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      in Soccer

      German footie fans caught fondling life-sized model of Harry Kane at FC Bayern Store in Munich

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      FOOTIE fans have been caught offside — fondling a life-sized model of Harry Kane.The mannequin is part of a Christmas display at an official club shop.
      German football fans have been fondling a life-sized model of Harry Kane
      Harry has netted 21 goals in 15 games for Bayern since moving from SpursCredit: Getty
      But staff keep having to adjust the shorts worn by the Bayern Munich striker’s dummy because of over­zealous man-handling by his German admirers.
      Last night a worker at the FC Bayern Store in Munich city centre said: “Everyone is always touching Harry’s body here on display.
      “No one is disrespectful, just in awe of him and all of his achievements.
      “Definitely we have seen fans, of all sexes, give him a little pinch or pat on the bottom.
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      “Sometimes his bottom gets touched so much that we have to make sure his shorts are on properly.”
      England hero Harry, 30, has netted 21 goals in 15 games for Bayern since moving from Spurs in the summer.
      Last night he revealed he was leaving his Munich hotel base to move into a new home in the city.
      He posted on Instagram: “A massive thank you to the hotel staff who have made me feel at home since moving to Munich.
      Most read in Football
      “It’s been a huge part of being able to settle in so well.” More

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      in Motorsport

      Max Verstappen snubbed from hiring Mercedes AMG GT with top speed of 195mph on holiday — as he’s ‘too young’

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      FORMULA One world champion Max Verstappen was snubbed when he tried to hire a high-performance car on holiday — as he was too young.The 26-year-old Dutch ace — used to racing at well over 200mph — was denied access to the Mercedes, which has a top speed of 195mph.
      Formula One ace Max Verstappen was unable to hire a Mercedes from car rental firm Sixt when he went on holidayCredit: Splash News
      Staff said that allowing Verstappento take the AMG GT motor would have breached its insurance policyCredit: Mercedes
      Staff at car rental firm Sixt said that allowing Verstappen — who won his first grand prix aged 18 — to take the AMG GT motor would have breached its insurance policy as he is under 30.
      The Red Bull racer, who this season won his third consecutive F1 world championship, instead had to make do with a less powerful BMW 5 Series.
      He flew to the Algarve in Portugal with family and friends on three private jets last Monday.
      The party had rented around 20 cars from Sixt at Faro Airport and hired the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve racing circuit for two days before Verstappen flew on to Brazil.
      READ MORE ON F1
      A source said: “Max and the group went to Portugal for a fun racing trip and had booked the cars they wanted.
      “When they got to the airport, Max was shocked when he was told he wasn’t allowed to drive the Mercedes he wanted.
      “He’s a seasoned F1 driver who’s used to handling powerful cars, so it’s quite astonishing to think he wasn’t allowed to get behind the wheel of this one — but those are the rules, so he abided by them.”
      Verstappen, who has hit a top speed of 213mph in his RB19 F1 car, had picked out the Mercedes AMG GT, which can do up to 195.7mph.
      Most read in Motorsport
      The BMW he was eventually given can cruise at up to 155.3mph.
      His manager Raymond Vermeulen ended up driving the Mercedes.
      Belgium-born Verstappen has won 54 races and made the podium 98 times in his F1 career.
      He has raced for Red Bull since 2016 and is said to have earned £43million this year alone.
      He began karting aged four and was competing in championships at seven. Dad Jos, 51, was also an F1 driver.
      Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has said of Verstappen: “I believe he will turn out to be the greatest driver of all time.”
      A Sixt spokesman said: “The employees of our franchise partner in Portugal have only followed the rules that arise for insurance reasons.
      “In order to find a customer-friendly solution on site, Mr Verstappen was provided with another premium vehicle.
      “However, there can be special circumstances that justify a deviation from rules. This is such a case.
      “We apologise to Mr Verstappen. He can rent the car he wants from us at any time.
      “There is of course no doubt at all about his driving skills and his experience with powerful cars.”
      In August, Verstappen appeared to break the speed limit while driving a £2.3million Aston Martin Valkyrie supercar through a tunnel in France.
      Read more on The Sun
      A video showed him to seemingly be at 73mph on a 55mph road.
      His representative was asked to comment.
      Verstappen has hit a top speed of 213mph in his RB19 F1 carCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      England boss Gareth Southgate makes £2.5million in one YEAR with lucrative side hustle

