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      in Soccer

      From Arsenal and Chelsea to Liverpool, these football kits have the most bonkers inspiration

      by

      ARSENAL have gone underground for their new kit – and copied the blue and white seat pattern from the Piccadilly tube line which runs past their Emirates Stadium in North London for their pre-match strip.The design has met with mixed feelings from fans, with one likening it to “dusty train seat covers”. But it could have been worse – here we show how other clubs have been torn off a strip by fans for design kit-astrophes ranging from chewy sweets to spilt ketchup.
      Arsenal have gone underground for their new kit…
      The Gunners copied the blue and white seat pattern from the Piccadilly tube line which runs past their Emirates Stadium
      Picture research: Amy Reading
      How many stops to Scunthorpe?
      This 1992 strip belonged to Scunthorpe United and featured a geometric pattern that was just like the seats on the local buses
      The seats of inspiration for Scunthorpe
      FOOTBALL kit designers have been inspired by public transport for decades, it seems. This 1992 strip belonged to Scunthorpe United and featured a geometric pattern that was just like the seats on the local buses. Luckily for fans, it was only a short wait until another one came along . . . 
      Chelsea park the bus
      Chelsea were ribbed for this 2019/2020 strip
      Social media users compared it to a Stagecoach bus seat
      CHELSEA were ribbed for their 2019/20 strip, worn on the right here. Social media users compared it to a Stagecoach bus seat. Not quite the transport the elite players are used to.
      Room for one more top on
      This Manchester United kit looked familiar to public transport users
      As this bus seat proves
      MANCHESTER United were another club that caught the bus bug. When they unveiled the home kit for the 20/21 season, bosses were torn to shreds by fans on social media.
      The club’s signature red kit featured small yellow and black rectangles that looked like a bus seat – and was swiftly ditched.
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      Did you feed the Canary?
      There are plenty of subs when Norwich play…
      Subway and the Canaries do seem to share a colour scheme
      WHAT do Norwich City FC and Subway have in common? Apart from the fact that they both make the odd sub, they also share a colour scheme.
      The Canaries have sported a yellow and green strip since the club chairman – a canary breeder – took it over in 1907.
      It’s just unfortunate that the players now get likened to a fast food wrapper.
      Fans in a Mac attack
      Liverpool fans were quick to spot the similarity to a certain fast food provider
      Even McDonald’s tweeted the club, saying: ‘OMG I love your top, where did you get it’
      THIS season Liverpool fans were quick to liken the club’s third kit to fast-food clown Ronald McDonald’s outfit. Besides the yellow top with red detailing, in promotional shots the players posed in front of red and white checks. Even McDonald’s tweeted: ‘OMG I love your top, where did you get it’. But not everyone was lovin’ it.
      Saints’ professional fowl 
      Look out for fowls in the box…
      Southampton’s 2015/16 kit was likened to a KFC bucket
      IN another fast food fiasco, Southampton’s 2015/16 kit was likened by fans to a KFC takeaway bucket.
       However, the Saints’ red and white kit goes back a lot further than the US food chain. The football team started in 1885, whereas Colonel Sanders didn’t start flogging fried chicken in Kentucky until 1952.
      Bilbao’s sauce of amusement 
      In 2004 the Spanish club invited an artist to design a strip based on art in the city’s Guggenheim Museum
      Meant to signify a splatter of blood, the shirt was likened more to a splash of ketchup.
      TO mark Athletic Bilbao’s centenary, in 2004 the Spanish club invited an artist to design a strip based on art in the city’s Guggenheim Museum.
      Meant to signify a splatter of blood, the shirt was likened more to a splash of ketchup.
      Here Javier Casas is trying to play football while looking like he should be accompanied by a chip. It was only worn for one tournament before it was benched.
      City’s Salad days 
      Sweet connection with the ball…
      The 2019 pink and yellow kit was likened to old-fashioned sweetsCredit: Alamy
      MAN City legend Sergio Aguero loves his fashion and tends to dress in top brands such as Balenciaga or Gucci. So he and the rest of the squad were ridiculed for this 2019 pink and yellow kit which fans likened to old-fashioned sweets. Were they Drumstick lollies? Or Fruit Salads? Or Rhubarb and Custards? Hard to chews . . . 
      Watch Arsenal legend Ian Wright punch Roy Keane poster during tour of Man Utd dressing room More

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      in Soccer

      These famous faces are the spitting image of Panini football sticker stars – how many did you have in your collection?

      by

      GOT any swaps? Or maybe they’re swappelgangers.This weekend The Sun is giving away FREE Premier League Panini stickers.
      We look at footie stickers from days gone by and found some of the old stars bear a resemblance to modern celebs
      Queen’s Freddie Mercury and Argentine player Isidoro San Jose knew a thing or two about playing Under PressureCredit: Redferns
      So we took a look at footie stickers from days gone by and found some of the old stars bear a resemblance to modern celebs.
      Katy Docherty brings you the matches of the day.
      SHAKEN NOT SCORED
      The name’s Thom – Andreas ThomCredit: Panini
      If Daniel Craig had ever needed a spare stunt double for his role as 007, the German star and Celtic player would have been a shoo-in based on his looks aloneCredit: Getty
      TO ME, TWO YOU
      Telly’s Chuckle Brothers, Paul and Barry ChuckleCredit: Rex Features
      The duo double up as Belgian K. R. C. Genk player Rene van Becelaere
      And also look like Berto Bosch
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      ’TASHING GENTLEMEN
      Unbelieavble, Geoff! If you were Wanderer-ing what had happened to Wolves right back Geoff Palmer…Credit: Panini
      …it appears he has morphed into Sacha Baron Cohen’s moustachioed comic character BoratCredit: Getty
      THE X-TRIALS
      X-Files actor David Duchovny and Romanian full-back Dan Petrescu could be one and the same ­person
      There’s no evidence to support that theory. But as they say – the truth is out there . . .Credit: Sky
      SAVE 4 U
      Has there ever been a Stronger resemblance to the young Britney Spears?
      But it’s doubtful Argentine Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Cambiasso could pull off wearing a red latex jumpsuit like hersCredit: Getty
      ANNIE BALL
      One’s a bit left-field, while the other’s midfield. But US movie director Woody Allen and Belgian player Leo van Soom have one thing in ­common…
      … both of them clearly have Seventies specs appealCredit: Rex
      FAWLTY VISION
      Belgium’s Herman Fransen, seen here in 1977, really does look like he could have been brought on as a substitute for the Monty Python team…
      …if John Cleese sustained an injury doing a silly walkCredit: Alamy
      FOUL YOU DOIN’?
      Did Seventies player Friedhelm Otters get a Manhattan transfer later in his career?Credit: Panini
      The German midfielder is the double of Matt LeBlanc – maybe he just has Friends in high placesCredit: Getty
      STARK LIFE
      Dane Michael Laudrup is more used to a game of throw-ins than Game Of ThronesCredit: Panini
      But there is no denying the former Juventus player’s ­resemblance to ­TV’s Lord Eddard Stark – AKA actor Sean BeanCredit: Getty
      GOAL LOTTA LOVE
      Led Zeppelin rocker Robert Plant has a French connection in the form of Pierre Pleimelding – a striker who played for France in 1978
      Going by their big barnets, both were a-head of the gameCredit: Rex
      Brentford boss Frank slams poor Man Utd after ‘destroying them in the first-half’ of 3-1 defeat More

