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      Football should be the beautiful game – but 2030 World Cup covering half the globe is an ugly kick in the teeth for fans

      by

      FOOTBALL is supposed to be the people’s game.It’s supposed to be about the fans as well as the players.
      Nobody outside a chosen few inside Fifa headquarters in Zurich was celebrating the latest brainwave pulled off by world football boss Gianni InfantinoCredit: PA
      Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup trophy in Qatar – a tournament allegedly powered by giant solar fields in the desert that NOBODY has ever seenCredit: Getty
      And the World Cup, the pinnacle of the sport, is supposed to be a global party.
      But nobody outside a chosen few inside Fifa headquarters in Zurich was celebrating the latest brainwave pulled off by world football boss Gianni Infantino.
      A World Cup covering half the globe, spread over 39 days and involving 48 teams and 104 matches.
      Starting with three games in South America, before the rest of the tournament is split between the Iberian peninsula and North Africa.

      Yet what was inconceivable is now, overnight, a looming reality, coming our way in just seven years, in 2030.
      A kick in the teeth for fans around the planet, who still love the beautiful game, no matter how ugly it can seem.
      And further irrefutable proof that what counts in football now is not the sport, the emotion and the passion.
      That went out of the window long ago.
      Most read in Football
      The brutal truth is that it is now only about the money, the politics, the deals and the TV contracts.
      Who in their right mind would conceive of sending fans halfway around the world — then back — for ONE match?
      Fifa, of course.
      The blazers in their ivory towers, who know they get executive travel, first-class seats and the biggest suites in the swankiest hotels, all meals and match tickets included, for nothing — plus £400 a day in cash for spending money just to keep them sweet.
      No worries about saving up for the journey for these men and women.
      The same Fifa that trumpeted the green credentials of a £185BILLION World Cup in Qatar, allegedly powered by giant solar fields in the desert that NOBODY has ever seen.
      That’s before you even get into the other issues in the Gulf state — the treatment of migrant workers and legalised homophobia.
      Yet it’s as much about the sheer cost of the concept as well.
      Playing the opening three matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay pays homage to the centenary of the tournament that was first played in Uruguayan capital Montevideo in 1930.
      Divide and rule
      There is a romantic element in that — although many real fans of the game will argue that the 2030 tournament should have been hosted entirely back where it all began.
      But Fifa is asking some fans to fork out thousands to fly 6,000-plus miles to see their team in action in South America and then back across the Atlantic for a tournament split between Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
      Where, of course, tickets will be at premium rates for travelling fans. Someone has to pay the bills. And it’s you.
      Does anybody in Zurich care about that? It doesn’t look that way, does it?
      For Fifa President Infantino, football’s version of The Hood from Thunderbirds, it is an ingenious, some would argue brilliant, solution.
      After all, he has handed six countries and three continents a piece of the action.
      That allows all the potential bidders to keep face at home and also ensures the maximum interest and pay cheques from the European TV companies who fund his global projects, pitches and training centres in countries that otherwise would not be able to afford them.
      Infantino may not have been a protege of former Fifa chief, disgraced Sepp Blatter.
      But he has learned from the Blatter play book of divide and rule — and brought it into the modern age.
      And seasoned, and cynical, Fifa watchers know what the real end game is here.
      It is less about 2030 — although that is what has captured immediate attention.
      Instead, it is more, far more, about 2034 — and giving Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman what HE has craved for years.

      The door for the Saudis to walk through and host that tournament is not ajar. It is wide open.
      Nominally, Australia could bid as well.
      But it would be a forlorn and expensive waste of money. The die is cast.
      “All the fish is sold,” as they say in Fifa land.
      It does not matter that there will be another desert storm of protest, that fans will not be able to get a drink — to be fair, the absence of booze in the stadiums in Qatar made for a far less aggressive and hostile atmosphere.
      Nor that the Saudi record on human rights is pretty compatible with that in Qatar.
      Indeed, the Qataris do not, as far as we know, have a track record of dismembering critical journalists in any of their embassies.
      Doha 1, Riyadh 0.
      Effectively gifting Saudi the tournament means another winter World Cup in November and December of 2034 — and another enforced six-week break for the Premier League.
      And because the new 32-team Club World Cup — Chelsea, Manchester City and almost certainly Liverpool play in the first version in the USA in 2025 — is held in the same country as the next World Cup, the situation will be similar 12 months earlier, with players going to Saudi in 2033.
      Scant consolation
      Two successive European club seasons ruptured in half, just to ensure MBS gets what he wants.
      Have the fans, players or even the clubs been asked about that? Of course they haven’t. They never are.
      The good news, the only good news, is that Infantino will not be around to bask in the reflected “glory” of his masterplan when it comes to fruition.
      Even after dismissing his first three years in the job as not counting, he must give up his place as Fifa President in 2031.
      Canada’s Victor Montagliani is a potential successor.
      But that will be scant consolation to the fans forking out money they really can’t afford to follow their teams in 2030 or four years later.
      They are barely an afterthought.
      Scenery for the TV pictures.
      Read More on The Sun
      Willing victims who pay for the privilege.
      As Sir Alex Ferguson once said, in very different circumstances: “Football. Bloody hell.” More

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      in Soccer

      Inside David Beckham’s dad Ted’s ruthless quest to get his son signed by Man Utd – including raw egg and Guinness diet

