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    Manchester United’s Antony prepares to return to England to face police over allegations he attacked a lover

    MANCHESTER United’s Antony prepares to return to England to face police over allegations that he attacked a lover.The Brazilian winger, 23, granted a leave of absence by United, was at Sao Paulo airport for flights to Spain then Manchester.
    Man Utd’s Antony will face police over allegations that he attacked a lover
    Antony was pictured at Sao Paulo airport for flights to Spain then Manchester
    Antony is accused by former lover Gabriella Cavallin of attacking herCredit: Instagram
    He will meet police in the coming days to deny the claims.
    A source said: “Antony is adamant he has done nothing wrong and wants to sit down with officers and let them ask him questions.
    “He has nothing to hide and will hand over anything they want to see including his mobile phone.
    “He wants to be exonerated as quickly as possible so he can get on with his football career again without any distractions.”
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    The £85m winger is accused by former lover Gabriella Cavallin of attacking her on January 15 in a Manchester hotel.
    Antony denies any wrongdoing and gave a tearful TV interview in which he said: “I know the truth and it will come out.
    “I’m 100 per cent sure I never touched a woman and I’ll come up with the evidence.
    “I’m sure I’ve never committed physical violence.”
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    A source said: ‘Antony is adamant he has done nothing wrong and wants to sit down with officers and let them ask him questions’Credit: PA More

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    Ex-Premier League footballer and racehorse owner claims he’s living off £250-a-week while trying to fight speeding fine

    A FORMER Premier League football star has claimed he’s living off £250 a week while trying to fight a speeding fine.Ex-England Under-21 international and racehorse owner Alan Rogers was punished for speeding in his new Tesla electric car.
    Alan Rogers played in the Premier League for Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty
    He was caught driving his £50,000 Model Y at 51mph in a 40mph zone.
    But the former footballer’s lawyer said he had no pension and was struggling to make ends meet renting out properties.
    Rogers, a defender for Nottingham Forest and Leicester City, had faced being banned from driving under the totting-up procedure.
    But charges of failing to provide a document were dropped at Wirral Magistrates’ Court, where the 46-year-old was fined £50 for speeding.
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    His barrister Daniel Bramhall told the court: “In terms of his income he is currently not employed. He is retired.
    “He has no access to a pension. He is paid £250 per week as a result of renting out properties. Those properties are part of his pension.
    “I ask for the fine to be as low as possible and for his licence to be endorsed with three penalty points. There are no penalty points on his licence.”
    Rogers, from Ormskirk in Lancashire, was part of manager Dave Bassett’s Forest team which won promotion to the top flight in 1998.
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    He had joined the East Midlands side from Tranmere Rovers the previous year for £2million, a record sum for the Merseyside club.
    His account on X, formerly Twitter, describes him as: ”Proud Ex professional footballer and race horse owner. I am now a full time crypto trader/angel investor/researcher.”
    The magistrates’ court listing said he failed to respond to a traffic section 172 notice for a second time after his Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD was caught speeding in February this year.
    He had previously failed to respond to a section 172 notice in August last year after his previous 2021-registered Tesla Model 3 Standard Range was alleged to have committed a traffic offence in Manchester.
    Section 172 notices stipulate a registered keeper of a vehicle should notify police of the identity of a driver when the car has been caught speeding or another traffic offence.
    The penalty for failing to respond can be a fine and six points on a driving licence.
    But Rogers already had six points wiped off his licence at a hearing before Liverpool magistrates last month, after arguing he had not received the first section 172 notice.
    He has also now successfully argued he did not receive the second section 172 notice.
    Rogers admitted one speeding matter, driving his Tesla at 51 mph in a 40mph zone at 10.49am on February 17, along the A49 in Maghull, Merseyside.
    ENGLAND UNDER-21 CAPS
    Mr Bramhall told magistrates: “Mr Rogers was due to attend today because consideration was going to be given as to whether he ought to be disqualified.
    “But had Mr Rogers received the original section 172 notice he would have responded to that and a plea to the original speeding offence would have been accepted.
    “In all likelihood he would have been offered a speed awareness course – through no fault of his own, he did not receive that letter.”
    Rogers was also ordered to pay £50 costs.
    During his four years at Forest the defender scored 17 goals in 137 appearances and also won three England Under-21 caps in 1998.
    His other clubs included Wigan Athletic, Hull City and Bradford City before a knee injury ended his playing career in 2007 while at Accrington Stanley.
    He later took up coaching roles, including spells as caretaker manager at Tranmere in 2015 and boss of non-league Skelmersdale United two years later.
    Outside football, Rogers was reported in 2010 by the Liverpool Echo to be preparing to sue Merseyside Police for lost earnings of £1million.
    That was after his Liverpool nightclub Cube was forcibly closed due to concerns of violence.
    The £1.25million club in the city centre, covering four floors, opened in 2008 but was first shut down in March 2009 after allegations of assaults.
    His lawyers stated police were unable to provide any evidence of his links to Fitzgibbon when challenged by the city council’s licensing committee and that no one had been convicted of any offences inside or outside the club.
    Cops said at the time no claim for damages was received but that licensing conditions for the club had been amended.
    Rogers admitted assaulting a business rival at Chorley Magistrates’ Court in April 2018, for which he was given a conditional discharge, the Echo also reported.
    He later vented his anger at the Professional Footballers Association in 2019, telling the Daily Mail there had been a lack of support for retired footballers.
    Rogers said the PFA had “gone missing” after he sought help and advice when facing a financial ruin when a property investment went wrong.
    He said he had put £500,000 into a project to convert a pub into apartments but when the property failed to secure planning permission ended up selling it property at auction for £30,000.
    He also said he got no response when he applied to the PFA for a grant for an operation on his knee to help in his coaching career.
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    The PFA said at the time it had offered support to Rogers regarding his investment concerns in 2015 but he had not taken it up.
    The footballer’s union said it had not received the required information about any request for medical support.
    Rogers featured for Forest in the top flight after helping them win promotion in 1998Credit: Getty
    He scored against Manchester United in February 1999 though Forest lost 8-1Credit: Getty
    Rogers was at Forest for four years before joining Leicester City in 2001Credit: Getty More

