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      in Soccer

      Terminally-ill Sven-Goran Eriksson says ‘we are scared of the day we die – I had a good life’ in tragic goodbye message

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      TERMINALLY-ILL Sven-Goran Eriksson said he “had a good life” as he shared a tragic goodbye message in a new documentary.The former England and Manchester City manager bravely revealed in January that he’s been battling pancreatic cancer.Sven Goran Eriksson shared a poignant goodbye message in a new documentaryCredit: Amazon PrimeThe former England manager, pictured with Wayne Rooney, admitted he doesn’t know how much longer he has leftCredit: PASven-Goran Eriksson with his ex-lover Italian lawyer Nancy Dell’OllioCredit: Rex FeaturesDoctors initially gave the Swede – who managed the Three Lions for five years and three tournaments – “about a year” to live.The 76-year-old has now seen his life chronicled in a documentary for Amazon Prime Video which will be released on August 23.Sven gave a final message to former players, coaches and supporters after speaking openly about his affairs and life in the film. In a touching clip at the end of the documentary, Sven told viewers: “I had a good life. I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well. Read More in Football”You have to learn to accept it for what it is. Hopefully at the end people will say, yeah, he was a good man, but everyone will not say that.“I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do. Don’t be sorry, smile. “Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it’s been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it.”The film then pans back to Sven in his home, with the former England manager concluding his message with “bye”.Most read in FootballKey images from his career were shown during his final message, along with a clip of him fulfilling his dream of managing Liverpool, taking charge of the Reds for a legends game against Ajax in March.Since falling ill, Sven has spent almost all his time at his Swedish home in Sunne, and has reconnected with his family.Speaking on a visit to Fryken lake, near Sunne, Sven admitted it could be his final resting place.Sven-Goran Eriksson close to tears as he’s given incredibly emotional tribute by former club amid cancer battlePointing at the lake, he said: “I always thought it’s a great place to sleep. “The ashes could be thrown into the water here. It feels like home.” The film shows simple, happy days spent reading, playing cards and enjoying meals with son Johan, daughter Lina and his partner of 15 years, Yaniseth Bravo.Sven bossed England from 2001 to 2006 but never took the Three Lions past the quarter-finals of a tournament.He was criticised for failing to get the best out of the “Golden Generation”, with England also exiting Euro 2004 at the last eight stage.In his first major tournament, the 2002 World Cup in Japan, Sven’s England lost 2-1 in the quarter-final to ten-man Brazil, the eventual winners.Then came the double exits to Portugal, and Sven left the role after the 2006 World Cup.As well as discussing how he feels facing death, England’s first foreign manager also talked candidly about the women in his life.The celebrated football coach had a conservative approach on the pitch but a series of steamy affairs with much younger women off it.Sven has spent most of his time back in his homeland SwedenCredit: Amazon PrimeHe was the first foreign manager to coach EnglandCredit: ReutersDavid Beckham featured in the documentaryCredit: Amazon PrimeEngland and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney also spoke about SvenCredit: Amazon PrimeIn the Amazon Prime Show, he spoke about how he cheated on his long-time partner Nancy Dell’Ollio with Ulrika Jonsson and FA secretary Faria Alam.But Sven told the programme that he did not commit any crimes and that “sex is one of the good things in life for all of us”.In the documentary, Sven also admits that life could be interesting with fiery Nancy.He said: “She loved it. The tension. She was a lady from the upper classes in Rome. She liked to go out with important people.“In the beginning I didn’t react very much. But you don’t change people at a certain age. It was not peace in my house always.”And Faria, now 58, reveals how the then-England manager told her to cash in on their 2004 affair.She says: “The Noughties were just that, they were naughty.“You could do so many things. I’ll be honest, I was a beautiful girl and I attracted a lot of attention.“He said, ‘Tell your story, go and tell them everything. Make some money, why not?’.”READ MORE SUN STORIESIn the documentary, which streams this week, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney also pay tribute to their former boss. Becks says: “I loved him from day one. He made me captain. The confidence he had in me was so important.“The way he protected the players, the way he treated the players, it was a breath of fresh air.”Sven had a fling with Swede Ulrika Jonsson while he was with NancyCredit: gettyHe also cheated on long-time partner Nancy with FA secretary Faria Alam, aboveCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdUlrika JohnsonWHEN I look at Sven-Goran Eriksson now, I see a much diminished man. A man reduced by terminal illness, but also a man who, by his own admission, has had a good life.As The Sun told yesterday, he talks about his private life on his Amazon Prime film Sven, including his affair with me.We first met in 2002, when I asked him for his autograph at a party held by Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s spin doctor.He replied to me in our native language, Swedish, asking for my telephone number so he could call me. I was single at the time and 34. He was 54 and confided that he wanted to end his relationship with Nancy Dell’Olio because it was sapping him of energy.He then proceeded to call me every day when he went on holiday with Nancy, telling me I was beautiful and how much he wanted to see me.When he returned, the day after his 54th birthday, he visited me and we slept together.This was no great passionate affair. It was devoid of passion. He had all this power and money, yet he was the weakest man I have ever met.During our dalliance he was heading to his place in Portugal for the night between England games and asked me to join him.He said I should book myself on his flight and he would reimburse me. I said no way, I pay my own way — I’ve never taken money from a man.It was a point of principle.We met in the Club Lounge at Heathrow, pretending we had just met, and sat next to each other on the flight, almost giggling all the way.Then we spent the night at his place, where his housekeepers cooked us a meal.The following morning we left for the airport together and, in the car, he put a blank cheque from Coutts in my pocket when I wasn’t looking.I keep it for posterity. But it might have been nice to fill it out at some point for all the hassle he brought me!When news of our affair broke, he didn’t confirm what went on between us. This meant I was left high and dry, even to the point that people believed I had made it up to get Press attention.That really angered me.I was an independent, working woman who did not voluntarily need to create a drama around my life for attention.He says in his documentary that he didn’t commit a crime, and he’s right about that.But he did do wrong.And he simply didn’t really care about much of life.As far as I could tell, he cared only about three things: His two children, who he adored. And football.Even when we were in Portugal, I asked him about his ex, the mother of his children.He said he had moved the wedding day in fav- our of a football match and she wasn’t happy.And I wondered if he was romantic and asked him how he proposed.I was surprised when he confided that she had proposed to him, which confirmed to me that I don’t think he had a romantic bone in his body. I know people didn’t understand why we were seeing each other, as it was an odd connection.Initially it was the Swedish thing that united us — and football.We talked about football a lot. But he was chivalrous and, in his heart, he was a kind man.He brought a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne — without fail — every time he came to my house.For me, he showed me kindness and I’d just been going through the most horrendous time with being abandoned by my sick daughter’s biological father and worrying if she was going to get through her operations.When someone shows you