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      Mason Greenwood remains on Man United’s Premier League squad list after charges dropped

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      MASON Greenwood has remained on Manchester United’s squad list after his charges were dropped. The forward, 21, has his name on the first-team page on the official website in a possible indication he could resume his football career.
      Mason Greenwood’s player profile is still on the websiteCredit: manutd.com
      It could be an indication he may restart his football careerCredit: manutd.com
      The striker today has all charges against him droppedCredit: PA
      His biography reads: “An exciting striker who has been well ahead of schedule in terms of his progress through the ranks at United and has made a huge impact in 2019/20.”
      He today had all charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control against him dropped.
      Greenwood was first arrested in January last year after police swooped on his mansion.
      He was due to stand trial in November accused of attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
      READ MORE ON SPORT
      The Crown Prosecution today confirmed they had dropped all charges against him.
      A spokesperson said: “We have a duty to keep cases under continuous review.
      “In this case a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
      “In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case.
      Most read in Football
      “We have explained our decision to all parties.
      “We would always encourage any potential victims to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.”
      Greenwood last appeared in court in November where a trial date was set for November 23 this year.
      The alleged offences related to one woman and were said to have taken place between November 1, 2018, and October 15, 2022.
      Greenwood was accused of “repeatedly engaging” in controlling and coercive behaviour for almost four years – including making threats and derogatory comments on social media.
      He was also charged with attempting to rape the woman on October 21, 2021, and allegedly assaulted her between December 12, 2021, and December 31, 2021.
      The footballer was originally remanded in custody after being charged by police on October 15.
      But a judge released him on the condition he does not contact witnesses, including the complainant, and resides at an address in Bowdon.
      The striker also spent three nights in custody after he was arrested at his £15,000-a-month rented home in Trafford last January.
      He was suspended from Utd but still received his £75,000-a-week salary.
      Greenwood was removed from FIFA 22 and dropped by sponsors Nike in the wake of the allegations.
      Football Manager 2022 also confirmed he would not feature in the game.
      All merchandise bearing the No11’s name was axed from the official Utd site and teammates unfollowed him on Instagram.
      Greenwood last played for the Red Devils on January 22 last year when the team beat West Ham 1-0.
      The player joined the club aged just six and rose through the ranks to land himself a regular spot on the first team.
      In 2019, he became the youngest footballer to play for United in the Champions League when he took to the pitch aged 17.
      Greenwood has made 129 appearances in total for the Red Devils and netted 35 goals.
      In 2020, England manager Gareth Southgate gave the striker his first cap when Greenwood came off the bench in a 1-0 win against Iceland.
      Greenwood missed out on last year’s Three Lions’ World Cup campaign in Qatar as the case went to court.
      Utd have not yet released a statement following the development.
      Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, GMP’s Head of Public Protection, said today: “The investigation team has remained in regular contact with the legal team, providing any updates of note, and so understand the rationale for the discontinuation of proceedings at this stage, and that this decision has not been taken lightly.
      “Despite the media and public’s interest in this case, we have decided not to comment on it in any further detail.
      “I would, however, like to use this opportunity to reiterate GMP’s commitment to investigating allegations of violence against women and girls and supporting those affected, regardless of their circumstances, throughout what can be a hard and upsetting time for them.
      Read More on The Sun
      “An ever increasing number of officers are receiving specialist training and the force is more consistently utilising tools, available via the criminal justice system, to keep people safe and care for victims.
      “If you feel you are or might be a victim, please don’t let this case put you off asking for help.” More

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      What were the charges against Mason Greenwood and why have they been dropped?