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      THERE are many dads desperate for a footballer son, but David Beckham’s went to extreme lengths – even feeding him raw egg and Guinness once a week.In the Beckham documentary, out today on Netflix, David reveals the way Manchester United-obsessed Ted Beckham treated him growing up, training him from morning to night, giving him 50p for every target hit.
      David Beckham pictured with mum Sandra and dad Ted, who was Manchester United-obsessed and very strict on himCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Beckham always saw Sir Alex Ferguson as his second “father figure”Credit: Netflix
      With a disciplinary parenting style that his mum, Sandra, wasn’t a fan of, it’s no wonder Beckham always saw his equally strict Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson as a guiding “father figure”.
      Aside from both men famously falling out with David when he moved from Man Utd to Real Madrid in 2003, there are many similarities between the two men who shaped the football legend’s career.
      Growing up in Leytonstone, Beckham got used to strict training from his dad, who would take him “out for hours”.
      “I’d loved to have been a footballer but I had the next best thing,” Ted says. “I taught him how to kick a ball properly.
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      “I used to say to him, ‘Right, every time you hit the crossbar, I’ll give you 50p’ and it used to cost me a fortune.”
      Beckham adds: “Left foot, right foot, over and over again. And it was all about control. 
      “Even when I was seven or eight years old, he’d boot the ball up as high as he could and say ‘control it,’ ‘OK, not good enough, do it again,’ ‘Not good enough, do it again’ over and over again.”
      When he joined the youth team Ridgeway Rovers, he went 92 matches unbeaten – but his dad still wasn’t content.
      Most read in Football
      “I was a bit worried about the size of him,” Ted says. “So that’s when we started giving him Guinness and raw egg. 
      “To be fair to the boy, he did it every week.”
      Becks adds: “I was scared when he was there because I knew if I put a foot wrong, he’d tell me. And he’d always tell me. Always.”
      Mum’s fears
      Beckham was never out of the garden when he was growing upCredit: Netflix
      He was given 50p by his dad every time he hit the crossbarCredit: NETFLIX
      In the documentary, Beckham’s mum Sandra – who divorced Ted in 2002 – says she thought the determined dad was “too strict”.
      She says: “I used to say, ‘he’s only young, leave him be, let him be happy.’
      “I tried to tell him but he wouldn’t listen to me, and I used to get upset when he made him cry.”
      Beckham adds: “I would hear my mum turn round to my dad and say, ‘Stop talking to him the way you’re talking to him. Stop shouting at him, stop telling him off. He did well today,’ and my dad would always be like, ‘He did alright’.”
      But, having watched his hairdresser mum and gas engineer dad work so hard to provide for him, Becks didn’t mind the brutal regime.
      “I saw my mum and dad working hard every day until 11 or 12 o’clock at night and I knew the only way to be a professional footballer was to work hard,” he says. “From the moment I got in from school to the moment I slept, I would be out in the garden.”
      Beckham had trials with his local club Leyton Orient, Norwich City and attended Tottenham Hotspur’s school of excellence, though never represented the club in a match.
      He also played for Brimsdown Rovers’ youth team for two years and attended one of Bobby Charlton’s Soccer Schools in Manchester.
      It was here that he won the chance to take part in a training session with Barcelona, as part of a talent competition, which is when Sir Alex first became aware of him.
      Fergie time
      After being snapped up by Manchester United in 1991, on his 14th birthday, his first training session with the gaffer made him realise he was dealing with another disciplinarian father figure .
      On his first day, he brought in white trainers to wear on the pitch, rather than the required black boots and was told by Sir Alex “absolutely not”.
      Beckham’s former teammate Paul Ince says: “Sir Alex would buy players not just because they were talented, but he’d look at their background. 
      “‘Have you got a girlfriend?’ ‘Yes Gaffa’ 
      “‘How long you been with her?’ ‘Two years.’ 
      “‘When you getting married? ‘1990 gaffa.’ 
      “He liked the fact you were going home to someone because he liked you to be stable, not having parties every night.”
      Gary Neville adds: “He had socialist principles; You might be an individual but, in here, we’re all equal.  He built a team of mini-mes.
      “We all knew the rules. You had to conform. Go against him and you were out.”
      1,400 games on video
      David pictured with his mum and Sir AlexCredit: Tim Stewart
      While Becks says his dad never complimented him to his face, his pride is obvious in the documentary, and insists his strictness “turned out to be the right thing”.
      Speaking of his time prior to Manchester, Ted says: “He was brilliant. 
      “He won 92 games without getting beat. 
      “He was that good. I said to him, ‘See what we’ve been practicing? 
      “Whenever he played, I phoned the clubs up and got the videos sent to me. 
      “I got about 1,300 or 1,400 games on video. 
      “It was just a pleasure watching him play and he loved it, he enjoyed it.”
      Meanwhile, Sir Alex looks proud of Beckham every time he watches him score in the documentary.
      And when he speaks about first meeting him, he says: “He came to us as a small, skinny little boy you know? But when you see potential it sticks out at you.
      “It’s your job then to bring that to fruition, to make them a man.”
      Brought him back from the brink
      Beckham’s red card at the World Cup was his lowest momentCredit: Getty
      Beckham opens up on the worst year of his life in the documentary, when fans abused him and spat at him in the street, after he got a red card at the 1998 World Cup.
      He says he was “clinically depressed” at the time, but it was his upbringing, as well as Fergie’s help that got him through.
      “I think I was able to handle being abused by the fans, because of the way my dad had been to me,” he says. 
      “Wherever I went, I got abused, every single day. To walk down the street and to see people look at you in a certain way, spit at you, abuse you, come up to your face, and say some of the things they said, it’s difficult. That’s difficult. 
      “I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t sleeping. I was a mess.
      “I didn’t know what to do. Then the boss called me up.
      “He said, ‘David how you doing, son?’ I got quite emotional and said, ‘Not great, boss.’ 
      “He said, ‘Don’t worry about it, son.’”
      Sir Alex adds: “I told him, ‘Go on your holiday, get back and we’ll look after you. Don’t read the papers. There’s no point to it. What you can do is ignore it.’”
      When Becks returned to Man Utd, Gary Neville recalls him being “battered and bruised”.
      “But Sir Alex created an island and any unfriendly that came near the island didn’t get near it. We f***ed them off,” he adds. “It’s like an inner sanctum with no windows. 
      “We all look after each other. You look after your own, you never s*** on your own. 
      “We never leave one another in trouble and we never would. Ever.”
      Making history
      In 1999, Becks made history when he set up two goals in injury time in the European Cup Final, winning Man Utd the treble.
      And Beckham says all he was thinking about was what his dad had taught him at the point when he got a corner.
      He recalls: “I was thinking, ‘Do what I did when I was a kid.’ 
      “My dad used to make me do corner after corner after corner after corner and put it in the exact same spot as he wanted, and if I didn’t he’d kill me. 
      “He used to tell me, ‘It’s moments like corners at the end of a game that can create history.’”
      And he wasn’t wrong. Man Utd had been losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich for most of the game and, reflecting on the match, Fergie says: “With David, that night there was something inside him saying, ‘I am not going to let this happen’. 
      “It was a personal thing that he had in him, that stubbornness and determination.”
      Torn apart by Man Utd
      David and his dad have healed their rift and the star was best man at his 2021 weddingCredit: Tim Stewart
      Sir Alex speaks about his and Beckham’s row in the documentaryCredit: Netflix/BECKHAM
      Beckham’s dad was “absolutely obsessed” with Man Utd, and that was always where he’d wanted his son to play.
      “That was his dream. His dream was to have a son that played for Manchester United,” Beckham says.
      In fact, so obsessed was Ted that Beckham’s full name is David Robert Joseph Beckham.
      “The Robert is after Sir Bobby Charlton,” says Ted. “He’s my hero.”
      He’d get a Man Utd kit for Christmas every year, despite his parents “not having much back then”.
      So, when a furious Fergie – literally – booted David out of Man Utd and into Real Madrid in 2003 after a dressing room clash, Ted was far from happy.
      He learned of the transfer – which he opposed – from Beckham’s agent and he said the news hit him “like a sledgehammer”. 
      He publicly accused Sir Alex of betrayal and furious Becks refused to let Ted come to watch him sign for his new club. 
      “I don’t know if I can repair my relationship with him,” devastated Ted said at the time. “We’ve hardly spoken. My bigg­est upset was not being invited to his signing. I’m choked, really.
      “I’ve been there since day one and that really upset me. I’ll never forgive him for that.”
      The physical move put more distance between them, with Ted no longer able to get to matches to watch his son play on a weekly basis.
      “I’ve lost him – that’s how I feel,” he said. “We’ve lost that comradeship we had between us. It will be even worse now he’s gone to Madrid. 
      Read More on The Sun
      “I still have to work and I can’t afford to fly over to Madrid every week. When he was at Man­chester United, I could pop in the car and drive up the road. I can’t do that now. My biggest fear is that it is all over for us.”
      Thankfully, David has since healed his rifts with both of his father figures. More

