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      Just 58% of Dream Team managers have used a Booster this season – activate one in Gameweek 12 for bumper returns

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      OVER half of all Dream Team managers are yet to play a single Booster this season.To be precise, 58% of gaffers still have Goal Bonus, 12th Man and Max Captain in the holster.Send your points into orbit by playing a BoosterCredit: Dream TeamWith over two thirds of the campaign remaining, this is perfectly reasonable given each Booster can only be played once per season – there’s certainly no need to be overly eager.However, if you’re included in the aforementioned 58% of bosses, you should at least consider the possibility of activating a Booster ahead of Gameweek 12.Generally speaking, Boosters are best deployed when the vast majority of your players have two fixtures at their disposal for the very simple reason that assets with additional games tend to perform better than counterparts who are essentially limited to league commitments.Seven teams are set to pull double duty in Gameweek 12 with Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa in Champions League action, Tottenham and Manchester United active in the Europa League, and Chelsea resuming their Conference League campaign.What’s more, several of those clubs have favourable league fixtures this weekend.A trip to Ipswich represents a relatively favourable start for Ruben AmorimCredit: GettyGAMEWEEK 12 DOUBLE HEADERS:MANCHESTER CITY vs Tottenham, FeyenoordARSENAL vs Nottingham Forest & Sporting CPLIVERPOOL vs Southampton & Real MadridASTON VILLA vs Crystal Palace & JuventusTOTTENHAM vs Manchester City & RomaMANCHESTER UNITED vs Ipswich & Bodo/GlimtCHELSEA vs Leicester & HeidenheimIf your team features plenty of Liverpool, Man United and Villa players then it might be well suited to a Booster as those three sides are due to face teams currently in the bottom four across Saturday and Sunday.Most read in FootballRemember, the Goal Bonus Booster increases the value of each goal from six points to nine points.For example, if you captain Mohamed Salah (£7.3m) and he bags a brace against Saints and a goal against the La Liga giants in midweek, which is perfectly feasible on current form, you’re looking at a mega haul of 70+ points from the Egyptian superstar alone.It goes without saying that your XI needs to be loaded with goal threats when you activate Goal Bonus – there’s no point hitting the button when you’ve got five defenders.Salah could feast against bottom-of-the-league Southampton on SundayCredit: GettyAlternatively, you might want to consider selecting a 12th Man for Gameweek 12.If you haven’t got Bruno Fernandes (£6.1m) in your midfield and can’t afford to recruit the game’s most in-form player via a transfer ahead of Saturday’s deadline then the Portuguese playmaker would make an excellent 12th Man with the Red Devils set to face Ipswich and Bodo/Glimt.Man United’s fixtures look even more appealing if you believe in the power of a New Manager Bounce with Ruben Amorim now firmly in charge at Old Trafford.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWIt should be stressed that Boosters should only be played when it suits your specific team – don’t force it if it’s not the right time.Gameweek 12 looks like an inviting opportunity on paper but with several popular players currently flagged as availability concerns – Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Bryan Mbeumo, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, etc – it may not be the right time for you.But if the stars align there could be bumper points up for grabs this coming Gameweek.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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      Ex-Man City women’s star probed for ‘conning fuming parents out of £45k in coaching sessions that NEVER happened’