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      in Soccer

      5 reasons footballers like Marcus Rashford stick with childhood sweethearts – dodging kiss-&-tells to gold digger fears

      by

      WITH their ridiculously huge salaries and superstar status, our top footballers could have women falling at their feet. So it’s rather sweet that many of our most famous players on the pitch are still head over heels for their childhood sweethearts.
      Marcus Rashford and his childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi are said to have reconciled after splitCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      This week The Sun revealed Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, 24, has reunited with his girlfriend of eight years, university graduate Lucia Loi, also 24, eight months after their “painful split.”
      A source said: “The break was good for their relationship as it offered them both space and assurance that they wanted to make this work moving forward.”
      Psychologist Emma Kenny, who runs the healthy social network site Appy, said there are a number of reasons why footballers tend to stay loyal to their first love.
      She said: “Whilst a glittering football career can offer players a life beyond the average person’s wildest dreams, it comes with a unique set of problems.
      “These WAGs knew these superstars before the fame and fortune.
      “That gives the footballers a sense of being liked for who they truly are, not for their fast cars and luxury homes, which makes the relationship feel more authentic and safer.
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      “Another element that can make these relationships alluring is the nostalgia they provide.”
      Emma also notes that the sex is also going to be great.
      She said: “Sex is always better with a partner who you feel completely comfortable with, so it stands to reason that people you feel familiar around and who you believe know you inside out are likely to make sex more pleasurable.”
      Here, we take a look at the footballers who found their match early in life – and reveal five reasons why scoring early puts these pairs top of the love league.
      Why footballers stick with their first love

      Reality check early on: “Girlfriends who have dated these players growing up will have embraced as teenagers that football must be a priority, meaning they are more accepting of sharing their boyfriend with the beautiful game.”
      Not gold diggers: “These women have known the football superstars before the fame and fortune. This sense of being ‘liked’ for who they truly are, as opposed to for their fast cars and luxury homes will make these relationships feel more authentic and safer.”
      Unlikely to dish the dirt: “Footballers are very aware of how their liaisons can make it onto the front pages of the newspapers. Their childhood sweethearts have demonstrated a level of personal integrity that is very attractive in a long-term mate.”
      Heroes set the example: “Younger football stars see a blueprint of possibility for these relationships to survive and to thrive from older stars like Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.”
      Nostalgia: “Maintaining links to our past can promote a sense of belonging. Teen relationships often embody a real strength of emotional connection. If a couple have shared memories of lower responsibility levels, fun, intimate experience and hanging out with good friends, it gives lots of positives to maintaining, or rekindling, a relationship.

      And where it can go wrong:
      Emma said finding love at a young age can also encounter problems, as we’ve seen with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Kyle Walker straying.
      She said: “As lust deepens into love, and responsibilities such as a family are introduced into the picture it can be easy to lose sight of what has been created and instead to focus on what has been lost.
      “This can mean that when opportunities present themselves players are tempted to stray. In our modern society there remains a lot of pressure of men to be seen as sophisticated lovers who are adept in bed and who have notched up many conquests. For those who get into relationships early on, these uncharted waters can seem alluring, leading to some poor decision making.”

