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      in Soccer

      Strictly star Kai Widdrington backs Sun’s Footie For All campaign giving grassroots game a huge boost

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      WHEN Strictly’s Kai Widdrington was 12 he had to make a choice — football or dance.At 14 he was a world Latin American dance champion, so clearly he made the right decision.Strictly pro dancer Kai Widdrington returns to his football rootsCredit: Simon Jones – The SunHe visited Littleton Junior FC and voiced his support for The Sun’s Footie For All campaignCredit: Simon Jones – The SunBut he still remembers his time on the pitch with pride, and wowed a group of kids with his football skills thanks to The Sun. Littleton Junior FC put Kai — who was once in the academy at Southampton — through his paces as they celebrated a £1,000 grant from our Footie For All campaign with Tesco, which is giving grassroots football a huge boost.Kai told The Sun: “Football has always been a part of my life and to see younger generations still loving it is incredible.“Each of these kids is having the best time, and it makes me nostalgic for my years playing grassroots football. It would be criminal for these sessions not to be available to anyone who wants to play.”READ MORE ON THE CAMPAIGNThe Latin and ballroom star, 28, was joined by his dad Tommy, 52, who manages Aldershot Town, and brother Theo, 25, a professional player and midfielder at the club.Kai said: “When you’re young you take it for granted that you can play. Having goals and parents to help is a luxury. “We used to just use bags or coats as a goal.“Like these kids, I played because I loved the game. It’s such a golden memory to have with your friends.Most read in Football“The skills I learnt on the pitch have stayed with me for life. “A lot of the people I played grassroots with have gone on to coach at their local clubs and some, like my brother, play professionally.Strictly Star Kai Widdrington goes back to his roots for Sun footie campaign‘Achieve their dreams’“When you play at this age, football remains part of your life. “In my case, my dad lives, eats and breathes football. I was lucky to have a parent who played football professionally. Kai joined by his football manager dad as he visits Littleton Junior FCCredit: Simon Jones – The Sun“But we’re all here because we love the game, same for the coaches and the kids.”Kai grew up moving around the country as Tommy started his career with Southampton. Other clubs he played for included Port Vale and Hartlepool.The family’s visit to Littleton Junior FC came as The Sun is offering another 150 grants of £1,000 each, after our first £150,000 cash pot helped squads across the country.From starting up new teams and providing free places for kids from low-income families to replacing old and out-of-date equipment, the money has gone to good use.So today we urge YOU to apply for one of our fantastic new Footie For All grants.They can be used in any way that encourages kids to take up the sport or aids access to the game.Perhaps you are a local team which wants to offer parents help with membership fees.Maybe you need new kits or more pitch space to play on. Grants can also be used to help with transport or running costs.Littleton Junior FC, near Winchester, Hants, have used their grant to buy new equipment for the club, which has more than 600 players and 104 coaches.The club also have a hardship fund to ensure any families who are struggling don’t have to remove their kids from sessions.Under-7’s coach Ken Holt, whose son Joshua, seven, plays, said: “The grant from The Sun has been hugely helpful, as all the kit required for the kids to play is really expensive. “Even things like bibs and cones, the cost really adds up.“But seeing how much the kids love it, the friendships they make and skills they develop is worth it.“Having Kai and his family come to visit the boys was really exciting for them.“Getting to play with a celebrity is great and they all really mucked in.”Despite some initial nerves when the Widdringtons arrived, it didn’t take long before Rari, seven, made a beeline to Theo to ask him: “How many keepie-uppies can you do?”.Without giving him, or Kai, a chance to demonstrate, the boys began showing off their own skills. But Theo didn’t take long to display his tekkers and give tips.Theo, who has fond memories of games with Pace Youth FC in Southampton, said: “It’s been lovely seeing these kids have fun in a safe space.“When you’re this age there is nothing better than going out and scoring goals with your mates.“Seeing how well this is run is amazing. “These kids are learning life lessons, respect, dedication and an appreciation of team-mates — all while having a really fun time.”Within seconds of leaving the pitch, Theo and Kai were called back for a game with the six-year-olds. “They’re like little Duracell batteries,” Kai joked, as he got tackled. Proud Tommy told The Sun: “This is where it all starts and even at this young age I can see some kids here have potential to be great.“They could be potential Premier League players. For many parents, money is hard, but you spend time running your kids around the country because you love them.“Plus you have a potential footballer on your hands and you want to help them achieve their dreams.”After winning the World Junior Latin American championship at 14 Kai landed a spot as a pro on Ireland’s Dancing With The Stars in 2017, before joining BBC One’s Strictly in 2021.He is preparing for a live tour with girlfriend and fellow Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova, 34. READ MORE SUN STORIESHe said: “Like a football game, if we make people laugh and cry during the show, we have done our job.”
      The tour kicks off on June 1. For tickets visit nadiyaandkai.com/
      Kai is preparing for a live tour with Strictly girlfriend Nadiya BychkovaCredit: Splash News More

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      in Soccer

      England WAGs rich list reveals the stunning influencers raking it in as models & fashion moguls…including star worth £4m

