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    Shocking moment huge brawl breaks out in the stands at Wembley between fans supporting same team

    POLICE have launched an investigation after a huge brawl broke out in the stands during Sunday’s EFL Trophy final at Wembley.A number of fans situated in level five of the Peterborough end were involved in a melee.A fight broke out in the Peterborough end at WembleyChaos ensued while the match was in progressIn a video circulating online, a number of individuals could be seen throwing punches and clinching while action unfolded on the pitch.At one point a man was even wrestled to the ground, falling two rows in the process.Four stewards could be seen trying to take control of the scene.Bizarrely, Peterborough scored during the ruckus, with some surrounding fans seemingly torn between celebrating the goal and watching the drama unfolding in the stands.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into the incident and have appealed for witnessed to come forward.A statement read: “Police were notified of a fight at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 7 April, during the EFL Trophy Final between Peterborough and Wycombe.”Officers are also aware of social media footage.”There were no injuries reported.Most read in EFL”Enquiries are ongoing and any witnesses are asked to call 101 quoting CAD 1307/7APR.”There have been no arrests.”Sir Alex Ferguson misses Man Utd vs Liverpool for lower league clash as he’s spotted live on Sky SportsPeterborough’s first goal was scored by captain Harrison Burrows in the 85th minute.Wycombe equalised just four minutes later before Burrows, who spoke exclusively to SunSport ahead of the game, bagged his side’s winner in stoppage time.Sir Alex Ferguson was in attendance, with his son Darren once again in the Peterborough hotseat.Fergie Jr has been Posh boss four times, and most recently returned in January last year.Peterborough are chasing promotion to the Championship and have six games remaining in League One.They currently sit in fourth place, eight points off the automatic promotion spots with two games in hand.Harrison Burrows clutches the trophy alongside manager Darren FergusonCredit: RexProud Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates with his sonCredit: Rex More

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    Newcastle lead transfer chase for EFL wonderkid who can run 100m just 1.4 seconds slower than Usain Bolt’s world record

    NEWCASTLE lead the Premier League chase for Peterborough winger Ricky-Jade Jones.Top scouts will watch Jones at Wembley in the EFL Trophy final against Wycombe.Peterborough ace Ricky Jade Jones (left) is wanted by NewcastleCredit: AlamyThe lightning-quick forward, 21, has scored 11 goals and provided five assists this season.Jones has been on the radar of bigger clubs since making his first-team debut aged 16.He runs 100 metres in 10.9 seconds and has added intelligent pressing and high work-rate to his game as he has matured.Usain Bolt holds the world-record for the 100m after running it in 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Athletics Championship.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLNewcastle are among the top-flight clubs now forced to be creative with their recruitment in response to tough new financial regulations.And Jones is regarded as one of the stars of the lower leagues.He has just over one year left on his current contract.Posh director of football Barry Fry will seek £2million.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSJones’ impressive displays have helped Peterborough close in on silverware and stay in the hunt for promotion to the Championship.Darren Ferguson’s, son of legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex, side are fourth in League One and look set to battle it out in the play-offs.Steve Bruce declares interest in shock international job as ex-Newcastle boss, 63, says ‘they have a hell of a team’WHAT IS FFP?SunSport’s Martin Lipton breaks down what it is all about…

    FFP – or Financial Fair Play – is a concept originally introduced by Uefa in 2009, officially to prevent clubs from spending money they could not afford.
    Yet many critics have rounded on the system, accusing it of being a protective instrument, drafted by the so-called “legacy clubs” to prevent insurgent and wealthier clubs from buying their way onto the top table.
    The Premier League introduced its own FFP regulations which came into effect for the 2013-14 season and which, while less stringent than Uefa regulations, they do impact on club spending.
    Under the current Prem “Profitability and Sustainability” regulations, clubs who are constant members of the top flight for a three-year period are allowed total losses of £105m over those three campaigns.
    But it is not as simple as totting up outlay and income.
    The biggest outlay, of course, is transfer fees. The 20 Prem clubs spent a total of around £2.4bn in last summer’s transfer window.
    Yet that does not mean they “spent” that money as far as the Prem rules are concerned.
    Transfer fees are “amortised” over the length of the contract, so, for example, a £100m fee for a player who signs a five-year deal is amortised at a cost of £20m per season for each of those five campaigns. More