      Harry and Kate Kane
      Harry Kane and Kate Goodland are married with three children
      The pair joined David Beckham at the launch of his academy in 2005
      Fate brought England captain Harry Kane and his wife Kate together when they were just 11 years old.
      A photo shows the footie-mad pair with their hero, David Beckham, at the launch of his football academy near their East London homes in 2005.
      The pair had known each other since attending Larkswood Primary in Chingford before going onto Chingford Foundation School, where Becks also went.
      Although pals, Harry and Kate didn’t start dating for another seven years after that picture, when they were 18.
      Harry said: “When I was in school she was my friend. We always spoke, but just got closer and closer and it went from there.”
      The couple, who married in a mystery exotic location in 2019, now have three children.
      Emma said: “This couple have common values, interests and life goals and are both very family oriented.
      “They place their energy mutually in their kids and Harry’s career and their near life long friendship sustains them as they move through the ages together.”
      The Rooneys
      Coleen and Wayne were just 16 when they started dating
      The couple have been married for 13 years and have four sonsCredit: instagram
      Those of us who remember when the teenage Wayne Rooney first made his mark on the sporting world will also remember his wife Coleen in her school uniform and chunky puffer coat.
      Then just 16, Coleen had no idea what their future would hold – and she has stuck with the former England player through a lot of ups and downs.
      The pair knew each other from when they were 12, when Wayne used to kickabout with Coleen’s brothers by the garages near her home in Croxteth, Liverpool.
      Wayne asked her out on their first date when they were both 16, after fixing Coleen’s bike in the street, and he proposed when he was 17 at a petrol station.
      Before they married, in 2004, Wayne admitted to visiting brothels and sleeping with a middle-aged prostitute.
      Coleen revealed in her autobiography that she was heartbroken, writing: “At that time in our relationships, I’d never even slept with Wayne.”
      ‘Positives outweigh downsides’
      Since then the couple, who have four sons, have weathered cheating accusations, Wayne’s driving ban for drink-driving and, last year, pictures of him slumped and sleeping in a chair while semi-naked party girls danced around him.
      Emma said: “Coleen is the glue that sticks this relationship together.
      “No matter the judgements of others, she is deeply family oriented and cares hugely about her children and her husband.
      “She is unusually able to think about the bigger picture when it comes down to some of her husband’s poor choices and forgives certain behaviours as she feels that the multitude of positives outweigh any downsides to their relationship.
      “They have known each other since childhood and have overcome many challenges together and this is likely why their relationship has endured.”
      Gareth Bale and wife Emma
      Gareth Bale met his wife Emma at high school in Cardiff
      Gareth Bale met wife Emma Rhys-Jones at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff, and she inspired his famous goal celebration in which he makes a heart shape with his hands.
      He once explained: “My girlfriend asked what I would do if I scored. I told her I would make the heart sign.”
      A homeboy, the Wales captain was never one to put himself in the sights of fame-hungry women in nightclubs.
      He said: “I don’t go out, so I don’t get attention from girls. I just like chilling indoors, watching DVDs or going for a meal with the family.”
      He and Emma tied the knot in a secret ceremony in Majorca in 2009, attended by just 60 of their close friends and family.
      Emma’s dad, Martin, and her grandparents, John and Eva McMurray – who helped raise her – were absent due to a family rift, and guests were only told the location 24 hours beforehand.
      The couple welcomed their fourth child, Xander, last year.
      Lionel and Antonela Messi
      An early picture, released in 2019, shows Lionel and his future wife Antonela on the beach as kidsCredit: Social Media
      The couple now have three sons togetherCredit: Social Media – Refer to Source
      Widely recognised as one of the greatest players of all time, Lionel Messi and his wife Antonela also have one of the greatest love stories.
      They have known each other since they were young children, and there is a fantastic photo of the pair playing on an Argentine beach in 1998.
      Antonela, who was about to turn 10 in the picture, was pals with the footballer, but on that day she had travelled to Punta Magotes to see her cousin, Lucas Scaglia, one of Messi’s future teammates, play.
      Barcelona legend Lionel moved to Spain to join the youth division of the club at 13, but he never forgot Antonela.
      While studying dental medicine in Argentina, Antonela lost her best friend in a car crash – and Lionel immediately booked a flight home to comfort her.
      She moved back to Barcelona with him and, now with three children to boot, the rest is history.
      Jordan Pickford and wife Megan
      Jordan Pickford married his childhood sweetheart Megan Davison in 2020
      England and Everton stopper Jordan Pickford, 27, and his wife Megan Davison like to keep their relationship low-key.
      So much so that they shunned the usual lavish showbiz wedding in March 2020, and instead tied the knot at a register office, with the groom turning up in ripped jeans and a baseball hat.
      The bride did wear white – a cuddly white jacket, which she teamed with black jeans and boots.
      The pair had intended to celebrate with a lavish wedding in the Maldives, but it has been on hold since Covid.
      Jordan and Megan met at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School, Tyne and Wear, and reportedly started dating at 14.
      Their son, Arlo, was born in 2019.
      Harry Maguire and fiancée Fern Hawkins
      England star Harry Maguire is reportedly set to tie the knot with Fern Hawkins this year
      Harry Maguire, 28, and his fiancée Fern Hawkins are another teenage love story.
      The Sheffield pair got together when the Manchester United player was 18 and Fern just 16.
      Harry popped the question on a romantic trip to Paris in 2018 and last summer they celebrated 10 years together.
      They have two daughters, Lillie, two, and Piper, one, and earlier this month, the family moved into their “dream” £4m Cheshire mansion.
      According to reports, the pair are planning to marry in a French castle later this year and have sent out invitations.
      A source told The Mirror: “No one is being given the address of the venue until they are on their way. That way they can keep it under wraps.”
      Kalvin Phillips and girlfriend Ashleigh Behan
      Kalvin Phillips and his long term girlfriend Ashleigh BehanCredit: Instagram / @ashhhbx
      Leeds United and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, 26, met his girlfriend Ashleigh Behan two years before signing his first professional contract in 2013.
      They met at Farnley Academy, West Yorkshire.
      Ashleigh, a make-up artist, said on her Instagram stories: “I literally have the most embarrassing pics of us together from like Year Nine onwards.”
      Ashleigh recently revealed the moment Kalvin told her about his shock call-up from England manager Gareth Southgate to join the Euro 2020 squad.
      She said: “I just screamed and cried instantly, I think the checkout guy thought I was mental.”
      Kyle Walker and wife Annie
      Kyle Walker and Annie Kilner with one of their three childrenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      It was revealed earlier this month that Kyle Walker and girlfriend Annie Kilner had secretly wed.
      Theirs has been a rollercoaster of a relationship like no other.
      Annie, mum to their three children, has forgiven Kyle’s betrayals, including him fathering a love child.
      After Instagram influencer Lauryn Goodman gave birth to his son, Annie said in 2020: “What he has done to me and our children is obscene.”
      They met in their hometown of Sheffield and started dating when Kyle was 17 and Annie was just 15.
      Referring to the couple’s low-key wedding, a source told The Sun: “It’s fair to say they’ve had more than their fair share of ups and downs over the years but they’ve survived each one.
      “They didn’t want any fanfare. They just wanted to be married.”
      Marcus Rashford receive MBE from Prince William after free school-meals campaign More

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      Football thugs high on cocaine fuelling terrifying surge in violence – with the drug found at every stadium we tested