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      in Soccer

      The Sun launches Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit by the cost-of-living crisis

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      THE Sun is today launching a landmark Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis.We have teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to hand out £150,000 worth of grants to grass roots youth football clubs struggling with funds.
      The Sun is launching our landmark Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit hard by the cost-of-living crisisCredit: Oliver Dixon
      Harry Redknapp has backed The Sun’s Footie For All FundCredit: Louis Wood
      Gary Lineker has backed The Sun’s Footie For All FundCredit: Doug Seeburg
      The cash can be used in any way that encourages more children to take up the sport or improves access to the game.
      Perhaps you are a local team that 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 general running costs.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Earlier this year we launched our Footie For All campaign to shine a light on how financial struggles were forcing kids to give up football.
      Figures showed that 94 per cent of grass roots clubs were concerned about the impact soaring costs were having on their membership, according to charity Sported.
      In the wake of our probe we have been inundated with stories of local youth sides — who make a huge difference to their communities — struggling to cover their costs.
      Clubs across the country also told us how some kids are being forced to drop out altogether as families can not pay their membership subs or for kit and transport.
      Most read in Football
      So today we urge grass roots clubs to apply for one of our fantastic £1,000 Footie For All support grants.
      Launched in conjunction with Tesco’s Stronger Starts campaign — which funds healthy food and activities for children — we will dish out 150 grants in total to clubs across the country.
      Christine Heffernan, Tesco group communications director, said: “The Tesco Stronger Starts grant programme provides £5million of funding to get more children and their families access to healthy and nutritious food and physical activities.
      “We thought that The Footie For All programme would be a great extension to that to help kids to thrive.
      “Any child should be able to do physical activity they enjoy if they wish, taking away the worry about paying for subs or kit for example.”
      Our campaign is being backed by big names in the game.
      Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker said: “I think grass roots is vital.
      “That’s where everyone starts. Some of us finish at the top, some don’t, but we all enjoy it.”
      Sun columnist Harry Redknapp added: “Grass roots football is important, and we need to ensure there are facilities for kids.”
      Reality star Joey Essex is also keen to see kids keep playing.
      He said: “Football provides an escape for so many kids from whatever else is going on. The Sun is offering families a lifeline.”
      To apply for one of our grants, see tescostrongerstarts. org.uk/footiefund.
      Grants will be awarded by The Sun with charity Groundwork, which runs Tesco’s grant-giving programmes, on a rolling basis.
      Applications must be made by October 29.
      SOMERTON TOWN
      YOUTH football club Somerton Town, Somerset, kept its membership subs frozen for three years to help families cope through Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.
      But organisers had to raise them from £95 to £120 this season after rises of up to 30 per cent in costs.
      Somerton Town kept its membership subs frozen for three years to help families cope through Covid and the cost-of-living crisisCredit: Chris Balcombe
      Since it was founded in 2001, Somerton have played a unique social role for its 187 players, across 11 teams.
      Chairman Justin Davies, 40, says: “We have a huge catchment area that contains areas with large-scale social and economic deprivation.
      “Playing football teaches young people about teamwork, respect and fair play.
      “Little things like shaking hands before and after a match to show respect to the other team is important.
      “When we put the prices up, 21 players left, with 20 not going on to join another club. It was a financial decision.”
      Justin Davis said: ‘Playing football teaches young people about teamwork, respect and fair play’Credit: Chris Balcombe
      HACKNEY WICK FC
      AFTER leaving prison in 2019, Bobby Kasanga started Hackney Wick FC, in East London, to stop other children falling into a life of crime.
      It now has more than 180 children on its books and a waiting list of even more who want to be part of its teams.
      For many families, the club is a way to keep their children on the right path – and Bobby, 37, who spent eight years inside for armed robbery, never turns anyone away.
      He says: “We try to do as much as we can to alleviate financial stress and often let kids play without paying or offer discounts if a family has multiple kids with us.
      “We’ve seen it getting worse recently, but we know turning anyone away could see them get taken in by gangs.
      “If we can’t have them, the gangs certainly will.”
      To play a year at Hackney costs around £250.
      But Bobby and his team are writing off around £5,000 of unpaid subs because they know families can’t afford it.
      He says: “We rely on our sponsors and they’ve been amazing.
      Last year, one covered the cost of 20 kids for a year. But it’s hard to keep our heads above water.”
      The club’s relationships with local businesses provide more than just financial help.
      Bobby says: “We’ve had four of our players taken on by one of our sponsors.
      “It means they have a stable income and a potential career for life.
      “That’s so important for helping them stay out of danger.
      “But even if they end up going down a bad path, the club relationships across the whole of East London may help diffuse violent situations.
      “They may stop an attack because they know the other gang member from football.”
      Bobby adds: “I never want anyone to go through what I went through growing up.
      “We are a family and I won’t take football away from them over money.”
      BLACKBURN EAGLES
      LIKE other clubs, Blackburn Eagles have also seen more kids struggling to pay – but it never turns anyone away.
      The club, which is the biggest in its area with 650 players on its books, feels it is vital for all kids to have access to the beautiful game and tries to keep its fees low.
      Blackburn Eagles feels it is vital for all kids to have access to football and tries to keep its fees lowCredit: BLACKBURN EAGLES
      In fact, the academy’s vice-chairman, Chris Hughes, 39, says prices have not been put up in around eight years.
      He adds: “We don’t turn anyone away.
      “We just take more children, create new groups, create new training sessions and create new teams.”
      But the club has recently had to take teams out of the Junior Premier League due to the cost of the four-hour round trips to play other teams across the North West.
      Chris says: “Football gives kids a good focus and can be a massive part of certain children’s lives.
      “It might be the one thing they’ll look forward to all week, and sometimes it gets them out of situations where maybe they don’t want to be at home all the time.”
      HOW TO APPLY
      WE want to hear the story of your club and the huge difference you are making to kids and your community.
      If you are a not-for-profit grassroots football club in England, Wales or Scotland working with youngsters under the age of 18 you could be eligible for one of our 150 grants.
      Funds can be used for anything that encourages more children to take part in the sport.
      Perhaps your club needs help with pitch fees or wants to sponsor funded places for children who can not afford membership.
      To apply and for full T&Cs, see tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/footiefund.