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    Huge League One title clash STOPPED after fox invades pitch and scampers round the box

    A FOX halted Portsmouth’s League One top-two clash with Derby.Fans were stunned as the intruder emerged from nowhere to delay the game as County led 2-1 at Fratton Park in a thrilling 2-2 draw.The fox thwarted attempts to grab itCredit: PAJoe Ward struck twice for Derby before the Fox intervenedCredit: PAThe fox was too fast as it whipped across the boxCredit: PAThe Fox held up the Rams as it showed the fastest two pairs of legs on the pitch – racing from the penalty box to the corner flag.Players from both sides could only stand and watch before the unexpected invader was finally cleared from the pitch.Many observers pointed out that the Foxes – Leicester – had been playing 24 hours earlier.And one jobsworth fan warned the animal on X: “You can’t run there mate.”READ MORE TOP STORIESBut other viewers noted the poor condition of the fox’s fur.”Poor thing needs a vet,” commented one fan.The match resumed with leaders Portsmouth desperately searching for an equaliser.Derby winger Joe Ward had struck twice in 12 minutes before the break, with Pompey frontman Abu Mamara netting inbetween.Most read in EFLAnd after a fox on the pitch it was Moxon on his best best shooting form who brilliantly earned a draw.Namely, it was sub Owen Moxon who thumped a stunner on 77 minutes to restore Portsmouth’s five-point advantage at the top.However, Derby are still four points clear of third-placed Bolton.Sky Sports Soccer Saturday crew burst out laughing after mascot’s hilarious reaction to being shoved in EFL clash More

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    Iconic former EFL club likely to go PART-TIME as they fight to avoid dropping into seventh tier after points deduction

    TORQUAY UNITED face the prospect of losing their status as a professional football club.The former EFL stalwarts are fighting to keep their spot in the National League South, England’s sixth tier of football.Torquay United could stop being a professional clubCredit: RexTorquay were in League Two as recently as 2014 before being relegated to the National League.Following Monday’s 3-3 draw with Weston-super-Mare, the club sit just five points above the NLS relegation zone.This happened after the Gulls were handed a ten-point deduction following owner Clarke Osborne’s admission that he could no longer fund the club.The deduction came after his intentions to appoint administrators.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThere are multiple parties keen on buying the club, from local businesses and supporters.However, prospective owner Michael Westcott has insisted that the club may have to take a step back before returning to the Football League.This could also include seeing the club stop having a “full-time professional squad”.He told BBC Radio Devon: “We have to get realistic.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”This is a club that is losing a lot of money and that’s why we’re on the brink of administration.”There isn’t this enormous gulf in class between part-time and full-time football at our level – we’ve sat here in horror all season and seen how we’ve been played off the park by well-organised, well-marshalled part-time teams.Dean Scoggins travels to FC Koln in Germany to find Europe’s best Away Day”Our long-term goal is to get us back into the Football League as a competitive, full-time professional outfit that potentially yo-yo’s between League One and League Two.”But we need to establish a firm and solid foundation from which we can build on a different model.”No options are off the table as far as we’re concerned and if part of that model dictates that in our first year under new fan ownership that we need to take a step back from being a full-time professional squad in total, then we need to consider that.”As we progress we can then move to a hybrid model then ultimately to a full-time professional model that we think is required to get back into the English Football League.”Last season the club reported losses of almost £100,000 as they were relegated from the National League.Former Soccer AM presenter Helen Chamberlain is Torquay’s most well-known supporter and she took every opportunity to mention her beloved team on the classic  Sky Sports show.She even has the club’s crest tattooed on her bum.Helen Chamberlain is a famous fan of the GullsCredit: PA:Press Association More

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    Barnsley star Mael de Gevigney scores ‘goal of the day’ but his side still manage to lose 2-0 to dent promotion chances

    BARNSLEY star Mael de Gevigney endured a moment to forget during his side’s Good Friday clash with Cambridge.The promotion-chasing Tykes hosted the relegation-threatened U’s in a match with huge repercussions for both sides at Oakwell.By heck, de Gevigney with a smart finish, unfortunate for him it’s at the wrong end as the back pass wrong foots Roberts. Not much created by either side in this first quarter. Barnsley 0-1 Cambridge pic.twitter.com/mSJK6UCbEW— Chris Mann (@The_Mannster) March 29, 2024