      by

      FOOTBALL thugs high on cocaine are fuelling a terrifying surge in violence at stadiums, a Sun investigation has found.Every ground we swabbed had traces of the class A drug, which sparked the shameful scenes at Wembley in July’s showpiece Euro 2020 final.
      Sun reporter Liam Coleman holding up a cocaine detection wipe at an Arsenal game at Emirates stadium
      Police chiefs are now calling for tougher punishments for cocaine users at grounds — including more use of bans — to prevent a return to the hooliganism seen in the 1980s.
      Britain’s top football cop, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, warned that more fans than ever were ­taking the drug at games, creating a “toxic mix” of violence.
      He said: “As we see more violent incidents, cocaine is one of those factors along with alcohol that will make it worse, and make people more violent.”
      One supporter also said cocaine at football was so rife that fans even snort it in their seats.
      We discovered lines had been racked up on top of loo roll holders at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, while our reporter was offered “charlie” outside a Brighton match earlier this month.
      At The Etihad — home of Premier League champions Manchester City — empty drug bags and one containing cocaine were found on a cubicle floor. Traces of the drug were also found on top of toilets at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium.
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      Our findings come after an FA report last month revealed cocaine was the catalyst for thousands of ticketless fans storming Wembley for the England-Italy Euro final.
      Fans were openly snorting the drug at the showpiece event, with one yob bragging to The Sun how he put a lit flare in his bum during a 15-hour drug-fuelled bender.
      Charlie Perry, 25, boasted how he had “banged a load of powder” during the big day and was then filmed firing off the flare in footage that went viral.
      Just before the pandemic, cocaine binges were blamed for a 45 per cent increase in trouble at football grounds over the previous two years — including violence, pitch invasions and assaults on players.
      However, cops and fans say more coke than ever is being snorted at grounds — which was backed up by our probe. Sun reporter Liam Coleman used cocaine detection wipes on surfaces in loos at Man City, Spurs, Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal this month — with 44 out of the 58 swabbed cubicles testing positive for cocaine.
      Mr Roberts told The Sun clubs are looking at installing specialist surfaces in toilets to make it harder to take drugs, as well as bringing in more sniffer dogs.
      MORE COCAINE THAN EVER
      However, the officer — head of football policing for England and Wales — admitted it was tough to catch users.
      He said: “Cocaine is now more common in broader society than ever before, and that includes football clubs and football fans.
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      “It’s an issue with society, but that being said it is then clearly going to impact football as well.
      “Where people are high on emotions which you do get in football, and then you add in cocaine use, that’s a pretty toxic mix as how people behave and it often leads to extreme violence.”
      He wants a Football Banning Order for anyone caught with drugs in a ground. Breaching one of those is a criminal offence, punishable by up to six months in prison.
      There are currently around 1,400 orders active across the UK, but Mr Roberts believes a bigger push would see a drop in drug use.
      It’s really difficult to police, frankly, unless you do full-body searches on peopleChief Constable Mark Roberts
      However, he added: “It’s really difficult to police, frankly, unless you do full-body searches on people, and then you’re still probably not going to find it anyway.
      “It’s something that’s easy to smuggle into the ground.
      “People can discreetly take it, probably easier than drinking a pint, so the hope will be we work with clubs and identify measures to make it just a bit harder for fans to take drugs.
      “Whether that is putting liquids on toilet cisterns, having regular checks and sniffer dogs at every ground.” Recommendations from the Euro 2020 report included stronger police powers against the use of illegal drugs.
      The independent review by ­former Government drugs tsar ­Baroness Casey slammed the thousands of football fans “fuelled by alcohol and drugs”.
      Experts at Oxford University have confirmed that cocaine use makes supporters more aggressive at football matches.
      ‘DOING BUMPS IN THE STANDS’
      One survey revealed that more than 30 per cent of fans had witnessed cocaine being taken inside a stadium — with six per cent admitting to personal use.
      However, drug possession or use was reported at only 103 of 2,663 regulated matches in England and Wales over the entire 2019-20 season, with the vast majority — 81 per cent — involving cocaine.
      Despite clubs promising tougher measures on stopping drugs being brought into grounds, one fan claimed cocaine usage was rife before and during games.
      The supporter, who does not want to be named, told The Sun: “You see huge queues in the toilets, you see them doing bumps off keys in the stands, or just off their hands. It’s everywhere.
      “I’ve never known it like this before, and it just feels like it’s getting worse and worse.”
      All the clubs where we found traces of drugs told The Sun they condemned use. Several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, said they had sniffer dogs in place at every match and that fans were searched using security wands before entering the ground.
      Another Premier League club said they use dogs outside away turnstiles for every game and on occasions outside home turnstiles.
      Ground regulations clearly state that drugs are prohibited and measures such as detection dogs are used frequently to combat itPremier League Spokesperson
      Bosses at Tottenham Hotspur described the drug issue as a “societal problem” and that it took a zero-tolerance approach to drugs in the stadium.
      The club, where a fan was photographed appearing to snort a line of cocaine on the pitch in 2017, also said it works closely with the Metropolitan Police on drug-related issues, and anyone found with illegal substances are banned.
      Meanwhile, bosses at Brighton and Hove Albion said it was “increasingly concerned” about the use of cocaine at matches.
      The club added: “We will continue to take all necessary and possible steps to prevent any illegal substance coming into our stadium, and we will continue to impose very severe sanctions on anyone found to be carrying or using any illegal substance in or around our stadium.”
      The Premier League said it also condemns the use of drugs at stadiums, and its clubs are working alongside police to tackle the problem. A spokesman said: “Possession or use of cocaine is a criminal offence and can result in a football banning order. Ground regulations clearly state that drugs are prohibited and measures such as detection dogs are used frequently to combat it.
      “Our clubs continue to work closely with police on this issue.”
      Coke & booze go hand in hand with violence
      FANS can spend up to £300 a week on drugs for each match, one Premier League club supporter said.
      The season ticket-holder, who wanted his identity hidden, said: “Class As are becoming more prevalent, there’s more of a buzz for it these days. It’s beers, as much coke as possible, everyone is bang on it.
      “It’s the only thing that will straighten you out after a day on the booze, it’s what you need.
      “You don’t want pills, you will start loving people. Coke and booze go hand in hand with violence, it’s what we all want.
      “It’s also just the nature of the football. You get boozed up all day, and then do the gear.”
      The fan added: “They get it in bulk. If it’s a home game then you’re more likely to get a few grams in, but away days you’re talking lots more.
      “I know blokes who go with their kids and they still do it.
      “It’s so easy to get it both inside and outside the ground
      “Football is like going clubbing but during the day, and spending all day with close pals and they share the same passions, which bring you closer together.
      “If you’re all sharing the gear and the booze, then it brings you closer together.
      “Unless they get sent behind bars for years like they did with the hooligans, it’s not going to make a blind bit of difference.”

      We found traces of coke in ten of 14 toilet cubicles in the South Stand of the Eithad Stadium during Man City v Leeds, Dec 14
      During a Chelsea game against Everton on December 16, five out of the six loo-roll holders wiped in the Matthew Harding Lower Stand in Standford Bridge went blue, meaning cocaine was present
      Eleven of 14 toilets had traces of cocaine with lines on roll holders in the bathrooms at Tottenham stadium
      Five of six cubicles in the West Stand at Brighton’s Amex stadium had traces of cocaine – our reporter was also offered drugs
      Stewards replace barricades after they were knocked over by supporters outside Wembley Stadium in London, during the Euro 2020 final match between England and Italy, on July 11, 2021Credit: AP
      Moment England hero Harry Maguire’s dad’s ribs were broken in a horror crush during the security meltdown at the Euro 2020 Final at Wembley More

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      Football thugs high on cocaine fuelling terrifying surge in violence – with the drug found at every stadium tested

