £7m to enable the embargo to be lifted.
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      Now, as first reported in The Sun, the club’s legal team will formally go ahead with a massive compensation claim on the basis that Sala’s death was negligent, and their legal documents might even refer to the tragic death as ‘manslaughter’.
      The Carlos Tevez affair at West Ham is a precedent Cardiff City believe backs their £80m ‘relegation’ compensation claim.
      Sheffield United won £26m compensation 15 years ago, the cost they claimed for relegation.
      Cardiff feel their case is strengthened by the tape recording where pilot David Ibbotson revealed the plane was in such a “dodgy” state that he feared for his life in the journey from Nantes back to Cardiff.
      Ibbotson was so scared that he said he wanted to wear a life jacket as he had no idea why a loud and scary bang had occurred on the first flight and he told a friend that would be the last chat between them such was the shoddy state of the the Piper Malibu plane.
      Ibbotson had been hired by pilot David Henderson, who served a jail sentence for his part in the scandal, who had in turn taken instruction from Willie McKay, whose son Mark, had the mandate for the transfer from Nantes.
      Cardiff dropped out of the Premier League by just one point, and they argue that a new striker would have saved them from the drop, the cost of relegation was £100m plus, minus parachute payments of £20m.
      The Sala tragedy came too late for Cardiff to buy an alternative striker as the transfer window closed.
      Only a few Sala goals might have kept Cardiff up, just the way that vital Tevez goals saved the Hammers. More

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      Sunderland star Jack Diamond appears in court charged with rape and sex assault

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      SUNDERLAND star Jack Diamond has appeared in court charged with rape and sexual assault.The footballer, 23, was arrested following an alleged attack in May last year.
      Sunderland footie star Jack Diamond appeared in court todayCredit: NCJMedia
      The winger has had his contract with Lincoln City terminated and his currently suspended from SunderlandCredit: Getty
      Cops said the incident is believed to have taken place at an address in Washington, Tyne and Wear.
      Following an investigation, Northumbria Police arrested Diamond on one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.
      Arriving at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court today, he wore a black suit and silver tie.
      Standing in front of a judge, the winger spoke only to confirm his date of birth and address.
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      The suspected offences are against a female aged 16 and over, the court heard.
      Frida Hussain, QC, defending, said Diamond intends to plead not guilty to both charges.
      The young footie star was on loan at League One club Lincoln City who have since terminated his contract.
      And home club Sunderland FC suspended him with “immediate effect” while court proceedings are carried out.
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      A spokesman for Diamond previously said: “Jack Diamond strenuously denies the allegations which have been made against him.
      “Jack is looking forward to clearing his name in court.”
      A Sunderland spokesperson said: “Sunderland AFC has been notified that criminal charges have been brought against Jack Diamond by the Crown Prosecution Service.
      “The player has been suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the judicial process, and his loan agreement at Lincoln City Football Club has also been terminated.
      “As this matter is subject to a legal process, the club will not be making any further statement at this time.”
      Diamond will next appear at Newcastle Crown Court on June 2.
      He was released on unconditional bail.
      He has been charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assaultCredit: NCJMedia More

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      Conor McGregor brutally reacts to Manny Pacquiao’s huge £6.8million court battle with now-deleted tweet

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      CONOR McGREGOR has responded in a now-deleted tweet following Manny Pacquiao’s huge £6.8million court battle.Pacquiao in 2020 signed with Paradigm Sports management, who also represent the company’s highest-earner McGregor.
      Manny Pacquiao with Paradigm’s Audie AttarCredit: Instagram @audieattar
      Conor McGregor reacted to Manny Pacquiao’s huge £6.8million court battleCredit: AFP
      But PacMan failed to have a fight under Paradigm and was instead sued for breach of contract.
      Following a case in California, Pacquiao was left to owe $8m (£6.3m), with £4m in damages, £1.7m in legal fees and additional 10 percent annual interest on the verdict amount for three years.
      McGregor, 34, took to social media, reacting to the news by posting: “And don’t let it happen again, @MannyPacquiao.”
      And in a now-deleted tweet, he added: “Manny owes 8 in all. 5.1 he owes and then 2.1 in legal costs.
      READ MORE ON CONOR MCGREGOR
      “Legal fees are heavy but that’s what we do. Heavy weight operations.”
      Paradigm signed Pacquiao, 44, as a client three years ago amid rumours of a fight with McGregor, who lost to Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
      A bout with Mikey Garcia was also in the works until Pacquiao was later announced to be facing Errol Spence Jr.
      American Spence, 33, pulled out injured and was replaced by Yordenis Ugas, who won the fight and sent Pacquiao into retirement.
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      But Paradigm alleged that Pacquiao’s other representatives –  Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions – interfered with their deal.
      It led to Paradigm filing the lawsuit, which Pacquiao lost when the jury ruled that he acted in bad faith.
      The Orange County jury voted 9-3 in favour of Paradigm in the case.
      Paradigm CEO Audie Attar said in a statement: “We are elated to learn of the jury’s ruling in Paradigm’s favor in our suit against Manny Pacquiao.
      “The jury plainly found that Pacquiao testified falsely in denying Paradigm’s claims against him, and his excuses for his conduct proves our case that a breach of contract was committed.
      “Hopefully, Manny will have learned a lesson from the verdict and will henceforth act with the honesty and integrity that was so lacking in his treatment of Paradigm.”
      Pacquiao retired as a professional following defeat to Ugas, 36, but returned last December for an exhibition bout.
      The Filipino icon has revealed his next exhibition is set for the summer while he has also opened the door to a full boxing comeback. 
      Manny Pacquiao is open to a boxing comebackCredit: AFP More