    Mael de Gevigney attempted to play the ball back to his goalkeeperCredit: iFollowLiam Roberts was unable to control the wayward passCredit: iFollowThe ball ended up fizzing into the back of the netCredit: iFollowDespite going into the game as favourites, Barnsley got off to a nightmare start.After successfully winning the ball back on 13 minutes, centre-back De Gevigney turned back to face his own goal.He attempted to pass the ball to keeper Liam Roberts, only to get it badly wrong.To De Gevigney’s horror, his backpass fizzed beyond Roberts, who could not control it, and into the back of the net.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Frenchman’s fellow defender Jamie McCart was left with his head in his hands after witnessing the unfortunate own goal.Barnsley dominated possession, but could not find a route back into the game.And their defeat was confirmed 18 minutes from time, when Gassan Ahadme added a second for Cambridge.The surprise result saw fifth-placed Barnsley fail to narrow the gap on the teams above them.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThey are now 10 points behind second-placed Derby, albeit with two games in hand.Cambridge, meanwhile, moved three points away from the dreaded drop zone with their impressive triumph.Alan Pardew calls out the EFL amid controversial situation at Reading football clubUnfortunately for De Gevigney, his nightmare moment didn’t go unnoticed online.One fan wrote: “By heck, de Gevigney with a smart finish, unfortunate for him it’s at the wrong end.”A second moaned: “Someone tell de gevigney wrong p***ing net!”While a third joked: “Great strike by the Barnsley lad / cool finish past the keeper. Goal of the Day…”Another added: “Mael de Gevigney with an Easter gift for Cambridge United.”After the game, disappointed Barnsley boss Neill Collins said: “For all that I felt we should have won the game today, I think there’s still definitely signs that we need more.”We need more from everyone. Individual performances maybe haven’t been at the level that they have been previously today.”So there’s going to be opportunities for people between now and the end of the season, who want to take the spot.”Just because you’ve played really well up to this point, we’re at the point where you need to be in form, so the competition for spots is going to be tough.”De Gevigney joined Barnsley from Nimes last summer.He has been a regular for Collins this term, appearing 33 times in League One and even laying on five assists from centre-back.READ MORE SUN STORIESBarnsley return to action on Monday, when they travel to Burton Albion.Cambridge, meanwhile, will host Wigan Athletic. More

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    Hated EFL owner in advanced talks to sell club after abandoning plans to flog training ground to local rivals

    READING owner Dai Yongge has begun “exclusive talks” with a potential buyer as he looks to sell the League One side.Fans of the third-tier outfit have been in crisis under the Chinese businessman, 55, who bought 75 per cent of the club in 2017.Dai Yongge is in talks to sell Reading after seven years as ownerCredit: Rex FeaturesReading fans are eager to see the back of YonggeCredit: GettyThey were relegated from the Championship last season during which they were crucially deducted six points for various off-field breaches.They were then docked a point in August for breaching EFL regulations, with a further three suspended.The following month they triggered their extra three-point deduction, after failing to deposit 125 per cent of their monthly wage bill into an account by a date agreed to by the EFL.They then received their third points deduction of the season in February after they were docked an extra two points to take the total to six and overall total since Yongge’s takeover to 18.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLEarlier this month, reports emerged that Yongge was attempting to sell their Bearwood Park training ground to League One rivals Wycombe.But, after that was put on hold due to “planning limitations”, Reading supporters have finally received some positive news.Yongge is entering into a “period of exclusive negotiation to agree final terms” with the potential buyer.The identity of the other party has not yet been disclosed, but will be revealed when the deal is completed – which could take “up to two months”.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSReading timeline since Dai Yongge takeoverHere is how events have unfolded under Dai Yongge:

    May 2017 – Yongge takes control of 75 per cent of the club after they lost Championship play-off final on penalties to Huddersfield
    2021 – Reading’s accounts show pre-tax losses of £146million, with 234 per cent of its revenue spent on player wages
    2023 – Reading breach Financial Fair Play rules and amass deductions totalling six points
    May 2023 – Reading relegated down to the third tier for the first time in 31 years
    August 2023 – Docked one point and issued a suspended three-point punishment for breaching EFL regulations
    September 2023 – Suspended three-point deduction triggered
    February 2024 – Docked two more points for yet more breaches
    March 2024 – Yongge attempts to sell training ground to fellow League One side Wycombe
    March 2024 – Selling of the training ground put on hold due to planning limitations

