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      AFC Fylde manager James Rowe RESIGNS from National League club after being charged with sexual assault

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      AFC Fylde manager James Rowe has resigned from the non-league club.The ex-Chesterfield boss was this week charged with sexual assault.
      Rowe while in charge of Chesterfield, a club he left by mutual consentCredit: Alamy
      A Fylde club statement said: “Following a meeting this afternoon, the board have accepted James Rowe’s resignation as manager of the club.
      “Andy Taylor will take temporary charge until a new manager is appointed.
      “There will be no further comment from anyone at this time.”
      Rowe, 39, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman in Chesterfield in November last year.
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      The former West Ham academy coach was in charge of Chesterfield at the time and left the club in February by “mutual consent” following a suspension.
      Rowe is due to appear in court next month.
      In a statement Derbyshire Constabulary: “A man has been charged with sexual assault.
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      “In January this year, officers received a report of a man having sexually assaulted a woman in Chesterfield, with the offence alleged to have taken place in November 2021.
      “James Rowe, 39, of Breaston, in Derby, has now been charged and is due to appear before magistrates at Chesterfield Justice Centre on Monday 7 November.” More

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      Boxing champion Jai Opetia ‘told police officers to “f*** off” and urinated in cell’ after nightclub arrest

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      AUSTRALIAN boxing world champion Jai Opetaia was slammed by a magistrate for aggressive behaviour towards police and urinating in his cell after an arrest.Opetaia was charged with remaining in the vicinity of a licensed premises after being excluded, behaving in an offensive manner in a public place and using offensive language in a public place.
      Jai Opetaia was slammed by a magistrate for aggressive behaviour towards policeCredit: @jaiopetaia_
      The IBF champion became aggressive and refused to answer police questions.
      And court documents reveal he began banging on his cell door, urinated in his prison and verbally abused officers following his recent arrest.
      Charges relate to an August 14 night out in Sydney where the unbeaten boxer and a friend attempted to enter Home Nightclub on Cockle Bay Wharf.
      The pair walked towards the exit to the premises, where the security guard denied them entry – telling them to use the correct entrance.
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      They then moved towards the security guard, prompting five men to grab Opetaia and move him away.
      The cruiserweight star was asked to leave after getting into an argument with security – but he remained in the area.
      He was restrained until police arrived and put him in handcuffs.
      According to court documents, Opetaia became aggressive with police and loudly said ‘f**k you’ to the officers who gave him a final warning and told him he was being recorded.
      Most read in Boxing
      He said: “You f***ing idiots, I’ve sat here arrested… for nothing.”
      He also shouted at one officer: “You are a dumb four-eyed piece of s***.”
      Opetaia faced court for the first time on Wednesday where defence lawyer Jason Murakami entered a plea of guilty on his behalf.
      Mr Murakami asked magistrate Daniel Covington to consider “exercising discretion” given that Opetaia entered a guilty plea, had no criminal history and the objective seriousness was low.
      The lawyer said his client was very remorseful and worried about his poor behaviour more than his sporting career being affected.
      Opetaia shot to fame in July when he defeated Latvian Mairis Briedis, 37, to win his title belt.
      He has also represented Australia at the 2012 Olympics at the age of just 16 and then the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
      Jai Opetaia beat Mairis Briedis for the IBF cruiserweight titleCredit: Getty More

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      Footie fan who threw flare at ref becomes FIRST woman in Britain to be banned from ALL MATCHES