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      THE England football stars are pocketing thousands a week but it seems their wives and girlfriends aren’t short of a bob or two in their own right.England’s WAGS are planning to splash £100k on private bodyguards for the Euros in Germany this summer, we revealed last week.Dani wins the influencer race and is worth £4m in her own rightCredit: InstagramThe star has a successful career on the small screenCredit: InstagramLed by Harry Maguire’s wife Fern and Megan Pickford, wife of goal-keeper Jordan, the group intend to share the cost of their own personal security team.Their decision comes after the Sun on Sunday revealed the threat of terror attacks at the Euros is feared by the German Government to be high.We’re sure they’re not going to have to look far to find some cash to pay their own hand-picked heavies, but how much are the WAGs worth in their own right?Some have amassed huge followings of their own on social media, with the possibility to earn thousands on a single post.READ MORE IN FEATURESThe amount they can earn – estimated by Influencer Marketing Hub – is dictated by how many followers they have, average likes and the reach of their account.With her celebrity upbringing, Dani Dyer, wife of West Ham ace Jarrod Bowen, is the overwhelming front runner on the Instagram front.But who else is raking it in on social media or with other personal projects?Dani Dyer, wife of Jarrod BowenOne of the most popular Love Island stars of all time, Dani Dyer, 27, is estimated to be worth more than £4m in her own right.Most read in Euro 2024Since her triumphant time in the villa in 2018, Dani has emerged an influencer, amassing a whopping 3.7 million followers on Instagram.TV personality Dani, the daughter of film and TV star Danny Dyer, married West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen in 2021. Fans love Dani’s bubbly personality, down-to-earth attitude and humour.With her Instagram posts averaging 221.7k likes, Dani is allegedly able to demand a cool £5750 per paid post.UEFA Euro 2024: The glamorous life of WAGsThe mum-of-three will also be making a fair wedge with her recent collaboration with comfy clothing brand Lovall and also after being unveiled as an agony aunt for Netmums.Essex girl Dani has also written a book, appeared in an advert for washing powder Surf and made a podcast series with her famous dad.Records for her company, I Want It, I Got It, showed she earned £247,000 in the year to 2023.Katie Kane, wife of Harry KaneKatie is a qualified fitness instructorCredit: InstagramSports science graduate Katie has a successful career as a fitness instructor and also works closely with the Harry Kane Foundation, recently working on a children’s mental health school campaign with Bounce Forward.Katie and family are currently living in Germany as ex Tottenham star Harry is currently enjoying his first season with Bayern Munich.But it’s not known if Kate is currently working as a fitness instructor after the move abroad and recent birth of fourth child Henry.Katie has a large reach on Instagram with 294k followers and could potentially command an estimated £850 per paid Instagram if she wanted to.She and Harry were childhood sweethearts, with the emotional striker telling fans he had finally married his best friend in the summer of 2019.Sasha Attwood, girlfriend of Jack GrealishSasha is a model and had worked with many fashion brandsCredit: InstagramShe and Jack have been together since their teensCredit: Tim StewartStunning Sasha has been modelling since she was a teenager, with big-money contracts for clothing firms Boohoo, Lipsy and hair giant GHD already under her belt.The 28-year-old partner of Manchester City heartthrob Jack Grealish is also a popular influencer, regularly sharing skincare and make-up tutorial videos on Instagram with her 264k followers. It’s estimated Sasha can earn upwards of £700 for each sponsored Instagram post.The couple appear together at high profile events and have been muted as the new Posh and Becks after Jack was named an ambassador for Gucci.Sasha has been by Jack’s side throughout his career after meeting at school in Solihull when they were 15.Fern Maguire, wife of Harry MaguireFern is reported to have led the call for securityCredit: InstagramFern and Harry got married in 2022Credit: InstagramQualified physio Fern was awarded a first class honours degree in      Science and  Physiotherapy in 2017.Since then she’s also picked up 114k followers and emerged as an influencer due to her high-profile relationship with the England and Manchester United footballer.While also carving out her own physio career, Fern has been a rock to Harry as she’s helped support him through some tough moments.The 29-year-old has not updated her Instagram since last summer so she may be working on personal projects or simply enjoying motherhood.But her faithful following means Fern could still be earning approximately £300 per paid grid post.Olivia Naylor, girlfriend of John StonesOlivia is a beauty entrepreneurCredit: Instagram @olivianaylorShe has been dating the Man City star since 2019Credit: InstagramEntrepreneur Olivia has built up her own thriving beauty business, setting up the Olivia Naylor Clinic and also the Brow and Blade Academy. She is an eyebrow specialist and also a trainer for permanent make-up.Olivia has also branched out into fashion, and is involved with Moosh, a children’s clothing firm.While Olivia’s official clinic account has 41.2k followers and her Brow and Blade Academy page has 9.4k, her personal Instagram has just 4100 and it does not appear she does any paid posts.Olivia, who started dating Man City defender John in 2019, has a child from a previous relationship.Megan Pickford, wife of JordanMegan is married to goalie JordanCredit: InstagramMegan and Jordan pictured last year, before the birth of their second childCredit: Instagram / @meganpickford_Megan has a degree of Childhood Studies from the University of Sunderland but also has worked as a fashion model.Since giving birth to son Arlo George and daughter Ostara Haze the blonde Wag seems fulfilled with her life as a wife and mother of two.She has an impressive 113k followers on Instagram where she regularly shares pictures of her life as a wife and mother, often travelling to exotic locations. Her high stats indicate her estimated wealth per grid post could be £300. Aine May, long-term partner of Conor GallagherAine is a model and trained dancerCredit: InstagramAine moved to London from CorkCredit: InstagramGlamorous Aine moved to London to pursue a dream of becoming a professional dancer however plans changed when she was signed to Pulse model agency.She’s appeared in many fashion campaigns and has built up 53.3k followers on Instagram with her antics. It’s estimated Aine could make around £200 per paid Instagram post.The blonde, from Cork, is regularly in the crowd to watch Conor in action and will no doubt be cheering the Chelsea midfielder on in Germany.Lauren Fryer, girlfriend of Declan RiceLauren is Declan’s childhood sweetheartCredit: Lauren Fryer InstagramDeclan’s childhood sweetheart Lauren Fryer is a devoted mum to the couple’s son Jude.Not much is known about Lauren’s personal life since she keeps a very low profile.She is on social media but has never posted anything on her Instagram account, disappointing the 38.7k people who currently follow her page. If she ever did decide to share a paid post, it’s estimated Lauren could earn a potential £162 per post.No doubt she’ll be cheering Declan on and was seen with England flag face-paint at the Euros in 2021.Hannah Atkins, girlfriend of Trent Alexander-ArnoldHannah is a model and has been with Trent for four yearsCredit: BackGridModel Hannah is an up-and-coming star of the fashion industry, with previous collaborations with Boohoo and PrettyLittleThings.She’s been in a committed relationship with Liverpool defender Trent since 2020 and they are regularly spotted at high profile fashion events together.However despite her label as an influencer, stylish Hannah is low key on social media so her Instagram earnings are unclear.Anouska Santos, partner of Luke ShawAnouska has been with Luke since 2017Credit: InstagramThe couple now have three children, following the birth of a daughter two weeks agoCredit: INSTAGRAM @anouskasantosNot much is known about Anouska’s professional status, but she is currently enjoying life as a mum-of-three after the very recent arrival of her baby daughter.The 33-year-old, who went public with Luke in 2017, has amassed a following of 72.4k on Instagram by photos of her travelling experience, interior désign and other lifestyle content.Anouska could earn approximately £275 per post, judging by her number of followers and average reach.Manchester United star Luke is currently injured but one of the first names on the team-sheet when fit.Fingers crossed Luke and Anouska make it!Tolami Benson, Bukayo Saka’s partnerTolami is a fashion model with 39k followersCredit: InstagramMoney seems no issue for Saka’s long-term girlfriend Tolami Benson, 23, who regularly shares photographs of herself on holiday in far flung destinations.Fun-loving Tolami works as a fashion model and Instagram influencer, with a good engagement with her 39k followers, regularly attracting an average of 6000 likes per post.READ MORE SUN STORIESHer Instagram page doesn’t feature any photographs with Saka, but there are popular posts of Tomali wearing an Arsenal shirt.It’s estimated brands could pay her upwards of £220 per paid grid post as she shares photographs of herself living it up across the globe. Fair play! More

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      in Soccer

      How ‘Fascist’ football hooligans turn Rome into ‘Stab City’ with gangland executions & knife wounds ‘as common as pizza’