      WHAT THE STARS SAY

      A young Phil FodenCredit: Instagram @philfoden
      Phil says football ‘brings happiness for so many people’Credit: Getty
      “GRASSROOTS football is where it began for all of us.
      “It brings happiness for so many people and it’s so important nothing gets in the way of everyone having that opportunity.”

      A young Harry MaguireCredit: Instagram
      Harry says ‘playing with a team gives kids an outlet and a chance to learn discipline’Credit: Getty
      “I SPENT my childhood with a ball at my feet.
      “Playing with a team gives kids an outlet and a chance to learn discipline and to make friends with people they might not have met.”

      A young Raheem Sterling
      Raheem said that as a kid he ‘fell in love’ with football and ‘made friends for life’Credit: Getty
      “MY mentor got me in to football to correct my behaviour.
      “I found something I wanted to put my energy in to.
      “I fell in love with it – and I made friends for life.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES

      A young Jarrod Bowen
      Jarrod said ‘football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way’Credit: Getty
      “WE can’t let kids see their dream die simply because Mum or Dad can’t afford to pay for the subs, kit and travel.
      “Football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way.” More

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      in Soccer

      Footie stars biggest fashion own goals from Haaland’s pyjama suit to Pogba’s cape – who do you think looks the worst?

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      HE’S a self-styled king of fashion with a £10m Gucci deal but Jack Grealish has been labelled Man City’s worst dressed player.It appears the winger scored an own goal after last year rating his teammates’ fashion sense on the club’s YouTube channel – and now they’ve got their revenge.
      Manchester City winger Jack Grealish was labelled the worst dressed footballer in the squad by his teammatesCredit: Eroteme
      He gave himself an A for style while downgrading Ruben Dias to a D and giving Kevin De Bruyne a C.
      Now Spanish midfielder Rodri – whose style Grealish described as “awful, awful” – has kicked the winger’s ego into touch in an interview accusing Grealish of actually being the worst dressed.
      The stunned winger, who has a six figure deal with BoohooMAN as well as Gucci, posted the clip on his Instagram page with a shocked face emoji.
      With sportsmen scoring big as fashion idols, bagging deals worth millions with brands such as Burberry, Dior and Superdry, there’s everything to play for when it comes to power dressing.
      READ MORE JACK GREALISH
      But there have been plenty of footie fashion faux pas over the years… and Grealish isn’t alone.
      Would he make the worst dressed XI All Stars team?
      Here are the stars who would be kicked into touch by the fashion police.
      Raheem Sterling
      Chelsea and England winger Raheem Sterling may need some longer trousersCredit: sterling7/instagram
      A JACKET that hangs off the shoulders may become tyre-some for Raheem – whose puffed-up outfit could be a nod to the Michelin Man.
      Most read in Football
      And we won’t even ask about those breeches, which make him look like a jockey.
      Surely he’ll not keep this look up furlong!
      Tom Davies
      Sheffield United’s Tom Davies wearing a dressing gownCredit: Getty
      DRESSING down or dressing GOWN?
      Former Everton ace Tom loves to make a statement with his clothing, and this get-up is no exception.
      He may have been going for a casual vibe, but looks more like he’s in his pyjamas ready for bed.
      You snooze, you lose, Tom.
      Dani Alves
      Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves is one of the best of his generation, on the pitchCredit: PA
      BRAZILIAN defender Dani could give Hugh Jackman a run for his money in this Greatest Showman-style suit, which he wore to a party in Paris back in 2019.
      Erling Haaland
      Record setting Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is not afraid to stand outCredit: BackGrid
      MANCHESTER City player Haaland is a ray of sunshine in this bright yellow shirt and trouser set.
      They could be posh PJs – or even 1970s- inspired party gear.
      James Maddison
      Spurs midfielder James Maddison has been on fire so far this seasonCredit:
      THE Tottenham icon is perhaps hoping to get a-head in the fashion stakes in this bucket hat, shorts and t-shirt combo.
      He’d fit right in at Glastonbury festival.
      Paul Pogba
      Paul Pogba may have been trying to keep a low profile with this unusual outfitCredit: BackGrid
      FRENCH footballer Pogba is a hero on the pitch – and off it, too, so it seems.
      The Juventus star channelled his inner superhero in this wacky hooded cape.
      Hector Bellerin
      Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is as well known for his wacky style as he is for his performancesCredit: Getty
      THERE’s nowhere to hide for the Spanish right-back in this striking black leather coat.
      His laidback look, complete with shades, echoes Keanu Reeves’ in The Matrix.
      Oli McBurnie
      Striker Oli McBurnie’s odd tracksuit looks like it belongs a few decades ago
      SHEFFIELD United icon McBurnie goes for man of the match in this red and brown tracksuit co-ord.
      Wonder if the knee-highs are for added socks appeal?
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin
      This outfit is actually a tame one compared to some of the outlandish styles Dominic Calvert-Lewin has tried outCredit: Getty
      Everton player Dominic channels the Man from Del Monte in this number at last year’s Emporio Armani fashion show.
      He’s quite partial to a pastel and has also been spotted in a pink suit. More

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      in Motorsport

      Inside jetset life of F1’s hottest new racer Jessica Hawkins – from TV star girlfriend to ‘nearly killing’ James Blunt