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      AN international women’s footballer is being investigated for allegedly conning parents out of thousands of pounds for coaching sessions that never took place.Welsh star Natasha Harding, who played for Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa, is accused of taking hundreds of pounds for one-to-one training with youngsters – but never carrying out the classes.Natasha Harding in action for Manchester City in 2015Credit: GettyHarding was capped 103 times by WalesCredit: GettyAngry parents claim Harding, capped 103 times by Wales in a star-studded career, owes them £45,000 in refunds.Harding has apologised for the cancelled sessions but said it was “unavoidable” and “beyond my control”.She said she is “devastated” over the situation and has agreed to pay refunds.There are 27 “victims” including whole teams of young girls, who are said to have handed over as much as £1,200 each without getting anything in return.Read More SportIndividual sessions for kids aged between eight and 15 cost £30 an hour, but many parents were buying multiple classes and some included whole squads of hopefuls.Now the South Wales football community, where Harding began her career, fear the ex-striker has deliberately taken their money and has no intention of giving it back or holding any of the coaching sessions.A WhatsApp group was created by outraged parents, after they realised more and more alleged victims were owed hundreds of pounds by Harding.A source, whose 12-year-old daughter was due to train with the ex-pro, told The Sun: “She promises a lot to the kids, my friend’s daughter is autistic and she kept asking when she was going to see Natasha.Most read in Football“She spent £900, she would add on dietician and gym plans but never actually got anything.“She has repaid small amounts now that she knows we are putting up a fight to get our money back.“But the parents who are owed more than £1,000 have got nothing back.”After retiring from professional football last year Harding, 35, started offering out days where children could participate in private sessions.According to sources, the sessions grew in popularity and Harding started block booking for up to £360.OUT OF POCKETA lot of the children who booked onto the sessions play for academies in Gwent, South East Wales, or The South Girls’ Development Centre.Their parents are fearful that speaking out could affect their children’s future football careers.The anonymous source added: “She is putting fear into us because she is perceived to control the football world, she’s got contacts everywhere.“My daughter ended up having zero sessions, I couldn’t get her to commit to a date and it took me weeks to chase her for a refund.“People are realising she has purposefully taken money with no intention of giving it back.”The promised sessions were supposed to start in June 2023 and when they began to be cancelled many gave Harding “the benefit of the doubt”.But now parents are exchanging up to 90 messages a day on a specially set-up WhatsApp group as the missed thirty-pound sessions have begun piling up.Reported excuses include Harding telling parents she had two car crashes in three weeks, alongside two car breakdowns and one car “blow out”.Harding, Welsh Footballer of the Year in 2016, has been reported to Action Fraud, and the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre.It is understood parents have also reported her to Gwent Police and Gloucestershire Police.STAR’S APOLOGYHarding, 35, who lives in Stroud, Glos, has apologised and blames circumstances beyond her control for the missed coaching sessions.She told The Sun: “I offer my apologies to those affected whose sessions I could not complete. “This was unavoidable, and it was never the intention not to fulfil the sessions.”Because of circumstances beyond my control, which was always made clear to parents, I had to cancel some sessions after initiating and completing others.”Harding, now a TV commentator on the women’s game, added: “I’ve been trying to expand my small academy and was unfortunately let down by additional coaches, my car being written off and the second car breaking down.“When without a car I caught a two-hour train to sessions to avoid cancellations, lugging my equipment with me and needing taxis.”However, this was not sustainable.”The academy’s purpose is to provide detailed technical coaching to young boys and girls and provide them with opportunities I never had, with the cost below alternative coaches to give equal opportunity without barriers, prejudices, or preferences.”I’m devastated that I haven’t been able to finish the session blocks, and I’ve always been upfront about the problems I’ve faced that are beyond my control.”We agreed on refunds for those sessions and I have paid them.READ MORE SUN STORIES”The majority of parents have been incredibly understanding and I have received a huge amount of positive references and I continue to work hard, delivering local sessions.”A spokeswoman for Action Fraud confirmed a complaint had been made about Harding. 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      Raheem Sterling opens up on ‘difficult’ upbringing as troubled kid before becoming Premier League star

