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      Shocking moment referee stabs footballer in huge brawl before player is rushed to hospital with punctured lung

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      A REFEREE has stabbed a player after a massive brawl broke out between players at a grassroots match in Argentina.Phone footage shot by an astonished spectator showed how players from both teams rampaged around the ref on the pitch.
      The player recovered in hospital after being stabbedCredit: CEN
      The referee Remigio Armoa brandished the knife after a scuffleCredit: CEN
      Police released images of the referee after he was arrestedCredit: CEN
      And showed the weapon in questionCredit: CEN
      The incident took place in the town of Scholler in the province of Misiones, in Argentina last week.
      The video shows players shoving the ref before he brandished the blade and stabbed a player in the chest.
      Shocked spectators gasped after the player staggered and fell before other team members carried him off the pitch.
      Meanwhile, the ref, wearing a black strip and a white cap, jogged away as the footage ended.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Local media later named the stabbed 21-year-old player only as Kevin A. who was rushed to hospital with a punctured lung.
      Pictures then emerged of the player recuperating in a hospital bed.
      The rogue ref was named as 62-year-old Remigio Armoa.
      The player’s uncle, who has not been named, told local media: “Kevin is miraculously alive.
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      “For the family, it is a very delicate moment because he is the Messi of the family.
      “He is a boy well gifted for football, thank God he had the opportunity to be in a club like Chacarita.”
      The police later arrested Armoa and seized the knife used to attack the player.
      The investigation is currently still ongoing. More

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      in Motorsport

      I lived a double life as a rally driver and drug smuggler – I had champagne and coke-fuelled parties before races

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      RANDY LANIER was a motor racing champion who won Rookie of the Year at the 1986 Indy500.But just a year later he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for drug smuggling.
      Randy Lanier lived a double life as a race driver and a drug smugglerCredit: NETFLIX
      He founded Blue Thunder and became IMSA GT champion in 1984Credit: NETFLIX
      Lanier fulfilled his dream of racing the Indy500 in 1986Credit: NETFLIX
      Born in rural Virginia, Lanier dreamed of becoming a race driver from the first time he heard a live broadcast of the Indy500 on the radio.
      The 69-year-old fulfilled his dream in 1986 following a rather unconventional path into the world of motorsport.
      It began when he moved to Florida in the 1960s when his love for cannabis turned into a money-making scheme.
      Lanier and his close associates began to smuggle in the drug from the Bahamas and his operation grew and grew.
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      After overcoming a setback in which Lanier was robbed at gunpoint in his home, the soon-to-be-racer was importing cannabis from South America, and with it he built an impressive fortune.
      Going straight to the suppliers meant Lanier began smuggling hundreds of thousands of pounds of cannabis worth millions of dollars.
      His scheme involved hiding the contraband in hollowed-out ballast tanks of barges, and the more he shipped in, the better his race car became.
      Lanier was already an amateur racer by the time he became a drug kingpin but his career never took off.
      Most read in Motorsport
      He blamed that fact on not owning and running his own team, so once he had the money he set up Blue Thunder and worked his way onto the IMSA racing scene.
      As Lanier put it himself: “To really be an up-front runner in racing, it takes not only a team, but a team with quite a bit of funds.”
      His own wife Pam described him as not the most “elegant” driver with Lanier following the Jeremy Clarkson handbook of power first, ask questions later.
      But it was a recipe for success and Lanier became one of the best young drivers on the circuit, thanks in part to the wisdom he no doubt learned from one-time Le Mans star Bill Whittington, his co-driver.
      Together the pair beat Indy500 legend Bobby Rahal to win the IMSA GT Championship in 1984, and with that brought further racing opportunities.
      Lanier then had the chance to walk away from his drugs empire for good when two representatives from Ford, who he had believed to be FBI agents, visited him at a race to offer him the chance to join their factory team.
      But he turned them down for one simple reason – friendship.
      Lanier stated: “My mind was already made up. I wanted to keep Blue Thunder together. That’s what friends do.”
      Lanier threw champagne and coke-fuelled parties before racesCredit: NETFLIX
      His secret life caught up with him and he was sentenced to life in prison in 1987Credit: NETFLIX
      Naturally, a self-funded racing champion with no discernable income raised eyebrows, but that did not prevent Lanier from expanding his operation – on and off the track.
      He began paying off the mob for access to ports with one job costing him £500,000 alone, and another involving one ship being diverted from landing in Louisiana to San Francisco – some 1,500 nautical miles.
      Lanier ploughed most of his money into his race cars but there was plenty of excess which was spent on speedboats as well as champagne and cocaine-fuelled parties before races.
      He then took things up a notch when he set his sights competing at the Indy500 by racing alongside professional daredevils like Rahal, Mario Andretti and AJ Foyt.
      Lanier fulfilled his childhood dream of racing the Indy500 in 1986 where he placed ninth – the highest ranking rookie in the race.
      But authorities were closing in and when his bookkeeper Charles Podesta was arrested, the game was up.
      Check out what these sport stars drive…
      Podesta confessed to his part in the smuggling racket and gave details on how the operation was ran by Lanier and his associates.
      In 1987 Lanier was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole but he was released after 27 years thanks to a presidential pardon from Barack Obama.
      He turned to yoga and despite claiming the US prison system was set up for recidivism rather than self-reflection, Lanier became a yoga instructor and a suicide watch volunteer – trained to sit and talk with people who tried to take their life – in prison.
      Following his release in 2014 he established Freedom Grow – a charity designed to help those sent to prison for cannabis-related charges regain their freedom.
      He remains passionate about cannabis, which he views as “just a plant”, and wants people to be given their lives back.
      Read more on The Sun
      Lanier said on the subject: “These people should not be currently incarcerated when there are 38 states, and all these corporations, making millions of dollars selling thousands of pounds of cannabis, legally, every week.
      “These people need to come home.” More