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      ENGLAND gaffer Gareth Southgate has also shown great management off the pitch — with his property company adding £2.5million of assets in a year.His firm MAS Investment Holdings deals in the “buying and selling of real estate”.
      Shrewd England manager Gareth Southgate has added to his property portfolio this year
      Its holdings grew from £1.2million to £3.7million in the year ending April 30, accounts filed yesterday reveal.
      Gareth, 53, now owns 11 buy-to-let properties via the firm, which he runs alongside wife Alison.
      The company snapped up a £305,000 apartment in June — one of four flats it owns in Birmingham.
      Ex-England player Gareth — who earns £3million a year as the Three Lions’ boss — owns half of the firm, Alison has a ten per cent stake and their two grown-up children each have a 20 per cent stake.
      READ MORE GARETH SOUTHGATE
      A source said: “Gareth is very astute. He is a meticulous planner and has a keen eye for business.”
      The firm returned a profit of £65,962 in its property dealings in the past year.
      Southgate also has an image rights firm, FHS Promotions.
      He has managed England at two World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 2018 and quarter-finals in 2022.
      Most read in Football
      Southgate’s England also made the Euro 2020 final, losing to Italy at Wembley on penalties.
      His contract with the FA runs until the end of 2024. More

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      in Soccer

      Most expensive Premier League Christmas jumpers revealed – where does your club rank?

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      NEWCASTLE United fans are knit amused by the £45 price tag for one of their club’s footie- themed Christmas jumpers.Despite the Magpies having the richest owners in the world — the Saudi sovereign wealth fund — the black, white and gold jumper is more than any other Premier League club’s festive winter woolie.
      Newcastle United were the Premier League club selling the most expensive Christmas jumperCredit:
      Arsenal are selling their jumper, with yellow stripes on a blue background and red and white dots, for £40.
      Manchester United have designed a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer jumper, selling at £36.
      They are also offering one in the original club colours of green and yellow.
      Defending champions Manchester City have set their price tag at £30 — while Chelsea and Liverpool are among several clubs selling their jumpers for £35.
      READ MORE PREMIER LEAGUE
      The cheapest sweater in the Prem can be found at Luton Town, whose Santa-inspired design retails at just £22.
      Fellow strugglers Burnley are the only club not selling a festive jumper.
      Clubs have hiked prices by up to 15 per cent compared with last year.
      But last night, the cost of the festive jumper on NUFC’s online shop was slashed to £13.
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      in Soccer

      Cristiano Ronaldo’s plans for luxury £27m hotel in chaos with derelict building left crumbling as work halted

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      CRISTIANO Ronaldo has halted plans to construct a luxury £27M hotel in Manchester after his planning permission expired.The superstar won planning permission to build an exclusive CR7 151-room hotel in the heart of the city in December 2020 – but the Grade II-listed building has been left in ruins.
      Ronaldo has put his Manchester hotel plans on holdCredit: PA
      Pictures from inside the derelict building show paint peeling off the wallsCredit: Manchester City Council
      The building has been left in a state of disrepairCredit: Manchester City Council
      The hotel was due to be open this year – employing over 900 people and adding £56 million to the local economy. 
      Yet the historic property is still derelict, which it has been for the last two decades.
      Council photos from the planning application show exposed ceilings and paint peeling off the walls.
      The three-year planning permission expired earlier this month on December 16 – but no work has been attempted on the property.
      Read more on Ronaldo
      A spokesperson for the hotel group Pestana – Ronaldo’s CR7 hotels partner – admitted to The Sun that the project is on ice, saying: “The next steps of the project are on hold, as the Group is still working on permitting matters.”
      Former Man United hero Ronaldo’s stock has fallen dramatically with fans after his fateful interview with Piers Morgan when he criticised the club and forced his way out to eventually get a move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. 
      There were also ongoing issues that the group of investors hadn’t got the required funding. 
      The project is a joint venture between Pestana and developers Eastern Green called Southern Green Properties.
      Most read in Football
      In September, it wrote a letter to the council to discharge a number of conditions on the site which would buy it some time. 
      In the letter to the council, sent by Deloitte on their behalf, it said: “Since planning permission and listed building consent were granted in 2020; however, a number of well documented and unforeseen macroeconomic challenges have resulted in some delays in bringing forward this project.
      “Southern Green Properties Ltd continues to be fully committed to delivering the permitted scheme which will provide a high quality development and the restoration and long term sustainable reuse of a grade II-listed heritage asset.”
      The property has been in a state of disrepair for years, but its fortunes seemed to have changed when Ronaldo’s team got the green light for a futuristic 11-storey hotel. 
      Nevertheless, the council has been frustrated that there’s never been any sign of work starting. 
      Ronaldo’s CR7 brand already has hotels in New York’s Time Square, his homeland Madeira, Lisbon, Portugal, and Madrid, Spain.
      The Manchester site has been embroiled in controversy from the start – with the council stepping into ban billboards after it was covered with a huge advertisement.
      The advertisement agency Blow Up Media UK were blocked from putting up anymore huge ads in in June 2022 after the council voiced concerns “about a lack of progress since planning permission was granted.”
      The council officer said at the time that the ad was delaying construction, adding: “The City Council considers that the continued approvals for the advert could delay potential development due to the income generated from the advertisement, which would cause the site to remain vacant and undeveloped for longer… it would give a poor impression of the area to a large number of people and could detract from investment in the area as a result.”
      The plans were for a four-star hotel with 151 rooms, roof terrace for guests and visitors, gymnasium, and two bars in the trendy Northern Quarter.