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      BRITISH racing driver Jessica Hawkins is quite literally living life in the fast lane after becoming the first woman in five years to test a Formula One car.The 28-year-old Aston Martin ambassador made history last week when she drove 26 laps of the Hungaroring in Budapest in the AMR21.
      Jessica Hawkins became the first female in almost five years to drive a modern Formula One car during a recent test in BudapestCredit: PA
      The 28-year-old is an Aston Martin ambassadorCredit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      As Jessica breaks down barriers, we take a look at her jetset life on and off the track – from a James Bond role to the time she “nearly killed” James Blunt…
      The former karting champion made her professional motorsport debut in British Formula Ford at Silverstone in 2014 in a one-off event, claiming two top 10 finishes.
      She joined the Aston Martin F1 team in an ambassadorial role in 2021, and is a regular face around the paddock.
      Prior to that she worked as a stunt driver, spending much of 2017 on Fast and Furious Live –  a global live-action show based on the film franchise, featuring super cars and acrobatic stunts from the movies – all performed live.
      READ MORE F1 STORIES
      Jessica landed a plum role as a stunt driver in James Bond movie No Time to Die in 2021.
      Sharing a string of behind-the-scenes snaps on Instagram, where she was seen driving a classic Aston Martin, she wrote: “The best experience with the best people in the world. An unforgettable experience!”
      Her stunt driver career happened by chance, after a friend tagged her in a Facebook post advertising for a female driver with “good car control”.
      “I stopped racing a good few years before W Series purely because I’d run out of budget to continue on my motorsport journey,” Jessica told the Mirror.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Jessica on the red carpet at the No Time to Die premiereCredit: Instagram / @1jessicahawkins
      Jessica driving the James Bond car in the No Time to Die movieCredit: 1jessicahawkins/instagram
      “Bond was actually my first movie. There was quite a lot of pressure, but I was confident in my ability and I had an incredible team around me.
      “I’m super proud of what I’ve done.”
      Rubbing shoulders with famous faces
      Last year Jessica took part in a test drive for the new Range Rover Sport with Anthony Joshua.
      In a clip the professional boxer was seen behind the wheel as Jessica sat in the passenger seat.
      As part of the launch, Jessica completed a dramatic world-first climb up a flooded dam in Iceland in the motor.
      She said: “Driving into it, knowing that a 90-metre drop was waiting for me at the bottom of the slope if things went wrong, made this the most challenging drive I’ve ever undertaken.”
      Jessica also featured in James Blunt’s music video for his 2021 single Love Under Pressure, starring as a driver attempting to kill the singer.
      Posting a picture with the musician, she joked: “Not every day you find yourself trying to kill @jamesblunt for his new music video!”
      Jessica was also part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, behind the wheel of a Land Rover to drive down the Mall.
      Jessica took part in a test drive for the new Range Rover Sport with Anthony Joshua last yearCredit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      She featured in a James Blunt music video in 2021Credit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      Jessica captioned this snap of her driving at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations ‘a special car for a special event’Credit: 1jessicahawkins/instagram
      Glam TV star girlfriend
      Jessica is in a relationship with Abbie Eaton, who is also a British racing driver.
      Abbie is also a TV star, having starred as the test driver for the second and third series of Amazon’s The Grand Tour.
      James May revealed that “she was the fastest and the best” driver that had been tested.
      In 2015 she appeared on ITV’s Drive, coaching rapper Professor Green in a string of racing car challenges.
      Jessica and Abbie, who both race in the W Series, have been together for over three-and-a-half years after meeting through the sport.
      Abbie, 31, said: “I met Jess before the W Series. Motorsport is a small world, especially for the female drivers.
      “I remember crossing paths with her at Goodwood and seeing what she was up to but when I came to W Series we got to know each other a bit more.”
      When it comes to competition between them both, Abbie explained: “We’re always competitive – we’d be rubbish racing drivers if we weren’t.
      “But if one of us is having a difficult time or our confidence is tested, we’re always there to support each other.
      “Ultimately, we both want each other to do well. The dream is to be at the front together.”
      Jessica’s girlfriend Abbie is also a TV starCredit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      Jessica is in a relationship with Abbie Eaton, who is also a British racing driverCredit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      Lavish trips
      Jessica’s career has taken her around the world – and she often documents her work trips on Instagram.
      Over the past few years she’s jetted off to the likes of Miami, Iceland, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
      She was also photographed at the Monaco GP earlier this year, posing with fellow racer and Sky Sports F1 presenter Naomi Schiff.
      Jessica enjoys travelling during her time off, too. Last summer, she spent some time on the Greek island of Rhodes with Abbie.
      The couple also made a trip to Wembley last summer to cheer on England’s Lionesses as they beat Norway 8-0 during the Euros.
      Jessica with fellow racer and Sky Sports F1 presenter Naomi Schiff at the Monaco GPCredit: naomischiff/instagram
      Jessica and Abbie cheered on England’s Ladies in the EurosCredit: abbieeaton44/instagram
      Jessica often documents her work trips on InstagramCredit: Instagram / @1jessicahawkins
      ‘Wild journey’
      Jessica got into motorsport from a young age, telling Glamour that she “begged” her dad to let her have a go at karting after spotting a kart track while playing golf.
      She explained: “Luckily for him, I was too small at the time. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of me going karting.
      “But then we went back a few months later, and they’d moved the height restriction down, much to my dad’s despair. I had a go and absolutely fell in love with it.”
      She continued: “And I’ve never, ever intended, or it was never supposed to happen, that I’d still be here 20 years later having made or making a career from it.
      “I’m not quite where I want to be just yet, but I’m very proud of where I have come.
      “And a highlight of my career was obviously signing for Aston Martin Formula One team a couple of years ago. So yeah, it’s been a wild journey.”
      Jessica with Aston Martin F1 driver Fernando Alonso
      Jessica, pictured with Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, is a regular sight around the F1 paddock
      Jessica’s performance at Silverstone in 2014 saw her picked up by Falcon Motorsport to compete in the 2015 MSA Formula Championship.
      In 2016 she moved into single-make racing and competed in the Volkswagen Racing Cup series.
      Jessica crossed over to the Mini Challenge in 2017 before returning to the VW Cup in 2018.
      She moved to the W Series in 2019 and a year later, she made her debut in the 2020 British Touring Car Championship.  
      This week Jessica followed in the footsteps of Colombia’s Tatiana Calderon, who drove with with Sauber – now Alfa Romeo – in Mexico City in 2018, by taking the Aston Martin AMR21 for a spin.
      Susie Wolff, the wife of Mercedes team principal Toto, was the last woman to compete in a practice session in 2015 – however a female driver has not started an F1 race since Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Jessica admitted that it’s taken “blood, sweat and tears to get here”, but that it has been a “dream come true”.
      She added: “I’ll keep pushing for more and, in the process, I want to inspire other women and let them know they should follow their dream no matter what it is.”
      Jessica got into the sport from a young ageCredit: Instagram / @1jessicahawkins
      She enjoyed a holiday to Greece last yearCredit: Instagram / @1jessicahawkins
      Jessica living it up in MexicoCredit: 1jessicahawkins/instagram More

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      in Soccer

      Has Brazil icon Ronaldo finally mellowed after rocky marriages, parties with ‘buses of girls’ & ‘3 prostitutes’ scandal?