kindness, it grabs your attention. In the film, he says he does have feelings, but he doesn’t show them. I think that’s honest and true. We never exchanged words of affection — it wasn’t that kind of set-up.I just saw him when he could get away from Nancy or was on the way to football games.Nancy admits in the film that she only stuck with him because she could get something out of it, which strongly suggests that she only really was with him because of the fame and the glory.She should be grateful for me raising her profile. She seemingly made a career out of “refusing to accept that she had been cheated on”.Before news of the affair between me and Sven broke, she was just the Italian girlfriend of the England manager. When it hit the headlines Nancy was suddenly famous. And she used that to her advantage. She’d have never been on Strictly Come Dancing if it wasn’t for me.Sven told me she was very fiery — it was a volatile relationship and I felt it was clear that he didn’t really, truly care about her.But he never promised me he would leave her, because I never asked him to.I sensed he feared her. And he confirms that in the film.He says he was afraid (of leaving her). He admitted to me that she “loved” the attention she was getting from the media, so it’s little wonder if she didn’t want to give that up.And obviously, apart from women attacking each other, there is the problem that misogyny is still verymuch alive and kicking in the world of football. Women continue to be viewed as pawns in a game of utmost importance, ruled over by men who show little but disdain for the opposite sex.I’ve never in my life fought over a man. I know Nancy was clinging to Sven, but she really needn’t have worried.She threw insults at me because she didn’t believe the brief affair was true. Surely her beef should have been with him?In the film, Sven’s son says how his dad doesn’t stress about things, and that was my experience, too.He never got concerned about things and said to me, “Why worry about something which might not happen?”.He’s bright and studied philosophy, which is probably what brought a new and different approach to being England boss.Many didn’t like that he wasn’t demonstrably expressive, but that was just the way he was.Nancy says in the film that Sven is a narcissist, but I think that might be unfair. I just think he’s a very simple-minded person. And by that I mean he only puts energy into the things that are important to him. He’s pragmatic. Not a practical man, however.He proudly showed me his hands and said “these have never done a day’s hard work”.Sven is certainly a thinker, perhaps more than a doer.I extracted myself from the situation when he clearly wasn’t going to ’fess up and carried on going out publicly with Nancy.I certainly didn’t become a Princess Di character, where there were “three of us” in that relationship.For a while he kept phoning me to speak to me or ask me to see him. He even got his agent to phone my agent to ask if I would wait for him after the World Cup. I declined.Sven is right, of course, about his outlook on life now.Life is short and I believe he has certainly made the most of it.He has led a life according to his own wills and desires.I’m sure he has regrets over some of his actions, but what good are regrets when the clock is ticking?We can but do our best.I bear him no ill will.I hope he squeezes the best out of whatever life he has left and that, on reflection, he realises that to err is to be human.He didn’t get it all right. But then, who does? More

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      in Soccer

      Sven-Göran Eriksson gave me blank cheque after romp but I never cashed it even when he left me high & dry, says Ulrika

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      WHEN I look at Sven-Goran Eriksson now, I see a much diminished man. A man reduced by terminal illness, but also a man who, by his own admission, has had a good life.As The Sun told yesterday, he talks about his private life on his Amazon Prime film Sven, including his affair with me.Ulrika Jonsson opens up on her time with Sven-Göran ErikssonCredit: Scope FeaturesUlrika says: ‘I was single at the time and he confided that he wanted to end his relationship with Nancy Dell’Olio because it was sapping him of energy’Credit: Rex FeaturesAfter a night together, Sven popped a blank check in Ulrika’s pocket when she was not lookingWe first met in 2002, when I asked him for his autograph at a party held by Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s spin doctor.He replied to me in our native language, Swedish, asking for my telephone number so he could call me. I was single at the time and 34. He was 54 and confided that he wanted to end his relationship with Nancy Dell’Olio because it was sapping him of energy.He then proceeded to call me every day when he went on holiday with Nancy, telling me I was beautiful and how much he wanted to see me.READ MORE ON SVENWhen he returned, the day after his 54th birthday, he visited me and we slept together.This was no great passionate affair. It was devoid of passion. He had all this power and money, yet he was the weakest man I have ever met.During our dalliance he was heading to his place in Portugal for the night between England games and asked me to join him.He said I should book myself on his flight and he would reimburse me. I said no way, I pay my own way — I’ve never taken money from a man.Most read in Football‘Pawns in a game’It was a point of principle.We met in the Club Lounge at Heathrow, pretending we had just met, and sat next to each other on the flight, almost giggling all the way.Legendary ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson kept terminal pancreas cancer secret for a year to enjoy time with familyThen we spent the night at his place, where his housekeepers cooked us a meal.The following morning we left for the airport together and, in the car, he put a blank cheque from Coutts in my pocket when I wasn’t looking.He presented me with a blank cheque which he put in my pocket when I wasn’t lookingI keep it for posterity. But it might have been nice to fill it out at some point for all the hassle he brought me!When news of our affair broke, he didn’t confirm what went on between us. This meant I was left high and dry, even to the point that people believed I had made it up to get Press attention.That really angered me.I was an independent, working woman who did not voluntarily need to create a drama around my life for attention.He says in his documentary that he didn’t commit a crime, and he’s right about that.But he did do wrong.And he simply didn’t really care about much of life.As far as I could tell, he cared only about three things: His two children, who he adored. And football.Even when we were in Portugal, I asked him about his ex, the mother of his children.He said he had moved the wedding day in fav- our of a football match and she wasn’t happy.And I wondered if he was romantic and asked him how he proposed.I was surprised when he confided that she had proposed to him, which confirmed to me that I don’t think he had a romantic bone in his body. I know people didn’t understand why we were seeing each other, as it was an odd connection.Initially it was the Swedish thing that united us — and football.We talked about football a lot. But he was chivalrous and, in his heart, he was a kind man.He brought a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne — without fail — every time he came to my house.No ‘words of affection’For me, he showed me kindness and I’d just been going through the most horrendous time with being abandoned by my sick daughter’s biological father and worrying if she was going to get through her operations.When someone shows you kindness, it grabs your attention. In the film, he says he does have feelings, but he doesn’t show them. I think that’s honest and true. We never exchanged words of affection — it wasn’t that kind of set-up.I just saw him when he could get away from Nancy or was on the way to football games.She should be grateful for me raising her profile, she made a career out of ‘refusing to accept that she had been cheated on’Ulrika on Nancy Dell’OlioNancy admits in the film that she only stuck with him because she could get something out of it, which strongly suggests that she only really was with him because of the fame and the glory.She should be grateful for me raising her profile. She seemingly made a career out of “refusing to accept that she had been cheated on”.Before news of the affair