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      Karren Brady: Upsetting scenes in Indonesia were football’s biggest nightmare revisited – all caused by fools in charge

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      THE suffocation of at least 125 fans in Kanjuruhan stadium, East Java, last Saturday was the latest horror at football matches across the world.Those Liverpool supporters who escaped the frantic Stade de France crush can only be thankful that wretchedly inadequate policing extended only twice to the firing of teargas into the crowd at last season’s Champions League final.
      Police used tear gas , leading to tragic scenes at the Kanjuruhan StadiumCredit: AP
      Liverpool fans can be ‘thankful’ tear gas was only used twice during the scandal of how supporters were treated at the Champions League final in MayCredit: Getty
      It could have been worse. It appears, according to a French minister, that grenades or a form of handheld rubber bullet launchers were considered but would not have been “proportionate”.
      In Malang, teargas was also the night’s tool and the fools in charge caused a massacre of the innocent.
      This was no clash of rival supporters that got out of control. Far from it, away fans had been barred, ironically over worries that there would be clashes and only home club Arema followers were let in.
      Sadly, shades of Hillsborough 1989. More than 4,000 over the 38,000 capacity squeezed into one area.
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      Even this might have been controlled but when fans overflowed on to the pitch, the police reacted with volleys of teargas, some of it into the stands.
      You can only imagine the mayhem. People fell, blinded, coughing and vomiting as others ran through them, desperate to escape, dying in the attempt.
      This was football’s biggest nightmare revisited.
      It reminds us of the importance of good policing, careful planning, sensible procedures, sensitive handling and a thorough understanding that panic and excitability are the enemies of crowd control, among police and stewards as well as crowds.
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      I refer to Paris because that was the arrogance of officialdom personified. It was where contempt among those paid to help make football attendance a generally pleasurable entertainment was running riot.
      Police and clubs in England have learned from horrific incidents since Heysel in 1985 and beyond, that we must be scrupulous and vigilant in crowd control.
      Most supporters are great. They want an entertaining match, watched in safety. But there is always the odd one that is out for trouble.
      Football clubs have methods to catch the bringers of disgrace.
      At the London Stadium we have 1,300 stewards, full policing inside and out, pin-sharp CCTV as well as an army of supporter liaison officers.
      It wasn’t too long ago, in the 1980s particularly, that hooliganism was out of control in this country.
      I remember hearing about the Zulus, a gang who purported to  support Birmingham. At St Andrew’s in 1985 (that year again) when hellraisers clashed with an equally grim Leeds gang, the pitch was a battleground.
      The Leeds mob dodged fencing to fight the Zulus, who pulled up advertising hoardings and charged like a cinematic battle.
      After 30 minutes of open warfare, the police mounted horses and chased the mob back to the stands.
      Such was the crush that a wall collapsed on a fan and killed him.
      Thank God we have not seen a repeat of this for decades.
      Indonesian football is still blighted by hooliganism, heavy-handed policing and crowd mismanagement.
      The dreadful result is all those lives lost, including around 32 children.
      Various inquiries in Indonesia have been called for and the police — 18 officers so far have been arrested — will take much of the blame.
      There were, according to the Arema coach, fans “dying in the arms of players”.  Utterly tragic. More

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      Gang take over ex-Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant’s abandoned £1Million mansion and turn it into huge cannabis factory