      by

      FOOTBALL thugs high on cocaine are fuelling a terrifying surge in violence at stadiums, a Sun investigation has found.Every ground we swabbed had traces of the class A drug, which sparked the shameful scenes at Wembley in July’s showpiece Euro 2020 final.
      Sun reporter Liam Coleman holding up a cocaine detection wipe at an Arsenal game at Emirates stadium
      Police chiefs are now calling for tougher punishments for cocaine users at grounds — including more use of bans — to prevent a return to the hooliganism seen in the 1980s.
      Britain’s top football cop, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, warned that more fans than ever were ­taking the drug at games, creating a “toxic mix” of violence.
      He said: “As we see more violent incidents, cocaine is one of those factors along with alcohol that will make it worse, and make people more violent.”
      One supporter also said cocaine at football was so rife that fans even snort it in their seats.
      We discovered lines had been racked up on top of loo roll holders at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, while our reporter was offered “charlie” outside a Brighton match earlier this month.
      At The Etihad — home of Premier League champions Manchester City — empty drug bags and one containing cocaine were found on a cubicle floor. Traces of the drug were also found on top of toilets at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium.
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      Our findings come after an FA report last month revealed cocaine was the catalyst for thousands of ticketless fans storming Wembley for the England-Italy Euro final.
      Fans were openly snorting the drug at the showpiece event, with one yob bragging to The Sun how he put a lit flare in his bum during a 15-hour drug-fuelled bender.
      Charlie Perry, 25, boasted how he had “banged a load of powder” during the big day and was then filmed firing off the flare in footage that went viral.
      Just before the pandemic, cocaine binges were blamed for a 45 per cent increase in trouble at football grounds over the previous two years — including violence, pitch invasions and assaults on players.
      However, cops and fans say more coke than ever is being snorted at grounds — which was backed up by our probe. Sun reporter Liam Coleman used cocaine detection wipes on surfaces in loos at Man City, Spurs, Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal this month — with 44 out of the 58 swabbed cubicles testing positive for cocaine.
      Mr Roberts told The Sun clubs are looking at installing specialist surfaces in toilets to make it harder to take drugs, as well as bringing in more sniffer dogs.
      MORE COCAINE THAN EVER
      However, the officer — head of football policing for England and Wales — admitted it was tough to catch users.
      He said: “Cocaine is now more common in broader society than ever before, and that includes football clubs and football fans.
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      “It’s an issue with society, but that being said it is then clearly going to impact football as well.
      “Where people are high on emotions which you do get in football, and then you add in cocaine use, that’s a pretty toxic mix as how people behave and it often leads to extreme violence.”
      He wants a Football Banning Order for anyone caught with drugs in a ground. Breaching one of those is a criminal offence, punishable by up to six months in prison.
      There are currently around 1,400 orders active across the UK, but Mr Roberts believes a bigger push would see a drop in drug use.
      It’s really difficult to police, frankly, unless you do full-body searches on peopleChief Constable Mark Roberts
      However, he added: “It’s really difficult to police, frankly, unless you do full-body searches on people, and then you’re still probably not going to find it anyway.
      “It’s something that’s easy to smuggle into the ground.
      “People can discreetly take it, probably easier than drinking a pint, so the hope will be we work with clubs and identify measures to make it just a bit harder for fans to take drugs.
      “Whether that is putting liquids on toilet cisterns, having regular checks and sniffer dogs at every ground.” Recommendations from the Euro 2020 report included stronger police powers against the use of illegal drugs.
      The independent review by ­former Government drugs tsar ­Baroness Casey slammed the thousands of football fans “fuelled by alcohol and drugs”.
      Experts at Oxford University have confirmed that cocaine use makes supporters more aggressive at football matches.
      ‘DOING BUMPS IN THE STANDS’
      One survey revealed that more than 30 per cent of fans had witnessed cocaine being taken inside a stadium — with six per cent admitting to personal use.
      However, drug possession or use was reported at only 103 of 2,663 regulated matches in England and Wales over the entire 2019-20 season, with the vast majority — 81 per cent — involving cocaine.
      Despite clubs promising tougher measures on stopping drugs being brought into grounds, one fan claimed cocaine usage was rife before and during games.
      The supporter, who does not want to be named, told The Sun: “You see huge queues in the toilets, you see them doing bumps off keys in the stands, or just off their hands. It’s everywhere.
      “I’ve never known it like this before, and it just feels like it’s getting worse and worse.”
      All the clubs where we found traces of drugs told The Sun they condemned use. Several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, said they had sniffer dogs in place at every match and that fans were searched using security wands before entering the ground.
      Another Premier League club said they use dogs outside away turnstiles for every game and on occasions outside home turnstiles.
      Ground regulations clearly state that drugs are prohibited and measures such as detection dogs are used frequently to combat itPremier League Spokesperson
      Bosses at Tottenham Hotspur described the drug issue as a “societal problem” and that it took a zero-tolerance approach to drugs in the stadium.
      The club, where a fan was photographed appearing to snort a line of cocaine on the pitch in 2017, also said it works closely with the Metropolitan Police on drug-related issues, and anyone found with illegal substances are banned.
      Meanwhile, bosses at Brighton and Hove Albion said it was “increasingly concerned” about the use of cocaine at matches.
      The club added: “We will continue to take all necessary and possible steps to prevent any illegal substance coming into our stadium, and we will continue to impose very severe sanctions on anyone found to be carrying or using any illegal substance in or around our stadium.”
      The Premier League said it also condemns the use of drugs at stadiums, and its clubs are working alongside police to tackle the problem. A spokesman said: “Possession or use of cocaine is a criminal offence and can result in a football banning order. Ground regulations clearly state that drugs are prohibited and measures such as detection dogs are used frequently to combat it.
      “Our clubs continue to work closely with police on this issue.”
      Coke & booze go hand in hand with violence
      FANS can spend up to £300 a week on drugs for each match, one Premier League club supporter said.
      The season ticket-holder, who wanted his identity hidden, said: “Class As are becoming more prevalent, there’s more of a buzz for it these days. It’s beers, as much coke as possible, everyone is bang on it.
      “It’s the only thing that will straighten you out after a day on the booze, it’s what you need.
      “You don’t want pills, you will start loving people. Coke and booze go hand in hand with violence, it’s what we all want.
      “It’s also just the nature of the football. You get boozed up all day, and then do the gear.”
      The fan added: “They get it in bulk. If it’s a home game then you’re more likely to get a few grams in, but away days you’re talking lots more.
      “I know blokes who go with their kids and they still do it.
      “It’s so easy to get it both inside and outside the ground
      “Football is like going clubbing but during the day, and spending all day with close pals and they share the same passions, which bring you closer together.
      “If you’re all sharing the gear and the booze, then it brings you closer together.
      “Unless they get sent behind bars for years like they did with the hooligans, it’s not going to make a blind bit of difference.”

      We found traces of coke in ten of 14 toilet cubicles in the South Stand of the Eithad Stadium during Man City v Leeds, Dec 14
      During a Chelsea game against Everton on December 16, five out of the six loo-roll holders wiped in the Matthew Harding Lower Stand in Standford Bridge went blue, meaning cocaine was present
      Eleven of 14 toilets had traces of cocaine with lines on roll holders in the bathrooms at Tottenham stadium
      Five of six cubicles in the West Stand at Brighton’s Amex stadium had traces of cocaine – our reporter was also offered drugs
      Stewards replace barricades after they were knocked over by supporters outside Wembley Stadium in London, during the Euro 2020 final match between England and Italy, on July 11, 2021Credit: AP
      Moment England hero Harry Maguire’s dad’s ribs were broken in a horror crush during the security meltdown at the Euro 2020 Final at Wembley More

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      Football thugs high on cocaine fuelling terrifying surge in violence at stadiums