    A statement released on Tuesday afternoon read: “The Club can confirm Mr Dai has committed to a letter of intent with a potential purchaser of Reading Football Club.”The parties will now enter a period of exclusive negotiation to agree the final terms. The completion is expected to take up to two months, at which time the purchaser will be announced.Reading vs Port Vale POSTPONED after mass pitch invasion as furious fans run on field in protest”The transaction would include the transfer of Mr Dai’s shareholding in The Reading Football Club Limited, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park training ground.”The club will communicate with further updates when appropriate.”The Club can confirm Mr Dai has committed to a letter of intent with a potential purchaser of Reading Football Club.”The parties will now enter a period of exclusive negotiation to agree the final terms. The completion is expected to take up to two months, at which time the purchaser will be announced.”The transaction would include the transfer of Mr Dai’s shareholding in The Reading Football Club Limited, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park training ground.”The club will communicate with further updates when appropriate.”Despite the off-field turmoil and deductions amassing to six points this season, Reading still sit 18th in League One, six points clear of the relegation zone with seven games remaining. More

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    Former Premier League stadium doubles up as HOTEL with fans able to watch matches from bed for £115 a night

    FOOTBALL FANS are able to watch games at this former Premier League stadium from the comfort of a BED.The Toughsheet Community Stadium opened its doors in 2007 and is the home of Bolton Wanderers.A former Premier League ground is doubling up as a hotelCredit: Booking.comFans have a unique opportunity when visiting Bolton WanderersCredit: Booking.comYou got watch the Trotters live from the comfort of your bedCredit: Booking.comRooms are available from just £115-a-nightCredit: Booking.comIt was home to a host of stars in the early 2000s such as Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo and Nicolas Anelka during Sam Allardyce’s time in charge.The ground holds over 28,000 supporters and even staged European football back in 2007/08 – including a famous victory over Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Cup.However, after Big Sam’s departure, the club’s form dropped dramatically and they were eventually relegated from the Premier League in May 2012.They have failed to return to the top-flight since and even dropped all the way down to League Two after years of financial chaos caused havoc at the club.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLuckily for the Trotters they now appear to be on the way back and are pushing for promotion back to the Championship as they ride high in League One.And they have come up with a way of generating some extra income through a hotel that is built into the Toughsheet Community Stadium.The Bolton Stadium Hotel is fully integrated into the ground and offers rooms that “are modern and spacious with en-suite bathrooms” plus all the facilities that you would expect for making a brew.But the best feature of all is that many of the rooms come with a pitch-side view.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThey are priced from £115-a-night – giving you the incredible opportunity to watch Bolton play live and in-person without even having to take off your PJs.The hotel, which is located just 500 yards from junction 6 on the M61,  also boasts a number of other features, including a glass atrium lobby and glass lifts.Every Premier League stadium ranked by the number of pubs nearby with one boasting over 130 local boozersAnd it has a sweeping staircase that leads you to what they describe as “an elegant brasserie and bar”.It offers guests light meals, drinks and coffee as well as a menu for lunch and dinner.But even if football is not your thing, the Middlebrook Retail Village is close by to keep you entertained.And you are only a quarter of an hour’s walk away from 10-pin bowling, a cinema and a variety of shops. Bolton, who are managed by Ian Evatt, are currently pushing for promotion from League One.They are third in the table, four points outside of the automatic spots and nine behind leaders Portsmouth.Fans could watch a promotion party in bed this MayCredit: Booking.comThe hotel also features a bar and restaurant to toast a Trotters victoryCredit: Booking.comThe Toughsheet Community Stadium is located just 500 yards off the motorwayCredit: Rex More

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    Justin Allen: Shelf-ish West Ham chief Sullivan shows he doesn’t live in real world with bizarre EFL supermarket analogy