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      JERMAINE Pennant’s mansion is at the centre of a police drugs investigation after a huge cannabis farm was discovered.The former Arsenal, Liverpool and Stoke City winger was stunned to learn a £1m property he lived in while playing at Anfield had been turned into an industrial scale drug-growing operation.
      Jermaine Pennant’s mansion has been turned into a drug denCredit: Getty
      A drug gang has been growing cannabis in the mansionCredit: YouTube
      Pennant bought the mansion, which boasts an outdoor swimming pool, for £1,025m in 2006 while playing for Liverpool.
      It has been abandoned since 2020 when the ex-footballer split with his then-partner.
      The 1930s property boasts an ornamental pond, tennis court, hot tub and an outdoor heated swimming pool.
      The scale of the cannabis farm was revealed on social media by an urban explorer who filmed himself wandering around the five-bedroom mansion in the upmarket area of Hale near Liverpool’s John Lennon airport.
      The explorer, who spent 35 minutes filming as he wandered around the property, said in a YouTube video: “They’ve had a big fat grow in here. Oh my God.. look at the chandelier up there.
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      “Guys we have just walked into a massive cannabis grow in an ex-footballer player’s house.”
      He continues: “Wow, this is former footballer Jermaine Pennant’s house and look at the mountains of weed everywhere. There is so much of the stuff it stinks.”
      Footage captured by the explorers and posted on YouTube showed dozens of plant pots, ducting pipes and windows taped up along with huge bin bags full of drugs paraphernalia piled up in a bathroom.
      The video also shows that a warrant to search the premises under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was issued by magistrates in Carlisle on 2 September.
      Most read in The Sun
      The warrant allowed police officers to search the property for “controlled drugs in all its forms of growth and production”.
      A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said: “On 5 January 2022 police executed a warrant at a property on Hale Road in Widnes.
      “A cannabis farm was found inside and a quantity of plants were seized.
      “At the time a 35-year-old man was arrested and has been released under investigation.
      “In September officers received further information of a cannabis farm at the same property on Hale Road.
      “Officers executed the warrant on 2 September and following a search no cannabis plants were located.”
      West Midlands Police is now understood to be dealing with the case.
      DRUG DEN
      Pennant lived in the house for three years before moving to Spanish La Liga side Real Zaragoza.
      The mansion is understood to have been empty for at least three years.
      Among the items found at the house are a picture of Pennant drinking from a McDonald’s cup.
      Pennant’s home was previously targeted by ram raiders in 2008 after they drove a car through his gates as he lay in bed with his girlfriend.
      Pennant joined Arsenal aged 15 in 1999 when they paid £2m for him to move from Notts County.
      But he only made 12 appearances for the Gunners before moving to Birmingham City in 2005.
      He was convicted of drink driving and played while wearing an electronic tag.He then moved to Liverpool and reached the pinnacle of his career when he played in the 2007 Champions League final.
      Following a three-year stint at Anfield he was sent out on loan to Portsmouth, Stoke City and Wolves before he became a journeyman star playing for clubs in Spain, India and Singapore.
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      Since retiring from football he has appeared on 2018 Celebrity Big Brother and dating show Celebs Go Dating.
      He has now signed up for the next series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
      Pennant bought the home for £1.25million in 2006Credit: YouTube
      He then left the home in 2020 after splitting with his partnerCredit: YouTube
      Police confirmed a quantity of plants were seizedCredit: YouTube
      Pennant lived in the house for three years before moving to Spanish La Liga side Real ZaragozaCredit: YouTube
      Penannt began his career at ArsenalCredit: Getty
      The star also played for Liverpool for three yearsCredit: AFP More

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      Footballer arrested after ‘breaking referee’s ribs, nose and dislocating shoulder’ during on-pitch assault

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      A NON-LEAGUE footballer has been arrested on suspicion of serious assault of a referee. Dave Bradshaw was in charge of Saturday’s clash between Platt Bridge and Wigan Rose when he gave one of the Platt Bridge players a red card.
      A 24-year-old footballer has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a refereeCredit: Getty
      The official then suffered a broken nose, four broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, a broken collarbone, concussion and whiplash in the attack.
      Now Greater Manchester Police have confirmed a 24-year-old man is being held by cops over the incident.
      Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector John Davies, said: “This is a serious assault in which the victim sustained significant, but not life-threatening, injuries.
      “GMP takes assaults such as this extremely seriously and we will be supporting the victim as the investigation progresses, to ensure his wellbeing.”
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      Bradshaw was rushed to hospital but has since been discharged.
      The referee said: “Hi all, been a very traumatic 12 hours, thanks for all the kind words.
      “I’ve sustained significant and substantial injuries but I’ll survive. My confidence has been smashed to bits but please, because of one person, don’t tarnish the club with the same brush.
      “The club is doing great things for the community. Up the refs.”
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      Platt Bridge confirmed on social media the player in question has already been released.
      The football club tweeted: “We as a club do not condone any violence towards anyone in the football community.
      “We are ashamed of what has happened, and the player is no longer playing with our team going forward.
      “We have spoken to the ref and apologised.
      “We as a team hope we can build our reputation back to what we have worked so hard for.”
      Anyone with information, images or videos of the incident at the Platt Bridge football pitches has been asked to get in touch with the police.
      Please contact GMP on 0161 856 7094 quoting reference number 2490-021022, 101 or through the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111. More