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      in Soccer

      Who is Jamie Arnold and what crimes did he commit?

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      JAMIE Arnold was found guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence aimed at Rio Ferdinand while he was working as a pundit in May 2021.Here we take a look at the crimes Arnold committed and what Ferdinand has said about them.
      Rio Ferdinand was working as a pundit for BT Sport when Jamie Arnold racially abused himCredit: Rex
      What crimes did Jamie Arnold commit?
      In August 2021 Jamie Arnold, 33, of Norton Bridge, near Stone, Staffordshire, was charged with causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
      The crime was committed during a match between Wolverhamption Wanderers and Manchester United on May 23, 2021.
      Arnold was also charged with making homophobic comments towards the referee.
      Rio was working as a pundit for BT Sport when Arnold racially abused the former Man Utd defender at Wolves’ home ground Molineux.
      READ MORE ON RIO FERDINAND
      Arnold’s attack happened at the first game where a reduced number of supporters were allowed in the ground following the easing of Covid restrictions.
      At a hearing in July 2021, Arnold pleaded not guilty.
      Rio was escorted by PC Stuart Ward — the UK’s first dedicated hate crime officer within the football unit — as he arrived at Wolverhampton Crown Court on August 26, 2021.
      Arnold was granted conditional bail after a 25-minute hearing.
      Most read in Football
      On November 1, 2023 Arnold was found unanimously guilty by a jury of racially abusing Ferdinand.
      Senior Crown Prosecutor Alistair Redford said: “Arnold made despicable racist gestures towards a victim who was just trying to do his job.
      “I would like to thank the stewards whose quick-thinking actions ensured they could identify and remove Arnold from the stadium that day, and for Mr Ferdinand and witnesses who came forward to help us build as strong a case as possible.”
      A spokesperson for anti-racism organisation Kick It Out said: “Kick It Out welcomes the guilty verdict handed to Arnold today.
      “It is imperative that perpetrators of discriminatory abuse are held to account for their actions and we hope this result sends a strong statement that racism has no place in our, or in society.
      “We commend the CPS and West Midlands Police for their work securing justice in this case and would urge authorities across the country to take similar incidents of discriminatory abuse just as seriously.
      “We continue to work with partners across football to tackle discriminatory abuse as it happens and to ensure that victims receive the support they need.
      “We would encourage anyone who witnesses discrimination of any sort in future to report it directly to us at Kick It Out.”
      Arnold will be sentenced on December 8, 2023.
      Has Rio Ferdinand spoken out about the crimes?
      At the time of the attack, Rio said: “The last couple weeks, it’s been unreal to see fans back.
      “However, to the Wolves fan who has just been thrown out… you need to be dismissed from football and educated.
      “Come meet me and I will help you understand what it feels like to be racially abused.”
      In response to Arnold being found guilty, Ferdinand said: “I’ve been involved in a Court case in Wolverhampton since May 2021.
      “Today [November 1, 2023] the guy who racially abused me has been found guilty and will now have to face consequences for his actions.
      “Racism will only be eradicated when we all work together as a society.
      Read more on The Sun
      “The prosecution wouldn’t have been possible without all the help/support from the witnesses, Wolverhampton fans and staff that came forward to testify in court.
      “Special thank you to Police Constable Stuart Ward [football hate crime officer], my Family and my team at New Era.” More