between me and Sven broke, she was just the Italian girlfriend of the England manager. When it hit the headlines Nancy was suddenly famous. And she used that to her advantage. She’d have never been on Strictly Come Dancing if it wasn’t for me.Sven told me she was very fiery — it was a volatile relationship and I felt it was clear that he didn’t really, truly care about her.But he never promised me he would leave her, because I never asked him to.I sensed he feared her. And he confirms that in the film.He says he was afraid (of leaving her). He admitted to me that she “loved” the attention she was getting from the media, so it’s little wonder if she didn’t want to give that up.And obviously, apart from women attacking each other, there is the problem that misogyny is still verymuch alive and kicking in the world of football. Women continue to be viewed as pawns in a game of utmost importance, ruled over by men who show little but disdain for the opposite sex.I’ve never in my life fought over a man. I know Nancy was clinging to Sven, but she really needn’t have worried.She threw insults at me because she didn’t believe the brief affair was true. Surely her beef should have been with him?In the film, Sven’s son says how his dad doesn’t stress about things, and that was my experience, too.He never got concerned about things and said to me, “Why worry about something which might not happen?”.’Thinker perhaps more than a doer’He’s bright and studied philosophy, which is probably what brought a new and different approach to being England boss.Many didn’t like that he wasn’t demonstrably expressive, but that was just the way he was.Nancy says in the film that Sven is a narcissist, but I think that might be unfair. I just think he’s a very simple-minded person. And by that I mean he only puts energy into the things that are important to him. He’s pragmatic. Not a practical man, however.He proudly showed me his hands and said “these have never done a day’s hard work”.Sven is right, of course, about his outlook on life now. Life is short and I believe he has certainly made the most of itSven is certainly a thinker, perhaps more than a doer.I extracted myself from the situation when he clearly wasn’t going to ’fess up and carried on going out publicly with Nancy.I certainly didn’t become a Princess Di character, where there were “three of us” in that relationship.For a while he kept phoning me to speak to me or ask me to see him. He even got his agent to phone my agent to ask if I would wait for him after the World Cup. I declined.Sven is right, of course, about his outlook on life now.Life is short and I believe he has certainly made the most of it.He has led a life according to his own wills and desires.I’m sure he has regrets over some of his actions, but what good are regrets when the clock is ticking?We can but do our best.I bear him no ill will.READ MORE SUN STORIESI hope he squeezes the best out of whatever life he has left and that, on reflection, he realises that to err is to be human.He didn’t get it all right. But then, who does?Ulrika also says of Sven: ‘He had all this power and money yet he was the weakest man I have ever met’Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdThe ex-England boss has been diagnosed with terminal cancerCredit: Getty More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury makes heartfelt retirement admission ahead of Usyk rematch and admits he has ‘toxic relationship’ with boxing

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      TYSON FURY admits he doesn’t know if his “toxic relationship” with boxing will allow him to walk away from the sport.The Gypsy King, 36, has “retired” several times in recent years only to reverse his decision and return to the squared circle.Tyson Fury has won every belt going in the heavyweight divisionCredit: GETTYHis dream of becoming undisputed heavyweight champ was shattered by Oleksandr Usyk in MayCredit: GettyFury is out of his physical prime and his punch resistance isn’t what it once wasCredit: PAFury admits he’ll find it hard to walk away from the sport he loves so dearlyCredit: PABut with his physical prime well behind him and his punch resistance no longer what it once was, it’s clear and evident that Fury’s days in the sport are numbered.Hanging up his gloves and fully dedicating himself to his family of nine, however, will be just as difficult as any fight the Wythenshawe warrior has had in his professional career.He told Queensberry Promotions: “I’ve been in love with boxing for such a long time – from being a little boy.”And I’m probably at the end of my career in the next few years.READ MORE BOXING NEWS“It’s been a love-hate relationship. It’s been toxic at times. When it’s good, it’s very good, and when it’s bad, it’s very toxic.“So I’m in that relationship and I don’t just abandon things. “I try and make things work and that’s where we are at the minute.”We’ve been in this romantic relationship since I can remember, since I was a child, and now I am a fully grown adult with a family of my own.Most read in SportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSFusy vs Usyk: Round by round verdictHERE’S how SunSport’s Chisanga Malata saw the fight as Oleksandr Usyk was crowned undisputed king of the world against Tyson Fury.ROUND 1Here we go. Both men look to establish dominance early by taking the centre of the ring.Fury marches down the Ukrainian, who opens up with a stiff body shot.The Gypsy King looks massive in comparison to Usyk, who is no dwarf whatsoever.Usyk is happy to operate on the outside, although the early jab he’s eaten will have given him some food for thought.Fury is trying to draw out attacks from Usyk, who is not putting too much into his punches.Fury gets backed into the corner and channels his inner Muhammad Ali by doing the rope-a-dope.Usyk lands a big overhand left just seconds before backing Fury into the corner.Fury dodges the ensuing flurry and gestures to the crowd as if demanding them to acknowledge his head movement. USYK 10-9ROUND 2Usyk opens up the round with a big one-two that snaps back the head of Fury.Fury tries to make light of it but that combo clearly stunned him.Usyk is setting the stone and the pressure as he advances forward.A big uppercut narrowly misses for Fury, who knows all too well that’s the shot to deploy on a shorter opponent.Fury is throwing more punches but isn’t being as accurate as Usyk.Usyk backs up Fury into the corner and lands a good three-punch combo.But Fury comes roaring back with a hard body shot after circling away from danger.Fury finally lands an uppercut, albeit to the body of the former cruiserweight king. FURY 10-9ROUND 3Fury is on his bike after the restart and lands a stiff straight right from range.Usyk has decided to close the distance after eating that shot and is going to work on Fury’s trimmed-down torso.A solid overhand left snaps back the head of Fury with just over a minute of the stanza remaining.Fury lands a good combo with thirty seconds remaining. But he gets pushed back against the ring again and eats another flurry before the bell. USYK 10-9Round 4Fury goes to work to the body with two hard shots after the restart.He’s absolutely loving this, dancing around after landing his shots.But he’s still allowing himself to get backed up and invite the pressure from Usyk.Fury lands a beautiful counter right as Usyk comes forward.Usyk has his head snapped back by another hellacious uppercut.Both men nearly land hard back hands before the bell, with Fury narrowly missing an uppercut and Usyk an overhand left. FURY 10-9Round 5Usyk takes the centre of the ring after the restart and looks to feint his way into range.Fury is doing a good job of keeping the Ukrainian at bay when he looks to close the distance.A rasping uppercut snaps back the head of Usyk.Fury is hurting Usyk to the body with relentless hooks to the midriff. FURY 10-9Round 6Usyk is on the front foot straight after the restart and is looking to put Fury on the back foot again.A hard body shot to the solar plexus gives Usyk more food for thought.Fury almost closed the show with a huge uppercut with a minute and a half of the round remaining.But he finds a home for it 20 seconds later and Usyk is in retreat mode.Fury closes out the round with a bit of showboating, put his hands behind his back before resting his arms on the ropes.A huge round for the Wythenshawe warrior. FURY 10-9Round 7Usyk once again closes the distance after the restart but he’s getting picked off at range.And when he does take a step back, his