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      in Boxing

      I survived an assassination attempt after being shot, I’m not afraid of Tyson Fury and will KO him, says Mahmoud Charr

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      MIRACLEMAN Mahmoud Charr refuses to be intimidated by Tyson Fury – having overcome far more devastating fights in his life. The Germany-based, Lebanon-born Syrian is in talks to face Fury in December, after negotiations with Anthony Joshua broke down.
      Mahmoud Charr still bares the scars of his assassination attemptCredit: Instagram
      Mahmoud Charr was shot four times in 2015Credit: Instagram
      Charr at one point was considered the forgotten man of the heavyweight division, despite remarkably escaping death.
      The 37-year-old survived an assassination attempt in 2015 and amazingly returned to the ring nine months later.
      So he finds it fitting comeback king Fury – who beat depression to win back the world title – wants to fight him.
      Charr told SunSport: “Fury, the Gypsy King, and me, the Arab King, have one thing in common: we both never give up.
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      “Fury had severe depression, wanted to take his own life. My life was almost taken. I survived a shot in the stomach.
      “I decided to have two hip operations in one evening. After that, I became a world champion.
      “Fury and I are ambassadors for never giving up, believing in yourself and fighting for your dreams. A person without a dream has no life.”
      Even before Charr was shot four times in the stomach, he had to overcome hardship, fleeing from civil war that claimed his father’s life.

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      The boxer spent time in prison in his teenage years, before turning his life around with a career in the ring.
      Charr said: “I survived a bullet in the Libyan civil war when I was four years old. I lost my father in that war.
      “In Germany, I spent a total of three or four years in prison. I had a very hard life, had no money.
      “I was always on the street, having to struggle, fight my way through life.
      “Finally, it was martial arts that taught me discipline and made me a better person.
      “Yes, I have experienced a lot. The abdominal shot I mentioned, the bilateral hip surgery.
      “I am probably the only professional athlete who is still active with two artificial hip joints and plays so far above.”
      Youssef Hassan was given five years in prison for shooting Mahmoud CharrCredit: Alamy
      Mahmoud Charr returned to boxing after surviving the shootingCredit: Instagram
      Charr was 28–4 when his life was almost taken from him, following a cowardly assault from a Facebook troll.
      The attacker had been provoking the fighter online, posing videos of his losses on social media.
      But when Charr offered to face the man behind the screen in person, he was subject to a drive-by shooting in a kebab shop in Essen.
      He miraculously survived and lived to see his shooter, Youssef Hassan, sentenced to five years in prison.
      Charr had two tune-ups fights afterwards but later needed a double replacement, undergoing surgery in 2017 at the age of just 32.
      The same year, he went on to win the WBA’s secondary world title and has won his last five bouts.
      Charr’s biggest fight to date was a 2012 loss to Vitali Klitschko, but challenging for Fury’s WBC crown would top that.
      And despite the British star’s unbeaten record and fine winning-form, Charr remains unnerved, after conquering much more outside the ring.
      Read More on The Sun
      He said: “I am not afraid of anyone.
      “Fear is a feeling and feelings can be controlled. Fear exists only in your mind.
      “Everyone who knows me knows that I would even fight a T-Rex. I will knock out Tyson Fury in four rounds.”
      Tyson Fury turned to Mahmoud Charr as talks with Anthony Joshua collapsedCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
      Mahmoud Charr has won his last five fightsCredit: Instagram
      The heavyweight has a deal to fight Tyson FuryCredit: Instagram More

