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    I was abused by Barry Bennell when I was on a youth team – Gary Speed was among four he coached who took their lives

    ONE of Barry Bennell’s young victims told how ex-Premier League star Gary Speed was among four men who later took their own lives having been coached by the serial paedophile.Former Wales international midfielder and manager Speed played for one of the junior football teams run by sex offender Bennell, who has died in prison aged 70.
    Premier League star Gary Speed was coached as a kid by Barry BennellCredit: PA:Press Association
    Serial paedophile Bennell has died in jail aged 70Credit: PA
    One of Bennell’s victims told a Liverpool Crown Court trial in 2018 how he tried to contact Speed’s parents after their son hanged himself at the age of 42 in November 2011.
    Speed was Wales manager at the time of his death, having played in the Premier League for Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers.
    Bennell’s death was confirmed this afternoon by the Prison Service.
    The Sun understands that the paedophile, who had cancer, died on Saturday morning at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire.
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    Bennell had worked in the 1980s and 1990s as a youth coach at Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City and Stoke City.
    He also had links to youth teams across Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire, exploiting his position to sexually abuse young boys.
    Bennell was first put behind bars for four years in the United States in 1994 after abusing a 13-year-old British boy at a football camp in Florida.
    He later returned to Britain, where his lengthy record as a predator was exposed in 1997 by Channel 4’s Dispatches film Soccer’s Foul Play.
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    Bennell was imprisoned for nine years at Chester Crown Court after admitting 23 charges dating back to the 1970s.
    He confessed in 2015 to enticing a boy under the age of 14 to commit an act of gross indecency in the early 1980s, receiving a further two years in jail.
    More courageous victims then came forward after ex-footballer Andy Woodward went public with how he had been groomed and abused by Bennell for four years, starting when he was aged only 11.
    Bennell was found guilty of more than 50 sexual offences against 22 boys at Liverpool Crown Court in 2018 and sentenced to 34 years.
    That trial heard from a victim who brought up Speed’s name, as he told the court: “Four people from teams I have played with, with Bennell, have taken their own lives.
    “Whether they have taken their lives due to Barry solely, I don’t know, but all I know is how it’s had an impact on me and how it could impact on other people.”
    Speed’s mum Carol has said her son was interviewed twice by police over Bennell and insisted he was never assaulted.
    And his dad Gary said: “I don’t think so – Gary wouldn’t have it. Honestly, no way.
    “He was old enough in the head even at that age he knew what he wanted. He was a clever lad.”
    But an alleged witness claimed Bennell assaulted him while Gary was in the same bed — and said he was “99.9 per cent certain” the future star suffered the same sickening treatment.
    Bennell’s death on Saturday came at HMP Littlehey, a prison for sex offenders.
    Eight men abused by Bennell are reportedly appealing after having their damages claim against Manchester City dismissed by the High Court.
    An inquest into Speed’s death recorded a narrative verdict, saying he died from “self-suspension” but with the coroner unable to say whether he intended to kill himself.
    Hours before his death Speed had appeared as a guest on BBC1 show Football Focus.
    He then watched Newcastle play at Old Trafford against Manchester United alongside former team-mate Alan Shearer, before driving home to Huntington in Cheshire.
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    His widow Louise, who discovered his body, later revealed a poignant letter he wrote about his mental health struggles when aged just 17.
    Louise suffered more heartbreak earlier this year when her new husband Quinton Bird died from brain cancer aged 53.
    If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
    Midfielder Speed’s last club was Sheffield United before he became Wales managerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Bennell was given a 34-year prison term at Liverpool Crown Court in 2018Credit: PA:Press Association More

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    Ex-Chelsea star Wayne Bridge reveals former boss let stars have day off from training if they’d ‘had too much sex’