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      RAHEEM STERLING has opened up on the “great support network” that saw him overcome a troubled childhood to become a Premier League star.The Arsenal winger, 29, has a foundation in his name that funds knife banks and university places for boys as well as hosting mentoring sessions.Arsenal’s Raheem Sterling has enjoyed an incredible Prem career so farCredit: GettySterling had a troubled upbringing before joining QPR and then Liverpool’s academyCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdThat foundation is supporting a campaign launched today by Multibank – a nationwide network of donation hubs designed to help those with cost-of-living struggles.Several weeks ago, Sterling spent three hours with seven young men from Brent’s youth offending service in King’s Cross to act as a mentor, giving advice and telling his own story.Sterling was born in Kingston, Jamaica before moving to London with his mother age five after his father was tragically murdered three years earlier.A difficult upbringing – including being displaced by social housing and regular school suspensions – was turned around from the age of nine when he came across Clive Ellington, a volunteer mentor to young boys who introduced Sterling to his first football club: Alpha and Omega FC in Kingsbury, Brent.read more footballCharity Multibank said one million children arrive at school with dirty uniforms as many families now see detergent as a luxury item. And some 19 per cent of parents polled by The Hygiene Bank said their kids have missed school in the past year because of shame over unwashed clothes, creating a classroom divide.Children are also isolated and made fun of with nasty comments due to poor hygiene, teachers say.On meeting Ellington, Sterling – who also has 82 caps for England – explained: “It was a real difficult period for me in my schooling because it was a time I was getting expelled from school.Most read in Football“I was moving schools, moving around a lot. [Ellington] was a massive help for me to kind of see a different perspective.“I always struggled because of circumstances at home that I couldn’t quite understand myself.“Those actions and things started to play a pattern in my school with my focus, with my behaviour and how I was within the school environment.“[Ellington] made me see different opportunities. I wasn’t too much into football before that. I wasn’t playing, just at school and stuff at home, but he brought me into it at grassroot level.“I was starting to smile again and having a place that I could express myself was a real weight off my shoulder.“Looking back now, it’s easier to see, but as a child you’re probably not understanding what’s going on, but at the same time, taking in what’s going on.“So, you can’t quite understand how to interpret that in your speech and how to communicate that with people.”At 11-years-old, Sterling was picked up by academy systems at Queens Park Rangers and then Liverpool, going on to star for the Reds as a 17-year-old.After seven years at Manchester City between 2015 and 2022 – winning four Prem titles – he joined Chelsea for around £50m before joining the Gunners on loan this summer.Sterling continued: “I give a lot of credit to [Ellington]. It is something that is vital for individuals to have a great support network around them.“Year after year, the progress in my behaviour and in my concentration and just maturing as a young man.”Meanwhile, England rugby star Maro Itoje, who is also backing the campaign, said: “It’s our duty as a society to look out for those who are coming behind us.”Entertainment platforms Sky, Prime Video, TNT Sports and TalkSport have also joined forces to support the campaign.Tottenham are one of the first Prem clubs to also align with the Multibank scheme, focusing on affording basic hygiene products, with a donation bank available at their game against Fulham on December 1.England star Itoje is also backing the campaignDonna-Maria Cullen, executive director at Spurs, said the football club has made donations to its local foodbanks ahead of Christmas in support of the most vulnerable within the community.She said: “We are certain that our football family will unite to ensure young people in our area are able to build their confidence from an early stage in life by having access to basic hygiene products.”Andy Carpenter, head of the Harlequins Foundation, said: “Given our dedication to working with young people living in the poorest areas to address the deprivation-related challenges they face, it was a no-brainer to be a part of this campaign to support those most in need in our heartlands.”READ MORE SUN STORIESMultibank said: “With two in three staff expecting the level of hygiene poverty to increase in their school, we endeavour to get soap, shampoo, shower gel, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes, in the hands of those most in need.”The Multibank’s 2024 Christmas campaign is designed to raise awareness and respond to rising issues of hygiene poverty. For more information visit: https://themultibank.co.uk/ More

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      Pep Guardiola ‘has no relegation break clause’ in new Man City contract despite threat of punishment over 115 charges

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has reportedly agreed to extend his stay at Manchester City.But his new contract does not include a break clause if City are relegated as punishment for the 115 financial charges tabled against them, according to The Guardian.Pep Guardiola’s contract does not include a relegation break clauseCredit: PAGuardiola, 53, is understood to have agreed to extend his stay at the Etihad by a further year until 2026.However there is no agreement in the deal for the Spaniard to simply walk away if City are relegated.City are involved in a court battle with the Premier League over their alleged financial crimes, with the club denying all allegations.Guardiola insisted he was looking forward to the beginning of the trial, despite one possible consequence being City’s expulsion from all domestic competitions. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, SunSport understands that it is unlikely that that the Cityzens would be dumped from all competitions despite the rules allowing for it to happen.But it has been reported that a one-off points deduction is not seen as “sufficient punishment” for City if they are found guilty of their alleged breaches.Relegation remains a potential option and Guardiola was defiant when asked about the possibility of dropping to the lower leagues.Asked if he would consider his position if City were relegated, he replied: “I will answer when I have the sentence.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“You are questioning like we have been punished. And in the moment we are innocent until guilt is proved. I know the people want it. I know, I feel it. I will wait. Wait and see it and after the sentence has been done we will come here and explain it.“But absolutely I will not consider my future [if] it depends on being here [Premier League] or being in League One. Absolutely. There is more chance to stay if we are in League One than if we were in the Champions League.”Meet Man City’s Nico O’Reilly: Rodri’s heir? More

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      Man City chief slams ‘awful’ transfer window after Treble as stars either wanted more money or were ‘p***ed off’