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      AS JUVENTUS fans travel to their away game against Lazio today, they will do so knowing they are taking their lives into their own hands.So many supporters have been injured, maimed or killed by hooligans backing Rome’s two main Serie A clubs, the Italian capital has become known as ‘Stab City’.Rome has become known as ‘Stab City’ due to knife-wielding Lazios hooligansCredit: AlamyLazio’s Paolo Di Canio salutes supporters to celebrate a winCredit: ReutersLazio has many fascist supporters who chant anti-semitic slogans at rivalsCredit: RexKnife wounds are as commonplace as pizza and rip-off ice cream in the Eternal city, with a “puncicate” – a jab in the buttocks, designed to cause pain but not to kill –the favoured method of attack.  Assaults with weapons occur so regularly that local newspapers no longer bother reporting on them – it is only when other European teams visit that the blade menace becomes clear.As part of our new series, League of Shame, The Sun examines how football hooliganism is seeing an unwelcome resurgence across the continent – and poses a worrying threat to fans ahead of this summer’s European Championships.And Lazio ultras, who until recently operated under the Irriducibili banner – meaning The Indomitable in Italian – are amongst the most notorious in the game.READ MORE FOOTBALL FEATURESInfested with fascists and with links to organised crime, they funded their feverish displays in the Curva Nord section of the Olympic Stadium by dealing drugs and carrying out bank robberies.Author James Montague wrote a book on extreme football fans called 1312: Among the Ultras.As part of his research, he befriended Lazio capos, or leaders, as well as those with arch-rivals Roma.  In a recent interview, he said: “English football culture – especially the hooligan scene of the 1980s and 90s – was incredibly influential on Italian ultra culture.Most read in Football“Roma, Lazio, Atalanta… all credited the English style of chanting, flags and violence as influencing how they approached things. Hooligans were the ultimate symbol of being against the authorities. Like punk. Even today that culture is influential.”He added: “The ultras who are there week in week out love their club, love football, and love their players when they put in the effort on the pitch comparable to the effort the ultras put in off the pitch.Lazio and Roma fans launch flares and fireworks at each other in shocking scenes before Rome derby “It’s a myth that they don’t love football. However, I’d met several capos who had very little interest in football. To them, ultras were a gang. It might as well have been a biker gang or a graffiti crew.”Admiration for English hooligans has not discouraged Lazio ultras from targeting British footie fans – if anything, it has made their attacks worse.Stitches in back of headIn 2019, Conor Weir was one of three Celtic fans set upon while celebrating the Glasgow club’s 2-1 Europa League victory over Lazio in Rome.He returned home with three stitches in the back of his head after masked men jumped out of a car and ran up behind him at around 2.30am.Celtic fan Connor Weir was left with stitches in the back of his headCredit: SuppliedLazio ultra fans in Glasgow with banner reading “Honour to Benito Mussolini’Trouble had been brewing ever since Lazio ultras marched through Glasgow two weeks earlier, making fascist salutes in tribute to deceased Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.Green Brigade fans responded with an anti-fascist protest, erecting a banner that depicted the tyrant hanging upside down and telling ultras to “follow your leader”.Conor, 20, from Bo’ness, West Lothian, said of his Rome visit: “I wasn’t wearing a Celtic strip, just a green t-shirt, but they must have been driving round looking for people to target and I was unlucky enough to get it.“It was cowardly. They weren’t looking for a fight, just to hurt somebody and escape without getting any comeback.“It was over so fast I hardly knew what was happening until I felt a sensation in my back and I felt blood on my top.“The other three people I was with scattered in panic and I tried to run myself but they grabbed me and stabbed me before I could break free. I’m ok and I’m lucky to escape with what I did.”Spurs fan knifed in groinSpurs fan Ashley Mills was knifed in the groin and left with head injuriesIn 2012, Tottenham Hotspur supporters were also fortunate to escape alive when they were surrounded by Lazio ultras before another European game.A group of Spurs fans were drinking at the Drunken Ship pub in Rome when 50 men – their faces covered and wielding knives, baseball bats and iron bars – stormed inside and launched a frenzied assault.Ten people were injured and two Italian supporters were later charged with attempted murder.Ashley Mills, 25, was knifed in a groin artery and suffered head injuries during what was described as a racist attack.I didn’t see the guy who stabbed me – there were too many of themAshley MillsSpurs fanHis life was saved by Alberto di Giovanni, 19, a law student, who had recently done a first aid course.Speaking from his hospital, Essex builder Ashley said: “They came out of nowhere. I didn’t see the guy who stabbed me. There were too many of them.”There was no physical violence inside the stadium, but antisemitic slogans were aimed at Spurs supporters due to the club’s historic Jewish links.Fanatical far right ultras chanted “Juden Tottenham”, using the German word for Jew, and a “Free Palestine” banner was unveiled.Three black players were subjected to monkey chants during the 0-0 draw and one fan said: “We felt in fear all the time.”It was not the first time Jewish supporters had been targeted by Lazio ultras.  In October 2017, thugs covered the Olympic stadium with stickers featuring Anne Frank wearing the shirt of their rivals, AS Roma, alongside an antisemitic message.Facist leader shot deadFabrizio Piscitelli, the leader of Lazio’s Ultra fans was shot in the head and killedPolice investigate the death of the ringleader, known as DiabolikCredit: RexThe Irriducibili’s long-time leader Fabrizio Piscitelli was a self-confessed fascist with links to the Albanian mafiaHe had a criminal record for drugs trafficking – in 2016 police seized £1.7m worth of his assets – and he ran the group like a paramilitary outfit, with members dressed identically in blue jeans and the black jackets once favoured by Mussolini.The group was the first in Italy to erect huge speakers in the terraces so that one ultra could dictate all the chanting and songs. They once ran a merchandising operation that sold their “Original Fans” label at 14 outlets.Italy star Paolo Di Canio, who later played in the Premier League with West Ham, was a well-known Irriducibili ultra. However, he had to keep his involvement secret at the start of his career.Too much blood, too many banning orders, too many arrestsIrriducibili ultrasHe once said: “I kept the club in the dark about my travels. If they had known that I spent my Sundays with the Irriducibili, visiting far-flung corners of Italy, they would probably have kicked me out of the youth academy.”The ultras’ power meant that during the 1990s they were often caught on video lecturing the players like schoolchildren at Lazio’s training ground.  Piscitelli’s reign came to an end when, aged 53, he was taken out in a gangland style hit in Acqueduct park in the Cinecittà area of Rome in 2019.His ultras then disbanded, releasing a statement saying: “Too much blood, too many banning orders, too many arrests. After 33 years, we have decided to disband the group.”But the shameful scenes witnessed before Lazio’s last 16 Champions League match with Bayern Munich earlier this month showed the far-right elements are still blighting the club.  On March 4, hundreds of Lazio fans gathered in the infamous Hofbräuhaus brewery where Adolf Hitler founded the Nazi party in 1920.Viral videos later emerged that showed them chanting and performing fascist salutes.Stabbings on a weekly basisStabbings linked to football in Rome occur on a weekly basis – and often in buttocksCredit: Corbis – GettyPartizan’s supporters celebrate during the Uefa Cup soccer match between Lazio and Partizan at Rome’s Olympic stadiumCredit: AP:Associated PressJohn Foot, professor of modern Italian history at University College London and author of Calcio: A History of Italian Football, says Roma and Lazio ultras are the only groups in Italy that still use weapons.And the situation has got so bad that stabbings linked to football games occur “on a weekly basis” in the Italian capital.  He said: “People are stabbed in Rome fairly often, but it is so common that it does not make the press.“It is worse in Rome, which has a particular problem with violence and stabbing.”Alarmingly, away fans have found they are most often stabbed in the buttocks.Between 2001 and 2009, around a dozen English football supporters were attacked in this manner whilst visiting Rome.READ MORE SUN STORIESFoot added of the Lazio ultras: “Puncicate is their speciality and is mainly about hurting rival fans but not killing them.”They target the buttocks because the victim is not likely to die. These people don’t want to kill and be known as murderers, they want to show they can hurt their rivals and get away with it.”Roma fans riot with police ahead the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Roma last yearCredit: AP More