    FORMER Premier League star Wayne Bridge has revealed one of his old managers would let players have a day off if they’d spent the previous evening having sex.The ex-Chelsea and England left-back was discussing his career on That Peter Crouch Podcast when he told the shocking tale.
    Wayne Bridge was a guest on That Peter Crouch podcastCredit: YouTube @That Peter Crouch Podcast
    He got engaged to Frankie Bridge while at BrightonCredit: Instagram
    Bridge was managed by Gus Poyet while on loan at Brighton in the 2012/13 campaign.
    At the end of his loan, the Premier League winner returned to parent club Manchester City before moving to Reading to end his playing days.
    But he would have chosen to stay with the Seagulls if Poyet had not also left that summer because he was so fond of the Uruguayan’s unique methods of man management.
    Bridge explained: “It was do I stay at Brighton or do I go Reading, those are my options.
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    “Because Gus was leaving Brighton I was really unsure of staying, because I really liked him as a manager.
    “What I liked about Gus is he could be harsh sometimes, but if he was being harsh then people deserved it.
    “He was very open [with] the players.
    “There’s one thing that stands out. I remember a meeting he went, ‘Look, I know what being a footballer is all about.
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    “‘One of you might be chasing a girl, it ends up being a night before training, you’ve gone out you’ve had a wild one, you’ve had loads of sex… just call me, you can have the day off. Just don’t do it all the time.'”
    When Bridge was at Brighton he was in a relationship with his now wife Frankie.
    He and the Saturdays singer got engaged while he was playing at the Amex Stadium.
    The couple have two sons named Parker, 9, and Carter, 8.
    Gus Poyet let players have a day off if they had been out the night beforeCredit: Sportsfile More

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    We live by Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales’ ‘orgy villa’ – all we heard was ‘boom boom’ from his wild parties with girls

    THIS is the luxury villa where embattled Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales allegedly held a sex party with fellow delegates of the Spanish FA.The party during the height of the Covid pandemic was attended by “eight to 10 young girls” brought by a pal.
    The property, named Villa Luxury Paradise, is nestled in the hills of the exclusive neighbourhood of Salobrena, GrenadaCredit: OLIVE PRESS SPAIN
    The villa is allegedly where Luis Rubiales held a sex party with fellow Spanish FA delegatesCredit: OLIVE PRESS SPAIN
    Rubiales denied the claims, insisting the villa was used to host a work meetingCredit: OLIVE PRESS SPAIN
    He is now facing a ‘sexual assault’ probe after kissing World Cup hero Jennifer Hermoso on the lipsCredit: Pixel8000
    The series of wild nights allegedly disturbed angry neighbours until 6am, it can be revealed.
    The stunning property, aptly named Villa Luxury Paradise, is nestled in the hills of the exclusive neighbourhood of Salobrena, just a few miles from Motril, Granada, where he was born and raised.
    The president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has been suspended by FIFA over the “non-consensual” kiss he planted on footballer Jenni Hermoso following their victory in the Women’s World Cup final.
    But it’s the latest in the string of scandals to hit the Rubiales family after his uncle told an anti-corruption trial last year that Luis had illegally used RFEF funds to rent a luxury villa for an “orgy”.
    READ MORE ON LUIS RUBIALES
    Lubiales denied the claims, insisting the stunning villa was used to host a work meeting and that there had simply been “a barbecue and a paella with people of different genders.”
    However, a neighbour today told The Sun: “I remember when he was here, the noise was crazy.
    “Boom, boom, boom until the early hours, there was lots of music, drinking and lots of girls.
    “I could hear them all laughing and partying until five or six in the morning. They were here for a couple of days.”
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    The local, who only gave her name as Maria, said the property was owned by an Italian businesswoman.
    She added: “It was during the Covid pandemic and it was annoying but we did not call the police because that’s not the kind of neighbours we are.”
    A local Spanish realtor, who asked not to be named, added: “This is an exclusive neighbourhood where Luis knows he is not going to get into any trouble.
    “His family are so well known and loved here, they hold a lot of influence.”
    Luis’s uncle Juan Rubiales told a court in Madrid last year that his mission was to “make life easy for the president, which meant organising and coordinating trips, agenda, institutional relations and organisation of the board of directors, etc.”
    The former press officer of RFEF said the rental of the luxury villa was “solely for the enjoyment of him (Luis) and his closest team, paying the expenses with company cards from the RFEF.”
    He added at the hearing that “a group of eight or ten young girls” were invited.
    It later emerged that the girls were brought by a pal of Luis, Francisco Javier Martin Alcaide, a former footballer and hotel owner.
    Luis’ uncle Juan was giving evidence to an anti-corruption hearing in Madrid last September when he made the claims.
    He later insisted that RFEF funds were not used to pay for the villa, but that an employee stumped up the cash personally, and everyone who attended paid them back later.
    The villa is described on its website as having 210sq metres of living space, three terraces, an infinity pool, a garden and a garage.
    It comes as Rubiales is now facing a “sexual assault” probe after kissing World Cup hero Jennifer Hermoso on the lips.
    Rubiales has refused to resign over the scandal – prompting mass walkouts of players and staff and plunging the World Cup-winning nation into crisis.
    He has insisted the kiss was consensual and that he is the victim of character assassination by “false feminists”.
    In a powerful statement, Hermoso said: “I felt vulnerable and a victim of an assault, an impulsive, macho act, out of place and with no type of consent on my part.”
    But yesterday, Spanish FA chiefs demanded Rubiales quit, with Fifa provisionally suspending him for 90 days and launching proceedings.
    The Spanish FA’s regional presidents held a five-hour meeting on Monday – concluding he should resign immediately.
    In a lengthy statement they said: “After the latest events and the unacceptable behaviours that have seriously damaged the image of Spanish football, the presidents request that Mr. Luis Rubiales immediately present his resignation as president of the RFEF.”
    Rubiales’ mother also revealed that she is “prepared to die” to get justice for her son as she launched a bizarre hunger strike protest.
    Retired hairdresser Angeles Bejar is now more than 24 hours into a hunger strike she launched yesterday morning at a church in Motril.
    She told a Spanish TV station: “I will stay here as long as my body holds out.
    “I don’t mind dying for justice because my son is a decent person and it’s not fair what they’re doing.”
    Read More on The Sun
    The current whereabouts of Rubiales are unknown, but he reportedly travelled to Motril for a holiday on Saturday despite the town hall’s cancellation of a football match he was due to take part in with friends at a municipal stadium for “security reasons.”
    He is said to have met with some of his football pals at a country house just outside of town on Saturday afternoon but has not been seen in public since he shocked the world by refusing to resign at an extraordinary Spanish FA general assembly last Friday.
    Fifa have provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 daysCredit: AP More