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      THE Crown Prosecution has today confirmed all charges against Mason Greenwood have been dropped.The 21-year-old Manchester United striker was first arrested amid allegations after images and videos emerged online.
      The CPS has confirmed all charges against Mason Greenwood have been droppedCredit: Reuters
      What were the charges against Mason Greenwood?
      Mason Greenwood was accused of attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
      The alleged offences related to one woman and were said to have taken place between November 1, 2018, and October 15, 2022.
      The footballer was accused of “repeatedly engaging” in controlling and coercive behaviour for almost four years.
      This included making threats and derogatory comments on social media.
      Read More on Mason Greenwood
      He was also charged with attempting to rape the woman on October 21, 2021, and allegedly assaulted her between December 12, 2021, and December 31, 2021.
      When was Mason Greenwood arrested?
      Greenwood was first arrested in January 2022, after police swooped in on his £15,000-a-month rented home in Trafford.
      He was originally remanded in custody after and spent three nights there, before being charged by police on October 15.
      However, a judge released him on the condition he does not contact witnesses, including the complainant, and resides at an address in Bowdon.
      Most read in Sport
      The 21-year-old was then due to stand trial in November.
      He was also suspended from Man Utd, but still received his £75,000-a-week salary.
      Why were the charges dropped against Mason Greenwood?
      The CPS said that their decision to drop the charges was made with the case under “continuous review”.
      They also said the decision was made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
      Speaking on the case, a CPS spokesperson said: “We have a duty to keep cases under continuous review.
      “In this case a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
      “In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case. We have explained our decision to all parties.
      “We would always encourage any potential victims to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.”
      Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, GMP’s Head of Public Protection, added: “The investigation team has remained in regular contact with the legal team, providing any updates of note, and so understand the rationale for the discontinuation of proceedings at this stage, and that this decision has not been taken lightly.
      “Despite the media and public’s interest in this case, we have decided not to comment on it in any further detail.
      “I would, however, like to use this opportunity to reiterate GMP’s commitment to investigating allegations of violence against women and girls and supporting those affected, regardless of their circumstances, throughout what can be a hard and upsetting time for them.
      Read More on The Sun
      “An ever increasing number of officers are receiving specialist training and the force is more consistently utilising tools, available via the criminal justice system, to keep people safe and care for victims.
      “If you feel you are or might be a victim, please don’t let this case put you off asking for help.” More

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      Mason Greenwood has charges of attempted rape and assault DROPPED more than a year after Man Utd star was arrested

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      MASON Greenwood today had all charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control against him dropped.The Manchester United striker, 21, was first arrested in January last year after police swooped on his mansion.
      Mason Greenwood has had all charges against him droppedCredit: PA
      Greenwood was due to stand trial in November accused of attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
      The Crown Prosecution today confirmed they had dropped all charges against him.
      A spokesperson said: “We have a duty to keep cases under continuous review.
      “In this case a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
      Read more on Mason Greenwood
      “In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case.
      “We have explained our decision to all parties.
      “We would always encourage any potential victims to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.”
      Greenwood last appeared in court in November where a trial date was set for November 23 this year.
      Most read in Football
      The alleged offences related to one woman and were said to have taken place between November 1, 2018, and October 15, 2022.
      Greenwood was accused of “repeatedly engaging” in controlling and coercive behaviour for almost four years – including making threats and derogatory comments on social media.
      He was also charged with attempting to rape the woman on October 21, 2021, and allegedly assaulted her between December 12, 2021, and December 31, 2021.
      The footballer was originally remanded in custody after being charged by police on October 15.
      But a judge released him on the condition he does not contact witnesses, including the complainant, and resides at an address in Bowdon.
      The striker also spent three nights in custody after he was arrested at his £15,000-a-month rented home in Trafford last January.
      He was suspended from Utd but still received his £75,000-a-week salary.
      Greenwood was removed from FIFA 22 and dropped by sponsors Nike in the wake of the allegations.
      Football Manager 2022 also confirmed he would not feature in the game.
      All merchandise bearing the No11’s name was axed from the official Utd site and teammates unfollowed him on Instagram.
      Greenwood last played for the Red Devils on January 22 last year when the team beat West Ham 1-0.
      The player joined the club aged just six and rose through the ranks to land himself a regular spot on the first team.
      In 2019, he became the youngest footballer to play for United in the Champions League when he took to the pitch aged 17.
      Greenwood has made 129 appearances in total for the Red Devils and netted 35 goals.
      In 2020, England manager Gareth Southgate gave the striker his first cap when Greenwood came off the bench in a 1-0 win against Iceland.
      Greenwood missed out on last year’s Three Lions’ World Cup campaign in Qatar as the case went to court.
      Utd have not yet released a statement following the development.
      Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, GMP’s Head of Public Protection, said today: “The investigation team has remained in regular contact with the legal team, providing any updates of note, and so understand the rationale for the discontinuation of proceedings at this stage, and that this decision has not been taken lightly.
      “Despite the media and public’s interest in this case, we have decided not to comment on it in any further detail.
      “I would, however, like to use this opportunity to reiterate GMP’s commitment to investigating allegations of violence against women and girls and supporting those affected, regardless of their circumstances, throughout what can be a hard and upsetting time for them.
      “An ever increasing number of officers are receiving specialist training and the force is more consistently utilising tools, available via the criminal justice system, to keep people safe and care for victims.
      “If you feel you are or might be a victim, please don’t let this case put you off asking for help.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Greenwood was due to stand trial in NovemberCredit: PA
      The footballer was first arrested last January and spent three nights in custodyCredit: Reuters
      A court sketch shows the footballer in courtCredit: PA More