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    Football club boss gunned down by ‘hired killers’ on bikes in front of daughter just hours after his side is beaten 3-2

    A COLOMBIAN football club boss was gunned down in front of his daughter only hours after his team was defeated on the pitch.Edgar Paez, president of the Tigres Football Club, was returning home with his daughter when two men on a motorbike carried out the horror attack.
    Paez, President of the Tigres Football Club, was gunned down in the senseless attackCredit: Tigres FC
    The club had just been knocked to the bottom of their league following a lossCredit: Tigres FC
    Colombian National Police said the 63-year-old suffered three fatal gunshot wounds in the suspected hired hit near the stadium at around 6:15pm on Saturday.
    His daughter escaped unscathed, but Paez died of his injuries before reaching a nearby hospital.
    Paez’s team had just been knocked to the bottom of their 16-team league after a 3-2 defeat earlier in the day – though it is unknown if the loss was related to the murder.
    Police are currently investigating the murder as tributes have poured in for the football figurehead.
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    Tigres FC released a statement reading: “The Tigres family and the sporting community are devastated by this event.
    “His commitment to the team and his dedication to the development of the sport in our region left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
    The President of the Major Division of Colombian Professional Football, Fernando Jaramillo, said: “He was always distinguished by his respect for his friends, by his strong but respectful positions and by the love he professed for the sport that we are all passionate about: football.”
    Paez formerly directed Independiente Santa Fe, another football team based out of Bogota.
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    A moment of silence will be held in memory of Paez in the next two matches played by Colombian teams.
    Further questions about the circumstances of Paez’s death have continued to flood in in recent days.
    One Twitter user said: “The murder of Paez should immediately cancel this championship. An unprecedented setback. What dark interests are behind it?”
    Another user added: “It is unfortunate that these types of incidents persist in Colombian sports.”
    One passionate Colombian fan shared: “In a decent country, the championship would have been suspended.
    “May the murder of the president of Tigres be clarified and justice be done.”
    In 2019, a South African football manager was shot dead outside of his stadium in a “spray of bullets.”
    Siphiwo “Mawawa” Nyobo had just finished watching a match in East London, in Eastern South Africa.
    He was boss of team Tornado FC and said to be a “prominent businessman” in the city. More

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    Suspect wanted over £300,000 armed raid on England star Raheem Sterling’s home is on the run in Albania