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      Italy asks Brazil to extradite ex-Man City star Robinho to serve nine-year prison sentence for rape

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      ITALY’S justice ministry has asked Brazilian authorities to extradite former Manchester City star Robinho so he can serve a nine-year prison sentence in relation to rape.The disgraced former ex-striker lost his final appeal against a conviction for gang rape back in January.
      Italy’s justice ministry has asked Brazil to extradite former Manchester City star Robinho to serve jail term for rapeCredit: PA:Press Association
      The rape of the Albanian woman took place on her 23rd birthday at a Milan nightclub in 2013 while he was playing for AC Milan.
      Robinho and five others were found guilty in 2017.
      The conviction was confirmed by an appeals court in 2020 and the verdict, which sentenced the 38-year-old to nine years behind bars, by the Supreme Court in Rome.
      That means that ruling cannot be challenged and is definitive.
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      Robinho, whose full name is Robson de Souza, lives in Brazil. 
      Now ESPN reports that The Ministry of Justice of Italy have today requested the extradition of Robinho from Brazil, where he is currently living.
      They have also asked for the extradition of his friend Ricardo Falco, who was one of those involved in the incident.
      The other four people involved have not been traced by Italian authorities and have therefore not been prosecuted.
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      However, the Brazilian Constitution does not allow Brazilians to be extradited from their homeland. 
      Robinho, who scored 28 goals in 100 games for his country, played for clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan, and signed a contract in 2020 to return to his very first club in Brazil, Santos.
      However, the deal almost immediately fell apart after sponsors reportedly threatened to cut ties with the club for signing a player convicted of rape.
      At the previous appeal Robinho did admit to having “contact” with the woman, but called it “consensual”.
      He claimed after he left, his friends also had consensual sexual intercourse with the woman – while adding he can’t speak for them.
      Key evidence used to convict the former Real Madrid star involved intercepted phone calls between Robinho and his friends.
      It’s claimed Robinho said the woman “was completely drunk”.
      But Robinho’s legal team stated the messages were mistranslated into Italian. More

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      Boxer David Haye arrives to face trial after ‘assaulting man’ at Hammersmith Apollo

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      FORMER boxer David Haye has today arrived at court where he is due to stand trial charged with assaulting a man at a gig.The 41-year-old former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion allegedly attacked Nickesh Jhala at the Hammersmith Apollo.
      David Haye is due to stand trial todayCredit: PA
      Haye was later arrested and charged as he stepped off a plane at Heathrow Airport in June.
      The alleged attack took place on October 30, 2021.
      Haye has arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with assault.
      He will give evidence at the two-day trial, which will hear from nine witnesses in total.
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      Haye is one of Britain’s most successful boxers – with a record 28 victories and just four defeats in his career.
      He spent time as both cruiserweight and heavyweight champion of the world before retiring in 2018.
      Haye made a one-fight comeback in September 2021, defeating good friend Joe Fournier in an exhibition clash.
      In 2012, the boxer appeared on I’m a Celebrity and came third.
      Haye is one of the UK’s most successful boxersCredit: PA
      He became a unified cruiserweight world champion in 2008Credit: AFP
      He then claimed the WBA title in 2009 after moving up to heavyweight statusCredit: Getty More

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      Premier League international arrested on suspicion of raping two women has bail extended