      All of the ageing upper floors of one building were to be knocked down and the adjoining Grade II-listed building was to make make up the bulk of the lower floors including the ground floor bar, cafe and reception. 
      The Sun reached out to reps for Ronaldo for comment.
      Artists impression of the hotel Ronaldo planned to developCredit: Manchester City Council
      Ad agencies were blocked from putting billboards over the building by the councilCredit: www.thisischriswhite.com
      Ronaldo currently plays for Al Nassr in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP
      The hotel was supposed to be opened in the heart of Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter.Credit: Manchester City Council More

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      in Soccer

      England ace Harry Kane learning Bayern Munich’s incredibly dull football chants

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      ENGLAND skipper Harry Kane is learning his new German club’s incredibly dull football chants.The Bayern Munich ace, 30, is mastering “Stand up if you are Bayern” and “One shot, one goal, one Bayern”.
      Harry Kane is learning his new German club’s incredibly dull football chantsCredit: AFP

      UK fans say the songs lack wit — and challenged Harry to teach Germans some Spurs favourites.
      James Ceppi di Lecco, 40, cheekily suggested: “How about ‘He’s not one of our own’ (Er ist nicht einer von uns)?
      Or ‘You’re Schmidt and you know you are? (Du bist Schmidt und das weißt du auch).”
      Richard Wilson, 62, from Sunbury, Surrey, added: “I can’t believe Harry’s taking the trouble to learn that rubbish.
      read more on harry kane
      “Why not, ‘It’s coming home?’ (Der Fußball kommt nach Hause).”
      Harry — who has already scored 22 goals — reveals his language skills in a clip for AI chatbot Bard, saying: “The Munich fans are great.
      “Home and away.”
      He is already using AI to help him read bedtime German stories to his four children.
      Most read in Football
      Asked which songs he knows, he says: “I’m going to double-check on Bard.”
      The app plays a few which he translates and says: “‘Stand up if you are Bayern?’, I’ve heard that one.”
      Harry has been living alone since his £104million move but will soon welcome his family to Bavaria. More

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      in Soccer

      Mega-rich Premier League club ‘wants to make us homeless’ to build huge stadium – we won’t be swayed by their millions