      by

      FOOTBALL thugs high on cocaine are fuelling a terrifying surge in violence at stadiums, a Sun investigation has found.Every ground we swabbed had traces of the class A drug, which sparked the shameful scenes at Wembley in July’s showpiece Euro 2020 final.
      Sun reporter Liam Coleman holding up a cocaine detection wipe at an Arsenal game at Emirates stadium
      Police chiefs are now calling for tougher punishments for cocaine users at grounds — including more use of bans — to prevent a return to the hooliganism seen in the 1980s.
      Britain’s top football cop, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, warned that more fans than ever were ­taking the drug at games, creating a “toxic mix” of violence.
      He said: “As we see more violent incidents, cocaine is one of those factors along with alcohol that will make it worse, and make people more violent.”
      One supporter also said cocaine at football was so rife that fans even snort it in their seats.
      We discovered lines had been racked up on top of loo roll holders at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, while our reporter was offered “charlie” outside a Brighton match earlier this month.
      At The Etihad — home of Premier League champions Manchester City — empty drug bags and one containing cocaine were found on a cubicle floor. Traces of the drug were also found on top of toilets at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium.
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      Our findings come after an FA report last month revealed cocaine was the catalyst for thousands of ticketless fans storming Wembley for the England-Italy Euro final.
      Fans were openly snorting the drug at the showpiece event, with one yob bragging to The Sun how he put a lit flare in his bum during a 15-hour drug-fuelled bender.
      Charlie Perry, 25, boasted how he had “banged a load of powder” during the big day and was then filmed firing off the flare in footage that went viral.
      Just before the pandemic, cocaine binges were blamed for a 45 per cent increase in trouble at football grounds over the previous two years — including violence, pitch invasions and assaults on players.
      However, cops and fans say more coke than ever is being snorted at grounds — which was backed up by our probe. Sun reporter Liam Coleman used cocaine detection wipes on surfaces in loos at Man City, Spurs, Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal this month — with 44 out of the 58 swabbed cubicles testing positive for cocaine.
      Mr Roberts told The Sun clubs are looking at installing specialist surfaces in toilets to make it harder to take drugs, as well as bringing in more sniffer dogs.
      MORE COCAINE THAN EVER
      However, the officer — head of football policing for England and Wales — admitted it was tough to catch users.
      He said: “Cocaine is now more common in broader society than ever before, and that includes football clubs and football fans.
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      “It’s an issue with society, but that being said it is then clearly going to impact football as well.
      “Where people are high on emotions which you do get in football, and then you add in cocaine use, that’s a pretty toxic mix as how people behave and it often leads to extreme violence.”
      He wants a Football Banning Order for anyone caught with drugs in a ground. Breaching one of those is a criminal offence, punishable by up to six months in prison.
      There are currently around 1,400 orders active across the UK, but Mr Roberts believes a bigger push would see a drop in drug use.
      It’s really difficult to police, frankly, unless you do full-body searches on peopleChief Constable Mark Roberts
      However, he added: “It’s really difficult to police, frankly, unless you do full-body searches on people, and then you’re still probably not going to find it anyway.
      “It’s something that’s easy to smuggle into the ground.
      “People can discreetly take it, probably easier than drinking a pint, so the hope will be we work with clubs and identify measures to make it just a bit harder for fans to take drugs.
      “Whether that is putting liquids on toilet cisterns, having regular checks and sniffer dogs at every ground.” Recommendations from the Euro 2020 report included stronger police powers against the use of illegal drugs.
      The independent review by ­former Government drugs tsar ­Baroness Casey slammed the thousands of football fans “fuelled by alcohol and drugs”.
      Experts at Oxford University have confirmed that cocaine use makes supporters more aggressive at football matches.
      ‘DOING BUMPS IN THE STANDS’
      One survey revealed that more than 30 per cent of fans had witnessed cocaine being taken inside a stadium — with six per cent admitting to personal use.
      However, drug possession or use was reported at only 103 of 2,663 regulated matches in England and Wales over the entire 2019-20 season, with the vast majority — 81 per cent — involving cocaine.
      Despite clubs promising tougher measures on stopping drugs being brought into grounds, one fan claimed cocaine usage was rife before and during games.
      The supporter, who does not want to be named, told The Sun: “You see huge queues in the toilets, you see them doing bumps off keys in the stands, or just off their hands. It’s everywhere.
      “I’ve never known it like this before, and it just feels like it’s getting worse and worse.”
      All the clubs where we found traces of drugs told The Sun they condemned use. Several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, said they had sniffer dogs in place at every match and that fans were searched using security wands before entering the ground.
      Another Premier League club said they use dogs outside away turnstiles for every game and on occasions outside home turnstiles.
      Ground regulations clearly state that drugs are prohibited and measures such as detection dogs are used frequently to combat itPremier League Spokesperson
      Bosses at Tottenham Hotspur described the drug issue as a “societal problem” and that it took a zero-tolerance approach to drugs in the stadium.
      The club, where a fan was photographed appearing to snort a line of cocaine on the pitch in 2017, also said it works closely with the Metropolitan Police on drug-related issues, and anyone found with illegal substances are banned.
      Meanwhile, bosses at Brighton and Hove Albion said it was “increasingly concerned” about the use of cocaine at matches.
      The club added: “We will continue to take all necessary and possible steps to prevent any illegal substance coming into our stadium, and we will continue to impose very severe sanctions on anyone found to be carrying or using any illegal substance in or around our stadium.”
      The Premier League said it also condemns the use of drugs at stadiums, and its clubs are working alongside police to tackle the problem. A spokesman said: “Possession or use of cocaine is a criminal offence and can result in a football banning order. Ground regulations clearly state that drugs are prohibited and measures such as detection dogs are used frequently to combat it.
      “Our clubs continue to work closely with police on this issue.”
      Coke & booze go hand in hand with violence
      FANS can spend up to £300 a week on drugs for each match, one Premier League club supporter said.
      The season ticket-holder, who wanted his identity hidden, said: “Class As are becoming more prevalent, there’s more of a buzz for it these days. It’s beers, as much coke as possible, everyone is bang on it.
      “It’s the only thing that will straighten you out after a day on the booze, it’s what you need.
      “You don’t want pills, you will start loving people. Coke and booze go hand in hand with violence, it’s what we all want.
      “It’s also just the nature of the football. You get boozed up all day, and then do the gear.”
      The fan added: “They get it in bulk. If it’s a home game then you’re more likely to get a few grams in, but away days you’re talking lots more.
      “I know blokes who go with their kids and they still do it.
      “It’s so easy to get it both inside and outside the ground
      “Football is like going clubbing but during the day, and spending all day with close pals and they share the same passions, which bring you closer together.
      “If you’re all sharing the gear and the booze, then it brings you closer together.
      “Unless they get sent behind bars for years like they did with the hooligans, it’s not going to make a blind bit of difference.”

      We found traces of coke in ten of 14 toilet cubicles in the South Stand of the Eithad Stadium during Man City v Leeds, Dec 14
      During a Chelsea game against Everton on December 16, five out of the six loo-roll holders wiped in the Matthew Harding Lower Stand in Standford Bridge went blue, meaning cocaine was present
      Eleven of 14 toilets had traces of cocaine with lines on roll holders in the bathrooms at Tottenham stadium
      Five of six cubicles in the West Stand at Brighton’s Amex stadium had traces of cocaine – our reporter was also offered drugs
      Stewards replace barricades after they were knocked over by supporters outside Wembley Stadium in London, during the Euro 2020 final match between England and Italy, on July 11, 2021Credit: AP
      Moment England hero Harry Maguire’s dad’s ribs were broken in a horror crush during the security meltdown at the Euro 2020 Final at Wembley More