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      ‘More than enough evidence’ to keep Dani Alves in prison over nightclub rape charge, says judge as ace appeals for bail

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      THERE is “much more than enough evidence” to hold Dani Alves on a charge of raping a woman in a nightclub toilet, a judge reportedly said.The Brazilian World Cup ace, 39, has agreed to wear a GPS ankle tag and surrender his passport in a fresh bid to be freed on bail.
      Brazil’s oldest ever World Cup player Dani Alves is in preventive custody in Spain accused of rapeCredit: AP
      CCTV is said to show him with his accuser in the VIP area at Sutton nightclubCredit: TripAdvisor
      The woman claims he raped her in the toiletsCredit: The Sutton Club
      Alves was locked up last month by a judge investigating claims of an assault at Barcelona’s swanky Sutton venue in the early hours of December 31.
      He initially denied any contact with his accuser, but is said to have changed his story and claimed they had consensual sex.
      He denies wrongdoing.
      The star’s new lawyer reportedly told a Spanish TV journalist his initial version of events was to “protect his wife” and cover up his “infidelity”.
      read more on dani alves
      Top attorney Cristobal Martell – who also represented Lionel Messi in his tax fraud case – filed an appeal yesterday against the decision to remand him in custody.
      Alves promised not to leave Spain and to stay 500 metres away from his accuser’s home and work, legal papers show.
      He also offered to report to police daily and wear a tracking device 24 hours a day if he is let out of jail.
      Previously the judge had deemed ex-Barcelona FC star Alves a flight risk.
      Most read in Football
      And today new details of the ruling were revealed by the newspaper El Periodico.
      Magistrate Anna Marín decided there was case to answer after questioning the accuser and suspect at Barcelona’s court number 15 on January 20, it reported.
      According to the paper, she said “there are much more than enough indications” to consider that there was a rape “and that the suspect was the perpetrator of it”.
      The magistrate also stressed the investigation is ongoing and nothing is proved, the paper reported.
      Mr Martell, Alves’ lawyer, slammed the magistrate in his 24-page submission.
      He claimed the investigation by the Mossos d’Esquadra police was “biased” and criticised Judge Marín for accepting it in an “uncritical and careless way”.
      The lawyer also claims CCTV from the club’s VIP room contradicts the alleged victim’s account.
      He said it shows the woman and her friends were in “festive” mood and not “intimidated” and she claimed.
      The footage allegedly shows Alves leading the woman to the toilets where they spent 16 minutes out of view – not 47 seconds as previously reported on Spanish TV.
      A decision on the fresh bail appeal is expected in days.
      It it goes to trial, Alves could wait more than a year for the case to be heard.
      Previously it emerged the woman claimed Alves slapped her and raped her in the bathroom.
      She is also said to have described seeing the footballer’s intimate tattoo while he was partly undressed.
      The tearful woman is said to have immediately told her friends what happened, and bouncers then alerted police.
      Alves flew into Barcelona after agreeing to be questioned over the allegations last month.
      Mexican club the Pumas terminated his contract after he was held in custody.
      Alves’ model wife Joanna Sanz, 29, spoke of her heartbreak after his arrest, which came days after her mother died.
      She said: “I have lost the only two pillars in my life.”
      Since then she has deleted some images of her husband from her social media profiles.
      Alves is the most decorated player in football history with 43 career trophies including three Champions League titles, two Copa Americas and an Olympic gold medal.
      In December he became Brazil’s oldest ever player at a World Cup aged 39.
      Last week he reportedly made his debut for a prison football team.
      Read More on The Sun
      A source told La Vanguardia “the expectation was great” as many inmates idolise the former Barca right back.
      And in an odd twist, he is said to be sharing a cell with a Brazilian named Coutinho – although it is not his national teammate.
      Alves has spent nearly two weeks in a cell at Brians 2 prison near BarcelonaCredit: Solarpix
      Model wife Joana Sanz has removed pictures of Alves from her social mediaCredit: Instagram @joanasanz More

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      Ex-Arsenal star Anthony Stokes charged after ‘high-speed police chase through red lights’ weeks after arrest

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      A FORMER Arsenal star has been charged with dangerous driving just weeks after a first arrest for the same offence.Anthony Stokes was held following an alleged police chase in Dublin through red lights in the early hours of yesterday morning.
      Ex-Arsenal star Anthony Stokes has been charged with dangerous drivingCredit: Rex
      The 34-year-old has been charged with dangerous driving and failure to provide a sample when required.
      Former Irish international Stokes is due to appear before Dun Laoghaire District Court at a later date.
      It comes just weeks after the forward was arrested when almost £4,000 worth of suspected cocaine was found in a car.
      He was also allegedly involved in a police pursuit in that incident too after the vehicle sped off from cops.
      Read more on Arsenal
      Former Celtic and Hibs star Stokes spent a night in custody following the drama.
      He is due to appear in court on Friday over that alleged incident.
      In the latest charge, Stokes is accused of allegedly failing to stop for police in his Volkswagen Golf.
      The vehicle is then suspected of driving through a number of red lights at junctions as officers gave chase.
      Most read in Football
      It then came to a stop close to a roundabout around twenty minutes later.
      Troubled Stokes has been hauled before the courts on a number of occasions.
      In 2013, former Elvis impersonator Anthony Bradley, 55, suffered a broken nose after he was attacked by Stokes at a pub.
      Stokes admitted bombarding his ex-girlfriend Eilidh Scott with offensive text messages in 2019.
      He was due to be sentenced in Scotland but a warrant for his arrest was ordered after he failed to appear for sentencing.
      Stokes began his career in the Arsenal reserve team when he was aged 15.
      He made his first-team debut as a substitute in the League Cup against Sunderland in 2005.
      Stokes the moved on loan to Falkirk where he scored 16 goals in 18 league and cup appearances.
      The footballer was transferred by Arsenal to Sunderland for £2million in 2007 with ex-Ireland and Utd star Roy Keane at the helm.
      He made 36 appearances before moving to Sheffield United and Crystal Palace on loan.
      Stokes later made a return to the Scottish league playing for Hibs and Celtic as well as spells for Greek and Iranian clubs.
      Stokes began his senior career with ArsenalCredit: Rex
      The Irish international is due to appear in court on a later dateCredit: Getty

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      Dani Alves’ wife Joana Sanz ‘demands divorce’ after revealing her ‘pain’ over Brazil star’s nightclub ‘sex assault’

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      DANI Alves’ wife has demanded a divorce after he was arrested over an alleged nightclub assault, according to reports.Joana Sanz, 29, removed most photos of her with the footballer from her Instagram after he reportedly claimed he had consensual sex with his accuser – having initially denied he knew her.
      Joana Sanz has requested a divorce for Dani Alves, according to reportsCredit: Instagram @joanasanz
      The Spanish model has removed most photos of her with Alves from her InstagramCredit: Instagram @joanasanz
      The Spanish model told of her heartbreak after Alves, 39, was detained in custody in Barcelona, just days after her mother died.
      But Joana has now told her lawyers she wants a divorce after her husband refused to see her in the prison where he is being held on remand, Spanish TV programme Telecinco show El Programme de Ana Rosa claims.
      The Tenerife-born beauty, who married former Barcelona defender Alves in 2017, has yet to make any official comment on the bombshell report.
      Joana’s decision to erase most of her photos with Alves – except a couple linked to advertising campaigns – came after her initial show of support for the Brazilian international.
      More on Dani Alves
      Alves was sacked by Mexican club UNAM Pumas after he was remanded in custody by a judge in Barcelona.
      A 23-year-old woman claimed she was assaulted by Alves at the city’s swanky Sutton venue on December 30, leading to his arrest on January 20.
      A judge ruled Alves should be kept in custody, and he has been in the cells since at a jail outside the city.
      Alves who enjoyed two spells at Barcelona before signing for Mexican side UNAM Pumas last year, claimed before his arrest he had never met his female accuser.
      Most read in Football
      However, in a court hearing, the footballer reportedly told the magistrate he had consensual sex with the woman.
      Following the footballer’s arrest, Joana said she had lost the “two pillars in my life.”
      But hours before Alves was remanded in custody, she posted a photo of them holding hands with the message ‘Together’ in English.
      In Spain, there are two types of divorce – agreed and contested.
      Agreed divorce is when both spouses petition for divorce together.
      Contested divorce, however, is when only one person files without the other’s consent.
      Meanwhile, Alves’ ex-wife has been outspoken in her defence of the player.
      Dana Dinorah said at the start of last week: “I’m still in shock. It seems like it’s a nightmare and it’s not happening.”
      Insisting she believed the father of their two children was innocent, the Brazilian-based businesswoman said in an interview with a Spanish TV programme: “Dani would never ever ever do this.
      “I say this because I’ve known him for 22 years and was married to him for 10.
      “This has been a shock for me and for my children.”
      Initially it was reported Alves had been accused of putting his hands down his accuser’s underwear inside the nightclub.
      It then emerged the woman had alleged she was slapped round the face and raped in a toilet.
      Court officials have confirmed Alves is under investigation on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman, but have not confirmed the exact nature of the allegations against him.
      His new lawyer submitted a bail application on Monday, arguing the footballer is not a flight risk.
      He agreed his client would have his passport taken away so he can’t leave Spain and wear an electronic tag if necessary as part of his bail conditions.
      The decision on whether he is released pending an ongoing criminal probe is expected to be taken sometime next month.
      Both the state prosecutor and a lawyer acting for Alves’ accuser are expected to oppose the bail application from his lawyer.
      The final decision on a conditional release would be taken by a higher court and not the one that is currently investigating the footballer.
      Investigations of the sort currently being conducted by the investigating magistrate can take months and even years in some cases to complete, especially when suspects are on bail.
      Read More on The Sun
      People under formal investigation can be held in prison without charge for up to four years in Spain, although the normal limit is two years.
      Formal charges in Spain are only laid when an investigating magistrate rules there is sufficient evidence for a trial to take place and subsequently invites prosecutors to submit an indictment. More