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      in Boxing

      I’d never go back in the ring like Tyson to fight YouTuber… but I’d still beat them all on chin-ups, says Barry McGuigan

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      WE had At Home With The Furys and now it is the turn of another boxing dynasty – the McGuigans.World champion Tyson Fury’s hit Netflix show brought him a legion of new fans after he let cameras into the £1.7million mansion he shares with wife Paris and their seven children.Legendary boxer Barry McGuigan and his son Shane now train the next boxing superstarsCredit: Dan CharityBarry fought Panamanian Eusebio Pedroza at Loftus Road Stadium in 1985Credit: Getty Images – GettyBarry is unimpressed with a planned fight between Jake Paul and 57-year-old Mike TysonCredit: instagram/@jakepaulFormer featherweight world champ Barry McGuigan and his brood — which includes his trainer son Shane — are to star in their own fly-on-the-wall documentary.The four-part series, Stable: The Boxing Game, starting tonight on BBC One, follows their highs and lows inside and outside the ring.And it shines a light on the family’s boxing business, plus their stable of world champion fighters.It is almost four decades since 19million people tuned in to watch Barry beat Panamanian Eusebio Pedroza at Loftus Road in 1985.READ MORE BARRY MCGUIGANBut the brutal sport has changed a lot since then. In fact, in a surprise twist, ring legend Mike Tyson is preparing to pull his gloves back on at the age of 57.The ex-world heavyweight champ, who once bit off part of rival Evander Holyfield’s ear, is to face YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul, 27, in Texas on July 20, streamed live on Netflix.But Barry, 63, does not approve. He tells The Sun: “You can be sure money’s got something to do with it.Most read in Boxing“The governing body should be seriously badly reprimanded for that — getting a 57-year-old guy in to box. “That’s just really stupid and irresponsible. Mike Tyson selling edibles shaped like bitten ears in New York in promo push before Jake Paul fight“He shouldn’t be near a boxing ring at 57 years old.”Asked if he would ever get back into the ring himself, Boxing Hall of Fame icon Barry replies: “You must be joking, never. “It’s just irresponsible. “It’s very dangerous.”‘Floppy-haired posh boy’However, he adds with a laugh: “I can still beat most of them on chin-ups and press-ups.”We meet at the McGuigan Gym in Leyton, East London — an old-school spit-and-sawdust joint that is a million miles from the “glitz and glamour” of influencer boxing, which has created serious safety concerns.Irishman Barry says: “The problem with so many of these influencers boxing is that the general public think anybody can do it. They can’t.“That’s what annoys the professional fighters about these influencers.”Son Shane, 35, adds: “They’re trying to steal headlines in the sense, ‘OK, let’s bring in Mike Tyson’.”He says of Iron Mike, who we revealed is flogging cannabis sweets in the shape of a nibbled ear: “Because he’s done it all, it just discredits what he’s done in his career. “He’s the face of boxing.”Shane says boxing YouTubers such as American Jake Paul, whose home gym in his LA mansion includes two rings, plus Brit KSI — real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, or “JJ” for short — can give the wrong impression of the sport to youngsters.He explains: “Jake Paul’s not going to put on his YouTube channel when he spars bad or when he feels crap and he’s upset and he’s crying or he’s frustrated. “He’s only putting on the good days. “Kids just wanna see glitz and glamour and gossip.”He continues: “This sport’s a real hard sport and you can’t fake it, you can’t just suddenly get to a world title.“You can’t just turn up one day without no training.“You’ve got to put the hours and work in and it’s brutal.”Shane is currently working with four-time European youth champ Caroline Dubois, 23Credit: Dan CharityThe McGuigans are a boxing mad family and aim to train up another world championCredit: PA:Press AssociationThe family had a bitter fallout with former star Carl Frampton, but say they have moved onCredit: ReutersBarry grew up in Clones in the Republic of Ireland, on the border of Northern Ireland, and became a unifying symbol of peace during The Troubles. At 17, he took the gold medal for Northern Ireland at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and, two years later, boxed for Ireland at the Moscow Olympics in 1980.Five years on from that, aged 24, he won the World Boxing Association featherweight title, which he defended twice before losing to Steve Cruz in 1986 in Las Vegas.He retired from professional boxing in 1989 at the young age of 28.Barry, a dad of four, admits he initially banned his kids from sparring, insisting: “I didn’t want them to go through how much pain I had to suffer over the years.”But Shane reveals how he started secretly sneaking out of his Somerset boarding school to go to a local boxing gym. The teen, who initially used his middle name as his surname so people did not know who he was, endured bullying for being a “floppy-haired posh boy”.This sport’s a real hard sport and you can’t fake it, you can’t just suddenly get to a world title. You can’t just turn up one day without no trainingShane McGuiganWhen his dad found out, instead of putting a stop to it, he offered to train the youngster. There is no denying the McGuigan name has opened doors for Shane, but it has not been easy growing up in his dad’s shadow.Recalling his amateur boxing days, he says they would be met with “tumbleweed” every time father and son turned up for sparring sessions.And opponents wanted to “take his head off” because he was Barry McGuigan’s son. Smiling at the memory, Shane says: “I enjoyed that.”That’s why I started boxing. And it’s genuinely serious character-building.”Shane has won the National Senior Novice Championship, Irish Under 21 Championship and the Ulster Senior Championship.But he chose not to turn pro like his dad because he did not want to become “a victim to boxing”.He fell into training 13 years ago after Barry left him in charge of the pads one weekend.His dad says with a laugh: “I came back and lost me job.”Asked if people thought he was some sort of nepo baby, Shane says: “Maybe at the start.” But he insists he only got his professional licence to train because Northern Irish boxer Carl Frampton, who was being coached by Barry, asked him to. Mike Tyson tipped to ‘pound Jake Paul into a mound of dust’ with brutal punches ‘like being hit by a grand piano’Under Shane, Carl, now retired, became a world champion.However, he and the McGuigans later became locked in a bitter dispute. The former two-weight world champion sued ex-manager Barry and Cyclone Promotions for alleged withheld earnings.A counter claim against Belfast boxer Carl was also launched for alleged breach of contract after their partnership came to an end in 2017. The case was settled out of court in November 2020.Carl has since said he has “a deep hatred for them now”.But Barry tells The Sun: “We’re past all that.” And Shane says matter-of-factly: “It’s just one of many fighters that’s come through this gym. “That’s literally it.”Barry’s daughter Danika McGuigan tragically died from cancer in 2019Credit: PA:Press AssociationCruierweight champ Chris Billam-Smith is one of the stars currently working with the McGuigansCredit: BBCShane, who was named Trainer of the Year for the second time by the British Boxing Board of Control earlier this month, has more than proved his worth. Barry says: “I’m very proud of what he does. “He’s one of the best in the business, anywhere in the world.”These days, Barry — who lives near Whitstable in Kent with his wife Sandra, also 63 — acts more as a mentor at the gym.‘Huge divide’During our visit, he happily chats as he folds bandages while Shane puts four-time European youth champ Caroline Dubois, 23, through her paces.World cruiserweight champ Chris Billam-Smith, 33, and Ellie Scotney, 26, who holds the International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight world title, are also in their stable. Barry’s other sons Jake, 36, and Blain, 40, are involved in the family business. His daughter Danika died from cancer in July 2019, at the age of 33.Barry says: “My daughter could tell you the four cruiserweight champions of the world when she was around, God bless her. “We’re boxing crazy.”Shane adds: “It’s one of those sports where you can’t switch off.”Tommy has been doing it a long time — before Love Island. He comes from good stock.Shane McGuiganAnd Barry responds with a laugh: “Sandra says, ‘Right, no boxing talk, we’re having our lunch’.”Meanwhile, there might be more future fighters among the McGuigans. Shane’s partner Taylor, 29, a singer, is due to give birth to their second son in May.The couple, who live in Essex, are already parents to 18-month-old Finley. Shane says: “I now realise, being a father, why he didn’t want me to box. “But if Finley chooses to box, I’ll have to let him do it.” However, Barry says: “I’ll do my best to stop him.”Celebrities are helping to raise the profile of boxing. Even Harry Styles has joined a boxing gym.And Tommy Fury — younger brother of Gypsy King Tyson, who shot to fame on Love Island in 2019 — is fast becoming one of the sport’s savviest businessmen.The 24-year-old, who featured in last year’s At Home With The Furys alongside his influencer fiancée Molly-Mae Hague, also 24, has 5.4million followers on Instagram.But Shane says: “Tommy has been doing it a long time — before Love Island. “He comes from good stock.” He adds: “Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury — they’re on phenomenal money. “But the general guys who are world champions, they’re not on crazy money. “There’s a huge divide there.”Boxing is a cut-throat business. Lawrence Okolie left the McGuigans to join new coach SugarHill Steward during the 18 months of filming.Shane says: “At one stage of the documentary, he was in the gym training with Chris Billam-Smith. “At the end they’re boxing. “It shows what boxing’s all about.”Watched by 15,000 fans in his home town of Bournemouth, underdog Billam-Smith floored Okolie last May. Barry says proudly: “Shane’s now trained nine world champions.”READ MORE SUN STORIESNo doubt, with his track record, it won’t be long until he hits an even ten.
      Double bills of Stable: The Boxing Game air on BBC One after Match of the Day tonight and Sunday. They will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer. More