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      A PREMIER League footballer under investigation for two alleged rapes has had his bail extended by the Met Police.The player is accused of raping two women in separate attacks, one in June this year and one in April 2021.
      The star was arrested on suspicion of rape in JulyCredit: Getty
      The international star, 29, was arrested at his North London home on suspicion of rape in July after an alleged victim came forward.
      She claimed she was raped during a sunshine break in the Mediterranean in June.
      The alleged victim fled her five-star resort and flew home to her friends and family.
      She spoke to police on her return to the UK and attended a police station to make a full statement.
      She showed detectives photos that she claimed highlighted bruising on her body after the alleged attack.
      After his initial arrest he was later re-arrested on suspicion of two more counts from April and June 2021.
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      Cops later decided not to pursue the latter of those two accusations.
      He was bailed to August, which was then extended to this month and has now been extended again.
      A magistrates court is likely to approve the extension and confirm the bail conditions next week.
      It was previously reported that his club knew of the accusations last autumn, but that the player continued to play last season and has been a regular in 2022-23.
      He was also reportedly due to play in the World Cup in Qatar next month.
      The club confirmed in July that it would select him until further notice and that he would not be suspended.
      Neither the club nor the player are being named for legal reasons.
      A statement from The Met said: “On 4 July, a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape and taken into custody.
      Most read in The Sun
      “While in custody, he was further arrested on suspicion of two incidents of rape that were alleged to have been committed in April and June of 2021 against a different woman in her 20s.
      “The man was bailed until a date in early October but his bail has since been extended further – an exact date has yet to be confirmed.” More

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      Steven Gerrard’s daughter Lilly, 18, finds love with son of villain linked to crime cartel

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      STEVEN Gerrard’s daughter Lilly has found love with the son of a villain linked to a notorious crime cartel.Influencer Lilly, 18, has been seeing Lee Byrne, 23, since around April.
      Lilly Gerrard has recently returned from a holiday to Ibiza with her boyfriend
      Influencer Lilly Gerrard has been seeing Lee Byrne for the last few monthsCredit:
      Lilly is said to be a frequent visitor to Lee’s apartment in Formby
      The pair enjoyed a sun-soaked holiday in Ibiza this summer, said to be there at the same time with friends, and have shared photos online including one of Lee kissing her on the head.
      Another snap shows Lee relaxing on a private jet as he and Lilly — who has nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram — returned home to the UK in style last week from a trip.
      There is no suggestion either are involved with the gang or any criminality.
      Lilly’s former England and Liverpool star dad Steven, 42, was last week pictured alongside Lee’s dad Liam, 41, on a video call.
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      Byrne Snr is a close associate of Irish businessman Daniel Kinahan, who has been linked to killings in the UK, money laundering and a multi-million pound drug smuggling racket.
      Byrne Snr’s links to the Kinahan cartel emerged in Ireland’s High Court in 2018 when it was claimed that he was at “the very top tier” of organised crime.
      Lawyers told the court Byrne was a “close and trusted associate and lieutenant” of Kinahan.
      Lee had his own brush with the law in January when he was given a warning by Merseyside Police for crashing his £80,000 BMW M3 on the M62.
      Most read in The Sun
      Friends say he and Lilly enjoy going on dates and she has been a frequent visitor to his apartment in Formby.
      The pair have also been spotted at a coffee bar.
      In one image she shared online, Lilly showed off Lee’s initials on one of her fingernails, while in snaps of them together she has covered his face with a love heart emoji.
      The pair were also spotted taking the Gerrard family’s two dogs Barney and Blondie for a walk in Formby.
      Last week, a video emerged of Aston Villa manager Gerrard with Byrne Snr sat together in a bar in Ibiza.
      It is not known how the pair met but during the video call, Gerrard offered to take a Liverpool fan to “see the Reds” as Byrne sits next to him and smiles.
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      Byrne then offered to arrange a dinner with Gerrard and the fan at Byrne’s home in the UK.
      Gerrard’s reps were contacted for comment.
      Lilly celebrated as dad Steven led Rangers to win the Scottish Premiership title in 2021Credit: INSTAGRAM/ LILLY.GERRARDD
      Lilly Gerrard has more than 200,000 followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram
      Lilly’s dad Steven played football for Liverpool and EnglandCredit: instagram
      Lilly and Lee enjoyed a sun-soaked holiday in Ibiza this summerCredit: Instagram
      Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has recently had contact with Byrne SrCredit: Getty More