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    Three in ten male Prem League fans slapped with sex ban when their team beat their partner’s, a poll finds

    THREE in ten male Premier League fans have been slapped with a sex ban when their team beat their partner’s, a poll found.Thirty-two per cent said they had been refused a romp by upset lovers when their side won.
    32% of male Premier League fans have been slapped with a sex ban when their team beat their partner’sCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Here is the run down on which fans get the cold shoulder if their team beats their partner’s
    Manchester United fans suffer most with 61 per cent admitting they get no action for at least a day when the Red Devils come out on top.
    Tottenham were next on 60 per cent ahead of Crystal Palace’s 59 per cent.
    At the other end, Luton Town have just two per cent of fans saying they get no nookie after a big triumph.
    Betting site FruitySlots.com polled 2,000 male fans and spokesman Robert Miller said: “We dread to think what it is like between fans of big local rivals like Liverpool and Everton or Manchester United and Manchester City.
    READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
    “The key to a happy relationship is obviously to support the same club.”
    The Sun previously reported how former Spain coach Luis Enrique had banned his players from taking part in orgies before the World Cup in Qatar.
    It was also reported that Chelsea stars would be banned from having ORGIES the night before games had Luis Enrique been appointed as manager.
    But sex with their partners was reportedly fine.
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    Ronaldo’s bodybuilding ex, 41, reveals shock plan to join OnlyFans and strip off for nude snaps

