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    Who was Blackpool fan Tony Johnson?

    BLACKPOOL fan Tony Johnson tragically lost his life after an altercation between 15 football fans outside a pub following the Seasiders’ 0-0 draw with Burnley.The 55-year-old was found by police with a serious head injury outside the Manchester Pub on the Promenade in Blackpool.
    The Blackpool Tower was lit up tangerine in Tony’s memoryCredit: Dave Nelson
    Officers administered CPR at the scene before he was taken to hospital for emergency treatment.
    Mr Johnson sadly passed away after sustaining head injuries in the early hours of March 6.
    Who was Tony Johnson?
    Tony was a popular character amongst the fan base and regularly followed the Tangerines to home and away games.
    Blackpool fans have set up a GoFundMe to support his partner and family.
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    A massive £14,219 has been raised in Tony’s memory so far, with the total still rising.
    What did Blackpool FC say?
    A statement released by the football club said: “Blackpool FC is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the news that supporter, Tony Johnson, tragically lost his life earlier this morning.
    “The Club will be offering an open book of condolence from 4pm in the Moretti Lounge, giving supporters the opportunity to pay their respects to Tony.
    “All of the thoughts of everyone at the football club go out to Tony’s family and friends.”
    Most read in Football
    Blackpool fans gathered at the Stan Mortensen stand at 4pm on March 6 to lay flowers and remember a lifelong Seasider.
    Club staff, players and fans all gathered to pay their respects to Tony.
    Anybody with information should call police on 101, quoting log 675 of March 6, or report it online.
    You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. More

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    Team that Mason Greenwood REJECTED previously picked sex offender Premier League star after jail for sick assault

    A TEAM rejected by Mason Greenwood previously picked a Premier League star after he was convicted of sexual assault. Striker Marlon King joined the Jamaican national team in 2004 following several spells behind bars and continued to play for the club after becoming a registered sex offender.
    Striker Marlon King played for the Jamaican national team after his jail term for sexual assault in 2009Credit: Getty Images – Getty
    Manchester United ace Mason Greenwood turned down a chance to switch to the Caribbean teamCredit: Reuters
    King, who has a history of drink-driving, threatening behaviour and criminal damage, was in 2009 locked up for “decking” a woman who objected to him groping her bottom in a nightclub the year before.
    He punched the 20-year-old in the face, causing a broken nose and split lip, and was jailed for 18 months.
    After his release, King twice played for Jamaica in 2012 before being suspended from the next two World Cup qualifiers for breaking curfew.
    He announced his retirement from football a short time later.
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    King, who also played for teams including Nottingham Forest, Watford, Birmingham City and Sheffield United, scored 162 goals throughout his British career.
    The 42-year-old, who was on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years, netted a further 24 for Jamaica, nicknamed the Reggae Boyz.
    Greenwood rejected a similar switch to the Caribbean – even though he is unlikely to ever be selected for England by Gareth Southgate again, The Sun understands.
    The Man United ace, 21, has not given up on his Three Lions dream, despite falling out with the England manager.
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    He is waiting to hear if The Red Devils will re-integrate him after charges of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour were dropped last month.
    Greenwood qualifies for Jamaica via his mother’s side, and rules state he could be eligible to play for them in September.
    Jamaica Football Federation boss Dennis Chung said: “He is only 21 and so has a very bright future ahead of him and I think he will add value to any team he is on.”
    However, Greenwood is keen to resurrect his England career after making his debut at 18 away to Iceland in 2020.
    The next day he and team-mate Phil Foden were sent home after smuggling two women into the team hotel in breach of Covid rules.
    Greenwood, who has scored 22 goals in 83 matches, has not played for his country since.

    A source said: “He is clinging to the hope of playing again at the highest level.
    “But Southgate places a great deal of importance on not only a player’s talent, but how the squad gels.” More

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    Blackpool fan Tony Johnson dies after Burnley brawl as club pays tribute