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      in Soccer

      Football-loving Evan Gershkovich is ‘thrilled’ by Arsenal tribute as family plead with Putin to free him from hellhole

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      BY rights, Arsenal fan Evan Gershkovich should be savouring the Gunners’ end-of-season title race from a comfy seat at the Emirates Stadium.Instead, he still languishes in Moscow’s grim Lefortovo Prison where Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin once caged his enemies.Journalist Evan Gershkovich is languishing in Moscow’s grim Lefortovo PrisonCredit: APA banner is displayed in support of Evan prior to the Premier League match of his favourite team ArsenalCredit: GettyElla Milman, Danielle and Mikhail Gershkovich, mother, sister and father have put out an emotional plea, a year one from his captureCredit: AFPIt’s now a year since the brilliant young American reporter was held on trumped-up spying charges by Vladimir Putin’s regime — yet the Arsenal faithful have not forgotten one of their own.Twice this season fans have raised banners in the North Bank stand bearing his image and demanding #freeevan.His friend and fellow London-based Wall Street Journal reporter Eliot Brown told The Sun that the gesture by Gunners fans had left Evan “thrilled”.Although he is locked up with a cell mate for 23 hours a day, news of the placards filtered through via letters he is permitted to receive.READ MORE ON RUSSIAFellow Arsenal supporter Andrew Allen — who helped to organise the demonstrations — said: “The banners are a small gesture but Evan was just doing his job and he’s now living through hell.“As fellow Arsenal fans we thought we’d do our bit to keep his story in the spotlight.”Now the North Bank is planning more #freeevan protests after the innocent reporter was told by a Russian court on Tuesday that his pre-trial detention was being extended by a further three months.’Strong & resilient’Afterwards in the News UK offices in London — which the Journal’s UK bureau shares with The Sun — hundreds of sombre staff held up #istandwithEVAN posters.Most read in FootballThe 32-year-old reporter is the first US journalist to be charged with spying by Russia since the Cold War, and faces a possible 20-year prison sentence if convicted.America’s ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, said he remained “strong and resilient” and added that it was “a tragedy that he is awaiting trial for a crime he did not commit”.Falsely jailed reporter Evan Gershkovich must be freed NOW after one year in Russian prisonThe bitter irony is that Evan loves Russia.He was born in Princeton, New Jersey, after his Jewish parents Mikhail and Ella had fled rising anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union.He and his elder sister Danielle grew up speaking Russian at home.At five Evan began playing football, which soon became “all-encompassing”, and Danielle said: “I remember him coming home from school and practising against the back of the garage.Bilingual skills “He would be out there and you would hear it — kick, kick, kick. I remember him being obsessed with Pele, his first big soccer idol.“Later he was into Thierry Henry, which led him to Arsenal.”Thatcher Foster, a teammate of Evan’s at youth team Princeton Spartak, said: “Football was such a big part of Evan’s identity.“Each year he would get around five different Arsenal kits.”After leaving school he became a journalist, using his bilingual skills to secure a reporter’s job on the online Moscow Times in Russia.There he bonded with colleague Pjotr Sauer over their love of Arsenal.The banners are a small gesture but Evan was just doing his job and he’s now living through hellFellow Arsenal supporter Andrew Allen Pjotr, who writes to Evan in prison to update him on their team’s fortunes, said: “Evan knew everything about Arsenal. I wasn’t expecting to meet a fellow Gunner who was an American guy.”After six years of working in Russia Evan moved to the globally-renowned Wall Street Journal in January 2022, a month before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The journalist divided his time between London and reporting stints in Russia as the war ragedCredit: APAccredited by the Kremlin as a reporter, he divided his time between London and reporting stints in Russia as the war raged.Eliot, his colleague at the Journal’s London office, said: “We’d go out for beers and just talk about journalism and current events.“He has a million thoughts on everything. He is a fantastically talented young journalist.”But working in Moscow was becoming increasingly perilous.In July 2022, Evan tweeted: “Reporting on Russia is now a regular practice of watching people you know get locked away for years.”He assumed his phone was being tapped and he had been followed and filmed when on assignment.On March 29, 2023, Evan travelled to Yekaterinburg, nearly 900 miles east of Moscow, on a reporting trip.Constant brightnessHe was arrested at a steakhouse and led away with his head hooded.Conditions in Lefortovo prison are wretched.Evan is allowed out of his cell for just one hour a day.He usually spends it walking in one of the small courtyards on the prison roof, watched by armed guards.Cells are brightly lit, even at night.President Biden has pledged to do “whatever it takes” to bring him home, while Nato and the EU have also demanded his release.During several court appearances Evan has smiled for the cameras and looked remarkably relaxed.My brother is not a spy. He’s a journalistDanielle Gershkovich His mum Ella described one hearing in June: “We went and stood next to him, and immediately, Evan was talking and joking.“We were laughing. Russians don’t expect laughter in a court. Crying — that’s what they expect.”Evan spends his time keeping fit, reading Russian novels and answering letters from family and friends.The Arsenal results normally filter through to him two weeks late and he can watch limited match highlights on Russian TV.Pal Pjotr said: “He is very happy about how they are playing but obviously upset he can’t see for himself.”READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd sister Danielle has a heartfelt message for Putin: “My brother is not a spy. He’s a journalist.“Please, I just want him home.”Evan is allowed out of his cell for just one hour a dayCredit: AP More