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      Inside horror ‘pro hit’ on Kurt Zouma’s home by ‘organised gang’ who blindsided security to steal £100k in jewels & cash

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      NEIGHBOURS of Kurt Zouma have told of their horror after his home was broken into by an “organised gang” who escaped with £100,000 in cash and jewellery.The “highly professional” masked gang ransacked the held the West Ham captain’s home after striking just before midnight on Saturday while he was at home with his young family.
      Kurt Zouma was dramatically robbed
      Zouma had been home with wife Sandra and their kidsCredit: Instagram
      The break-in led to Zouma missing his team’s 1-1 Prem draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday – and saw cops warning neighbours about the organised gang.
      And yesterday, West Ham revealed the club was offering a £25,000 reward for information leading to the gang’s capture.
      Zouma, 29 – who is married to wife Sandra, Mum to his four young children – and his family had items of “significant value” and “sentimental importance” stolen from their £3million Essex home, the club said.
      And yesterday, neighbours on Zouma’s plush road told The Sun cops warned them the raiders were “no amateurs”.
      MORE ON ZOUMA
      One neighbour – who was visited by officers on Sunday – said: “We don’t know much about what happened, apart from the fact there was a break-in on Saturday night.
      “We heard it was a burglary and the family were home at the time.
      “There was one police car outside afterwards but they stayed there with the family for a few hours.
      “I think the burglars were quite experienced.
      Most read in Football
      “Officers came round on Sunday and told us that the burglars were professionals. They said we want to tell you that they were not amateurs.
      “They said the break-in had been on the ground floor and to watch out for that. We think that they came in through the back garden.
      “We have security on this road – a guard that patrols here day and night and he was only parked a few driveways away when the break-in happened.
      “He can only see the front so if he didn’t see anything they must have got in through the back.”
      In a statement, Zouma’s Club said: “West Ham United has offered a £25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of burglars who broke into defender Kurt Zouma’s home on the eve of the Club’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace this weekend.
      “Kurt’s home was broken into on Saturday while all his family were in the house, leaving everyone present extremely distressed. While thankfully no one was harmed, it was a traumatic experience for the West Ham United defender, his wife and their young family.
      “The burglars took items of significant value and of huge personal and sentimental importance to the family.
      “The West Ham United family continue to offer Kurt’s family their full support.”
      Police raced to the detached £3million home– on an exclusive street where well-heeled neighbours hire private security – and stayed with the family for hours after Saturday night’s raid.
      Last February, The Sun revealed how Zouma has been caught on video slapping and kicking his cat last February – leading to a prosecution.
      Ex-Chelsea star issued a grovelling apology for actions after he was handed community service and fined.
      In the run-up to the club’s London derby against Palace on Sunday, West Ham said Zouma was unavailable for “personal reasons”.
      They did not elaborate on why he was missing from the match – as he stayed away to comfort his family.
      One resident on his street said they were not home at the time – but were aware of the break-in and had been warned to “stay vigilant”.
      The robbers are understood to have escaped with jewellery including high-end watches.
      Zouma – who has 11 caps for France – is married to wife Sandra, who he first met when they were teenagers in Lyon.
      They revealed in July they had welcomed their fourth child together.
      The £30 million star is the latest in a long line of footballers – including Raheem Sterling, Paul Pogba and Joao Cancelo – to be targeted by professional robbery gangs.
      A source said: “This was an extremely worrying attack and left Kurt and his family traumatised.
      “They were an aggressive and organised gang – and the house was completely ransacked.
      “Kurt and the family were put through a horrific ordeal, and are still struggling to speak about what happened.
      “Everyone at the club immediately knew it was incredibly serious – as he would not have missed a game otherwise.
      “But the raid is why he was not available on Sunday.
      How Zouma joins other football stars targeted by robbers
      December, 2021: Man City defender Joao Cancelo shares a picture of his battered and bruised face after he confronted four raiders who targeted his home in Hale while he was there with his family
      March 2022: Then-Man Utd star Paul Pogba’s home in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester is raided as he plays for the Red Devils in their home Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
      January 2022: Swedish defender Victor Lindelof’s home in Hale is targeted as he is in action for Man Utd away at Brentford. His terrified wife Maja locked herself and two young sons in a bathroom as intruders raided their house.
      January 2022: Ex -Man Utd star Jesse Lingard falls prey to ‘away day’ robbers who steal more than £100,000 of clothes and jewellery from his home in Bowdon, Greater Manchester as he plays for the club at Aston Villa.
      September 2022 – Then- Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was at his Cheshire home with Little Mix fiancée Perrie Edwards and their young son when burglars broke in
      December 2022 – Chelsea ace Raheem Sterling jets home from the Qatar World Cup after raiders struck at his Surrey home.