    A SUSPECT wanted over the £300,000 armed raid on England star Raheem Sterling’s home is on the run in Albania.Records show Henri Osmani, 44, entered his homeland on July 18.
    A suspect wanted over the £300,000 armed raid on England star Raheem Sterling’s home is on the run in AlbaniaCredit: Getty
    Records show Henri Osmani entered his homeland on July 18Credit: PA
    Cops there have joined forces with Surrey Police to find the fugitive.
    Interior minister Taulant Balla told The Sun yesterday: “No Albanian involved in crimes in the UK should think our country is a hiding place.”
    Albanians Alfred Isufi, 48, and Gerard Kalaja, 22, are on the run outside their home nation.
    A fourth man is due to face trial next year.
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    The group are linked to 33 raids in Surrey, Essex, Kent and Herts, said to have netted £1million.
    Sterling briefly flew back from the World Cup after December’s robbery. More

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    Maddy Cusack’s death not suspicious, police say as they release update into cause of death of Sheffield United star

    SHEFFIELD United football star Maddy Cusack’s death is not being treated as suspicious, police have revealed.Cops have provided an update on their investigations after the 27-year-old player died last Wednesday.
    Tributes have been paid to tragic footballer Maddy CusackCredit: Getty
    Derbyshire Police today released a statement saying the death was not being seen as suspicious.
    The force added: “We were called to a property in Lady Lea Road, Horsley, just after 6.35pm on Wednesday 20 September.
    “A woman, in her 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family are aware and are being supported by specialist officers.”
    The Blades announced Maddy’s death last Thursday and tributes were paid at yesterday’s Premier League home match against Newcastle United.
    Read More On Maddy Cusack
    A minute’s silence was held before kick-off and the club’s matchday programme featured on the cover a black and white picture of Cusack in a Sheffield United shirt.
    And fans gave a minute’s applause in the eighth minute, since she wore the number eight shirt for Sheffield United.
    The club said in a statement last week: “Sheffield United Football Club is devastated to report the sad news of the passing of Maddy Cusack.
    “Maddy, a women’s team player since 2019 and marketing executive for the Football Club, passed away on Wednesday.
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    “A respected player, Maddy, 27, last season reached the milestone of 100 appearances for Sheffield United Women.
    “Additionally, she was a valued colleague in the offices at Bramall Lane, moving over from the Sheffield United Community Foundation to the Club in 2021 to help market all areas of the Blades.”
    Stephen Bettis, United’s chief executive officer, commented: “This is heartbreaking news for everyone at Bramall Lane.
    “Maddy had a unique position of being part of a number of teams at Sheffield United and was popular with everyone that she came into contact with.
    “Her personality and professionalism made her a credit to her family – she will be sadly missed.
    “Whilst taking in the news and moving forward, the Club will offer as much support as possible to Maddy’s family, friends and colleagues.”
    Maddy had just entered her sixth season with the Blades having signed a new contract in July.
    She made her Sheffield United debut in 2019 and became the first player to make 100 appearances for the club’s women’s team.
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    She previously played for Birmingham City and Aston Villa.
    Arsenal and England Lionesses legend Leah Williamson today posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Sending all my love and condolences to Maddy’s family at this awful time.”
    Maddy had only recently signed a new contract at Sheffield UnitedCredit: Rex More

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    ‘Controlling’ Antony pored through ‘abused’ ex’s phone to check chats while Man Utd ace was on Brazil duty, driver says