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      in Soccer

      Incredible rise of new England football star Kobbie Mainoo who earns £20k a week aged just 18 – and still lives with dad

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      HE made his full England debut against Belgium at Wembley tonight and looked right at home – paving the way for selection at this summer’s Euros.But The Sun can reveal that away from the floodlights of the national stadium, 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo leads a humble, quiet life, just like any average teenager.Kobbie Mainoo made his full debut tonight in England’s game against BelgiumCredit: GettyKobbie grins after winning the FA Youth Cup in 2022Credit: GettyThe Sun speaks to Kobbie’s first ever coach, Steve Vare, who mentored him when the star was just four years oldLocals told how the Manchester United midfielder loves eating out at Nando’s and still lives with his dad Felix in a modest £370,000 semi — in a street where some neighbours have no idea who he is.In fact, the only sign of any of the perks of Kobbie’s £20,000-a-week job is an £80,000 BMW X4 — given to him by United – along with a Mercedes A-Class which takes pride of place on the drive.Kobbie is the most talked-about young player in English football right now, with accomplished performances beyond his years culminating in a late call-up to Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad last week.Those who know Kobbie say he is a down-to-earth lad who “takes everything in his stride”.READ MORE KOBBIE MAINOOHis first coach, Steve Vare, who mentored him as a four-year-old at Cheadle And Gatley FC, told us: “He came from a lovely family — I used to have regular chats with his dad.“I do know Kobbie is still in ­contact with his old school friends — he hasn’t lost sight of the fact he is very grounded. “That is probably down to him coming from a loving, very stable family.”Kobbie’s parents Felix and Abena Herold — who are Ghanaian immigrants — are separated but he splits his time between their homes, which are within 30 minutes of each other.Most read in FootballAt Felix’s house in Sale, some locals do not even know who Kobbie is.Gareth Southgate presents Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Gordon and Ezri Konsa with England caps after their debuts v BrazilThe family moved into the rented three-bedroom home around four or five years ago and Kobbie keeps himself to himself, with one neighbour saying: “I’ve got no idea who he is.”Others talk proudly about having an England star in their midst, with another saying of the young star: “I remember him going to and coming home from school in his uniform.“He was always a very smiley young boy. “I say hello to Felix when I see him. “They’re a nice family.”A third neighbour, who is a friend of the family, added: “I’ve known Kobbie and his dad for years. “Kobbie is a really nice boy from a really nice family – and he’s a really good ­footballer. “He’s going to be a star.”Kobbie is powered by grub from Nando’s — one of his favourite treats.He was recently spotted collecting a bag of food from his local branch in Altrincham, where he fist-bumped a member of staff who is a huge ­Manchester United fan.One onlooker said: “Kobbie came in on his own with his hood up, but he got recognised straight away. “He was a lovely lad and fist-bumped a ­member of staff. “He seemed really nice and down to earth.”Kobbie receives his England cap from Gareth SouthgateCredit: GettyThe star signing for Man Utd, pictured with the rest of his familyCredit: Instagram / Kobbie MainooThere was a time, before he became a United first team regular, that Kobbie was not even the most famous person in his own family.His older half-brother Jordan ­Mainoo-Hames, 29 — Felix’s son from another relationship — appeared on season five of ITV2 dating show Love Island, spending 38 days in the villa.Jordan, who has since embarked on a successful modelling career, is one of Kobbie’s biggest fans — frequently shouting about him to his 711,000 Instagram followers.When Kobbie got the England call-up, Jordan shared a snap of him and wrote: “Movin’ on up.”Kobbie, whose close family circle includes his sisters Ama and Efia, also spends time at mum Abena’s £500,000 detached three-bed home in Cheadle Hulme.Abena is a secretary of her new husband Robin’s construction firm.Kobbie is said to still regularly visit his parents’ home country of Ghana.He was quick and had a really powerful shot for a kid that ageSteve VareThe ace — full name Kobbie ­Boateng Mainoo — was born on April 19, 2005 in Stockport, Gtr Manchester, and raised in the sleepy suburb of Cheadle Hulme.Aged four, he began playing for local side Cheadle And Gatley under Steve — who quickly spotted his incredible talent.Steve said: “He was only here for about a year and he was very good for his age. “He found some things too easy. “It was obvious we needed to test and challenge him more.“In game situations, he would just run from one end to another and score, so we put in challenges — like he could only score with his weaker foot. “He was quick and had a really powerful shot for a kid that age.“He could have won a trophy for best player every week, to be honest, but I would tell him, ‘I am going to give it to someone else this week’ – and he never got upset.”Kobbie in the sun during a trip to LACredit: InstagramKobbie seated next to Daniel Gore as they headed to the US last JulyCredit: GettyKobbie playing for his school in Year 6Credit: Facebook / Cheadle And Gatley FCOver the past few weeks, Steve has been inundated with interview requests to talk about Kobbie — from media across the globe including America and Denmark.He added: “We are immensely proud of Kobbie. “He does come across as a really grounded person who just takes it all in his stride.“I am sure that he will still be the same Kobbie.”Kobbie left Cheadle And Gatley for Failsworth Dynamos before being asked to train with United and local rivals Man City.He later opted for his beloved boyhood side United, joining the club aged seven — and was regarded as one of their best talents throughout his time in the academy.Kobbie studied at Cheadle Catholic Infant School and St James’ Catholic High before moving on to Ashton-on-Mersey School under United’s scholarship programme.One source said: “Kobbie was a very bright, very well-rounded young man and he finished with good grades.”During his time playing for the Red Devils, Kobbie has won the FA Youth Cup and the club’s Jimmy Murphy Young Player Of The Year award for the 2022/23 season.He signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday – the earliest date a player can do so — and made his first team debut in the League Cup against Charlton Athletic last January.I think he’s incredible for such a young age, with the maturity he’s shownWayne RooneyAnd he has started gaining the plaudits he deserves over the past few months from the great and good of the game thanks to some stellar performances – after his season was delayed by an injury suffered in pre-season.Kobbie has shown calmness, composure and class on the ball in some tough matches — including arguably his best game so far in the 4-3 FA Cup thriller against fierce rivals Liverpool, in front of 72,291 fans at Old Trafford.He won the Premier League’s Goal Of The Month competition in February for a sensational individual goal away at Wolves – dribbling past players with ease before bending the ball into the corner in the 97th minute of a frantic 4-3 victory.United legend Rio Ferdinand compared him to AC Milan’s great Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf, while Wayne Rooney has also heaped praise on him.Wayne said: “I think he’s incredible for such a young age, with the maturity he’s shown. “He always seems to make the right decisions. “He has a very bright future.”No challenge seems to faze ­Kobbie — including his 15-minute cameo for England against Brazil on Saturday, which they lost 1-0.He has settled into our group with no problems at all and he looks completely at homeGareth SouthgateIt was fitting that his debut was against Brazil, as he grew up idolising silky Samba Boy Ronaldinho.At one point during the game, Kobbie showed nimble footwork the ex-Barcelona forward would have been proud of.Ahead of tonight’s match, ­manager Gareth Southgate said of Kobbie: “We put him in the team as the game went on the other day — when it was 0-0 against Brazil.“That would suggest we would be happy to put him on the pitch at any moment.“We will be mindful of how quickly we go with a young player.READ MORE SUN STORIES“He has settled into our group with no problems at all and he looks completely at home.”Some of Kobbie’s neighbours may not know him yet — but he could well be among the names this country never forgets if Southgate’s men finally win a major tournament this summer. More