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      Leeds catch ‘UK’s dumbest criminal’ as shirt thief goes on barely believable autograph hunt after stealing from shop

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      LEEDS UNITED caught the “UK’s dumbest criminal” after a brazen thief went on an autograph hunt after stealing from the club shop.The barely believable incident occurred last Thursday after staff at the Elland Road store spotted a man behaving suspiciously.
      The ‘UK’s dumbest criminal’ was caught after stealing shirts from Leeds United’s storeCredit: PA
      According to the Daily Mail, the concerns “proved to be accurate when he swiped a number of shirts and raced to a nearby car”.
      One of the Leeds staff took down the vehicle’s registration and instantly phoned it in to the police.
      Then, around 30 minutes later, “the motor triggered the automatic number plate recognition system close to the Premier League club’s Thorp Arch training base”.
      That is located near to Wetherby.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      The culprit appeared to have driven straight to the training ground.
      And the report states they “presumably planned to hang around outside to ask players to sign them”.
      West Yorkshire Police quickly swooped to arrest the male.
      And now a 27-year-old has been charged with theft and is due to appear in court.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      The report added how “unofficial signed shirts are the scourge of many top-flight clubs”.
      They claim that a number of clubs have now brought in security after some autograph hunters turned up at the homes of stars. More

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      Man City star Benjamin Mendy seen for first time since being acquitted of rape charges – as he faces retrial in months

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      BENJAMIN Mendy was today spotted for the first time since a jury cleared him of raping women at his isolated mansion.The smiling Man City star was snapped walking with two pals in Cheshire this afternoon – two weeks after being acquitted.
      Benjamin Mendy out in Cheshire on January 29Credit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      The Man City star was cleared by a jury of raping four womenCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      The 28-year-old was accused by prosecutors of being a “predator” who “turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game”.
      Mendy also allegedly locked his victims in a “panic room” and hid their phones so they couldn’t escape.
      But on January 13, the French international was found not guilty of six rapes and one sexual assault against four women.
      Jurors could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape against two other alleged victims after 67 hours and 17 minutes of deliberations.
      READ MORE ON MENDY
      He will return to court to be retried on June 26.
      On the day, Mendy’s lawyer said he was “delighted” to have been cleared of sex attacks and “looks forward” to clearing his name at re-trial.
      During the six-month trial, jurors were told by prosecutors that the left-back lured young women into “toxic and dangerous” situations at his six-bedroom Cheshire home.
      Co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie acted as Mendy’s “fixer” by getting girls as young as 17 to attend the lockdown-busting parties after nights spent in the VIP sections of clubs drinking £1,500 bottles of champagne, it was alleged.
      Most read in Football
      Saha, 41, was found not guilty of three counts of rape relating to two teenagers. 
      Jurors failed to reach verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against him by five other women.
      Some of the alleged victims claimed their phones were taken away from them on arrival leaving them unable to call for help.
      Once inside, the women were allegedly treated as “disposable… used for sex then thrown to one side”.
      Mendy’s lawyer Eleanor Laws KC described claims he used his fame to attract the opposite sex were “utterly ridiculous”.
      She told the court: “He’s not the kind of character to deliberately harm anyone under any circumstances.”
      But during Mendy’s own evidence, he said it was “honestly so easy” for him to meet up with women and have sex “because of the status” – though admitted he’s no Brad Pitt.
      He also told jurors he would often sleep with different women on the same night, and reportedly boasted to one alleged victim that he had bedded 10,000 women, telling her it was a “privilege” to be one of them.
      Manchester City said it is “not in a position to comment further at this time”. More