body is getting blasted by nasty hooks.Usyk finds a home for his straight left but Fury eats it like a packed lunch made by his loving wife Paris.Another straight left snaps back the head of Fury, who circles back out of range to try to create space for a body shotUsyk manages to close the distance with seconds remaining ad finds a home for a two-punch combo.But Fury manages to circle away to hear the bell. FURY 10-9Round 8Fury is happy to operate on the back foot in the eighth and pick his shots.But he gets his dome rattled by back-to-back straight left hands – which he brushes off before going back to feinting and trying to create space for a body shot.Usyk briefly finds himself dealing with Fury’s weight in the clinch after landing a good straight left.Fury is bleeding profusely from his nose. I’m not what caused the damage. Big round that for Usyk. USYK 10-9Round 9Fury is doing a good job of bamboozling Usyk with feints, but the Ukrainian continues to come forward.But he’s slowly but surely allowing the gap to be closed, which leads to him eating a big left hand flush in the corner.Fury gets hurt and is stumbling around the ring. It was a left hand that did the damage.Fury doesn’t know where he is and is eating a barrage of crisp follow-up shots. He beats the count and the bell thankfully saves him. USYK 10-8Round 10Usyk – like the Big Cat he is – senses blood and isn’t giving Fury any respite.Fury is barely throwing anything and what he is throwing is telegraphed and slow.Usyk looks tired, but he needs to keep his foot on the gas pedal if he’s to have any chance of becoming a two-weight undisputed champion. USYK 10-9Round 11A desperate Usyk, spurred on by the plight of his fellow Ukrainians back home, immediately goes to work after the restart.Fury tries to keep him at bay with the jab but is struggling to pump it out with the stiffness it had in the early rounds.Usyk briefly traps the WBC king in the corner and lands a rasping left hand.Usyk doubles up with two left hands that briefly back Fury against the ropes.The round ends with yet another big overhand left from Usyk. USYK 10-9Round 12The fans in attendance at the Kingdom Arena cheer both warriors on after the final restart of the fight.Fury is playing matador as Usyk looks to step into range to land his left hand.And he finds a home for it with a minute and a half of the stanza remaining.A chopping right hand sends Fury backwards, but he returns fire with a booking shot of his own that backs up the southpaw.Fury puts his hands behind his back in a bid to goad Usyk to making a sloppy mistake in the closing seconds.But he stays sharp as he looks to close the distance, which Fury times to initiate a clinch. FURY 10-9TOTAL Fury 113 Usyk 114″It’s like, ‘Do I abandon it, or do I not?’ I wanted to walk away a lot of times but it always drags me back.”Bar becoming the undisputed king of the heavyweights, which he failed to do in his Saudi showdown with Oleksandr Usyk in May, Fury has achieved it all. Oleksandr Usyk brutally calls out ‘Greedy Belly’ Tyson Fury after Gypsy King fires warning to Ukrainian ahead of rematchFighting keeps the dad-of-eight on the mental straight and narrow, although it’s become somewhat of a double-edged sword.“It’s like a massive drug and an addiction,” Fury admitted. “I know it’s an addiction and I’m an addictive person.”Boxing is an addiction; it’s not my best friend. It abuses me. When I come in this gym, it abuses my body, my mind [and] my soul.”But afterwards I feel like it takes me to ecstasy. The rush is unbelievable.”It gives me the biggest highs ever, but it also gives me the lowest lows as well.”Boxing is more addictive than any drug ever. Ever. You can’t let it go.”Fury’s dream of becoming the first undisputed heavyweight king since Lennox Lewis in 1999 was shattered in his Riyadh rumble with Usyk.The former unified champion suffered a split decision loss to the slick southpaw, whom he’ll renew his rivalry with on December 21.And to say he’s champing at the bit to exact his revenge on the undefeated Ukrainian would be an understatement.He said of the desert dust-up: “[I’m] counting down the days until I can get my redemption on Usyk.”December 21 is going to be my time. I’ve done everything in boxing, but I ain’t come back from a loss.READ MORE SUN STORIES”And I relish it, the chance to redeem myself GET UP.”December 21 is all me – undisputed heavyweight here I come.”Tyson Fury will bid to exact revenge on Oleksandr Usyk on December 21Credit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Sex is one of the good things in life… I was stupid but did nothing criminal, says Sven Goran Eriksson on his affairs

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      TERMINALLY ill former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed all about his astonishing sex life in a documentary.The 76-year-old Swede tells Amazon Prime show Sven how he cheated on his long-time partner Nancy Dell’Ollio with Ulrika Jonsson and FA secretary Faria Alam.Ex-England football boss Sven-Goran Eriksson with his ex-lover Italian lawyer Nancy Dell’OllioCredit: Rex FeaturesSven had a fling with Swede Ulrika Jonsson while he was with NancyCredit: GettySven also cheated on long-time partner Nancy with FA secretary Faria Alam, aboveCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBut he tells the programme that he did not commit any crimes and that “sex is one of the good things in life for all of us”. In the 107-minute documentary, Faria, now 58, reveals how the then-England manager told her to cash in on their 2004 affair.She says: “The Noughties were just that, they were naughty.“You could do so many things. I’ll be honest, I was a beautiful girl and I attracted a lot of attention.READ MORE ON SVEN“He said, ‘Tell your story, go and tell them everything. Make some money, why not?’.”Last year Amazon Prime cameras had access to Sven and his family as he battled pancreatic cancer at his home in Sweden.But at the start of this year Sven revealed that he had “probably less than a year to live”.As well as discussing how he feels facing death, England’s first foreign manager also talks candidly about the women in his life.Most read in FootballShe loved it. The tension. It was not peace in my house always.Sven on NancyItalian lawyer Nancy, 62, who spent nine years with Sven, admits that she nearly left him after his fling with fellow Swede Ulrika.But her lawyer advised her to give him another chance.Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson reveals that he is dying of pancreatic cancer and ‘has at best a year to live’In the documentary, Sven also admits that life could be interesting with fiery Nancy.He said: “She loved it. The tension. She was a lady from the upper classes in Rome. She liked to go out with important people.“In the beginning I didn’t react very much. But you don’t change people at a certain age. It was not peace in my house always.”’First lady of English football’ Nancy adds: “The first impression that I had about Sven, people in power always have extra, extra sex appeal. I felt in love.“It wasn’t something that I was looking for. I was married and I left my husband to start my journey with Sven.“We were Sven and Nancy since the first date.“I was the first lady of English football and there was never going to be another one after me.”But when news broke in April 2002 of Sven’s affair with Ulrika, Nancy was humiliated.Sven, who was England manager from 2001 to 2006, tells how he received a phone call from football agent Athole Still advising him not to let Nancy read the newspapers.He recalls telling Still: “It’s too late, there are 100 photographers outside already.”Sven adds: “Sex is one of the good things in life for all of us. She was not married. I was not married.“Probably I was stupid but I think I didn’t do anything criminal. I didn’t really disturb anyone.”She was not married, I was not married. I didn’t really disturb anyone.Sven on UlrikaBut he admits being fearful that Nancy would leave him.He says: “I could see in front of me, if I break up, it would be ‘pouf’. I was a little bit afraid but anyhow it became what it became.”Nancy confesses: “The stupidity of Sven. After Sven’s first scandal, I wanted to leave him.