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      in Motorsport

      Meet UK’s hottest F1 star! Rebecca Donaldson dated Kardashian ex before Carlos Sainz… and he’s already talked marriage

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      CARLOS Sainz pulled off an epic comeback at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend – and no one looked prouder than his glamorous girlfriend Rebecca Donaldson.The stunning Scot, 28, cheered on the Spaniard, 29, as he cruised his Ferrari to victory in Melbourne – just two weeks after undergoing emergency surgery to remove his appendix.Rebecca Donaldson was trackside to cheer on boyfriend Carlos Sainz at the Australian Grand Prix this weekendCredit: AlamyStunning Rebecca hails from ScotlandCredit: instagram/iamrebeccadRebecca and Carlos went public with their romance last yearCredit: AlamyThe loved-up couple shared a kiss following Carlos’ win yesterday, and were spotted by fans leaving a hotel hand-in-hand this morning.Model Rebecca is becoming a regular trackside since she and Carlos began dating last summer, having been spotted at races in Japan, Austin, Singapore, Las Vegas and Bahrain.Born in Scone, Perthshire, she burst onto the modelling scene as a teenager.She won her first beauty pageant aged 17 in 2011, which saw her entered into the Top Model UK competition.READ MORE F1 FEATURESAnd she has her mum to thank; she said at the time: “My mum entered me and I was really surprised when I found out.“We had to go to rehearsals to practise catwalk type dances before going in front of four judges at the Gardyne Theatre in Dundee.”The prize saw her win, among other things, a designer outfit from Debenhams – but Rebecca has since gone on to model for major agencies and grace the covers of Vogue and Marie Claire.She also starred in a glitzy Ferrari TV advert in May last year, which could be where she met Carlos, as the couple were first spotted together in Milan in June.Most read in MotorsportIt’s thought they then enjoyed luxurious holidays together in Sardinia in August and the Bahamas in November, with both sharing separate Instagram posts.The couple were spotted hugging and kissing ahead of the Mexican GP in October.Rebecca Donaldson stars in glitzy Ferrari adAnd Carlos appeared to confirm their relationship during an interview ahead of the Las Vegas GP three weeks later – with talk even turning to marriage!When grilled by teammate Charles Leclerc over who he’d marry in Vegas, Carlos replied: “That’s a trick question. My current girlfriend.”Famous exRebecca previously dated Kardashians star Scott DisickCredit: Getty Images – GettyThe model was spotted planting a kiss on Carlos at the Mexican GP in OctoberCredit: GettyCarlos and Rebecca at the Las Vegas GPCredit: GettyCarlos was previously in a long-term relationship with Spanish journalist Isa Hernáez from 2017 until they broke up last summer.While little is known about Rebecca’s dating history, she did have a brief two-month fling with Kourtney Kardashian’s ex, Scott Disick, after meeting him on a night out.She was spotted with the American reality TV star, who featured in every season of hit series Keeping Up With The Kardashians, at the premiere of Hulu’s The Kardashians in Los Angeles in April 2022.They held hands as they posed together on the red carpet, with Rebecca looking stunning in a green tight-fitting one-shoulder gown.Scott was reportedly “smitten”, but by June they’d split, with a source telling E! News the couple parted ways “amicably”.”Although they had a short-lived romance, it was definitely serious,” the source said. “He enjoyed his time with her but realised he is not in a place to seriously date right now.”Launched business ‘from her bed’Rebecca Donaldson as a young modelCredit: Andrew Barr – The Sun GlasgowRebecca regularly shares sizzling snaps to InstagramCredit: instagram/iamrebeccadAs well as her modelling career, Rebecca is an entrepreneur, having set up her own fashion brand during the Covid-19 lockdown.She launched MUSE Activewear, which sells gym wear for women, in October 2020 and has seen her firm grow in the years since.Explaining how she came to launch the brand, she explained: “I was spending many days and hours during lockdown feeling a little purposeless. So, I decided to pursue my dream of starting a clothing brand. “I knew I wanted to create something that not only I would wear and be proud of putting my name against, but also something that was missing from the market – affordable, good quality products that are also very wearable day-to-day, as I found I struggled to find items that covered all these aspects.”I started working with my laptop in bed, but before long, I found myself feeling very lethargic as I relate my bed to sleep. “So to keep focused and productivity levels high whilst working remotely, I recommend finding a place in your home and making it a dedicated work zone.”Rebecca, who has 209K followers on Instagram, has previously admitted she’d never had a 9-5 job.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt seems she’s won over Carlos’ family, as his sisters Ana and Blanca and mum Reyes were reportedly in the crowd when Rebecca walked the runway during Madrid Fashion Week in February.And she’s certainly proving a lucky charm for Carlos, who’ll be looking to replicate his winning form in Japan in two weeks’ time.Rebecca walks the runway at the Lola Casademunt by Maite fashion show during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week MadridCredit: GettyCarlos spent time with Rebecca while resting after undergoing his recent appendix operationCredit: BackGridGlamorous Rebecca has modelled for the likes of Vogue and Marie ClaireCredit: RexRebecca appears to be a lucky charm for CarlosCredit: instagram/iamrebeccad🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      in Soccer

      Meet the machete-wielding football hooligan gangs who chop off each others’ HANDS in blood-soaked ‘Holy War’ derby