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      Former LaLiga star accepts six-year prison sentence after confessing to leading drug trafficking ring

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      A former LaLiga footballer has accepted a six-year prison sentence after confessing to leading a drug trafficking ring.Sergio Contreras, better known as Koke, agreed to a plea bargain deal at a court in Malaga after being warned state prosecutors were seeking to have him imprisoned for 16 years ahead of his trial.
      Sergio Contreras played for the likes of Marseille, Malaga and Sporting LisbonCredit: AFP
      He has accepted a six-year prison sentenceCredit: AFP
      The ex-striker, whose clubs included Malaga, Marseille and Sporting Lisbon, was one of 17 defendants accused of buying large amounts of drugs that were smuggled in lorries into different European countries.
      Koke had been described in a pre-trial indictment as the gang leader.
      The drugs were mainly marijuana and cannabis resin, but also included cocaine.
      The gang Koke has now admitted he led was raided in November 2019 following a police operation codenamed Operation Vinculada that involved wiretaps and undercover follows.
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      One of the drug runs linked to the ex-footballer’s gang, consisting of vacuum-packed marijuana and cocaine hidden inside a cargo of garlic, was valued at £350,000.
      All 16 of the defendants who showed up for a trial at Malaga’s Provincial Court on March 27, which ended up being suspended following a no-show by a 17th female defendant police are still hunting, admitted their guilt at a brief hearing on Tuesday.
      As part of the plea bargain deals they struck following a subsequent period of negotiation between state prosecutors and their defence lawyers, they have agreed to accept prison sentences of between two and six years reflecting their different responsibilities in the gang.
      Jail sentences for first-time offenders in Spain normally end up being suspended.
      Most read in Football
      Koke, 40, started his footballing career at hometown club Malaga.
      He went on to join Marseille before being loaned to Sporting Lisbon.
      He produced the best football of his career in years at Greek side Aris, where the first of his two spells there included a brief cameo in a 2011 3-0 Europa League defeat to Manchester City.
      The forward retired from football in 2016. More

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      Exeter City star Jevani Brown named player of the season by teammates weeks after admitting beating up a woman

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      A FOOTBALLER has been named player of the season by his teammates — weeks after admitting beating up a woman.Exeter City striker Jevani Brown, 28, pleaded guilty last month to an assault on a night out.
      Exeter City player Jevani Brown has been named player of the season by his teammates — weeks after admitting beating up a womanCredit: Rex
      He also faces trial in July for allegedly attacking a second woman, which he denies.
      Brown, top scorer with 14 goals, has been suspended by the club since being charged, but posed with the award at the League One side’s end of season bash.
      In a statement released last month, the club said: “Jevani Brown appeared at Exeter Magistrates Court this morning in relation to an incident in February.
      “He pleaded guilty to one charge of assault and not guilty to a second charge of assault.
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      “A trial date has now been set to hear the case at Exeter Crown Court on July 7.
      “As the legal proceedings remain active there will be no further comment from Exeter City Football Club.”
      One angry fan complained: “Is this a good message to send?”
      “He’s admitted assaulting a woman and is about to stand trial on another similar charge.
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      “This goes way beyond club loyalty and I say that as a season ticket holder. Disgusting.”
      Teresa Parker, of campaigners Women’s Aid, said: “His fellow players voting him their player of the season undermines the club’s actions.” More

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      West Ham footballer drowned in lake in front of horrified pals weeks after suffering brain injuries in brutal attack