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      A FOOTBALL fan who threw a flare at a referee has become the first woman in Britain to be banned from all matches.CCTV footage showed Abbie-Leigh Reay, 23, dancing in celebration when the missile landed near ref Lee Swabey and the opposition goalie.
      Abbie-Leigh Reay has become the first woman in Britain to be banned from all soccer grounds
      Police stopped the Tranmere fan as she left her team’s 4-0 League Two defeat to Forest Green Rovers in January.
      Despite her arrest, Reay posted winking pictures of her at the match with her girlfriend, along with a laughing emoji and the caption: “Before it all went downhill.”
      One of her comments read: “Just hope I don’t get banned.”
      Aldi worker Reay, of Bebington, Wirral, got a three-year ban after she was convicted of throwing a missile on to a football playing area.
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      Sefton JPs fined her £250 with £654 costs.
      Sentencing, District Judge Paul Healey, said: “You throw the flare on to the pitch which puts people there at risk.
      “No one is struck but there is a risk and as a result of your actions, police and stewards had to intervene.
      “There was a large crowd which put them in a difficult situation.
      Most read in The Sun
      “They have to take action.
      “There is a risk of it escalating further.”
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      Manchester City hooligan fined for throwing flare onto pitch which landed close to goalie Ederson

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      A MANCHESTER City hooligan has been fined for throwing a flare onto the pitch during the Champions League semi-final – which landed close to goalie Ederson.Bradley Holden, 24, celebrated when his team went 2-0 up against Real Madrid at the Etihad.
      Bradley Holden has been fined for throwing a flare onto the pitch at the EtihadCredit: STEVE ALLEN
      The flare landed close to goalkeepr EdersonCredit: Getty
      He was caught on CCTV later removing his top in a bid to avoid detection but was arrested at the game.
      Holden, a season ticket holder, tried to claim that he threw the flare in “panic” because he was so concerned about a fellow fan having an asthma attack.
      Miss Emily Potter, prosecuting at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, said his actions had shown “disregard” for the safety of his fellow supporters and the police sought to impose a football banning order against him.
      Holden told the court that he hadn’t lit the flare and only became aware of it after another fan pointed at it on the floor.
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      He said: “I looked down and heard an elderly male say, ‘What the…I’ve got asthma.”
      “I had a blind panic and wanted to get it away as quickly as possible.”
      He said that he had a friend who’d died from an asthma attack six years ago and he was also aware of the dangers from discussions with his primary school teacher partner
      CCTV footage revealed the flare landed near City goalie Ederson.
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      Holden, who pleaded guilty to charges of throwing a missile onto a football pitch and possession of a flare at an earlier hearing, also denied trying to disguise his identity by removing his top.
      Mark Kelllett, defending, said Holden was a man of good character who had never been involved in any other incidents at football matches, and a football banning order was unnecessary.
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      District judge Joanne Hirst agreed and said she had “taken into account the unusual circumstances” and believed Holden had shown an “instinctive reaction” on seeing the lit flare and it was clear he hadn’t brought it into the stadium.
      She handed Holden, of Hyde, Gtr Manchester, a £500 fine and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £50 surcharge. More

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      Burton Albion star William Kokolo denies three charges of rape as he’s banned from leaving UK

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      A LEAGUE One footballer denied three charges of rape today before he was banned from leaving the UK.Burton Albion star William Kokolo appeared at Birmingham Crown Court today charged with the offences which were allegedly committed against one woman on the same day.
      Burton Albion football William Kokolo has denied three charges of rapeCredit: SWNS
      Kokolo was released on conditional bail and ordered to hand over his passportCredit: Getty
      He appeared at Birmingham Crown Court todayCredit: PA
      Kokolo, 22, allegedly assaulted the woman in the Birmingham area on February 13 this year.
      The judge denied the Burton Albion defender’s application to be allowed to travel to Paris in November for his sister’s wedding and ordered Kokolo to surrender his passport.
      French-born Kokolo, who wore a navy suit, white shirt and black tie, was granted conditional bail.
      A preliminary trial date has been set for June next year with his next court appearance scheduled for March.
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      During the 19-minute hearing, the footballer only spoke when asked to confirm his name and pleas.
      Judge Paul Farrer KC said: “Williams Kokolo would you stand up please.
      “I have fixed your trial for the 5th of June next year, although enquiries will be made behind the scenes to find if it will be possible to take place some earlier time.
      “You will be back before the court on the 3rd March next year.
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      “You’ve been on bail and I enlarge your bail on the following terms.
      “You must not leave the United Kingdom and your passport must be surrendered and you must not apply for travel documents.
      “If you move permanent address you must inform your solicitors.
      “If you breach any of those conditions you will be arrested.”
      Kokolo joined Burton Albion at the start of this year.
      A club statement said: “Burton Albion is fully aware of the charges that have been made against one of our players and the club has spoken to the player and his legal representatives.
      “As this is an ongoing legal process, the club is unable to make any further comment until legal proceedings are concluded.” More