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      PREMIER League fans are well-aware of the dangers of going to a game given the number of thugs hell-bent on violence.  But our hooligan problem pales in comparison to the one in Poland, where wearing the wrong colours outside a stadium could lead to you being MURDERED.Football fans in PolandCredit: AlamyUltras in clouds of smoke during a Polish Cup Final in 2016Credit: AlamyA Cracovia supporter during the derby match between Wisla Krakow and Cracovia KrakowCredit: GettyAs part of our new series, League of Shame, The Sun examines how football hooliganism is seeing an unwelcome resurgence across the continent – and poses a worrying threat to fans ahead of this summer’s European Championships.Krakow has been dubbed the ‘City of Knives’ because of its 30-year long history of violence, with supporters having been killed, stabbed and mutilated outside games.The two main hooligan firms there are said to be manned by 100-strong teams of highly trained UFC fighters that refuse to drink alcohol in case it impacts their combat skills.And both gangs, supporting rival teams Wisła Krakow and MKS Cracovia, routinely carry weapons having become deeply entrenched in organised crime, according to experts. READ MORE SPORTS FEATURESThe rivalry reaches boiling point every year during the annual derby match, which has been dubbed the ‘Holy War’ as the clashes are so extreme. Professor Radoslaw Kossakowski has conducted a number of studies on football hooliganism in Poland. He told The Sun: “Krakow is definitely the most dangerous city in Poland for football fans. “If you are a normal supporter you shouldn’t – and this is really important for your safety – show your club colours, your scarf or T-shirt. Most read in Football”That could be really dangerous if you go to the wrong place in the city.“Krakow has become an island of barbarians and gangster-style hooligans. People are killed and murdered.”Fans killed and hands chopped offPub-drinking England fans are most at risk at Euros from martial arts trained football ultrasViolence took place during a match between Wisla Krakow vs CracoviaCredit: AlamyDominik Luty reportedly chopped off a rival supporter’s handCredit: SuppliedWe can reveal that Polish hooligans are now considered to be among the most violent in the world – up there with Russian ultras and those supporting clubs in Latin America, where life is notoriously cheap.  Wisla fans are nicknamed “dogs” by their rivals as the club was previously run by the hated communist police for 40 years.Cracovia, meanwhile, are known as Pasy (Stripes) or Jews because of their supposed Jewish roots, which leads to antisemitic chants being sung by far-right rivals during games.The depth of hatred between the two is bottomless. So there was little surprise when both refused to sign the 2004 ‘Poznan Pact’ which banned the use of weapons.  Krakow has become an island of barbarians and gangster-style hooligans. People are killed and murderedProfessor Radoslaw Kossakowski Shocking incidents include eight fans being killed in the build-up to the 100-year anniversary match between Wisla and MKS Cracovia in 2006.Water cannons, riot vans, choppers, dogs, and nearly 1,000 cops were on hand during the game.In 2011, members of Wisła’s ultras ‘The Sharks’ were found guilty of brutally murdering a member of a Cracovia hooligan group called ‘The Jude Gang.’Four years later, Wisla fan Dominik Luty, 22, was reported to have chopped off a rival Cracovia fan’s hand with a machete when they were both out drinking in the city.Horrified passer-by Jakub Nowak, 34, said: “I came round the corner and saw this man covered in blood. “He was unconscious and had wounds to his legs and his hand was lying a few centimetres away.”Drugs and money launderingPawel Michalsk – who once threw a knife at a football player – led a Wisla firmCredit: PoliceDino Baggio was thrown a knife at by a rival supporterCredit: AlamyDino Baggio was almost hit by the blade mid-gameCredit: YouTubeViolence erupted between fans during a Wisla Krakow versus Cracovia matchCredit: AlamyIt is the strong links with organised crime that make Polish footie thugs so much more sinister than those in the UK.Incredibly, a Wisla firm called ‘The Sharks’ once became so powerful they effectively took over the club.Operating as the SKWK fan group, they were led by 39-year-old hooligan Pawel Michalsk, who was nicknamed ‘Teddy Bear’ and was once convicted of throwing a knife at Italian star Dino Baggio’s head during a UEFA Cup tie in 1998.From 2016, the firm took up key positions on Wisla’s board as they began using the club as a base for criminal activities, laundering drug money and siphoning off legitimate funds through fake supply contracts.Players and staff were abused and intimidated and even the biggest stars went months without being paid. Attacks were organised on rival fans, with flares handed out by club bosses in the stadium toilets.Wisla’s gym was used to train hooligans in street fighting, according to reports.By the time the gang’s leaders were arrested and a new, legitimate board installed in 2019, a debt of £7.95m – or 40m zloty – had been run up, putting the club’s future at risk.Machete attackA supporter holds a flare during the Polish PKO Ekstraklasa League match between Legia Warszawa and Warta PoznanCredit: SOPA Images/LightRocket via GettA huge police crackdown followed and fighting is much less common at Polish stadiums today. Yet hooligans continue to stage organised clashes in the countryside and in abandoned warehouses.In June 2020, a Cracovia supporter was hospitalised following a machete attack by Wisła fans.The following year, a group of young Wisla hooligans was caught on video attacking a more established firm on a housing estate after accusing them of co-operating with the police.Professor Kossakowski added: “Paradoxically, stadiums in Poland are really safe. I came round the corner and saw this man covered in blood. He was unconscious and had wounds to his legs and his hand was lying a few centimetres awayJakub Nowak”We have very restrictive laws dedicated to football so if you use pyrotechnics or do something illegal you are automatically banned – so there are no fights at the stadiums now.“But they do fight in the woods and abandoned places, sometimes on the street.”Szymon Jadczak, an investigative journalist that made a TVN documentary on Krakow’s gangster hooligans, warned: “People are still afraid. The bandits have not disappeared.“You can still see their influence in the club and the city. You can still buy anti-Semitic Sharks paraphernalia at the club store!”Poland’s hooligan problem started with the fall of communism in 1989. The previous regime ruled with an iron grip that kept football’s more thuggish elements under lock and key. Deadly weapons snuck inA sound cannon – a weapon used by Polish police in their battle against brawling football hooligansCredit: London Media PressSome hardcore football fans attended the Independence Day march in Warsaw, where some participants calshed with riot policeCredit: GettyBut the switch to a capitalist system led to a breakdown of law and order that the hooligan firms took full advantage of. By the 1990s, the terraces had become a dangerous place for ordinary fans.It was common for deadly weapons to be snuck into stadiums and when fights and rioting broke out, the police would respond with brutal force.Professor Przemysław Piotrowski is from Krakow but insisted “it is better not to publish” which team he supports.He said: “I’ve been inside the crowd when policemen shot at us with rubber bullets.I’ve been inside the crowd when policemen shot at us with rubber bulletsProfessor Przemysław Piotrowski“In the 1990s, it was easy for the fans to bring wooden sticks and other potential weapons in the stadium. When they started to clash, the police would try to stop them.“There are games when the tension is very high and in Krakow with the rivalry between the two teams it can be dangerous.“Outside the stadiums there are organised clashes that can be very violent. It’s hard to say how often they happen.“Krakow is known as the place where deadly weapons are used and there have been a few deaths.“Because of their association with the old communist party, there is a tradition of not speaking to the police in Poland. “So even when a person has lost their arm and is in hospital, he will say he fell down the stairs.”The Sun reached out to Wisła Krakow and MKS Cracovia for comment. A spokesperson for Wisła Krakow said: “The dynamics within the club have undergone substantial changes since 2019, subsequent to the pivotal “rescue operation” orchestrated by Jakub Błaszczykowski – a distinguished figure in the club and national team, in his capacity as the owner, alongside Jarosław Królewski, who assumes the roles of the majority shareholder and president of Wisła Kraków.”The sustained operation of Wisła Kraków would be unfeasible without the significant dedication exhibited by its supporters, who have been instrumental in ensuring the club’s survival. “Currently, they continue to offer their support, notably through initiatives like the Socios association.”The management of the club is in the hands of esteemed individuals who are committed to preserving Wisła as an emblematic football brand. “Our operations are founded on principles of transparency and wholesome support and we play a significant role in the community by presenting positive exemplars, including to our supporters.”Our stadium has become a welcoming venue for families, individuals with disabilities, and the youth, many of whom aspire to be future Wisła Kraków players. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Wisła Kraków stands as a paragon of fair play and healthy support, categorically distancing itself from any conduct that diverges from its ethical guidelines. “Legal actions are currently in progress against individuals whose past action placed the club in a dire predicament.” More