“I couldn’t want to admit to myself that there was a possibility that I made a mistake. That I left everything for him. My lawyers said give him another chance but think what you can get from this.”Sven also reveals that after he was appointed England coach he took tea at No 10 with Tony Blair who said: “Shall we take a bet? Who keeps the job longest, you or me? We have two impossible jobs.”’Don’t be sorry. Smile’Sven quit after the 2006 World Cup Blair resigned as PM in 2007.In the documentary, which streams next week, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney also pay tribute to their former boss. Becks says: “I loved him from day one. He made me captain. The confidence he had in me was so important.“The way he protected the players, the way he treated the players, it was a breath of fresh air.”I felt very sorry for her. She lost the job and two members of FA lost jobSven on FariaToday Sven lives with his partner Yaniseth Alcides, a former dancer, he met while coaching in Mexico.She tells the documentary: “I try to be calm for him because he is making a great effort. This year we turned 15 together. And I have hope that we will be together for many more years. I will not lose that hope.”They live in Sven’s rambling house overlooking Fryken lake near Sunne, in Värmland, where the bus driver’s son grew up and where he began his football career for local club Torsby.Sven says: “It’s a beautiful place. It makes me calm, below the mountain where my father grew up.Sven pictured in the Prime documentary Prime Video which airs in the UK, Ireland and Nordics on August 23Credit: Amazon PrimeDavid Beckham pays tribute to Sven in the documentary, saying: ‘I loved him from day one. He made me captain. The confidence he had in me was so important’Credit: Action Images“The ashes could be thrown into the water here.”Sven’s cancer was spotted after he collapsed at his home and, despite treatment it is terminal. He says: “Whoever it was said ‘life is too short’ is right.“I had a good life, maybe too good. You have to pay for it. I think we all are scared of the day when it’s finished, when you die.“You have to learn to accept it for what it is.“Hopefully, at the end people will say, ‘Yeah, he was a good man’. But everyone will not say that. I hope you will remember me as a positive guy and trying to do everything he could do. Don’t be sorry. Smile.”READ MORE SUN STORIES SVEN is on Prime Video in the UK, Ireland and Nordics on August 23.WOOED BY YOGA TALKFARIA Alam has revealed that she fell for Sven-Goran Eriksson because he had charmed her by talking about art, poetry and yoga.She had a fling with the Swede after joining the FA as a secretary in 2003.Speaking about it in the Amazon Prime documentary Sven, Faria, now 58, said: “He didn’t have the mindset of a super-rich man. He talked to me about poetry, he talked to me about art.“He was saying how he did yoga and things like that.“And I just fell in love with him, I guess. And that lit the fuse for all this to explode.” But the lovers were found out. At first, the FA denied it but emails not only proved it but confirmed that she also had a relationship with the FA chief Mark Palios.Sven, 76, says: “I felt very sorry for her. She lost the job and two members of the FA lost the job.”Faria signed two deals to sell her story for £300,000 after she had resigned — on the advice of Sven.But she was hurt by being portrayed as a “disgusting gold digger person”. She says on the show: “I’m the person that’s the bad person, and I was the scapegoat for them to be relieved of any responsibility.” More

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      Ryan Garcia, 25, in talks to fight Manny Pacquiao, 45, in exhibition in Japan… despite boxer’s boxing drugs ban

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      RYAN GARCIA is in talks to fight Manny Pacquiao in an exhibition in Japan – despite serving a drugs ban.Garcia initially beat American rival Devin Haney in April by scoring three knockdowns in New York.Ryan Garcia is in talks to fight Manny Pacquiao in an exhibitionCredit: GettyPacquiao made his boxing return in JapanCredit: AFPBut the result has since been overturned to a no-contest after the controversial star tested positive for banned substance Ostarine.Garcia was hit with a one-year suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission – backdated from April.But still he is talking up a return to the ring before his ban expires.Boxing icon Pacquiao faced kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo over three rounds in Tokyo – with Garcia there to watch it. READ MORE IN BOXINGIt went the distance with no winner declared and Garcia stormed into the ring post-fight to gatecrash the interview and call out Pacquiao and Anpo. And SunSport understands MMA promotion Rizin – who welcomed PacMan back to the ring – held talks with Garcia. And an exhibition with Pacquiao was discussed – with the pair both keen and on board. That is despite Garcia being eight months away from his NYSAC suspension being lifted. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBut Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara is not concerned about NYSAC standing in the way of Garcia returning in a non-sanctioned exhibition. Sakakibara told SunSport: “I don’t think they will. Because if it were to happen it would be an unofficial fight. “If this unofficial fight were to happen in Rizin, in Japan, I believe there will be no reason for the New York State Athletic Commission to try to stop Ryan.” Rizin have twice hosted exhibition bouts for Floyd Mayweather, 47, and most recently Pacquiao, 45. Garcia, 25, protested his innocence after testing positive for banned substance Ostarine. He had returned clean tests during the build up to the bout with Haney, 25, but Ostarine was found in samples taken from fight week. Garcia accepted his suspension but blamed the positive tests on a tainted supplement. Ostarine is known to increase muscle gain and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Garcia has also ran into further trouble out the ring after being arrested in Los Angeles for felony vandalism at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.He was also expelled from the WBC following a series of vile racists social media posts against black people and disparaged Muslims.After Garcia was held following his hotel arrest his lawyer Darin T Chavez put it down to the troubled boxer dealing his his mother’s cancer diagnosis. She said in a statement: “Ryan has been open about his struggles with mental health over the years, and at this time he is dealing with an immense emotional burden. “The support and understanding from fans and the public are crucial as he navigates these personal challenges. We are working diligently to provide Ryan with the resources he needs. “Our team is committed to ensuring that he receives the appropriate help and care to address both his immediate and long-term well-being. “We ask for continued support and compassion as Ryan focuses on his family and his health at this time.”READ MORE SUN STORIESPacquiao meanwhile retired in 2021 but has teased a comeback to challenge for the WBC welterweight title. But after struggling over the three rounds against Anpo, 28, fans were left calling for him to hang up the gloves for good. Pacquiao poses with GarciaCredit: AFP More

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      How daughter’s sad words saved Kellie Maloney from suicide – as she calls out ‘shameful’ Olympic bosses over gender row

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      SHE turned the boxing world upside down when she revealed she was transgender and spoke out about the inner turmoil her gender battle had caused her.Now, a decade on, Kellie Maloney has slammed Olympic bosses over the current gender row – saying they should “hang their head in shame.”Kellie Maloney managed British boxing champion Lennox Lewis at the height of his careerCredit: AP:Associated PressKellie speaks out in biographical docu-film Knock Out Blonde, which is out nowCredit: IconAlgeria’s Imane Khelif celebrates after defeating Hungary’s Anna HamoriCredit: APAlgeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting have been allowed in the ring in the women’s boxing, despite both being disqualified from the World Championships last year after failing the International Boxing Association gender eligibility tests.The IBA declared they both had “XY chromosomes” – which indicated a person is biologically male – although Imane has fiercely denied claims of cheating, insisting she is a woman.Ahead of a new documentary, Knock Out Blonde, former boxing manager Kellie – born Frank – tells The Sun: “I think the Olympic committee should hang its head in shame for allowing this fight to happen… What were they playing at?