    A FOOTBALL fan has died after a brawl broke out between Blackpool and Burnley supporters on Saturday night. Tony Johnson, 55, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition following the fight and sadly passed away this morning, Blackpool FC confirmed.
    Football fan Tony Johnson died after a brawl in BlackpoolCredit: GoFundMe
    A fight broke out outside The Manchester pub on Saturday nightCredit: Dave Nelson
    Police said 15 people were involvedCredit: Dave Nelson
    He suffered a head injury during the mass confrontation outside The Manchester pub in Blackpool following the 0-0 draw.
    A spokesperson for the club said: “Blackpool FC is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the news that supporter Tony Johnson tragically lost his life earlier this morning.
    “The Club will be offering an open book of condolence from 4pm in the Moretti Lounge, giving supporters the opportunity to pay their respects to Tony.
    “Supporters are also invited to lay flowers at the Mortensen Statue behind the North Stand at 4pm today along with the Club’s staff and players, giving everyone associated with the football club the chance to come together and remember a lifelong Seasider.
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    “All of the thoughts of everyone at the football club go out to Tony’s family and friends. Rest in peace, Tony.”
    The Armfield Club, an independent supporters club close to Bloomfield Road, added: “Tony was Blackpool through and through and one of the best friends ever likely to cross your path in life.
    “Devastated is an understatement.”
    Cops were called to the scene around 7pm – hours after the goalless game had finished.
    Most read in Football
    Paramedics administered CPR before Tony was taken to hospital.
    A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding.
    Police are urging anyone with information or mobile or dashcam footage to come forward.
    DCI Tracey McMurdo said: “We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will do everything in our power to identify anybody who may have been involved.”
    Lancashire Police previously said: “The incident occurred at around 7pm, when an altercation broke out involving around 15 people outside The Manchester pub, at the junction of Lytham Road and the Promenade.
    “Officers were in the area of the pub following the Blackpool v Burnley football match and they attended and found a man had suffered a serious head injury.
    “They administered CPR and the man, aged in his 50s, was subsequently taken to hospital.
    “It is believed the altercation broke out between a number of football fans, with the man being injured as part of this incident.
    Read More on The Sun
    “At this time there is no suggestion he was specifically targeted.
    “An investigation has now been launched and we are working with both Blackpool and Burnley football clubs to establish who else was involved in the incident and what exactly occurred.” More

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    Sam Allardyce sues ‘thug in a suit’ Irish property developer for £3.5million

    SAM Allardyce is suing an Irish property developer once dubbed “a thug in a suit” for £3.5million.Ex-England boss “Big Sam” and his wife claim they paid John Kelly £883,000 to buy and do up two Surrey mansions.
    Ex-England manager Sam Allardyce is sueing ‘thuggish’ property developer John KellyCredit: Getty
    But the deal — which also included buying £100,000 in Bitcoin — fell through, a High Court writ claims.
    Now lawyers for the couple say Kelly, 60, has since “failed to account” for their investment.
    The developer, of Windsor, Berkshire, built a property empire in Dublin in the 2000s worth millions.
    He paid around £350,000 to Girls Aloud to perform at his step- daughter’s 21st birthday.
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    In 2009 he told an Irish court he owned a helicopter, a yacht in Marbella, a Bentley and an Aston Martin.
    But his fortunes collapsed and in 2012 he claimed he was under police protection after paramilitary threats.
    In 2013 convicted fraudster Thomas Byrne accused Kelly, his former business partner, of being a “thug in a suit” and “vampire-like” while on trial at Dublin’s central criminal court.
    The writ by the Allardyces at London’s High Court, against him and his wife, Mary O’Connor, claims they handed over £883,000 to Kelly between 2017 and 2019.
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    The money was allegedly meant to be used to buy the properties in Woking and Cranleigh, which would be developed and sold for profit.
    Kelly also pledged to use the cash to buy 34 units of Bitcoin for £100,000. But the writ accuses him of failing to pay the Allardyces “any of the sums owed to them”.
    It says Kelly even rang 68-year-old Allardyce, who managed the England football team in 2016, and told him the Bitcoin deal had gone “belly up”.
    The writ is for £650,000, plus £2.5million in interest, with £1,417 per day in interest until the claim is concluded.
    It is also demanding 34 units of Bitcoin be returned or £511,200 in compensation.
    The writ also reveals Kelly committed to pay £200,000 to Mark Curtis, understood to be Allardyce’s football agent, by February 2019.
    Kelly’s defence is yet to be made public. More

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    Achraf Hakimi denies rape accusation alleging he’s victim of ‘racketeering’ plot as wife ‘dumps’ the PSG star