    ANTONY “demanded to go through” his ex-girlfriend’s phone to check her messages while he was away on a match with Brazil’s national team, her former driver has claimed.Sandro Oliveira, who worked as a chauffeur to Gabriela Cavallin, in Sao Paolo, is said to have corroborated the influencer’s abuse allegations.
    Antony is said to have insisted to check Gabriela’s phone after he came back from a Brazil gameCredit: Getty
    Gabriela Cavallin alleged the footballer physically and mentally abused herCredit: Instagram
    The 22-year-old DJ sensationally claimed that the Manchester United star assaulted her throughout their two-year relationship.
    Antony has strongly denied the allegations and has vowed to clear his name.
    The shocking claims have led to probes in Manchester and Sao Paolo.
    Gabriela’s former driver was interviewed by police on Wednesday as part of the Brazilian investigation and claimed he met the footie star three times – the first one in November 2021.
    read more on antony
    He recalled one of the times when the DJ asked him to pick up Antony from the airport after an international match with Brazil’s national team, according to Extra.
    He said the £85million winger insisted on checking Gabriela’s messages on her phone to see who she had been speaking with after getting in the car.
    Oliveira claimed that on a separate occasion, he received an “SOS message” from Gabriela while she was at a luxury apartment near Sao Paulo
    The driver told police that Gabriela told him: “Antony is hitting me.”
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    Antony reportedly phoned him shortly after he arrived in the area and said: “Sandro, come and get Gabi before I do something.”
    Sandro also told cops he noticed Gabriela’s face and left arm were “very red.”
    The alleged attack reportedly happened when Gabriela was pregnant with Antony’s child before she lost the baby.
    The influencer’s best friend Brenda Tereza Gondacki is said to have also corroborated abuse allegations against Antony.
    Cops will be able to go through the former couple’s chats after Gabriela voluntarily handed over her phone for examination.
    She previously shared a series of shocking texts purportedly sent from Antony who allegedly told her he “hopes she dies” and branded her “disgusting” and “deceitful” after she ignored him.
    The influencer also posted pictures of injuries she sustained in the alleged attacks, claiming Antony punched and headbutted her before threatening to crash their car after she tried to end their relationship.
    She also said that her finger was cut to the bone and that the footballer attacked her four times – even while she was pregnant.
    Antony is also facing accusations of domestic abuse from banker Ingrid Lana who claims he pushed her against a wall in Manchester in September last year.
    While a third alleged victim came forward saying she was left needing hospital treatment after being attacked by Antony, she dropped her case earlier this week.
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    Law student Rayssa de Freitas initially said she was assaulted in the backseat of Antony’s Land Rover after a night out in São Paulo, but has now withdrawn her claim.
    The footballer, who has now been axed from the national team – has denied the abuse allegations and admitted his relationship with Gabriela was “tumultuous” but claimed it never resulted in violence.
    How you can get helpWomen’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:

    Always keep your phone nearby.
    Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
    If you are in danger, call 999.
    Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
    Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
    If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
    Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.

    If you are a ­victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support ­service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
    Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
    You can also call the freephone 24-hour ­National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. More

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    Ex-England star Jesse Lingard apologises as he admits drink-driving in his £200k Lamborghini – and is fined £57k

    EX-ENGLAND star Jesse Lingard has apologised after he admitted drink-driving in his £200,000 Lamborghini – and was fined £57,000.The former Manchester United footballer, 30, had only owned the flash motor for three months when he was stopped by cops on July 8 in Manchester while double the alcohol limit.
    Jesse Lingard leaving court today after he was fined a week’s wagesCredit: Steve Allen
    He was caught drink driving behind the wheel of his LamborghiniCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
    Lingard admitted the driving offenceCredit: Steve Allen
    Tara Riley, prosecuting, said that an officer who was following his Lamborghini Uris became aware it was being driven at speed.
    The the officer’s “initial belief”, she said, was Lingard’s vehicle was racing another high-performance car.
    “He doesn’t believe 100 per cent they were racing but they were driving at speed,” she said.
    She said the officer spoke to Lingard at the roadside and believed he was under the influence of alcohol due to his behaviour.
    Read More Football
    A breath test revealed 76 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.
    Frank Rogers, representing Lingard, described the player’s actions as “out of character”.
    Mr Rogers said Lingard had initially been out for a meal with friends and only drunk soft drinks.
    He’d intended going home but had then received a call from a “fellow professional footballer” and driven to Manchester to have a “few drinks” with him.
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    Mr Rogers said Lingard had “mistakenly” believed he had left sufficient time to drive home, describing it as “spontaneous decision”.
    A personal assistant, who would normally drive Lingard in such circumstances, wasn’t working, he said.
    Mr Rogers denied Lingard had been “racing” and the two-“high-performance cars” were sitting at lights at the time
    He said Lingard had shown remorse for his actions and it was “apparent how heavily this weighs on him”.
    Mr Rogers said that his client would pay a “heavy price” in the future as his career and family – to whom he has large financial commitments- would be impacted.
    He added that Lingard – who is currently without a club after being released by Nottingham Forest – was training with West Ham, who were considering offering him a contract, and other offers were “in the pipeline”.
    When pressed by district judge Joanne Hirst how much Lingard currently earned, Mr Rogers told the court it was £249,000 a month, or £57,000 a week.
    The judge told Lingard the case had aggravating features, including  him being twice over the limit, saying: “One wonders who would have cared for your entire family had you killed yourself or someone else.”
    The judge told him that he would be punished in the same way as anyone else before the court – a week’s earnings.
    She also added a £2,000 victim surcharge, meaning Lingard must £59,000 in total, and banned him from driving for 18-months, to run concurrently with an existing six-month ban.
    Lingard said in a statement: “I want to acknowledge my mistake and publicly apologise for my unacceptable actions.
    “I completely understand and accept the consequences of my mistake by putting the lives of others at risk.
    “I am sorry to all my fans anyone who has followed and supported me throughout my career.
    “I accept the sentence of the court and the fine.”
    It is the second time Lingard will appear before magistrates in less than two months.
    He was previously banned from driving after he failed to name the driver when his car was caught speeding.
    The midfielder’s Range Rover was flashed by a speed camera on the A56 in Trafford last year.
    Lingard, 30, then failed to give police the the name of the driver when he received a speeding notice at his home.
    He pleaded guilty to failing to provide information about who was driving his vehicle at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
    The star was fined £900 with a further £560 in costs and banned from the roads for six months.
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    The ban came under a “totting up” process as Lingard already had points on his licence from two previous speeding offences.
    His lawyer claimed he was not the driver but missed the letter telling him to provide the drivers’ details as it went to his old address in Manchester while he was then living in Nottingham.
    Lingard playing for Nottingham Forest in MarchCredit: Getty More