“This will only bring boxing into more disrepute and may get it banned from the Olympics in the future or may see more women refuse to take part.READ MORE FROM FEATURES“Under no circumstances should a transgender woman or women with high-level testosterone be allowed to compete in female boxing. “Boxing is too dangerous as a sport to give anyone such an advantage and eventually could cause serious health and damage to the opponent.” Kellie – who has had gender reassignment surgery – say the subject of transwomen participating in women’s sport is “a toxic issue”. However, there’s no doubt in her mind when it comes to boxing. She adds: “Definitely no to any form of combat sport, like the world I come from. Most read in Boxing”There are certain sports where it’s not a problem – darts, snooker, show-jumping or horse-rising – but I refer to the sporting bodies for guidance.”Kellie, now 71, also opens up about the heartbreaking moment in 2010 when she broke down and told wife Tracey, “I’m a woman” as well as the multiple suicide attempts and the poignant plea from daughter Emma that turned her around. ‘Jack the Lad’Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story TrailerThe boxing manager told everything to ex-wife Tracey in 2010, who offered to ‘live a lie’ to keep their family togetherCredit: Daily MirrorIt was a shock for many when Frank, who led Lennox Lewis to become the first British undisputed heavyweight champion in a century, told the world that she had been born in the wrong body back in 2014 – a decade ago this month – and would be known as Kellie.Throughout her career, she had carved a reputation as a fierce force to be reckoned and a ‘Jack the Lad’ character with a penchant for flashy and flamboyant suits. In an exclusive interview with The Sun, ahead of her biographical documentary Knock Out Blonde which is available to stream today, Kellie says living two lives nearly killed her.Now 71, she tells us: “It felt like these two sides of me were pulling me apart. I had fought so hard all of my life not to give in. Living two lives was killing me. “It was this constant battle. Frank would say, ‘You’re the manager of the world heavyweight champion, you’ve got a family, children, and responsibilities. You can’t do this.’“Then Kellie would say, ‘You are a female. You’ve got to be true to yourself because you’re destroying everything.’”The promoter spent more than £100,000 altering her appearance including multiple facial feminising ops, a nose job, and having 400g breast implants to give her B or C-cup breasts. But it wasn’t until having gender reassignment surgery in March 2015, that she finally felt like the woman she always knew she was.Kellie said: “The most important part was the actual vagina” adding that when she looked at herself in a mirror “I cried tears of happiness.  I was finally seeing the real me in the mirror. It felt amazing. “I always said, ‘Managing Lennox Lewis was like winning the lottery’ but this was like winning three lotteries.”Kellie, who was raised in an Irish Catholic family in Peckham, was three years old when she recognised she was “very different from all the other boys” around her.She preferred female company, longed to go shopping instead of playing sports and noticed her dreams were very different from her two brothers. Kellie told the documentary: “When my parents asked, ‘What did you dream about?’ I would go, ‘I’ve not really dreamt anything’. How could I tell my parents that in all of my dreams I was a girl?”Kellie after one facial feminising operation in 2014Credit: Sunday MirrorShe gave the impression that she was a ‘womaniser’ while living as FrankCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBut Kellie, seen with her dad above, knew from the age of three that she was differentCredit: IconShe came out to the world as transgender in 2014 and soon after went on Celebrity Big BrotherCredit: Rex FeaturesRaised by a ‘tough’ traditional father, she buried her feelings to fit in and married young, tying the knot with first wife Jackie at 21 and having a daughter, Emma, soon after. She “fell in love” with boxing after seeing Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s 1971 Madison Square Garden clash – and starting fighting classmates when she was picked on due to her small stature.At 5ft 2in tall, Kellie knew her chances of going professional were slim, so opted to become a trainer to get as close to the ring as possible.In 1989, Kellie signed Lennox Lewis, then a promising young British-Canadian, who had already scooped a gold medal at the Olympics and won 85 bouts as an amateur.She said: “That’s when it all changed for me. I would have been totally bankrupt and that’s the truth, to the tune of £80,000 in debt.“I wanted to be a big player in boxing and succeed because I failed as an actual boxer and to walk down that same walk that Joe Frazier and Mohamed Ali did.“I wanted to climb into the ring and walk away with three belts and with the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. It was every boy’s dream.”Olympic committe should ‘hang its head in shame’ over gender row, says Kellie MaloneyA ROW over two fighters being eligible to partake in women’s boxing has overshadowed the Paris 2024 Olympics.Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting are guaranteed to get medals despite questions being raised about their participation.It follows them both being disqualified from the World Championships last year due to the International Boxing Association declaring both boxers failed gender eligibility tests. The IBA, which was stripped of its status as the sports in 2023, declared they both had “XY chromosomes” – which indicated a person is biologically male. There are rare instances where women can have a Y chromosome, such as when they are ‘intersex’ , medically known as DSDs – differences in sexual development. This means a person could have female genitalia but a male chromosome. Others have claimed it could be a sign of a transgender woman entering the women’s category.Imane has fiercely fought back against claims of cheating, insisting she is a woman, and refuted complaints about her being ineligible to participate.But many in the sporting field have criticised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for allowing Khelif and Yu-ting to participate. KellieMaloney, a former boxing manager who is transgender, tells The Sun: “I think the Olympic committee should hang its head in shame for allowing this fight to happen… What were they playing at?“This will only bring boxing into more disrepute and may get it banned from the Olympics in the future or may see more women refuse to take part.“Under no circumstances should a transgender woman or women with high-level testosterone be allowed to compete in female boxing. “Boxing is too dangerous as a sport to give anyone such an advantage and eventually could cause serious health and damage to the opponent.” Kellie says the subject of transwomen participating in women’s sport is “a toxic issue”. However, there’s no doubt in her mind when it comes to boxing. She adds: “Definitely no to any form of combat sport, like the world I come from. “There are certain sports where it’s not a problem – darts, snooker, show-jumping or horse-rising – but I refer to the sporting bodies for guidance.”Kellie, who believes Khelif and Yu-ting should be banned, adds: “Women should boycott the rest of the games. That would make the Olympic committee sit up and act wisely and sensibly.”’Womaniser’ guiseDuring her career, Kellie had become a master of disguise. She buried her longing to be a woman behind copious amounts of booze, work and two marriages. Two years after signing Lennox, Kellie and Jackie had split up. By 1997, she married Tracey, with whom she had two more daughters, Sophie and Libby. Kellie hid her true self from everyone as she forged a career in boxing – a sport known for it’s hypermasculinity.She tells us: “The guys would pay for me to have lap dances but whenever I got inside I would just say to the woman, ‘You don’t have to dance, just chat with me for five minutes. The counsellors told me, the day you take off the lid of Pandora’s box and let Kellie out, you will never be able to put that lid back onKellie Maloney“I gave the impression of being a man about town and a bit of ladies’ man but I never really was like that. I just found it easy to talk to women.”In secret, Kellie was researching more about being transgender and bought ‘fetish magazines’ about people who were transitioning.She didn’t speak to anyone about her gender dysphoria, fearing she would never be accepted as a woman – especially by her peers. During a boxing convention in Thailand, Kellie recalls: “We were chatting about the beautiful woman an American promoter had taken home.