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      A WEST Ham youth footballer drowned in a lake just weeks after he suffered brain injuries in a brutal attack, an inquest heard.Nicolae Topa, 17, was with his pals at Fairlop Waters Country Park in East London when the horror unfolded.
      Nicolae Topa drowned in a lake in East London in front his horrified palsCredit: Metropolitan Police
      The teen tragically drowned after a night of “hijinks that went wrong”, an inquest heard.
      Nicolae, who played for West Ham’s youth team, had been attacked by five youths just weeks before the fatal incident on July 4 last year.
      The footballer suffered a brain haemorrhage after being battered with a hammer and crowbar and later complained of feeling dizzy.
      But Walthamstow Coroner’s Court was told a link between the attack on June 12 and Nicolae’s death could not be proven.
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      His death came just days after the teen got into difficulty while swimming with mates in Brighton.
      Nicolae, who had been swimming since the age of nine, had to get out of the sea after becoming dizzy and told his girlfriend people on the beach appeared “far away in the distance”.
      On July 4, he had gone for dinner with his mum and other family who were visiting from his native Moldova.
      Nicolae and his friends then drove to Fairlop Waters, where Nicolae had swum in the lake before, at around midnight.
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      He told his pals he would dive in and retrieve a moored boat for his friends to cling on to and appeared to just be splashing in the dark water.
      But the alarm was raised minutes later when Nicolae failed to respond to their cries.
      Emergency crews were scrambled to the scene and a rescue mission was launched.
      Nicolae’s body was tragically found the following evening, around 65 metres from the jetty he had originally jumped from.
      The Met Police immediately cordoned off the scene in case his death could be linked to the previous attack.
      But Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine ruled it was an accidental death by drowning after top pathologists found no evidence his injuries were to blame.
      The coroner added: “It is apparent to me that Nicolae was trying to have some fun.
      “It was a hot night, he had decided to get into the water and demonstrate his talent swimming and get a boat on the lake.
      “It seems to have been a joke. The consequence of hijinks that went wrong.”
      Nicolae played for Moldovan team Zimbru before moving to the UK with his mum and sister.
      He joined West Ham at the age of 14 and also played at Leytonstone FC and Petrocub FC, a Moldovan team in London.

      Nicolae’s family previously said their hearts had been “broken in pieces” following his death.
      Four men who pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent over the attack in Chingford will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court in June.
      Nicolae had been attacked just weeks beforeCredit: GOFUNDME More

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      Jailed footballer Dani Alves’ wife makes stunning admission as ex-Barcelona star faces court over ‘nightclub rape’

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      FOOTBALLER Dani Alves’ wife has admitted for the first time she has started divorce proceedings.Joana Sanz revealed that the former Barcelona star is contesting her attempts to end their marriage after he was jailed over an alleged nightclub rape.
      Joana has admitted she has started divorce proceedingsCredit: Getty
      The footballer remains behind bars over alleged rape chargesCredit: Getty
      The 29-year-old model confirmed speculation she was seeking a divorce from the footballer in an angry social media post.
      She wrote the Instagram post in response to Spanish media reports that suggested Alves was paying her to make sure she postponed the divorce until after his trial as part of a “mutual agreement.”
      Joana said on the post: “Lie. There is no agreement.
      “Yes we are in divorce proceedings and he is contesting them and that is complicating everything.”
      read more on dani alves
      “No, I am not receiving any money. I don’t understand the need to invent news.”
      The Canary Island-born model also went on to post a photo which has given rise to speculation she is moving out of the home near Barcelona she shared with Alves, showing a pile of boxes stacked up by a window alongside the message: “End of an era.”
      Joana’s divorce confirmation comes months after it was first claimed she had demanded a divorce following allegations he had consensual sex with the woman who has accused him of raping her.
      The 39-year-old Brazil international changed his version of events about what happened at a toilet in the VIP area of iconic Sutton nightclub in Barcelona, initially saying he had never met his female accuser before telling a judge in a recent court hearing he had lied to cover up his “marital infidelity.”
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      He remains in prison near Barcelona, with a decision on his second attempt to seek bail ahead of his expected indictment and trial due soon.
      His bail bid is being opposed by state prosecutors and a lawyer acting for his 23-year-old female accuser.
      Joana appeared to call time on their eight-year relationship in March with a letter she posted on her Instagram 48 hours after she visited Alves in prison, writing: “I think it’s going to take me years to erase from my memory his way of looking at me, that way he had of looking at me as if I were the most incredible thing in the world and damn, yes, I’m incredible.”
      She added: “Despite the damage he has caused me, I am still here by his side. 
      “I continue and will continue to be, but in another way.”
      Alves, sacked by Mexican side UNAM Pumas following his arrest in Barcelona on January 20 after he flew back to the Catalan capital to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral, replied with his own letter leaked to a Spanish TV station.
      The letter, addressed to ‘My Dear Joana’ and written in Spanish, said: “In these difficult moments, I regret your decision and I hope that life gives us another chance to love you again.
      “I understand the pain the unjust situation we are experiencing is causing and I understand that you have not been able to withstand all that pressure.
      “The facts of which I am accused are foreign to me and to the values that have guided my life: love, respect and effort.
      “I will continue fighting as I have always done, believing in myself with the support and confidence of those who know who I really am.”

      Last week Joana was slammed after publishing a clip of herself kissing a pal at a party in the same nightclub where Alves’s alleged assault happened.
      The ongoing judicial investigation into the Sutton nightclub incident is said to be near its end, with formal charges expected to be laid in the next few months and a trial date scheduled after that.  More