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    Footballer, 33, who took cops on high speed chase before crashing 100k Range Rover and running from scene dodges jail

    A FOOTBALLER who led police on a high speed chase in a £100,000 Range Rover ran off after smashing into a parked car.Gary Madine, 33, who has played up front for Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool, roared around in his Range Rover with police on his tail.
    Blackpool’s Gary Madine walks off the pitch after being shown a red card during the Sky Bet Championship match at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool on Feb 7 2023Credit: PA
    Damage to Gary Madine’s Range RoverCredit: NCJMedia
    Madine ran from the scene after crashing into a parked carCredit: NCJMedia
    Locals were asleep as Madine sped through Birtley, Gateshead during the early hours of April 3.
    Madine, who has previous convictions for violence, decided to floor the SUV rather than pull over when cops arrived.
    Newcastle Crown Court heard how Madine behaved in a “ridiculously stupid” way when officers turned up to reports of a disturbance in the early hours of the morning.
    Mark Atkins, prosecuting, said: “The vehicle began to make off and ignored instructions by the police to stop.
    “The police officer got into his car and followed the defendant and activated his blue lights and siren.
    “During the police pursuit, he drove dangerously. There’s footage of the pursuit from the dash cam of the police car.
    “During the chase, the defendant collided with a white Ford Focus parked outside a house on a path.”
    The impact of that crash caused a post box to be knocked over and caused damage to the Ford and the Range Rover.
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    Madine tried to continue driving but was unable to do so due to the damage, and after around 40m he got out and ran off, along with his passenger.
    However as he was the registered keeper of the car, he was easily traced. However he failed to respond to a notice requesting information on who was driving at the time.
    The 33-year-old, of Bede Way, Birtley, who has four previous convictions for violence but a clean driving licence, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to stop for police and failing to provide information regarding the driver of a vehicle.
    Recorder Paul Reid sentenced him to six months suspended for 18 months with 250 hours unpaid work and a 12 month driving ban with a requirement he sit an extended test before he can get his licence back.
    The judge said: “It’s a mystery why people in your position do this, I suspect you made off from the police because you didn’t want to be breathalysed but I disregard that, the circumstances of this are bad enough.
    “I’m impressed with the pre-sentence report and character references and the letter you have written yourself. You described this as an act of stupidity. It’s fortunate it didn’t result in worse damage or injury to other people.”
    Shaun Routledge, defending, said Madine had “panicked”, adding: “2023 has been a difficult year for him, his relationship of some years ending and he suffered a serious injury which led to nine months of rehabilitation and not being able to perform the job he has done for many years. He was feeling very low in April.”
    Mr Routledge said Madine’s “profession depends on his full recovery”, adding: “There are offers from other clubs.
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    “Blackpool have been very supportive in terms of rehab. It may be he gets a way back into what he has done all his adult life but he may not. He realises what he did was ridiculously stupid.”
    Madine in action for Blackpool against Rangers last yearCredit: Willie Vass
    Gary Madine leaves Newcastle Quayside Law Courts.Credit: NCJMedia
    Gary Madine, who admitted dangerous drivingCredit: NCJMedia More