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      BRAZIL legend Ronaldo Nazario is planning a huge wedding Ibiza party on Friday with 400 guests – but it should be more sedate than what the football wildman got up to in the past.The 47-year-old World Cup winner was known as the “president of the parties” and once took three prostitutes back to a hotel room – only for it to become a global scandal.
      Brazil legend Ronaldo announced his engagement to model Celina Locks earlier this yearCredit: Instagram @celinalocks
      Ronaldo, though, insists he has settled down since meeting model and businesswoman Celina Locks, 33, seven years ago.
      Celina became his second wife when they tied the knot on the Spanish island in an intimate ceremony this week.
      It was a very traditional ceremony, with the bride and and groom dressed in white and being showered by petals as they left the church. 
      They are reportedly going to follow it with a star-studded celebration at his holiday villa in Ibiza.
      Read More in The Sun
      Before his proposal Ronaldo joked: “I was also the president of the parties. I organised most of the parties.
      “My girlfriend now is very happy that I have also retired from the parties – and I miss it so much.”
      Ronaldo, who played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain, had a reputation for living it up even when he was a professional footballer.
      Former teammate Ivan Helguera claimed that “buses of girls” would turn up to enjoy Ronaldo’s hospitality.
      Most read in Football
      The couple enjoying a holiday on a luxury yachtCredit: BackGrid
      Ronaldo, pictured with former girlfriend Suzana Werner, was famous for loving a partyCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Brazilian legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo chill out in their hotel in 2005Credit: AFP
      He said: “I remember a birthday party at Ronaldo’s house, which he later sold to Sergio Ramos, where buses full of girls began to arrive. 
      “I was with my wife and we decided to leave, as did Figo.”
      Rocky romances
      Ronaldo’s sexual appetite has proven to be problematic.
      His first marriage to women’s footballer Milene Domingues, 44, lasted four years and produced one son, Ronald, 23.
      Two years after they split, he walked down the aisle with model Daniella Cicarelli in February 2005, in a glamorous wedding where Fat Boy Slim DJed at the reception.
      But it was reportedly not legally binding because neither of the couple’s divorces had been officially signed off.
      Three months later the relationship was over, with Daniella alleging that her fiance had been unfaithful.
      A paternity test later revealed that a Brazilian waitress called Michele Umezu had given birth to Ronaldo’s son Alexander in April 2005.
      He had met Michelle in Tokyo three years earlier.
      The next potential Mrs Ronaldo was engineering student Maria Beatriz Antony.
      But the footballer dramatically upended their engagement by taking three prostitutes back to his hotel room in Rio de Janeiro in the spring of 2008.
      Prostitute scandal
      Ronaldo was shocked to discover that they were in fact men and alleged that they tried to get the millionaire player to hand over £15,000.
      The police superintendent in charge of the case said: “Ronaldo admits the facts. He said he just wanted to amuse himself, that’s not a crime.
      “To pay to have sexual relations isn’t illegal. There’s a strong chance that Ronaldo has been the victim of extortion.”
      Maria, who was pregnant at the time of the scandal, left her husband-to-be before changing her mind and going back to him.
      They had two daughters – Maria Sofia, 14, and Maria Alice, 13 – during their seven-year relationship.
      Ronaldo and his first wife Milene DominguesCredit: Reuters
      He moved on with Brazilian model Daniella CicarelliCredit: EPA
      Ronaldo has a reputation for his generous spirit, offering to pay for huge meals in restaurants and looking after friends.
      But hiding behind that huge smile was an anxious star.
      Ronaldo, who suffered from several injuries during his career before retiring in 2011, revealed last year: “Today I am in therapy. I have been in therapy for two and a half years and I understand myself much better than before.”
      Like David Beckham, the wealthy ex-player sees value in owning football clubs.
      He became the biggest share owner of Spanish side Real Valladolid in September 2018 and three years later took control of his boyhood club Cruzeiro in Brazil.
      But neither team is doing well and fans have protested.
      Settled down
      The rotund star, who battled with weight problems as a player, appears to be ready for a more settled life with Celina.
      She told Vogue magazine about how confident he was when they met seven years ago.
      Celina recalled: “He said I would fall in love in two months. I burst out laughing, but it happened.”
      He popped the question during a romantic trip to the Caribbean, announcing their engagement this January.
      Celina said: “It was very special for him to look at me not only as the love of his life, but to exalt me as a woman.”
      Two months later fans thought that Celina was pregnant when she posted a photograph of herself with her hand on the stomach next to the words: “A new phase of my life is beginning and with it a great responsibility.”
      It turned out, though, that she wasn’t due to become a mother.
      Whatever happens, it is clear that the couple are going to celebrate their nuptials in style.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Celina wrote on Instagram this week before her wedding: “Today we bring our families together for an intimate religious celebration.
      “And thus marks the beginning of a week of many celebrations.” More

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      in Soccer

      Megabucks life of ‘world’s sexiest footballer’ Alisha Lehmann as she builds fortune with Prime deal & sizzling calendar