      “It is a terrible thing to have happened – and everyone at the club is offering him their full support.
      “The player’s family are too scared to stay at the house – and have already talked of needing to move.
      “Kurt is a family man and in shock. He is worried about protecting his family.”
      West Ham’s Joint Chairman David Sullivan previously put up a £250,000 reward when a burglar broke into his £7.5 million Essex mansion while he was on holiday in In June 2017.
      The raider – believed to be the ‘Essex Spiderman’ who had targeted around 50 other properties – is believed to have been scared off by a high-tech alarm system and fled empty-handed.
      Last night, Mr Sullivan, 74, urged anyone with information about the burglars who targeted Zouma’s family to come forward.
      He said: “First and foremost, the thoughts of everyone connected to West Ham United are with Kurt and his family. To have someone break into your home is a terrifying experience and I hope this reward will help bring the individuals to justice and prevent others from going through a similar ordeal.”
      Essex Police told The Sun: “We were called shortly after 11.50pm on Saturday 2 December to reports of a burglary in west Essex.
      “It was reported suspects had gained entry to an address, before taking items including jewellery and watches.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Our investigation into this incident is continuing.”
      •Anyone who has any relevant information should email confidential@westhamunited.co.uk with as much detail as possible, which will then be shared with the police.
      The horror comes just weeks after wife Sandra gave birth to their fourth childCredit: Instagram
      She recently shared a picture of their newest child at West HamCredit: Instagram More

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      Kurt Zouma terrified as raiders ‘steal £100k in cash and jewellery’ from West Ham star’s home while family were inside