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      Benjamin Mendy rape ‘victim’ says she DIDN’T have sex with Jack Grealish after claims from another woman

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      A woman who claims she was raped by Benjamin Mendy has said she did not have sex with his team-mate Jack Grealish after another woman claims she did.Grealish, 27, was among partygoers at Mendy’s mansion in Cheshire last year when the 17-year-old complainant says she was attacked by Mendy, 28, and co-accused Louis Saha Matturie, 41.
      Last week it was claimed a woman who was allegedly raped by Matturie also had sex with Jack Grealish on the same night
      Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy denies multiple sex offences against a string of young womenCredit: PA
      Mendy’s co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie arrives at Chester Crown CourtCredit: PA
      Mendy and Matturie are on trial at Chester Crown Court where they deny multiple sex offences against a string of young women.
      Last week the court heard the 17-year-old said to police that a 23-year-old woman, who also alleges Matturie raped her, told her on the night she had sex with Grealish.
      On Monday, in further police interviews she said Matturie also mentioned to her the woman had “been together” with the former Aston Villa winger.
      Three or four of Grealish’ friends from Birmingham came to the party after she earlier arrived in a taxi which followed a Range Rover in which Grealish was a passenger, she said.
      The complainant said his friends were “quite pleasant” and “quite normal”, and there was “nothing suggestive or weird” in their conversations.
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      Grealish went on to compliment her “beautiful eyes” as she entered the swimming pool at the mansion and he walked out.
      She said she replied: “Thank you.”
      Later she saw Grealish “fast asleep” in the house.
      She told detectives: “I remember him being quite drunk.”
      The woman said she had not previously met Grealish and only “knew of him just off the TV”.
      She said the footballer and his friends did not do anything that made her feel uncomfortable.
      She confirmed to police that she did not have any sexual contact with Grealish.
      The detective asked: “Have you since that night told anybody if you had any physical contact with him?”
      “No,” she replied.
      The court heard that days before the woman was invited by Saha to watch a Manchester City match from a private box.
      At the time she said she thought Saha was Mendy’s personal assistant or “some kind of entourage, a bodyguard”.
      In a text exchange with a friend, Mendy was referred to as “the worst player on the team…guy goes out too much.
      “He made us lose against Tottenham.”
      Prosecutors claim Mendy is a “predator” who “turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game”.
      Matturie, his friend and “fixer”, allegedly had the job of finding young women for sex.
      Mendy denies seven counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault against six young women.
      Matturie, of Eccles, Salford, denies six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault relating to seven young women.
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      Both men say, if any sex did take place with women or girls, it was consensual.
      The trial was adjourned until Tuesday morning. More

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      Mum begs FA not to let Cristiano Ronaldo ‘get away with it’ after he smashed phone from autistic boy’s hand