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      SHE’S the Swiss sports star who has been branded the “world’s sexiest footballer”.And it’s not just on the pitch where Aston Villa star Alisha Lehmann is achieving her goals – thanks to a whopping 15.2million Instagram followers that have made her one of the most valuable stars in the women’s game.
      Alisha Lehmann has been branded the ‘world’s sexiest footballer’Credit: alisha-lehamann.com
      She reportedly earns £160,000 playing for Aston Villa but makes way more on the sideCredit: PA
      The 24-year-old is bagging extremely lucrative deals away from her sporting career, including partnerships with Boohoo, EA Sports and Adidas.
      Recently, Alisha was unveiled as the first female ambassador for sports drink Prime in a deal that PR expert Carla Speight could be worth up to £1million.
      And now she has just unveiled a sizzling 2024 calendar – selling signed limited-edition copies for £149.99 and normal ones for nearly £50.
      Carla tells us: “Alisha is the David Beckham of the women’s football world. She’s snapping up sponsorships with the likes of drinks, fashion and sportswear. 
      READ MORE ON WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
      “Like David Beckham, Alisha has realised football won’t last forever and she has to develop a lucrative career outside of it to secure her future.”
      Alisha’s latest deal is one of many money-spinning ventures that’s helping her to transcend football and live a lavish lifestyle – all while earning a tidy sum in the process.
      On her Instagram, there are scores of photos of the star soaking up the sun in exotic locations – on one occasion seemingly travelling by quadbike.
      Alisha regularly shares bikini snaps from her holidays abroadCredit: instagram/alishalehmann7
      The footballer is often pictured in fancy hotels and barsCredit: instagram/alishalehmann7
      Last year, she shared snaps from a break in Miami, Florida, where she swamp with dolphins.  
      Most read in Football
      Alisha also took a trip to Brazil in 2022, where she visited animal sanctuaries, and high-end nightclubs, went fishing and played golf. 
      During these trips, she has been seen sporting branded merchandise from hotel chains including Waldorf Hilton London and Melia Hotel Resorts.
      Additionally, she regularly gives shout-outs to car rental companies while posing alongside flashy Lamborghinis. 
      Sizzling side hustles
      It’s reported that Alisha earns £160,000 a year playing for Aston Villa but it seems the star could be topping up her earnings with her side hustles. 
      PR expert Carla points out that if just one per cent of her 15.2million Instagram followers buy her cheapest calendar, it could earn her nearly £7.6million. 
      The footballer also shares photos and talks to followers on the subscription site FanTime, where she charges £67 ($84) for a year’s membership and just over £8 ($10) per month. 
      Carla adds: “If only one per cent of her followers subscribe at the lowest rate, she will be bringing in £1.2 million per month.
      Alisha has launched a 2024 calendar and is charged nearly £150 for limited edition copiesCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      She also has a Fantime account where she shares photos and talks to her fanbaseCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      “Given that we know her engagement rate is around seven per cent, she could bring in even more than that amount in calendars, subscriptions – and she can do that for brands too.”
      Alisha was audaciously approached to produce saucier content last year, when she was offered an £83,000 ($100k) signing-on fee from the adult site My.Club.
      Mike Ford, the company’s vice president, told SportBible that she could earn a fortune posting “training photos, thirst traps and personally field questions from fans”. Sadly for the executive, she did not take up the offer.
      According to sources, it was Alisha’s decision to showcase her “sexy side” that contributed to her break-up with Aston Villa men’s team star Douglas Luiz.
      Last year, we were told: “When asked to do a calendar, she jumped at the chance to show off her sexy side but he was not happy.
      “He didn’t think it was something she should be doing. They rowed a lot and in the end, Alisha simply had enough.”
      Alisha also has a range of products, including hot pink cushions for £29.99, journals for £20, water bottles for £30 and even mousemats for £10.99.
      Before her deal with Prime, Alisha collaborated with a number of companies including Adidas, Bootbag and EA Sports, who create the video game Fifa.
      She has appeared in multiple videos for the football game including one alongside the musician Big Zuu and another unveiling her own “Be Brave” kit.
      PR expert Jack Cooper, from Ed Hopkins PR, told us: “Collaborations with brands like Adidas, EA Sports, and Bootbag further highlight her appeal to diverse industries, from sportswear to gaming. 
      Alisha has worked with a variety of companies ranging from Coca-Cola to EA SportsCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      “Her diverse content – from football training videos to lifestyle and fashion showcases – means she can attract a broader range of brand partnerships.”
      Alisha has also worked with other companies including CocaCola Switzerland, Bootbag and Gisada.
      Carla says: “For longer-term deals, such as sportswear, lingerie, fashion and even fragrances, she could command six figures and receive commissions too.” 
      ‘Breaking the mould’
      Alisha is women’s football’s most followed star on Instagram and her fanbase is increasing regularly thanks to her daily posts.
      From July to September alone, she gained nearly two million followers and regularly gets more than one million likes on her posts.
      PR expert Jack says: “Alisha is breaking the mould, proving that today’s athletes are more than just players.
      Alisha has recently bagged a deal with Prime, which our expert claims could be worth £1mCredit: Instagram
      “With a robust following on Instagram, she’s more than just a footballer; she’s a digital influencer and brand in her own right.
      “Her collaboration with Prime, one of the largest streaming platforms globally, is indicative of the powerful confluence of sports, entertainment, and influencer marketing.”
      Pundit potential
      While Alisha has cultivated an engaged following on social media, she insists her focus is on football.
      Earlier this year, she told Sky Sports: “Obviously I have a lot of followers, but I never dreamed to have it. I just played and shared my life. It just became like this.
      “I don’t see myself as someone with loads of followers on social media, obviously I’m proud of it – alongside my football – but it doesn’t change anything.”
      Our experts predict she’s likely to capitalise on her knowledge of the game by providing match analysis, which could also earn her huge sums. 
      Carla says: “Alisha also has a fun and bubbly personality, which means she has the potential to take up a career in sports presenting. 
      “Sports programmes would snap up the chance to hire her as she has the potential to bring her 15.2 million followers and convert them into viewers for each programme she’s on. 
      “That’s a huge number for any show to get, so I expect she will be paid very well.”
      Alisha was part of Switzerland’s 2023 World Cup squadCredit: Getty
      Humble beginnings
      While Alisha lives a life many could only dream of today, her upbringing in Tägertschi, Switzerland, was very different.
      There she used to play “street football” daily from the age of five alongside her brother and cousins and credits them as “the main reason I play today”.
      Alisha started her career at Swiss club BSC YB Frauen, where she scored 25 goals in 52 appearances. 
      In 2018, she moved to the Women’s Super League after being signed by West Ham United and helped the squad reach the FA Cup final a year later.
      Alisha went to Everton on loan in 2021 before being signed by Aston Villa, where she has scored seven goals.
      She has also scored a combined total of 22 goals from 82 appearances for Switzerland’s youth and adult national teams.
      It’s clear there are big things in the 24-year-old’s future both on and off the pitch – but her main focus is staying humble and focused on her footballing career.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Last year, she told Sky Sports: “I don’t think that I’m better than anyone else, I come from humble beginnings with how I grew up with my family in Switzerland.
      “The people who know me always see the footballer. Every time I’m with my friends and family, I just speak about football.” More