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      MANCHESTER CITY’S historic Treble led to one of their most troubling transfer windows ever, club chief Txiki Begiristain has revealed.City matched the historic feat oftheir bitter rivals Manchester United in the 2022/23 season by winning the Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League.Manchester City won a historic Treble in the 2022/23 seasonCredit: GETTYBut club chief Txiki Begiristain has revealed the historic season led to a summer of turmoilCredit: GettyBut their success, according to Begiristain, prompted a slew of players – some of whom left the Etihad the following summer – to lay down ultimatums to the club.The Spaniard – who is set to leave at the end of the season – said in the soon-to-released Together: 4 in a Row documentary: “The transfer window was a bit awful.”At least for me. After winning the Treble, everyone was confused.”The protagonists from those trophies were thinking they should get more or new contracts and take the opportunities.READ MORE ON CITY”And the ones who didn’t play in finals were p***ed off and trying to get out from the club.”Cole Palmer, Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte and Ilkay Gundogan would all leave the Etihad in the months that followed City’s Treble.And the club broke their wage structure in order to stop skipper Kyle Walker from joining German giants Bayern Munich.The slew of departures, however, didn’t stop City from winning a historic fourth Premier League title on the trot last season in what was set to be manager Pep Guardiola’s penultimate season with the club.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWhat will happen to Man City?MAN CITY are favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?Lipton: Yes…. probably! We know the case will start to be dealt with in October or November.It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.Custis: Why is that?Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future.But the Spaniard is said to be on the verge of inking a new deal with the Citizens.It’s claimed Guardiola, who was on the FA’s shortlist of candidates to replace Gareth Southgate as England manager, is on course to sign a new one-year extension at Eastlands.Pep Guardiola applauds ‘unbelievable’ Erling Haaland’s stunning acrobatic goal Manchester City will be back in action on Saturday evening, welcoming Tottenham to the Etihad. More

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      Stunning former Premier League Wag left shocked as she watches huge bear raiding her bins

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      A FORMER Premier League Wag was left horrified after a bear raided her bins.Stunning model, Evangelia Anderson, is married to ex-Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis.Evangelia Anderson has had a run-in with a huge bear after arriving in MexicoCredit: FacebookThe bear was filmed by her making off with a rubbish bagCredit: FacebookShe is married to former Manchester City star Martin DemichelisCredit: FacebookAfter hanging up his boots in 2017, the Argentine pursued a career in coaching which has led him to taking a job with CF Monterrey in Mexico.Evangelina, whom he married in 2015, has been busy on social media revealing how life in Mexico is going.However, she did not expect to find huge bears wandering their new neighbourhood after venturing down from nearby mountains in search of food.But that is exactly what happened in a recent video shared to her Instagram story that she filmed from her window on Saturday.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt showed a large black bear rummaging through bins on the street outside.The bear is seen moving a white box into the road before picking out a bin bag and running off with it held in its jaws.Amazingly, this is not her first encounter with a wild bear either. In October she showed how a bear was seen lurking in bushes next to a house at night, while another video showed one sitting in the overgrowth next to a house.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSA third video showed a bear wandering through a construction site.Evangelina is the mother of three children with Demichelis.Erling Haaland does pull ups on cliff edge and runs with wolves as Man City ace stars in insane Beats by Dre advert They moved to Mexico after the 43-year-old was sacked from his role at River Plate.Demichelis won the Premier League and two League Cups with Man City between 2013 and 2016.His career also saw him star for River Plate, Bayern Munich, Malaga Atletico Madrid and Espanyol.He earned 51 caps for the Argentina national team, scoring twice. More

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      Pep Guardiola on verge of sensational new Man City deal to extend stay past a decade despite being expected to leave