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      Inside Max Verstappen’s relationship with dad Jos who was once arrested for attempted murder

      by

      WHEN young upstart Max Verstappen sprayed fizz from the podium in Abu Dhabi as seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton looked on glumly, it marked the start of a new era in Formula One.The championship winner’s aggressive driving and outspoken comments have already riled many, including his British rival — and the young Dutchman admits his attitude comes from his fearsome father.
      Critics believe the unusual decision was to create drama for the F1 documentary Netflix was filming, Drive To SurviveCredit: AFP
      Jos ‘the Boss’ Verstappen, 49, is a former F1 driver with a violent pastCredit: Refer to Caption
      Jos “the Boss” Verstappen, 49, is a former F1 driver with a violent past, including an arrest for attempted murder, who has brutally driven on the career of his son.
      And The Sun can reveal that the three-times-married father of five has been accused of taking his tough love approach to parenting too far.
      Now the animosity between his son Max, 24, and Lewis, 36, could even outstrip the classic rivalries dotted throughout motor racing history — James Hunt v Niki Lauda in 1970s, Nigel Mansell v Nelson Piquet in the ’80s and 1990s aces Michael Schumacher v Mika Hakkinen.Red Bull driver Max paid tribute to his dad after his win on Sunday, which saw him claim his first championship after he controversially overtook Hamilton on the final lap of the final race of the season.
      Fighting back tears, he said: “My goal when I was little was to become a Formula One driver. You hope for wins, you hope to be on the podium and that, when they play the national anthem, you hope one day they play yours.
      “And when you stand here and they tell you, you are the champion, it is something incredible.
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      “Especially also my dad, some of the special moments we had here. All the things come to your mind, all the years we spent travelling for that goal and then everything comes together in the last lap. It’s insane.”
      Jos, a former team-mate of F1 legend Schumacher, boasted that Sunday’s so-called “stolen” win — slammed by critics and subject of a possible legal action by Mercedes — is in his son’s DNA.
      He said: “Max really deserved this championship. He kept fighting. He will always fight, that’s in his DNA, I guess.” Their relationship has not always been so cordial.
      In 2012, when Max was just 15, his dad kicked him out of his van as punishment for crashing in the second lap of a world championship kart race in Sarno, near Naples, Italy.
      The teen was abandoned at a petrol station until he was picked up by his mum, go-karting champion Sophie Kumpen, according to reports, and did not speak to his dad for a week.
      Max later recalled: “I should have won that race easily. On the first lap, someone overtook me and I wanted to regain my position on the next lap.
      “I tried to pass on a very fast turn. He didn’t see me and we hit.
      “My dad worked very hard that weekend and I threw it all away. He was very angry and didn’t talk to me. On the way home, about five miles away, he said something to me and we ended up arguing.”
      Jos admitted: “I didn’t speak to him for six or seven days.
      “I knew what I was doing. I think it helped him and shaped him. It is not my job to advise him now.”
      Jos is clearly not afraid of confrontation and in recent weeks he has been pouring fuel on the fire of his son’s rivalry
      Jos inherited his no-nonsense approach to parenting from his own tough guy father Frans, a publican and later ice-cream parlour owner from southern Holland.
      In 1998, just a year after Max was born, Jos and his dad were each given five-year suspended jail sentences for fracturing a man’s skull.
      They reached an out-of-court settlement with the unnamed 45-year-old victim, who was part of a group that had been arguing with the Verstappens about who got to use a karting track in the Belgian town of Lanaken.
      In December 2008, Jos was back in court in Tongeren having been charged with assaulting his wife of 12 years — Max’s mum — when his son was 11.
      He was accused of using threatening language and there were also claims that his estranged wife’s tyres had been damaged three times.
      Jos was cleared of assault but found guilty of sending threatening text messages and of violating a previous restraining order. He was fined and sentenced to three months probation.
      In November 2011 it was reported that Jos assaulted his unnamed 24-year-old girlfriend in a hotel room in Venlo, Holland, after an argument got out of hand.
      He denied the allegations saying: “There has been an altercation, yes, that’s all.” Then, in January 2012, he was arrested for attempted murder following claims that he drove a car into his ex-girlfriend in the Dutch city of Roermond.
      He was released after two weeks in jail when the charge was withdrawn due to a lack of evidence.Jos is clearly not afraid of confrontation and in recent weeks he has been pouring fuel on the fire of his son’s rivalry.
      He slammed Hamilton’s Mercedes team after the Brit had a terrifying 180mph crash with his son at Silverstone this year. Max was in hospital having checks while Hamilton celebrated on the podium.
      Jos said: “I never speak to Lewis. He doesn’t need to speak to me. I’m nothing to him. I respect him as a driver, but the rest . . . nothing.
      “Max and Lewis only speak on the podium, very little. When I see Max with other drivers, I think they get on very well. But with Lewis, nothing. Lewis is in his own world.”
      Max and Lewis are now neighbours in the tax haven of Monaco and would find they have a lot in common if they ever agreed to meet up for a drink.
      So it was no wonder that Hamilton was so upset when, following Williams’ driver Nicholas Latifi’s smash five laps from the end of Sunday’s final Grand Prix, Max was allowed to overtake a safety car to catch him up for the last lap.
      Critics believe the unusual decision was to create drama for the F1 documentary Netflix was filming, Drive To Survive. Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker tweeted afterwards: “What a joke. That stinks.”
      Max and Lewis are now neighbours in the tax haven of Monaco and would find they have a lot in common if they ever agreed to meet up for a drink.
      Hamilton was raised in Stevenage, Herts, and developed a passion for racing after his dad Anthony bought him a go-kart for Christmas when he was six.
      Max started out riding a quad bike in his garden in the Belgian border town of Bree.
      He was still a toddler when he threw such a bad tantrum demanding an upgrade that his mum phoned his dad, saying: “I think we have to buy Max a go-kart. Now.”
      Hamilton’s dad worked multiple jobs to fund his son’s training and later became his manager.
      Max spent winters skiing with F1 star Schumacher, 52, and his son Mick, now 22, until the race ace suffered serious brain injuries in a horror smash on the slopes of the French Alps.
      When Max’s parents separated, he moved in with his dad. His sister Victoria, also a racing driver, lived with his mum.
      Lewis became the first — and is still the only — black man to race in Formula One when he made his debut aged 23 in 2007.
      Max was 17 years and 166 days old when he became the youngest ever F1 driver in 2015.
      His aggressive style was branded “dangerous” in his early races — and his Brazilian model girlfriend Kelly Piquet, 33, admits it worries her.
      There is nobody harder on me than my dad, no matter what other people say. It is never that hard, compared to himMax Verstappen
      Kelly — the daughter of ex-F1 champ Nelson Piquet, and who has a daughter from a relationship with Russian driver Daniil Kvyat, 27 — said: “I’m always super-excited to support him but I am nervous that he doesn’t get hurt in an accident.”
      Finnish rival Kimi Räikkönen, now 42, warned Max “was going to cause a huge accident sooner or later”.
      Max’s mentor, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, 48, admitted his driving was “on the edge”.
      There was more upset when, after a collision with Canadian Lance Stroll, 23, Max used the words “retard” and “mongol” over the team radio at the Portuguese GP in October last year and was forced to apologise.
      Lewis sacked his father during an alleged falling out in 2010 — but Max appears closer than ever with his.
      He recently said: “My attitude all comes from my dad.
      “There is nobody harder on me than my dad, no matter what other people say. It is never that hard, compared to him.”
      Jos is clearly not afraid of confrontation and in recent weeks he has been pouring fuel on the fire of his son’s rivalryCredit: Getty
      Max and Lewis are now neighbours in the tax haven of Monaco and would find they have a lot in common if they ever agreed to meet up for a drinkCredit: Rex
      The young Dutchman admits his attitude comes from his fearsome father
      The teen was abandoned at a petrol station until he was picked up by his mum, go-karting champion Sophie Kumpen, according to reports
      Max started out riding a quad bike in his garden in the Belgian border town of Bree
      Red Bull driver Max paid tribute to his dad after his win on Sunday, which saw him claim his first championship after he controversially overtook Hamilton on the final lapCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Max Verstappen SNATCHES F1 world title from Lewis Hamilton on last lap in dramatic and controversial season enderWe pay for your stories!Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? More