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      in Soccer

      I’m David Ginola’s secret lovechild – we met for first time in 28 years, he said I was ‘a real Ginola’ then cut me out

      by

      FOOTIE legend  David Ginola’s lovechild has revealed she met him for the first time after 28 years and he said “Yes, you are a real Ginola” — then cut her adrift again.Joy Pinquier wept as the former France international finally admitted he is her dad and hugged her during an emotional meeting in her home town of Marseille.
      Joy Pinquier wept as former France international footballer David Ginola embraced her after nearly three decades apartCredit: Louis Wood
      Joy now says dad David has cut her adrift ever since their emotional meetingCredit: Rex
      David had met mum Joelle Pinquier in France where he was playing his football at the time
      But now devastated Joy claims she feels abandoned all over again  as following their hour-long meeting he severed any further contact.
      In an exclusive interview Joy said: “He looked me up and down and said, ‘Yes, you are a real Ginola.’ I replied, ‘Why did you ever doubt it?’
      “He took me in his arms and embraced me and it was a very special moment.
      “I had tears in my eyes because it was the hug I had always dreamed of having with my dad.
      READ MORE DAVID GINOLA
      “We talked for about an hour and it felt like we were connecting.
      “He kept saying we would go to a restaurant to get to know each other better but, 18 months later, I still haven’t seen him.”
      Ginola, 56, agreed to meet Joy after appearing on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2021.
      Joy, now 30, said: “Two years ago I wrote to him through his Instagram account and, much to my surprise, he replied.
      Most read in Football
      “I gave him my phone number and he called. We must have spoken on the phone for about two hours and after that we started exchanging messages on WhatsApp.
      “One day I saw he was going to Marseille, where I live, to play boules with his friends. I decided to head over to meet him.
      “I sent a text to let him know I was there and, as I walked over, I saw he had a big smile on his face. Now I realise that he never had any interest in being my father, he was just being polite.
      “It’s a horrible thing to say, but I feel like I have been abandoned a second time.”
      David with ex-wife Coraline, who is mum to his son Andrea and daughter CarlaCredit: Getty
      The meeting came despite Ginola refusing to have contact with her for the first 28 years of her life.
      He was married and already had his first son Andrea, now 31, with model wife Coraline, 54 — also mum to his 28-year-old daughter Carla — when Joy was conceived during a fling with Joy’s mum in 1991.
      A French court ordered Ginola to take a DNA test confirming paternity three times but he always refused.
      Under French law, he was then automatically declared the father.
      Ginola was ordered to pay €450 (£345) a month in child support until Joy turned 18.
      Her mum Joelle Pinquier, 56, was working as a secretary in Brest, where Ginola was playing for the local club, when they met.
      He went on to play for Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Everton.
      He was also capped 17 times by France before retiring in 2002.
      Ginola continues to work as a commentator in England and France and was one of the biggest stars of the 21st series of I’m a Celebrity, where he finished fourth.
      Joy said: “Mum had no idea he was married — he must have hidden his wedding ring in his pocket. I found out that he was my dad when I was six years old.
      “I remember we were playing a child’s game with a sticker album and when I came to his photo, I drew a heart on it.
      “That’s when my mother said to me: ‘I have a secret to tell you about that man, but I will tell you about it when you are old enough to understand.’
      “I said, ‘Tell me now’ and kept insisting. Eventually, she admitted he was my father.
      “It was difficult to comprehend. I loved watching football and he was a magnificent player and such a big star in France.
      “I would watch him on television all the time and I was in awe of him. Not having him around, it felt like a huge hole in my life.
      “I couldn’t understand why he didn’t want to be my dad.
      “A father plays such a hugely important role for a little girl.
      “Anyone that misses that is going to have a hard time and my childhood was tough. I stayed with my grandparents in Paris a lot as my mother struggled to raise me alone and we didn’t have much money.
      “I missed my dad and I needed his love and his guidance, but he did not want to take responsibility or own up to his mistake.
      “He was told to have a DNA test by the court — the first time was when I was ten or 11 years old — but he refused.
      “He started paying child support when I turned 13, but still he refused to see me and I felt his absence more and more as I got older.”
      Joy laid eyes on her dad for the first time when she turned 15.
      She said: “He asked to meet me at a lawyer’s office in Marseille, to see if we looked alike, but at the last minute he changed his mind.
      “When I got to the lawyer’s office, he was already leaving.
      “We saw each other across a spiral staircase and he looked at me and smiled.
      “To me, it looked like a smirk. It was horrible. By the time I got home I was in floods of tears.”
      Joy’s next close encounter with her dad came in May 2016, when she was 22. Ginola, who had recently separated from Coraline, collapsed during a charity football game in the south of France that month.
      He had suffered a cardiac arrest and was clinically dead for eight minutes but survived because his friend and fellow footballer Frederic Mendy performed CPR.
      Ginola was airlifted to hospital in Monaco where surgeons performed a six-hour quadruple bypass.
      Joy drove 136 miles to the hospital from Marseille as soon as she heard the news.
      She said: “I didn’t want the first day I met my dad to be when he was dead.
      “I got as far as his room. The staff outside asked to see my ID then refused to let me in.
      “Later that year, I was watching one of the games at the Euros in France when David appeared as a commentator on the big screen. I immediately burst into tears.”
      It would be another five years before their next contact.
      Joy said: “After we first spoke on the phone, he would write to me on WhatsApp and say ‘Happy birthday’ and things like that.
      “It gave me hope, but he never ended his messages ‘Dad’, he always ended them ‘David’.
      “Also, he refused to apologise. He told me he was not sorry because he had told my mother that he did not want to have a child — he was very harsh about the situation. I now realise that I can’t force him to be my father.
      “I am not interested in his money and I never wanted to attack him publicly. I always felt it my responsibility to defend his reputation.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “But it’s got to a point where I feel a terrible anger and resentment towards my dad.
      “More than anything, I want to finally look him in the eye and ask why he treated me like he did.”
      Ginola enjoyed a successful career in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and EvertonCredit: Getty
      He appeared on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2021 and later agreed to meet JoyCredit: PA More