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      FOOTIE ace Kurt Zouma was left terrified after armed raiders broke into his family home and escaped with £100,000 in cash and jewellery.The gang ransacked the West Ham captain’s house after striking on Saturday night while he was at home with his young family.
      Kurt Zouma was dramatically robbedCredit: Getty
      The horror comes just weeks after wife Sandra gave birth to their fourth childCredit: Instagram
      The break-in led to Zouma, 29, missing his team’s 1-1 Prem draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday – and saw cops warning neighbours about the gang.
      West Ham today revealed the club was offering a £25,000 reward for information leading to the gang’s capture.
      Police raced to the detached £3million home – on an exclusive street where well-heeled neighbours hire private security – and stayed with the family for hours after Saturday night’s raid.
      The robbers are understood to have escaped with jewellery including high-end watches. 
      Read more news
      A source said: “This was an extremely worrying attack and left Kurt and his family traumatised.
      “They were an aggressive and organised gang – and the house was completely ransacked.
      “Kurt and the family were put through an horrific ordeal, and are still struggling to speak about what happened.
      “Everyone at the club immediately knew it was incredibly serious – as he would not have missed a game otherwise.
      Most read in Football
      “But the raid is why he was not available on Sunday.
      “It is a terrible thing to have happened – and everyone at the club is offering him their full support.
      “The player’s family are too scared to stay at the house – and have already talked of needing to move.
      “Kurt is a family man and in shock. He is worried about protecting his family.”
      In the run-up to the club’s London derby against Palace on Sunday, West Ham said Zouma was unavailable for “personal reasons”.
      They did not elaborate on why he was missing from the match – as he stayed away to comfort his family.
      In a statement, the club said: “West Ham United has offered a £25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of burglars who broke into defender Kurt Zouma’s home on the eve of the Club’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace this weekend.
      “Kurt’s home was broken into on Saturday while all his family were in the house, leaving everyone present extremely distressed. While thankfully no one was harmed, it was a traumatic experience for the West Ham United defender, his wife and their young family. 
      “The burglars took items of significant value and of huge personal and sentimental importance to the family.
      “The West Ham United family continue to offer Kurt’s family their full support.”
      The French international is married to Sandra Zouma, who he first met when they were teenagers in Lyon.
      They revealed in July that they had welcomed their fourth child together.
      Last February, The Sun revealed how Zouma has been caught on video slapping and kicking his cat last February – leading to a prosecution.
      The ex-Chelsea star later issued a grovelling apology for his actions.
      How Zouma joins other football stars targeted by robbers
      December, 2021: Man City defender Joao Cancelo shares a picture of his battered and bruised face after he confronted four raiders who targeted his home in Hale while he was there with his family
      March 2022: Then-Man Utd star Paul Pogba’s home in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester is raided as he plays for the Red Devils in their home Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
      January 2022: Swedish defender Victor Lindelof’s home in Hale is targeted as he is in action for Man Utd away at Brentford. His terrified wife Maja locked herself and two young sons in a bathroom as intruders raided their house.
      January 2022: Ex -Man Utd star Jesse Lingard falls prey to ‘away day’ robbers who steal more than £100,000 of clothes and jewellery from his home in Bowdon, Greater Manchester as he plays for the club at Aston Villa.
      September 2022 – Then- Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was at his Cheshire home with Little Mix fiancée Perrie Edwards and their young son when burglars broke in
      December 2022 – Chelsea ace Raheem Sterling jets home from the Qatar World Cup after raiders struck at his Surrey home.

      The £30million star is the latest in a long line of footballers – including Raheem Sterling, Paul Pogba and Joao Cancelo – to be targeted by professional robbery gangs.
      West Ham’s Joint Chairman David Sullivan encouraged anyone with information relating to the identity of the burglars to come forward.
      He said: “First and foremost, the thoughts of everyone connected to West Ham United are with Kurt and his family.
      “To have someone break into your home is a terrifying experience and I hope this reward will help bring the individuals to justice and prevent others from going through a similar ordeal.”
      Essex Police told The Sun: “We were called shortly after 11.50pm on Saturday 2 December to reports of a burglary in west Essex.
      “It was reported suspects had gained entry to an address, before taking items including jewellery and watches.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Our investigation into this incident is continuing.”
      Anyone who has any relevant information should email confidential@westhamunited.co.uk with as much detail as possible, which will then be shared with the police.
      Zouma was forced to miss West Ham’s clash with Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
      The footballer has been with Sandra since they were teenagers in FranceCredit: Instagram
      She recently shared a picture of their newest child at West HamCredit: Instagram More

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      45 Polish football fans appear at special court over ‘worst riot in UK for 20 years’ at Aston Villa