    PARIS Saint-German star Achraf Hakimi has denied the rape allegations and claims he is a victim of attempted racketeering. The Morroco-born ace, 24, was placed under judicial supervision on Friday on preliminary charges of rape.
    The footballer alleges he is a victim of attempted racketeeringCredit: AFP
    Hakimi has denied all the allegationsCredit: AFP
    A preliminary investigation was opened last week after a woman accused the footie star of rape.
    The woman alleged the 24-year-old assaulted her after inviting her to his home while his wife Hiba Abouk was on holiday with their kids.
    Hakimi was questioned by prosecutors on Thursday and denied wrongdoing.
    The footballer’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, later released a statement noting that Hakimi “strongly denies” the allegations and alleging that he is a victim of attempted racketeering, ESPN reports.
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    The statement read: “According to the elements currently at the disposal of the police that M. Hakimi, in this case, is the victim of an attempt of racketeering.”
    “Achraf Hakimi strongly denied the accusations against him during his police interview.”
    According to Le Parisien, the 24-year-old defender began talking to the woman on January 16 on Instagram.
    He allegedly then invited her to his home in Boulogne on Saturday, reportedly ordering her an Uber to transport her.
    Most read in Football
    She claimed he assaulted her before she was able to free herself by kicking him then texted a friend to pick her up.
    The woman went to a police station but said she did not want to press charges.
    Prosecutors launched an investigation due to the seriousness of the allegations.
    Meanwhile, TV actress Hiba, 36, is believed to have dumped the star with reports suggesting they have been estranged for weeks.
    They have not been seen together in public for months.
    And following the rape allegation she is “accelerating” proceedings to separate for good, according to Cierre Digital.
    She has not publicly commented, but an Instagram post shows her walking on a Dubai beach with her two young sons.
    She captioned it “Adding moments”, and added the hashtags “family first” and one translating as “I’d die for mine”.
    The pair met in 2018 when Hakimi was in Dortmund, seeing her relocate from Madrid.
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    They got married in a secret wedding in 2020 before welcoming their first son, while their second child was born in 2022.
    Hakimi was credited for helping his national team reach the historic semi-final sport in the 2022 tournament.
    The pair have been reportedly estranged for weeksCredit: Getty More

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    Moment Rangers fans attack pub after cup final before being chased off by ‘Celtic maws’

    THIS is the moment a mob of Rangers fans attacked a pub before being chased off by a group of “Celtic maws”.The CCTV camera footage shows the group, mostly dressed in all black with hoods and balaclavas on, charging at the Glasgow boozer.
    Fans attacked the pub
    They were filmed throwing traffic ones
    PJ Neeson’s on Allison StreetCredit: THE SCOTTISH SUN
    It also shows people throwing traffic cones and pyrotechnics at the PJ Neeson pub on Allison Street in the city’s Govanhill around 5:15pm on Sunday.
    We previously told how lit flares were thrown into the boozer and a man’s shirt caught fire after Sunday’s Old Firm League Cup final where Celtic beat Rangers 2-1.
    But the newly-emerged security footage shows how a group of women rushed from the under-attack pub to challenge the footie yobs.
    One woman – holding what appears to be a pool cue – ran out to confront one of the masked hooligans.
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    She was filmed kicking at him in the middle of the road as others rushed to get between the pair.
    Other women ran from the pub and into the road to fend off the yobs and pulled the first woman back to the pavement.
    The footage went viral after being shared on social media, gathering over 3,000 likes.
    And the women who ran out to confront the hooligans have been branded “Celtic maws” by social media users.
    Most read in Football
    Fans were quick to react to the clip, with one playing a pun on a classic song by The Clash, joking: “I fought the maws and the maws won.”
    Police were called to the area after the trouble flared up following the final.
    But officers confirmed that the crowds were dispersed and no arrests were made.
    P.J Neeson previously declined to comment when approached by the Scottish Sun.
    It comes as four people were arrested after the match as cops probe an alleged pre-match ‘hooligan brawl’.
    Police confirmed they nicked four people for disorder-related offences in response to a number of alleged incidents.
    It followed a street battle between hooligans from both sides hours before the final.
    The fans were seen in Glasgow’s southside after swarming towards each other at the west and north sides of the ground before breakfast time.
    It’s believed cops will crack down hard on the two groups of ‘ultras’ and will use social media videos to help find those involved.
    But the brawl has led to a top cup saying footie ultras should be BANNED from getting early access to stadiums to lay out banners.
    Read More on The Sun
    A group of women and one man rushed from the pub
    They confronted the yobs
    The incident came after the League Cup Final
    We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5200 More

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    PSG ace Achraf Hakimi charged with rape after ‘inviting woman to his home while wife Hiba Abouk & kids were on holiday’

    PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN star Achraf Hakimi has been charged with rape.French prosecutors confirmed the Morocco defender, 24, is facing formal charges this morning.
    Achraf Hakimi has been charge with rapeCredit: AFP
    The alleged incident involving PSG’s Moroccan star happened on February 25Credit: AFP
    On Thursday, it was reported that the PSG star was questioned by prosecutors in connection with accusations from a 24-year-old woman.
    Now Hakimi, 24, has been subsequently charged, prosecutors told AFP.
    The alleged attack happened when he reportedly invited a woman to his home in the suburbs of Paris while his wife and kids were on holiday on February 25.
    His alleged victim went into a police station on Sunday to say that had been raped by the PSG player but did not wish to file a complaint.
    READ MORE ON PSG
    Prosecutors launched an investigation due to the seriousness of the allegations.
    According to Le Parisien, the ex-Real Madrid, Dortmund, and Inter Milan ace began talking to the woman on January 16 on Instagram.
    He allegedly then invited her to his home in Boulogne on Saturday, reportedly ordering her an Uber to transport her.
    Hakimi’s wife – actress Hiba Abouk – is currently holidaying in Dubai with their young two sons.
    Most read in Football
    His accuser claims that after arriving at his home, the footie star began kissing her on the mouth while lifting her clothes.
    She alleged he sexually assaulted her before she finally managed to free herself after kicking Hakimi and then texting a friend to pick her up.
    Hakimi’s lawyer described the accusations as “false” earlier this week.
    The Morrocan ace met his wife Hiba in 2018 when he was at Dortmund, seeing her relocate from Madrid.
    Twelve years his senior, she made her name in the Spanish crime drama El Principe, and like Hakimi, she is a devout Muslim.
    The pair share similar stories – she was born in Madrid to parents who had emigrated from Tunisia.
    They got married in a secret wedding in 2020 before welcoming their first son, while their second child was born in 2022.
    Back in October, with the World Cup on the horizon, they appeared in a stunning shoot in Vogue Arabia.
    Hakimi was credited for helping his national team reach the historic semi-final sport in the 2022 tournament. More

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    Lionel Messi left chilling message by gunmen after attack on family supermarket

    GUNMEN have attacked a supermarket in Argentina owned by the family of Lionel Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo and left a chilling message for the football star.One of two men on a motorbike was caught on CCTV walking up to the premises in Messi’s home city of Rosario and firing repeatedly at metal shutters over the windows and front door. 
    A supermarket owned by Lionel Messi was targeted by gunmenCredit: AFP or licensors
    Gunmen fired at the Supermercado Único which belongs to the Roccuzzo family.Credit: Twitter @Cadena3_Rosario
    The bullet holes can be seen in the shop blindersCredit: Twitter @Cadena3_Rosario
    Bullet casings could be seen on the groundCredit: Twitter @Cadena3_Rosario
    The shop will remain shut todayCredit: Twitter @Cadena3_Rosario
    🗒 El mensaje mafioso contra el Lionel Messi, en el ataque al local de la familia Roccuzzo.👉 Durante la madrugada del jueves balearon el supermercado Único, ubicado sobre Lavalle al 2500 en la zona oeste de la ciudad de Rosario. El local pertenece a la familia Roccuzzo. pic.twitter.com/F7SK7lKNKm— Rosario3.com (@Rosariotres) March 2, 2023

    More than half a dozen shots were fired at the supermarket.
    The attackers are also said to have left a handwritten message at the scene which said: “Messi, we are waiting for you. Javkin is a drug trafficker, he won’t protect you.”
    It had been written on a bag of charcoal.
    Pablo Javkin is the current mayor of Rosario.
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    A local TV station which reported on the attack claimed the message suggested criminals may be trying to extort money from the seven-times Ballon D’Or winner.
    The supermarket, which is called Supermercado Unico, is said to belong to Antonela’s family and is understood to be managed by one of her cousins.
    It is expected to remain today following the gun attack around 2am.
    Messi owns a huge mansion on the outskirts of Rosario called ‘The Fortress.’
    Most read in Football
    The monster property, built on three adjoining plots of land in a gated private estate, has a huge cinema, gym, and underground garage with enough space for 15 cars.
    He married Antonela in a glitzy wedding at Rosario’s City Centre Hotel and Casino in June 2017.
    Guests included former Man City striker Sergio Aguero and Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez More