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      in Boxing

      Heavyweight boxer arrested for ‘trafficking 22 TONS of cocaine worth $1BILLION into US’

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      GORAN GOGIC has been charged with trafficking over $1billion worth of cocaine via the United States of America.The Montenegrin former boxer was arrested while trying to board a flight from Miami to Zurich on Sunday night.
      Goran Gogic boxed professionally between 2001 and 2012Credit: Getty
      The 2019 drugs bust was one of the biggest in US historyCredit: Getty
      Gogic, 43, was indicted by a grand jury in New York after one of the biggest drug busts in US history.
      He has been charged with three counts of breaching the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act – as well as a further count of conspiracy.
      The four counts each carry with them a minimum 10-year jail term.
      And Gogic could even receive a life sentence after being charged with trafficking over 22 tons worth of cocaine from commercial cargo ships in Philadelphia three years ago.
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      The prosecution claimed that the cocaine was transported from Europe to Colombia via US ports.
      It is also alleged that Gogic looked after logistics of the scheme – coordinating with all sides on behalf of his cartels back in Europe.
      Following Gogic’s arrest and indictment, US attorney Breon Pearce said: “The arrest and indictment of Gogic, a former boxer allegedly responsible for trafficking a staggering amount of cocaine, more than 20 tons, which he attempted to move through US ports, is a resounding victory for law enforcement.
      “The meticulous planning by the defendant and his co-conspirators failed to take into account the federal agents whose hard work resulted in this body blow to the organisation and individuals responsible for distributing massive quantities of cocaine.”
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      DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III added: “A billion dollars’ (£870million) worth of cocaine seized was a heavy hit for Gogic’s criminal network, but nothing heavier than his arrest last night.
      “As evident in this case, criminal organisations will go to various extremes to make a profit off the sale of poison.
      “Due to the hard work by local, state and federal law enforcement, 20 tons of poison was intercepted en route from Colombia to Europe.
      “Gogic’s arrest underscores law enforcement’s commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for causing the most harm to our communities.”
      Gogic boxed professionally 27 times as a heavyweight between 2001 and 2012.
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      He hung up his gloves with a record of 21 wins, four defeats and two draws.
      The former fighter last took to the ring in July 2012, when he defeated little-known 2-17 Romanian Liviu Ungureanu in Germany.
      Over 22 tons of cocaine was seizedCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Joey Barton’s assault trial dismissed after he’s accused of ‘kicking wife and leaving golf ball sized lump on her head’

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      A JUDGE has today thrown out Joey Barton’s assault case after he was accused of attacking his wife two days before their anniversary.The Bristol Rovers boss was accused of leaving Georgia Barton, 35, with a lump the size of a “golf ball” after hitting her at home in Kew, South West London.
      Joey Barton has arrived at court with wife GeorgiaCredit: Doug Seeburg/News Group Newspapers Ltd
      But the assault by beating case has now been dropped on the grounds of abuse of process.
      It comes after Georgia wrote a letter to the CPS saying she got the details wrong after drinking all day and did not want to press charges against Barton, 40.
      The prosecution did not take a statement after this and refused to call her as a witness – causing District Judge Andrew Sweet to rule that Barton would not receive a fair trial.
      Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court was told Georgia had phoned police on June 2 last year telling them: “My husband has just hit me in the house”.
      When questioned by an officer at the scene, she added: “I’ve been pushed down and kicked about and stuff”.
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      But prosecutor Daniel Donoghue told the court Georgia became “evasive” the following day and has since retracted the allegation against her husband.
      She was not going to be called to be a witness against her husband at his trial, which started today.
      Bodycam footage played to Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court earlier showed Barton sleeping heavily in his bedroom when police arrived at the couple’s home.
      The manager was eventually woken up when the duvet was lifted from him while he was still in his pants.
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      Barton could be seen asking for his trousers before he was handcuffed and arrested.
      He was detained and gave a “no comment” interview when quizzed by cops, it was said.
      The court was told Georgia later sent a letter to the CPS on February 17 which is in “stark contrast” to her first account.
      The letter explained the couple, who are still together, were having dinner with pals and had sunk up to five bottles of wine each.
      Georgia suggested the injury was caused “accidentally” when friends intervened, the court heard.
      Barton married his childhood sweetheart in a lavish ceremony in 2019 at a country house in Oxfordshire.
      The couple have two children together – a son born in 2011 and a daughter born in 2014.
      Barton started his football career with Manchester City in 2002 after going through their youth system and went on to make 150 appearances for the club.
      He then moved to Newcastle United in a £5.8million transfer in July 2007 before leaving for Queens Park Rangers in August 2011.
      The midfielder was then put on loan to French side Marseille during the 2012-13 season before making his way to Burnley for one season – helping promote them to the Premier League.
      Barton made one appearance for England in 2007 – despite criticising some of his fellow players.
      The footballer then began his management career with Fleetwood Town in June 2018 after a stint at Rangers.
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      He moved to current club Bristol Rovers in February last year.
      Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, denied assault by beating.
      Barton’s trial has twice been delayedCredit: Doug Seeburg/News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Barton denies assault by beatingCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The pair married in a lavish ceremony in 2019Credit: Instagram / Georgia Mcneil
      They have two children togetherCredit: Instagram
      Barton played for QPR, Man City and Newcastle during his careerCredit: PA More

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      Reece James racist troll tracked down in Middle East just three weeks before World Cup in Qatar

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      A RACIST troll who abused England ace Reece James has been tracked down to the Middle East just three weeks before the World Cup starts in Qatar.An arrest is imminent after the Chelsea defender, 22, gave statements to Instagram, police and officials abroad.
      A racist troll who abused England ace Reece James has been tracked down to the Middle EastCredit: Simon Jones
      An arrest is imminent after Chelsea ace Reece gave statements to Instagram, police and officials abroadCredit: Simon Jones
      Reece told The Sun:’ I get (racist) messages here and there, but I’ve never really had it face to face’Credit: Getty
      Reece told The Sun: “It’s tough.”
      Trolling victim Reece has told how he is determined to fight back against the online menace saying: “Whenever I see it I report it.”
      The England ace spoke out as the net was closing on a racist tormentor who targeted him.
      The vile troll has been tracked down to the Middle East — just three weeks before the World Cup in Qatar.
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      An arrest is imminent.
      Chelsea star Reece told The Sun: “I get (racist) messages here and there, but I’ve never really had it face to face.
      “It’s always the way (that trolls hide behind the keyboard); whenever I see it I report it.
      “It’s one of those things that is hard to control. Most of the time they are fake accounts.”
      Most read in The Sun
      He reported a chain of racist abuse from a mysterious account.
      Starting in February of last year, Reece gave statements to Instagram, the Met Police and officials abroad — and now the culprit is finally on the verge of being nicked.
      Reece admitted: “It’s tough, when you have to take so much time on interviews and statements, and then it doesn’t lead to anything.
      “I had this one last season, monkey emojis and stuff.
      “Before I didn’t really open my messages, but one day I managed to see it, and reported it.”
      After posting a photo of him training, a man — using an account name of mhmd.awada — also wrote: “How can you f live with dirty black skin?”, plus other vile racist slurs.
      He followed this up with several monkey emojis and vomiting faces.
      Reece reported the abuse to Instagram and alerted support staff at Chelsea.
      Chain of racist abuse
      The club acted decisively, and in an unprecedented move, then owner Roman Abramovich wrote to every player telling them he was “appalled” at the abuse suffered by their talented right-back.
      The billionaire tycoon pledged to provide additional funding for the club’s anti-racism efforts.
      As a result, the Met Police’s ­specialist football unit began investigating and located the account.
      They have since been liaising with cops in the Middle East.
      Last night a source said: “There’s been a lot of conversation between police from both regions — everyone has been taking this case seriously.
      “It’s vital players feel supported and listened to, and know that all efforts are being made to clamp down on racism within the game.
      “Of course, there are fears that this account — and others like it — are linked to a racist group in Qatar, a country which has been found to have a poor track record for racist abuse against non-nationals.
      “We’ve already seen England players being horrifically racially abused after the Euro 2020 final — the last thing anyone needs is a repeat.”
      I think everyone has an equal right to play, no matter your sex, skin colour, or anything like that.Reece James
      Last September the Met confirmed it had recruited a specialist officer to focus on hate crime in football.
      In April of last year the world of football came together to initiate a boycott of social media in a protest against online racism.
      Reece — who still hopes to make it to the World Cup despite being on crutches as a result of a knee injury — believes education, or a lack of it, is the root cause of racism.
      At the Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham, Surrey, he said: “I think everyone has an equal right to play, no matter your sex, skin colour, or anything like that.”
      He waded in on the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar — a country renowned for human rights abuses and strict anti-gay laws.
      Reece said: “I think most of the countries I know that are participating are trying to stand up for human rights there, and help people that can’t be themselves. I think everyone is working together to raise awareness and trying to show people that they can be who they are.”
      This month it was announced that England captain Harry Kane plans to wear a “OneLove” rainbow armband during the tournament in support of the LGBT community.
      Two years ago, the United Nations raised “serious concerns of structural racial discrimination against non- nationals” in Qatar.
      ‘Mysterious account’
      The report revealed that low-wage workers suffered severe discrimination and exploitation — almost ten years after global football’s governing body Fifa controversially awarded the World Cup to the Arab nation.
      The report claimed there was a “de facto caste system based on national origin,” in Qatar.
      It suggested that “European, North American, Australian and Arab nationalities systematically enjoy greater human rights protections than South Asian and sub-Saharan African nationalities”.
      Read More on The Sun
      Reece, whose sister is England Lioness and Chelsea player Lauren, believes the time is right for a top-flight player to come out as gay.
      He added: “I don’t see why it hasn’t happened yet, In the women’s game it’s quite open and there’s a lot of relationships.”
      Reece, pictured with Marcus Rashford, said: ‘It’s always the way (that trolls hide behind the keyboard); whenever I see it I report it’Credit: AP
      Reece added: ‘It’s one of those things that is hard to control. Most of the time they are fake accounts’Credit: Simon Jones More

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      in Soccer

      Former Premier League star banned from driving after being caught at wheel with phone

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      FORMER Premier League and BBC star Jermaine Jenas has been banned from driving for six months after being caught using his phone at the wheel.The former Spurs, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest footballer, 39, was stopped by cops after they suspected he was using his mobile in his Range Rover.
      Jermaine Jenas has been banned from driving for six months
      In October last year, he was stopped in Marsh Lane, Stanmore, North London.
      Just after 3pm in the afternoon officers saw the former England ace just over five miles from his home, as he was alleged to be using his phone behind the wheel.
      He was also caught speeding on the M25 on March 4 earlier this year, going 65mph in a 50mph. 
      Earlier this month Jenas admitted both offences at Willesden Magistrates’ Court.
      Read More on The Sun
      He has now been slapped with six penalty points, and is banned from driving for six months.
      He was also fined £660 for using his phone – and was fined a further £1,410, another three penalty points and ordered to pay £231 in others costs for speeding.
      PC Neil Cornelius told the court: “I noticed that the driver of this vehicle was using a handheld mobile device whilst driving. The device was being held in both their hands.”
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      Jenas, played more than 150 games for Tottenham, and was named PFA Young Player of the Year in 2002-2003.
      He retired in 2016 and has since gone on to be a successful pundit on Match of The Day, and currently co-hosts The One Show on BBC.
      Back in 2013 Jenas, who was playing for QPR at the time, was fined for failing to provide information to police when he was caught speeding.
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      In 2011 he was photographed after he crashed his £200k Bentley into the back of a van.
      He was also given three points for speeding in 2003 whilst he was playing for Newcastle United. More

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      in Soccer

      Neymar avoids two-year jail sentence and £8.6m fine as all fraud and corruption charges regarding 2013 transfer dropped

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      NEYMAR has seen all fraud and corruption charges against him dropped by Spanish prosecutors.The Brazilian, 30, was facing a punishment of up to two years in prison and an £8.62million fine.
      Neymar has seen all charges against him droppedCredit: The Mega Agency
      This was in relation to a case which centred around an allegation from Brazilian investment firm DIS – which owned 40 per cent of the rights to Neymar when he was at Brazilian club Santos.
      They were alleging that they lost out on their rightful cut from the transfer because the value of the deal was understated.
      A court document released in July alleged that, in 2011, Barcelona paid Neymar 40 million euros to ensure he moved to the Nou Camp when his Santos contract expired in 2014.
      The offence – which saw Neymar and his family accused – is not punishable in Brazil but a trial was ongoing in Spain until today when the charges were thrown out.
      READ MORE ON NEYMAR
      According to Reuters, Neymar’s legal team will claim costs against the prosecution for “recklessness, acting in poor faith and for abuse of process”, while also reserving the right to claim for damages.
      Speaking during his first testimony earlier this week, Neymar said: “I didn’t participate in the negotiations.
      “My father always took care of it and always will. I sign everything he tells me to sign.
      “Playing for Barcelona was always my dream, a childhood dream.”
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      And Neymar da Silva Santos, the player’s father, added: “Our intention was to prepare a career plan for him in Europe, in which we had in place already established, could learn the language, etc.
      “And knowing his dream to play for Barcelona, we signed that priority agreement with them.”
      Neymar and his parents had the right not to testify in the case but decided to do so anyway.
      Real Madrid president Florentino Perez appeared as a witness during the trial.
      Read More on The Sun
      He claimed Los Blancos offered Santos 45 million euros for Neymar in 2011 and then 36 million euros in 2013.
      But he decided to join Barcelona instead – where he would spend four years before joining Paris Saint-Germain for a world record £198m in 2017. More

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      in Soccer

      Benjamin Mendy ‘told cops he was shocked at arrest for raping woman’ and said ‘I didn’t try to stop her leaving’ mansion