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      RESIDENTS say a Premier League club “want to make us homeless” so a huge stadium can be built, but they won’t be swayed by their millions.The Grade-I listed Leazes Terrace, which dates back to the 19th century, in Newcastle sits just metres away from the East Stand of St James’ Park, where the Magpies play their home matches next to the city centre.
      Leazes terrace, left, is next door to Newcastle’s East StandCredit: NNP
      Resident Philip Griffiths is ‘concerned’ what may happen to the flatsCredit: NNP
      Just a road separates St James’ Park and the terrace propertiesCredit: NNP
      Residents in the flats are worried the historical building could be demolished to make way for a bigger football stadium.
      But locals say they’re no further forward about the future of their homes after rumours circulated they could make way in order for Newcastle United to expand the 52,000-seater ground.
      Earlier this month, the club sent out a survey to its fans asking for their take on how to enhance the stadium itself.
      The Newcastle faithful were asked to give their thoughts on a number of issues, including stadium expansion, a new stadium being built, hospitality and club suites, ticket pricing, matchday offerings and other aspects such as if they would be willing to attend concerts at the ground in the future.
      Read More on Newcastle United
      The move comes after the club brought experts in to conduct a feasibility study to look into every possibility of stadium expansion and enhance the matchday experience.
      The flats, which were built in the 1830s, are made up of a rectangular shape with student accommodation on the side closest to the stadium and private residencies at the other end.
      Rumours suggested the football club could pursue a Compulsory Purchase Order to acquire the flats, or alternatively the residents could be “bought out” if they agree to accept a sum of cash.
      Semi-retired doctor Philip Griffiths, 66, said: “I know potentially that we can be bought out but I don’t think that would be easy.
      Most read in Football
      “We are aware there are plans to extend the stadium here, or to move it somewhere else.
      “There are lots of crazy rumours swirling around including knocking down the student side and bringing the football stand closer to our door.
      “I also heard about the potential for a Compulsory Purchase Order to be made but I think there are precedents for listed buildings being purchased and I think they would have to keep the facade.
      “I have no complaints to the football club and they have been better neighbours since they were taken over but it does make you concerned.
      “The worst-case scenario for us is them keeping our side as it is, but demolishing the student flats next to the stand to make the ground bigger.
      “That would mean the ground would almost be in our back garden.”
      One resident, who has lived in the stone terrace for over a decade, said nobody knows what the future holds.
      Wishing to remain anonymous, he said: “Nobody has told us anything about what might happen to Leazes Terrace.
      “People have asked about what we think of the new proposed development but no one has informed us as residents which isn’t helpful.
      “The building has been here longer than the football club and it’s a listed building.
      “Even if the company bought us out, I don’t know if they could demolish the building.”
      The section of student accommodation was sold to a Middle Eastern group which sparked rumours among some Newcastle supporters that the residents could be bought out given the club’s ownership links to Saudi Arabia.
      The homeowner added: “The whole thing makes you wonder if discussions are going on behind your back because we haven’t heard anything from the club or the council.
      “Most people like living here and I think it’s a lovely terrace.
      “Newcastle hasn’t got many buildings like this so as a resident of the city it would be a huge shame if something happened to it.
      “I believe the football club have got some sort of investment in the student side of the building but we just don’t know.
      “It’s a lovely place to live and we don’t get any trouble with the football matches so we don’t want to be moved.”
      Andy Cliff, 32, who works in IT, said: “The only plan I was aware of was a bridge going across from the stadium to another building.
      “I have no idea about plans to affect Leazes Terrace but it would be concerning if the building was at risk.
      “But I would be surprised if that was be possible due to the nature of the building and its historic value.
      “I don’t take any notice of when the football is on so I’m not in the loop with their plans but as a resident I’ve not heard anything.
      “It’s a great location to live and it’s so close to the city centre and it would be slightly worrying but I don’t think it will get to that point.”
      Another woman, who’s lived on the row for over 20 years, said: “As far as I’m aware the building is a Grade-I listed building so I don’t think they can do anything.
      “They tried many years ago but an elderly woman fought it and she won.
      “I love living here so if someone wanted to offer me zillions of pounds over the asking price then brilliant, but I think that is very unlikely.
      “I’m a Newcastle United supporter myself so I’m not against extending the stadium but I’m not worried about the future of these homes.
      “I would be concerned if expanding the stadium blocked out our natural light but deep down I don’t think they can really move us.”
      A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said: “The debate about the future of St James Park has gone on for many years – all the way back to the days of Sir John Hall when there was talk about it moving to the protected Leazes Park.
      “The club own the Strawberry Place site, but we have not been formally approached by them about any plans for expansion.
      “They have said publicly they are committed to St James Park, and without doubt its location in the heart of the city centre is one of its greatest strengths, close to hotels, public transport and easy to access.
      “In planning terms, it is a challenging site – close to a conservation area and listed buildings on one side and a Metro station and tunnels on the other.
      Read more on The Sun
      “That said, the city council would like to see the club remain where it is because culturally and socially it is the beating heart of the city, and we will support the club as much as we can.”
      The Sun Online has contacted Newcastle United for comment.
      Leazes Terrace is a Grade-I listed buildingCredit: NNP
      The club is hoping to expand the ground, which has left residents worried about the futureCredit: NNP More

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      in Soccer

      Cheating ex-Prem star Shane Duffy, 31, snogs mystery woman on night out – while dressed as Dorothy from Wizard of Oz

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      FORMER Prem star Shane Duffy snogged a mystery woman on a night out — while dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.The ex-Everton, Blackburn and Brighton defender, 31, is dating Wag Danielle Mitchinson.
      Republic of Ireland star Shane Duffy was seen kissing a mystery woman while dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz
      He was wearing the blue gingham dress with tights and heels as the Winter Wonderland extravaganza in Hyde Park
      But there was no sign of her as Shane — in wig and costume — repeatedly kissed and cuddled his dark-haired companion at the Winter Wonderland extravaganza in Hyde Park, central London.
      One onlooker said: “Shane had gone to such effort to look like the Wizard of Oz character and was very fetching in tights and heels.
      “But he might have had some explaining to do when he got home.”
      Danielle, who has two kids from her time with former Manchester United player Chris Eagles, recently moved to Norwich after Shane joined the Canaries last summer.
      READ MORE ON WAGS
      The Republic of Ireland star, who has also played for Celtic, has had a turbulent love life.
      In 2017, he was at the centre of a bust-up after a picture of him naked in a woman’s bed was put online and seen by his then-girlfriend.
      And he was linked to Katie Price after she reportedly took one of her children to watch him play football.
      Shane’s current girlfriend is Danielle Mitchinson, who has two kids with former Man Utd player Chris EaglesCredit: Supplied
      The Republic of Ireland star has had a turbulent love life, with other incidents cropping up in his pastCredit: Getty
      Judy Garland as Dorothy in the iconic 1939 flickCredit: MGM More