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      FORTY-FIVE Polish football fans including a woman appeared in a special court yesterday over the Aston Villa riot.Thursday’s clashes outside the Birmingham stadium were the worst in the UK for 20 years.
      The clashes outside Aston Villa’s stadium were the worst in the UK for 20 yearsCredit: Reuters
      A total of 46 people aged between 21 and 63 were charged — but one did not attend.
      The others appeared in groups of up to five at separate hearings throughout the day.
      Police said 43 were charged with public order offences, two with assaulting police and another with possessing a knife.
      A district judge and several magistrates granted conditional bail to almost 30 of the accused at Birmingham crown court.
      READ MORE ON LEGIA RIOT
      They including a 22-year-old woman from Poland who pleaded not guilty to violent disorder.
      At one hearing the court was told “egregious, sustained and horrific” violence included bricks, bottles and a portable toilet being thrown at police.
      It is alleged that a police van was the target of an attempted fire attack.
      And a flare and a flaming flag were allegedly used to injure two officers.
      Most read in Football
      Police said five officers, two police dogs and two horses were injured after violence erupted when visiting supporters were not given tickets, as arranged, to enter Villa Park for the Europa Conference League clash which Legia Warsaw lost 2-1.
      Darius Buras, 57, of Birmingham, was one of the two accused of attacking police.
      He denied it and was bailed. Remanded defendants were ordered to ­reappear on January 5.
      Det Supt Jim Munro said: “To charge this number of people so soon after such a major disorder has taken a huge effort.” More

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

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

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

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      UK’s top footy cop calls for Legia Warsaw to be BANNED from Europe after officer ‘engulfed in flames’ at Aston Villa

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      THE UK’s chief of football policing has called for Legia Warsaw to be kicked out of Europe.And banned from attending ANY games in England following the disgraceful scenes which marred Thursday’s Europa Conference League tie with Aston Villa.
      Police clashed with Legia Warsaw fans during Thursday’s Europa Conference League tie with Aston VillaCredit: Rex
      One officer was set on fire by a flare during the clashesCredit: Rex
      Mark Roberts, who leads the UK’s Football Policing Unit, made it clear Legia fans are no longer welcome in this country after they injured dozens of officers while rioting at Leicester and Villa.
      Roberts warned safety certificates could be withdrawn and stadium bans imposed if Legia are drawn against an English club again after their loutish fans clashed with Dutch police and injured four West Midlands officers recently – causing burns to one.
      “It’s clear Legia have an appalling record in Europe this year and West Midlands Police were aware there might be problems,” said Roberts, who is also Chief Constable of Cheshire Police.
      “It really does put into focus whether there is a case to exclude them from the competition because they can’t keep going around Europe causing this sort of havoc.
      READ MORE ON ASTON VILLA
      “As a result of information we had from the Dutch authorities, Border force actually stopped 11 Polish fans from even coming into the country.
      “From a police perspective they are extremely difficult to manage and there comes a point when you have to ask where police and public safety outweighs the needs of the competition.
      “I spoke to Uefa on the night and we will speak again. They are urgently reviewing the situation. 
      “But I think there is a really good case for having them thrown out of the tournament.”
      Most read in Football
      Roberts laid the blame for the pre-match carnage at Legia Warsaw for failing to deal professionally with the distribution of tickets to their fans.
      He said: “We know the club were very unhappy at the reduction in the ticket allocation but in light of subsequent events that was an entirely justified decision.”
      And he revealed Legia fans could face a national stadium ban if they are ever drawn against English clubs in future, as the all-powerful Safety Advisory Group could refuse to grant safety certificates for matches involving the Poles.
      “I think we’d have to have a look at ways we can support whatever police force has the misfortune to have to host them,” he rapped.
      “In some circumstances, we might even say we want to prevent any away fans from coming and there might be a case for the Safety Advisory Group to exclude away fans.”
      Our reporter found evidence, among the debris left following last night’s shameful scenes outside Villa Park, of the scale of Legia Ultras’ carnage.
      We found empty boxes, which had contained 50 flares and saw how Legia fans had come close to breaking down a fence as they attempted to break free from the pen they had been herded into by police.
      SunSport can also reveal British border authorities confiscated gum shields and Mixed Martial Arts boxing mitts from the luggage of some fans, who had clearly come prepared to fight. More