“But he said, ‘I put my hand down her knickers and she had a bigger pair than me… so I kicked the f*** out of her.’Kellie recalls being ‘stressed’ constantly while living as FrankCredit: Les Gallagher – The Sun GlasgowLennox became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world under Kellie’s tutelageCredit: IconHer ex-wife Tracey says she was willing to ‘live a lie’ to protect Kellie’s secret in the docCredit: Icon“I realised how could I ever tell these people how I felt inside when this was what they thought of transgender people?”  By 1999, Kellie had consulted gender doctors and was beginning to experiment. In New York, she attended a trans-friendly bar where she could dress as a woman away from prying eyes. She said: “I went there and a couple of gay guys dressed me and did my make-up and took me upstairs, where these guys were sat. “It was quite seedy. One started touching me, saying ‘You’re very beautiful, do you want to get to know me? There are plenty of rooms.’ I freaked out and left.”I don’t understand what you are going through but I would prefer to have my dad in a dress than in a wooden boxEmma, Kellie’s daughterOn her way home, she realised she had forgotten her wife’s birthday and a commitment to host a press dinner for Lennox ahead of his first of two fights against Evander Holyfield, the second of which led him to be crowned world champion.Opening Pandora’s boxKellie resigned from Lennox’s team in 2001 shortly after the boxer’s defeat to Hasim Rahman. She went on to manage others, including Darren Sutherland, who took his own life in 2009. The trauma of finding the Irish boxer’s body at his home after a concerning phone call, caused Kellie to have a heart attack. That year, she continued to struggle. She found herself drinking heavily, battling insomnia and speaking to numerous counsellors.  She explained: “The counsellors told me, the day you take off the lid of Pandora’s box and let Kellie out, you will never be able to put that lid back on.”Kellie recalls the heartbreaking moment in 2010 when broke down and confessed all to her wife, Tracey, who was deeply concerned that “nothing seemed to make him happy”.Kellie with daughters Emma (left), Libby (middle) and SophieCredit: IconThe boxing manager was married to Tracey from 1997 until 2012Credit: Dan Charity – The SunNow Kellie lives a quieter life, split between Portugal and the UKCredit: IconKellie recalls: “She put her arms around me. I looked at her and went, ‘I don’t know how to say this, I’m like you. I’m a woman.’ I saw the change in her eyes and from that moment onwards, I knew my marriage was over.” Despite the admission, Tracey says she was “willing to live a lie” and “keep the secret forever” to keep their family together, but Kellie knew that wasn’t an option and started to live as a woman in private. In 2014, Kellie came out to the world and that same year entered Celebrity Big Brother, for which she was reportedly paid £400,000 – the highest fee offered at the time. “It was the wrong decision, I wasn’t ready but I was very hot property at the time. Everybody wanted me and I was being offered quite a bit of money,” she says. “I wish I’d waited a year. I was a very weak person when I first transitioned, I was so afraid of rejection, failure and ridicule. “Frank helped me get through all of that. Now I’m much stronger. If I went on Celebrity Big Brother today I’d probably win it.”I remember exact words to me, she said, ‘This is some f***ing joke, isn’t it?’ It was frightening and horribleKellieHousemates inside the Big Brother house are cut-off from the outside world but Kellie says she was allowed to telephone her counsellors and had “a session most days”. Suicide attemptsReaching the point where she came out was no easy journey, with Kellie admitting she attempted to end her life four times – before and after transitioning. She says: “I tried to end my life multiple times, I felt that I had lost everything and really wanted to die at first.”After one suicide attempt, daughter Emma told her: “I don’t understand what you are going through but I would prefer to have my dad in a dress than in a wooden box.” The last suicide attempt followed getting “mixed up with the wrong people” when she started seeing a woman, whose family wanted her to be Frank.“This person said to me if only I could bring back Frank we could have a really lovely relationship and it really freaked me out… it got to the point where my head was so confused and mixed up,” Kellie says. Kellie hasn’t spoken to Lennox since parting company in 2001Credit: GettyThe boxing promoter with her dogs shortly after coming out in 2014Credit: Kevin Dunnett – The SunKellie with daughters Libby and SophieCredit: WENNShe was drinking heavily and, on the night of the attempt, recorded messages for each of her children before taking “every pill that I could find”.Thankfully, Kellie – who was staying in Portugal – was found by her friend and counsellor Jan, who quickly rushed her to hospital.Later, when she tried to take her life again, Emma pleaded: “What are you doing dad? We need you in our life?” Emma gave her a note to read in hard times about focusing on the future instead of present-day struggles. Kellie still reads it regularly. ‘Frank’s not dead’Kellie admits telling her youngest daughter Libby was “the hardest” thing for her because “she was 11 years old and I was destroying her life”.She recalls: “I remember exact words to me, she said, ‘This is some f***ing joke, isn’t it?’ It was frightening and horrible.”I learned a lot from Frank, I never died, I just changed my outside covering.KellieSimilarly, Kellie’s brother Eugene didn’t initially approve, telling the documentary: “When it first came out, if I had seen Kellie I’d have killed her.” But over time, their opinions shifted as they realised she was still the person they knew and loved, just with a “changed outside covering” as Kellie says.She’s bonded with her daughters over choosing outfits and learning make-up skills and Eugene eventually said: “She’s a lot happier as Kellie than she was as Frank. I just wish she hadn’t taken 60 f***ing years to do it.”Kellie, who splits her time between the UK and Portugal, says she enjoys a quieter life and is the happiest she has been in many years.“I’m not hiding from anybody now. I don’t have to put on this persona,” she tells us. “I don’t have to be this Jack the Lad or this tough, little South London Cockney character that drank champagne and said what he wanted without even thinking. Kellie at a boxing match in 2016Credit: GettyKellie believes having lived as Frank and a woman has helped her to become a better personCredit: Dan Charity – The SunShe says her daughters Libby (left) and Sophie initially struggled to accept her transition but now they are extremely closeCredit: RexWhile Kellie likes to help others, she insists she is “no trans activist” as she believes the “transgender umbrella is far too big” She says: “We know we are not biological women and accept we are medically constructed women, our bodies have been modified to match our brains. “The term transgender covers about 71 or more types of people. You can’t pull us all under the same thing, for example gender neutral will never have an operation or go what we went through.”She also believes women’s spaces “must be protected” and only transgender women, who have undergone gender reassignment should be able to use them“Let’s put it bluntly, if you have a penis, you should not be able to go in and strip off,” Kellie says. “Once you have had surgery you are not a threat to any other woman.”Despite having publicly lived as a woman for 10 years now, Kellie says there are occasions when she’s referred to “as Frank” – but it doesn’t bother her. She says: “I don’t find that disrespectful because to me he is not dead. Frank is a part of Kellie, as much as Kellie is a part of Frank. “People have known me by that name for 60 years and life’s too short to worry about things like that so long as it’s not malicious or nasty.“Some transgender people believe their male side no longer exists after transitioning but that’s not true for me I believe combining the two made me a much better person.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I learned a lot from Frank, I never died, I just changed my outside covering.”Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story is available on the Icon Film Channel today and airs in select cinemas from September 9. More