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      Inside F1’s most terrifying crashes ahead of Lewis Hamilton & Max Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi showdown

      by

      IT’S been one of the most intensely fought seasons in Formula One history, and this weekend it’s sure to reach an exciting crescendo. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s final face-off will take place in Abu Dhabi after a year of drama, dangerous collisions and simmering tempers hitting boiling point.
      Max Verstappen could end Lewis Hamilton’s rein of dominance in the F1 worldCredit: AP
      The Mercedes driver felt he was ‘very fortunate’ to be alive after a horror crash with Verstappen this seasonCredit: Reuters
      After years of dominating the sport, Hamilton’s time at the top could come to an abrupt end if the 24-year-old Red Bull driver has his way. 
      They’re currently tied at 369.5 points but Verstappen has the advantage of having won one more race, meaning should neither driver finish, the Dutchman will take the title.
      Earlier this week ex-F1 driver Johnny Herbert suggested “only Verstappen” would be willing to cause a crash to take out his rival – and it wouldn’t be the first time a championship has been decided in this way.
      In 1990, Aryton Senna intentionally took out Alain Prost to ensure he would win.
      While watching the now-infamous Senna crash, Verstappen previously remarked: “I mean, why not?”
      It would be a seriously risky move in what is already a dangerous sport.
      Ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton battle, we look back at some of the most shocking moments in F1.
      Fireball horror
      Romain Grosjean leaping out of the towering inferno last yearCredit: Splash
      The F1 star was left with severe damages to his fingers after emerging from the flamesCredit: Refer to Caption
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      Romain Grosjean looked to be in good form as he exited turn two during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.
      His Haas car had gained two places, but as he tried to overtake Russia’s Danii Kyvat, disaster struck.
      As Switzerland-born Grosjean edged ahead he clipped the nose of his rival and his vehicle shot off into the barrier at 140mph and exploded into flames.
      Such a terrifying crash is seldomly seen in F1 and fans watched in horror as a fireball engulfed his car.
      Miraculously Grosjean managed to climb out, but he suffered serious burns to his hands.
      He was saved by his halo device and racing suit, which had been designed to withstand flames for 20 seconds.
      Later Grosjean recalled being trapped inside the burning vehicle and admitted he thought about how painful his death would be.
      He claims it was his children, who he saw and spoke to in a vision, that gave him the courage to fight for his life by trying to escape.
      “Few people have known that moment where you almost accept that you’re dead,” he said.
      Lucky escape
      Michael Schumacher’s car spun 180 degrees and was crashed into by Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2010Credit: AFP
      The F1 legend brushed off the collision that could have left him seriously injuredCredit: Getty – Contributor
      During the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher was lucky not to have suffered serious injuries after he spun out at the chicane. 
      The Mercedes driver’s car rotated 180 degrees into oncoming cars.
      Vitantonio Liuzzi’s vehicle mounted Schumacher’s and narrowly missed the German’s head before coming to a stop.
      Both cars were badly damaged but fortunately, the drivers were unscathed. 
      After the race both seemed more concerned with having not finished the race.
      Schumacher said: “I am totally fine and was not hit by anything in the incident… It’s a shame obviously as I would have liked to finish the season with a more positive ending.”
      Liuzzi added: “I am sorry that we could not score any points today to get back to sixth in the championship.”
      Saved by the halo
      Lewis Hamilton had a close call earlier this year when Verstappen’s car mounted hisCredit: AFP
      Hamilton also had a close call and felt “so, so grateful” to be alive after a treacherous crash at the Italian Grand Prix in September involving Verstappen. 
      The rivals were neck-and-neck when the Red Bull racer tried to overtake, but their wheels clipped and Verstappen’s car was sent flying over the top of Hamilton’s.
      Thankfully Hamilton ducked his head in time – and later praised the car’s super halo for keeping him alive.
      Clearly shaken, he said: “I’m very, very fortunate today, thank God for the halo. That ultimately saved my life.
      “I have been racing for a long, long time and I am so so grateful I am still here and feel incredibly blessed that someone was watching over me today.”
      Senna tragedy
      The shocking crash that ended F1 legend Ayrton Senna’s lifeCredit: Reuters
      Ayrton Senna was considered one of the greatest F1 racers to have livedCredit: PA:Press Association
      It was a heartbreaking day for the world of Formula One when one of its best ever drivers was involved in a fatal crash.
      Ayrton Senna was hot on Michael Schumacher’s tail when his car swerved off the track and collided with a brick wall at around 145mph.
      The Brazilian F1 legend, who had just turned 44, suffered fatal skull fractures, brain injuries and a ruptured major temporal artery.
      He was declared dead four days later at Bologna’s Maggiore Hospital in Italy. 
      Drastic changes were made in the wake of Senna’s crash, leading to better helmets, safer cockpits and more medical staff on-hand at races.
      The Head And Neck Support (HANS) was also built to prevent “rapid and excessive head movement during accidents”, The National reported.
      Sadly he wasn’t the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix’s only fatality. 
      Two tragedies in 24 hours
      Roland Ratzenberger’s head slumped to the side after his horror crash in 1994Credit: AFP
      The 33-year-old died 24 hours before Ayrton SennaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The day before Senna’s crash, Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger crashed during the qualifiers and was killed instantly. 
      The 33-year-old’s car spun off the track due to suspected front wing failure at speed and hit the wall nose-first at 190mph.
      Two of the wheels were knocked off during the high impact crash and half the chassis was destroyed.
      The vehicle continued to rapidly spin out of control before it came to a halt and haunting footage showed Ratzenberger’s head slump to the side of the car.
      The tragic weekend sent shockwaves through the world of motorsport.
      Max Mosley, then head of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), said: “I went to Ratzenberger’s funeral rather than to Senna’s where all the great and good of Formula One were because I felt somebody needed to support him and his family.”
      Fuel tank explosion
      Ferrari’s Chris Amon driving past the flaming crash of his teammate Lorenzo BandiniCredit: Getty
      The Italian racer died of his injuries in hospital days after the crashCredit: Getty
      Lorenzo Bandini was another victim of F1 and tragically lost his life after the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix.
      He was chasing down Denny Hulme, who was in pole position, when the Italian lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the guard rails and straw bales.
      The fuel tank inside his vehicle ruptured and immediately caught fire while Bandini was trapped inside.
      In hospital he was diagnosed with third-degree burns, the most severe type, and he died of his injuries three days later aged 31.
      Bandini’s death led to straw bales being removed from all competitions. 
      The wreckage from Ayrton Senna’s horror crash in 1994Credit: Reuters
      Romain Grosjean showed the damage caused to his hands by the fireCredit: Instagram @grosjeanromain
      F1 driver Romain Grosjean escapes as his Haas car bursts into flames at Bahrain Grand Prix More