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      PEP GUARDIOLA is close to agreeing a new one-year contract extension with Manchester City.The 53-year-old’s existing deal is due to expire at the end of the season.Pep Guardiola has agreed a new one-year deal with Man CityCredit: EPAHowever, SunSport understands Guardiola has committed to a deal in principal with the reigning Premier League champions for at least another year.It’s expected he will put pen to paper on a new one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.Should the terms be fulfilled, it would take his time at the Etihad to a decade.Guardiola joined City back in 2016 following the departure of Manuel Pellegrini.Read More in FootballOver the last eight years, the Spaniard has won 18 trophies including six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the Club World Cup.But there had been speculation regarding his future in recent weeks amid the club’s legal battle with Prem bosses.The hearing into Man City’s alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play has entered it’s 10th week.City are currently facing 115 charges relating to their financial dealings between 2009 and 2018.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSIf found guilty, the Prem giants could face a significant punishment.They may even be expelled from the top division.Man City player ratings: Even Pep Guardiola can’t believe how good Erling Haaland is as new Samba man fails to shine (1)With Guardiola set to stay, he will be forced to lead the Cityzens through the storm of whatever penalty – if any – they receive.Following Man City’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon earlier this month, the manager said: “It is a tough challenge, but I am here.”It will be a tough season — we knew that from the start. But this is what it is. I like it, I love it, I want to face it and lift my players and try it.” More

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      Premier League fines hit nearly £1MILLION after just 11 games with worst teams revealed as behaviour worsens

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      SO much for the Respect campaign — it is already starting to look more like Anarchy in the UK.Well, in English top-flight football, certainly.The biggest fine so far was £125,000 to Nottingham Forest after the spat with ChelseaCredit: PANottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is still serving a five-game banCredit: PAFor Premier League clubs to be approaching £1million in matchday misconduct fines before the Christmas decorations have gone up is the clearest possible signal that behaviour is heading in the wrong direction.Not just the players and managers are losing control, but assistant bosses, sporting directors and even one notoriously combustible owner.And with the most cluttered part of the entire season about to launch — clubs face as many as 12 matches in just five weeks across various competitions — the FA probably need to hire more staff for its fines department to cover for holiday absences.Whether it is behaviour falling, a response to perceived refereeing inadequacy, or that fines are an increasingly ineffective means of controlling tempers, is a question that may not be possible to answer.Read More on FootballBut what is clear is that almost every week brings another financial penalty or FA misconduct charge, with the current Prem aggregate standing at £917,500.The biggest single fine levied so far was the £125,000 Nottingham Forest were ordered to pay  after the spat sparked by Neco Williams’ shove on Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella in the latter stages of October’s  Stamford Bridge draw.Defender Cucurella was pushed into Blues boss Enzo Maresca, leading to a fracas involving both benches  and players.The melee also cost Chelsea £90,000,  half of which was after the Blues picked up six yellow cards from ref Chris Kavanagh.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMaresca responded not with  any contrition, but praise. He said: “I like the way the team is fighting. I don’t see any problems with that.”Perhaps unsurprising then the Forest game was the second of THREE matches in which Chelsea picked up six bookings this term — costing them £150,000 in total.Premier League referee David Coote update after statement from UEFA and revelation that referees don’t get drug testedForest, in turn, really are walking a financial tightrope following their repeated offences. Last  season’s attack on VAR Stuart Attwell, ‘outing’ him as a Luton fan, cost them £750,000 — plus  a £40,000 fine for boss Nuno Espirito Santo and £24,000 for defender Williams.But it means that Forest started this season with their copybook already blotted.And that was before owner Evangelos Marinakis opted to spit towards officials in the  tunnel after their home loss by Fulham.Marinakis is still serving the five-game ban imposed by an independent commission and which was upheld on appeal.To be fair, so far at least, we have not witnessed the chaos that marred Fulham’s FA Cup defeat at Manchester United in 2023.Cottagers striker Aleksandar Mitrovic received an eight-game ban and the two clubs rattled up fines adding up to £180,000. PGMOL bosses want their officials to report any instances in which they are harassed or feel intimidated, on or off the pitch.More casesLeicester, Tottenham and West Ham have all been punished for collective misbehaviour by players.Southampton skipper Jack Stephens ended up with a five-match ban and £50,000 fine after his furious response to a clear red card against United.Man Utd coach Darren Fletcher and Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs have both been unable to keep a lid on their frustrations with decisions they did not like.And there have been 14 instances of clubs receiving six or more cards in a match, with Bournemouth and United both guilty on two occasions, each offence adding a further £25,000 to the standard fine.No wonder that within the FA there is a feeling that a light needs to be shone on the snarling petulance being shown time and again on the pitch, from the dugout and even the directors’ box.Wembley chiefs know that what happens in the Premier League is reflected across the country on grassroots pitches, leading to a worrying shortfall in referees.It is an ugly look for the beautiful game and there is little reason to think it will not get worse.READ MORE SUN STORIESMaybe the punishments need to become even more severe, even leading to points deductions. That might, at last, make people think. More