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      Imane Khelif breaks silence on Olympics gender row as boxer slams ‘bullying’ and warns it can ‘destroy people’

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      BOXER Imane Khelif has hit out at her critics in an explosive interview after securing a spot in the women’s Under-66kg semi-final.The Algerian has inadvertently found herself embroiled in a heated gender row that has dominated the Paris 2024 Games.Imane Khelif’s participation at the 2024 Olympics has caused a stirCredit: GETTYThe Algerian is alleged to have previously failed a gender eligibility testCredit: REXKhelif received a slew of hate after forcing her opening tournament opponent to quit after 46 secondsCredit: APKhelif has issued a defiant message to her criticsCredit: APKhelif’s participation in the Games comes 18 months after she allegedly failed a gender test in March 2023 and was disqualified from the Women’s World Championships.Tests conducted by the Russian-backed International Boxing Association are said to have determined the 25-year-old tested for male XY chromosomes and higher testosterone levels.Multiple erroneous reports, particularly on social media, claimed Khelif – who was born and raised a female – was a biological man.Khelif received a barrage of hate after forcing Italy’s Angela Carini to quit a mere 46 seconds into their opening bout and has issued a defiant message to her critics.READ MORE ON OLYMPICSShe said: “I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects.”It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. “And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”Khelif’s loved ones were left fearing for her mental health after seeing the overwhelming amount of abuse she received online.Most read in BoxingIOC and Paris 2024 Boxing Unit statement in fullA look at the full statement issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit…Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination.All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU). As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport.These rules also applied during the qualification period, including the boxing tournaments of the 2023 European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games and Pacific Games, the ad hoc 2023 African qualifying tournament in Dakar (SEN) and two world qualifying tournaments held in Busto Arsizio (ITA) and Bangkok (THA) in 2024, which involved a total of 1,471 different boxers from 172 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the Boxing Refugee Team and Individual Neutral Athletes, and featured over 2,000 qualification bouts.The PBU used the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules as a baseline to develop its regulations for Paris 2024. This was to minimise the impact on athletes’ preparations and guarantee consistency between Olympic Games. These Tokyo 2020 rules were based on the post-Rio 2016 rules, which were in place before the suspension of the boxing International Federation by the IOC in 2019 and the subsequent withdrawal of its recognition in 2023.We have seen in reports misleading information about two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The two athletes have been competing in international boxing competitions for many years in the women’s category, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments.These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process.According to the IBA minutes available on their website, this decision was initially taken solely by the IBA Secretary General and CEO. The IBA Board only ratified it afterwards and only subsequently requested that a procedure to follow in similar cases in the future be established and reflected in the IBA Regulations. The minutes also say that the IBA should “establish a clear procedure on gender testing”.The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.Such an approach is contrary to good governance.Eligibility rules should not be changed during ongoing competition, and any rule change must follow appropriate processes and should be based on scientific evidence.The IOC is committed to protecting the human rights of all athletes participating in the Olympic Games as per the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics and the IOC Strategic Framework on Human Rights. The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving.The IBA’s recognition was withdrawn by the IOC in 2023 following its suspension in 2019. The withdrawal of recognition was confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). See the IOC’s statement following the ruling.The IOC has made it clear that it needs National Boxing Federations to reach a consensus around a new International Federation in order for boxing to be included on the sports programme of the Olympic Games LA28.She said: “I am in contact with my family two days a week. I hope that they weren’t affected deeply.”They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response.”Olympics gender row erupts after female boxer quits against fighter disqualified from World ChampsKhelif, however, has managed to block out the noise surrounding her participation in the games.She said: “Honestly, I don’t follow social media.”There is a mental health team that doesn’t let us follow social media, especially in the Olympic Games, whether me or other athletes.”I’m here to compete and get a good result.”Khelif broke down in tears after booking her spot in Tuesday’s semi-finals with a points win over Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori last weekend and defiantly said: “I am a woman.”Reflecting on her outpouring of emotion, Khelif admitted: “I couldn’t control my nerves.”‘Because after the media frenzy and after the victory, there was a mix of joy and at the same time, I was greatly affected.”Because honestly, it wasn’t an easy thing to go through at all. It was something that harms human dignity.”READ MORE SUN STORIESKhelif will be back in action on Tuesday and will compete for gold on Friday should she be victorious against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng.”I came here for a medal, and to compete for a medal,” she said. “I will certainly be competing to improve [and] be better, and God willing, I will improve, like every other athlete.”Olympics gender controversyTHE International Olympic Committee (IOC) stirred up a huge controversy by clearing two women to box who had previously failed a gender test.Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were disqualified at the Women’s World Championships in New Delhi, India, in March 2023.Lin Yu-ting was stripped of a bronze medal after failing a gender eligibility test.Khelif was disqualified in New Delhi for failing a testosterone level test.Officials found tests showed they had ‘XY chromosomes’ — which indicates a person is biologically male.Rare ‘intersex’ medical conditions, medically known as differences in sexual development (DSDs), can also mean outwardly female individuals can have ‘male’ chromosomes, or vice versa.The Russia-led International Boxing Association organised that event but is no longer recognised by the IOC.IOC spokesman Mark Adams said: “These athletes have competed many times before for many years, they haven’t just suddenly arrived – they competed in Tokyo.”The federation needs to make the rules to make sure that there is fairness but at the same time there is the ability for everyone to take part that wants to. That is a difficult balance.”In the end the experts for each sport are the people who work in that. If there is a big advantage that clearly is not acceptable, but that needs to be a decision made at that level.”Both Khelif and Lin competed at the delayed Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. Lin is a two-time winner at the Asian Women Amateur Boxing Championships.The IOC said all boxers in Paris “comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations”.The controversy follows the famous case of Caster Semenya.South African middle-distance runner Semenya has a condition which means her body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone than normal for women.She won gold in the 800m at London 2012 and Rio in 2016 but was unable to compete at Tokyo in 2021 after World Athletics brought in new rules independently of the IOC at the time.Imane Khelif will fight for the right to compete in the gold medal match on TuesdayCredit: AP More