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      THE mum of an autistic boy who had his phone smashed by Cristiano Ronaldo has pleaded with the FA not to let him ‘get away with it’. The Man United forward was filmed appearing to slap young Jacob Harding’s hand after his side were defeated by Everton at Goodison Park in April.
      Mum Sarah Kelly is urging the FA to not let Ronaldo ‘get away with it’
      It comes after the Man U forward was caught on camera slapping the phone from the boy’s hand
      Ronaldo was charged with breaching FA rules after he smashed the boy’s to the ground after losing to 1-0 to Everton.
      His mum Sarah, 37, says she’s had “six months of hell” after Ronaldo fans turned on her.
      She told the Mirror: “Let’s hope he finally gets the right punishment. He can’t keep getting away with it. His behaviour is unacceptable.”
      Ronaldo later apologised to the 14-year-old but was interviewed by police under caution in relation to an alleged assault and criminal damage last month.
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      She added: “I’m being hounded by people saying I’m dragging it up again but I didn’t know anything about it.
      “He should have been dealt with six months ago. My son talks about what happened to him every day. He still hasn’t had his phone back.”
      Merseyside Police paid to have the phone repaired, but Sarah believes it should have been up to the star player.
      Sarah, of Upton, Merseyside, added: “He should have paid for that. He’s the one who caused all this.
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      “It baffles me – he can assault a child and carry on as normal. How can he sleep at night knowing the distress he has caused to a young fan?”
      Sarah said Ronaldo hadn’t apologised to her or her son.
      She said: “He offered us to meet him and said he was sorry but said he had done nothing wrong. That’s not an apology, that’s an insult.”
      A Merseyside Police spokesperson said Jacob’s phone needed to be fixed while the investigation took place.
      A spokesman added: “The phone was kept until the conclusion of the investigation and will be returned shortly.”
      Ronaldo was charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 for an incident that took place after Manchester United FC’s Premier League match against Everton on Saturday 9 April 2022.
      They said: “It is alleged that the forward’s conduct after the final whistle was improper and/or violent.”
      The FA Rule E3 states “a participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game”.
      It adds they shall not act “in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute”.
      They should also not use “any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour”.
      ‘DIDN’T SET AN EXAMPLE’
      Jacob’s mum, Sarah Kelly, spoke out about the incident at the time, telling how Ronaldo had phoned her to apologise.
      She said she wanted to see justice “because there hasn’t been any”.
      And her son Jacob told The Mirror: “I looked up to him but he didn’t set an example that day.”
      In a post online after the incident, Ronaldo said: “It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing. 
      “Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game. 
      “I would like to apologise for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Responding to the FA charge, a spokesperson for Manchester United said: “We note the FA announcement in relation to Cristiano Ronaldo.
      “We will be supporting the player in his response to the charge.”
      Everton fan Jacob had been recording the striker’s exit from the pitch
      His phone smashed on the groundCredit: Sarah Kelly
      Jacob’s hand was also allegedly bruisedCredit: Sarah Kelly
      Ronaldo has been charged by the FA with breaching its rulesCredit: Getty More

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      Female football fans risk jail or flogging at World Cup if they are raped in Qatar

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      FEMALE England fans risk jail or flogging at the World Cup if they are raped in Qatar.Women at the tournament in November face prosecution if they report offences in the Muslim country.
      Female England fans risk jail or flogging at the World Cup if they are raped in QatarCredit: Reuters
      Qatar’s strict Islamic code outlaws all sexual contact between unmarried couples — and there are 100 prosecutions a year.
      Even rape victims have been hauled into court and handed sentences ranging from seven years in jail to flogging.
      May Romanos, a Middle East expert at Amnesty International, said: “You go to the police, and instead of being the victim, you become the accused.”
      The Detained in Dubai legal aid group has an app to help World Cup fans in trouble.
      READ MORE ON QATAR
      Director Radha Stirling said: “The UAE has a long history of penalising rape victims.”
      Figures show football stadiums in the past have become sex assault hotspots at tournaments.
      There were 72 sex attacks reported in Brent, North London, when the Euro 2020 semis and finals were played at Wembley in July last year — while there were 39 cases at the same tournament in Seville, Spain.
      A Qatar spokesman said the country “promotes the rights of women, and this extends to all women visiting”.
      Most read in The Sun
      Fifa said: “Any fan who reports a sexual assault will have access to Qatar’s ­high-quality healthcare system irrespective of marital status.” More