    DAVID SULLIVAN likened the Premier League to Tesco and the EFL as a small supermarket chain.And the West Ham owner argued that the retail giants don’t pay out a subsidy to the little shops. he questions why should the top flight pour more money into the three lower divisions?David Sullivan does not back the Premier League paying more to the EFLCredit: GettyI don’t know if Sullivan ventures much into our high streets.But if he does, he will see that they have mostly been destroyed by retail giants. He will see boarded-up windows all over the place.Little shops were, and still should be, at the heart of communities… as should our EFL clubs.Sullivan can afford to shop at Harrods and Selfridges while most of us have to scour the shelves for bargains at Aldi or Lidl.READ MORE ON EFLJust like West Ham can afford to pay more than £50million for Brazil international Lucas Paqueta while the EFL’s bottom club Sutton United are a team packed of freebies.The Hammers chief does not seem to live in the real world – or appears at least detached from it.Does he care much about the loss of things such as our independent greengrocers, butchers and bakers?And does he give a damn about what has happened to clubs like Bury and Macclesfield as well as what is unfolding at Reading?Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERIf he does, Sullivan should be front and centre of a Premier League campaign to safeguard the EFL for generations to come.He should be sticking up for the little guys because once upon a time he himself heralded from humble beginnings.Sky Sports Soccer Saturday crew burst out laughing after mascot’s hilarious reaction to being shoved in EFL clashSullivan was brought up in a council house and should understand the value of things.The West Ham owner has rightly been receiving widespread stick for his ridiculous comments and has been accused of being selfish.His remarks smacked of “I’m alright Jack, pull up the ladder”.What Sullivan failed to mention is that EFL clubs, and non-league ones for that matter, are vital to the health of the Premier League.I wonder if it dawned on him in Prague in May when West Ham lifted the Europa Conference League trophy that matchwinner Jarrod Bowen started his career in non-league with Hereford and then honed his skills in the EFL at Hull City.And key frontman Michail Antonio also did the non-league yards with Tooting and Mitcham before touring the EFL with the likes of Reading, Cheltenham, Southampton when they were in League One, Colchester, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest.Without these clubs and lower divisions, neither player would have developed to become Premier League household names.Sullivan’s central argument is against introducing an independent football regulator to clean up our national game – and oversee a fairer distribution of funds across all levels of football.He believes that redistributing more funds out of the Premier League clubs’ ever-expanding coffers would threaten its status as the best football division on the planet.EFL chief executive Rick Parry pointed out clubs dining at English football’s top table pay more than £2BILLION more in wages than the four other major European leagues.Jarrod Bowen with the Conference League Trophy he won with West HamWest Ham’s Jarrod Bowen started in non-league with HerefordMichail Antonio also started his career in non-league and the EFL before West HamSo the notion that the Premier League will somehow be overtaken by other countries is fanciful and for the birds.What peeves me about the likes of Sullivan is his seemingly complete ignorance to the fact that the Premier League do not OWN our national gameThey are simply top of a highly-successful English football pyramid system that has been around for more than a century,Nowhere else in the world do you see a fourth-tier club like Bradford pulling in average gates of almost 18,000, apart from when Rangers were booted down to Scotland’s bottom division in 2012 of course.Or do you see elsewhere a cup competition for third and fourth-division clubs (the EFL Trophy) that in recent years have seen attendances at Wembley finals of 85,021 in 2019 for Charlton v Portsmouth and 79,839 for Bolton v Plymouth last April?Since the Premier League was formed in 1992, West Ham have only spent four seasons of the 32 in the second tier.Sullivan has experienced relegation from the top flight in East London and twice while he co-owned Birmingham with the late David Gold.So he knows first-hand how huge the disparity is between the Championship and Premier League.Sullivan does not want the parachute payment system to stop.Simple solution, David: manage your finances and contracts better then.But something has got to give. It is not right that clubs like Leeds, Leicester and Southampton should this season have received around £55m each while the other Championship clubs, apart from those still getting parachutes, receive just £8.2million. The West Ham owner does not think it is right for clubs like his to help those lower down the food chain who have mismanaged their finances.But then he contradicts himself by saying parachute payments are “not big enough” to help support teams that get relegated. He argues going down to the Championship would be “horrendous”.Well, simple solution, David: manage your finances and contracts better then.All deals should have relegation clauses in them where wages MUST drop as a result. I’m afraid Premier League footballers should also start living in the real world.If you fail, your wages must be cut accordingly.The Premier League right now have an opportunity to avoid a regulator coming in – but they want to play with the ball all to themselves.READ MORE SUN STORIESSo I am afraid it’s time for an adult to enter the room, crack their heads together and tell them to play fairly with the others.That will be the best way to make sure the EFL doesn’t turn into a little shop of horrors.Bury fans during the run-up of the Shakers being booted out of the EFL in 2019Macclesfield supporter protests about his club’s woesThe future of Reading is under threat More