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      MANCHESTER City’s Benjamin Mendy told police he was “shocked” at being arrested for rape, a court heard.Mendy, 28, was interviewed by police multiple times in relation to a number of rape and sexual assault allegations, Chester Crown Court was told.
      Benjamin Mendy arrives at Chester Crown Court todayCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia
      The Manchester City player’s ongoing trial sees him charged along with his co accused Louis Saha Matturie with multiple rapes and sex assaultsCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia
      The Premier League footballer and his friend and ‘fixer’ Louis Saha Matturie, 41, deny all charges at their trial, now in its 12th week.
      The footballer gave a number of prepared statements to detectives followed by “no comment” interviews on instruction by his solicitor, the court heard.
      Timothy Cray KC, prosecuting, read the prepared statement Mendy gave in relation to the first of the young women he is alleged to have raped.
      The woman, aged 24, claims Mendy raped her three times at his home in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, in October 2020.
      Mendy said in the statement he had been out for a few drinks to a bar with Matturie and others in Alderley Edge near his home and met some girls who were invited back to his house.
      While there he saw one girl using her phone, which visitors had been instructed not to do, to video his home.
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      Mendy told police: “I asked her to delete the video. She gave me her phone and I deleted it.
      “As I did so a photo of her with no clothes on came up on screen. She said she had more photos of her like that and we agreed to go upstairs to my bedroom so she could show me more.”
      In his bedroom Mendy said she showed him more naked photos and took her top off and they started kissing.
      Mendy said the woman gave him oral sex and agreed they would “play around” but she did not want to go any further.
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      Later she left with another girl and he ended up having sex with one of the 24-year-old’s friends from the bar, who stayed the night in his bed.
      He told detectives: “I’m shocked to be accused of rape and false imprisonment. All sexual activity between me and her was completely consensual.
      “I did nothing to prevent her from leaving.”
      Mendy gave a further three prepared statements to police in relation to separate women he had allegedly raped where he told detectives the sex was consensual.
      He denies seven counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault against six young women.
      Matturie, of Salford, denies six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault relating to seven young women.
      Both men say if any sex did take place with women or girls it was consensual.
      Read More on The Sun
      None of the women involved, as sexual assault complainants, can be identified.
      The trial was adjourned until Friday morning. More

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      Former Aston Villa striker John Carew facing two years in prison and £45k fine after pleading guilty to fraud charges

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      FORMER Aston Villa striker John Carew is facing TWO YEARS in prison and a £45,000 fine after pleading guilty to fraud charges.The punishment was requested by the prosecution in his case at the Oslo District Court. 
      Carew is facing two years in prison and a hefty fineCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The prosecution insist Carew, 43, had plenty of opportunities to correct information given to the authorities, but chose not to. 
      Police attorney Ragna Flaekoy Skjakodegard said: “Carew has had many, many opportunities to correct the information given to the tax authorities.”
      However, Carew says his actions were the result of poor advice from friend, lawyer and former agent Per A. Flod. 
      The ex-Norway international said Flod’s advice led him to not disclose income and assets from outside of his home country.
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      In his most recent court appearance, Carew said: “I trusted him blindly.
      “I have been convinced that he was right. He controlled me almost like a puppet.
      “I understand that it is grossly negligent of me to trust him so much, but that is why I have done it.”
      Carew spent over 15 years as a professional footballer.
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      The overwhelming majority of his earnings were made abroad, having played for the likes of Valencia, Roma, Lyon and Besiktas. 
      However, the ex-striker is best known for his time in England.
      He played for Aston Villa for four years, West Ham for one, and spent half a season on loan at Stoke. 
      Carew represented his nation 91 times, scoring 24 times.
      He also won Norwegian footballer of the year on three occasions. More

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      in Soccer

      Holland legend Mark van Bommel ‘feared for his life’ after smashing £100k Porsche escaping carjacker armed with a GUN

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      FORMER Holland star Mark van Bommel has smashed up his £100,000 Porsche – while escaping a gun-toting carjacker.The Royal Antwerp boss has led his side to second in the Belgian league this season.
      Mark van Bommel coaches Royal AntwerpCredit: EPA
      But the 45-year-old reportedly feared for his life when parking in the garage below his city apartment on Monday night.
      Former Bayern Munich midfielder Van Bommel told police a man pointed a pistol at him and told him to get out of the car.
      The panicked manager tried to reverse out of the garage, slamming into a parked Mercedes and setting off the cars’ alarms.
      The would-be robber fled amid the confusion.
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      Antwerp police have seized Van Bommel’s Porsche Panamera to check whether criminals fitted it with a tracking device.
      Spokesman Wouter Bruyns said: “Our teams searched the area, but they were unable to find a suspect.
      “Nobody was injured in the incident.”
      A tight-lipped Van Bommel admitted: “It was quite a shock, that’s for sure.”
      Most read in Football
      Prosecutors have opened an inquiry.
      World Cup star Van Bommel also played for Barcelona, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Wolfsburg and Fortuna Sittard.
      The 79-cap midfielder went on to manage PSV and Wolfsburg before taking charge of Antwerp in May.
      His squad includes former Premier League stars Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Janssen, Ritchie de Laet and Bjorn Engels. More