    RONALDO’S ex Michele Umezu has revealed she is planning to strip off for nude pictures on OnlyFans. The Brazil legend and two-time World Cup winner, 46, had a fling with Michele back in 2004.
    Michele Umezu has revealed she is joining OnlyFansCredit: Newsflash
    The 41-year-old declared the move was in the interest of being artisticCredit: Newsflash
    Ronaldo had a fling with Michele in 2004Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    But now the bodybuilder has announced she will be joining OnlyFans.
    And while she has admitted she will be stripping off her clothes, she insists she is doing it in an artistic light.
    Michele told Brazilian media: “Now, I know that there are different styles and types of materials.
    “I want to do a lot of artistic nude photos with my physique.”
    READ MORE ON RONALDO
    The 41-year-old is said to have the full support of her family and friends – including the 17-year-old son of Ronaldo and her, Alexander.
    Although she did not indicate whether she had told Ronaldo about the move.
    She said: “I use my body as art for sports, and I have the support of my family and friends, who understand that I work to achieve a competitive physique.
    “Art has nothing to do with vulgarity, because at 14 I already had photos and fashion shows in Japan, when I was an international model.
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    “For a model it’s normal.”
    She added: “My son supports me, he has already supported me in bodybuilding.
    “I already shoot photos and videos all the time in competitions. It won’t be all that different.”
    Michele also insisted that the move was aimed at raising female self-esteem.
    She said: “It’s possible, at 40 years old, to overcome yourself, to be professional, sensual, a mother and an athlete who is your own person.
    “And today I have self-esteem.”
    Michele previously revealed how using steroids sent her libido into overdrive and gave her an “insatiable” appetite for sex. More

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    Brazil football hero Falcao quits job after ‘rubbing his crotch against hotel worker’

    BRAZILIAN football hero Falcao has quit his job amid claims he sexually assaulted a woman.Falcao, 69 — a star of the midfield at the 1982 World Cup — is claimed to have rubbed his crotch against a hotel worker.
    World Cup star Falcao allegedly rubbed his crotch against a hotel workerCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    She is said to have told police there was at least one witness and the incident was on CCTV.
    A specialist sex crimes police unit are investigating the allegations.
    The star — full name Paulo Roberto Falcao — denies wrongdoing but quit as sporting director at Brazilian side Santos.
    As a leading defensive midfielder, Falcao made his name at Internacional before moving to Italian side Roma in 1980.
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    He won 34 caps for Brazil.
    At the peak of his career, Falcao was one of the Brazil national team’s greatest stars playing against English contemporaries like Kevin Kegan and Glenn Hoddle.
    He played at a club level for Internacional, Roma, and Sao Paulo and was once the world’s highest-paid player.
    He was later manager of the Brazil national side and had three separate stints in charge of Internacional before taking the Santos sporting coordinator job in November.
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    Amir Khan makes first TV appearance since marriage ‘split’ and sexting scandal – and he’s NOT wearing wedding ring

    AMIR Khan made his first TV appearance since the suspected split from his wife following a sexting scandal.The former boxing champ, 36, found himself at the centre of cheating allegations after a woman told how they had nights of hotel sex over a period of four months.
    Khan was spotted on TNT Sports ahead of the Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr fight last nightCredit: tnt sports
    A source said Faryal is now deciding ‘whether or not to walk away from the marriage’
    The boxer didn’t have his wedding ring on when he was on TV last nightCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    The Sun on Sunday revealed Khan had demanded “no holds bar” sex from the woman earlier this year before the fling escalated.
    It’s understood Khan’s wife Faryal Makhdoom, 32, found out about the betrayal before calling the woman, who wants to remain anonymous, and threatened to out her.
    A source said Faryal is now deciding “whether or not to walk away from the marriage”.
    And last night, Khan was spotted on TV without his wedding ring.
    READ MORE ON KHAN
    He appeared on TNT Sports ahead of the Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr fight.
    Khan sat on the panel of presenters and also discussed a potential return to the sport – ignoring the recent bombshell.
    In an interview with The Sun on Sunday, the woman involved in the sex scandal said that Khan told her his marriage was “on the rocks”.
    Khan had messaged the woman on Instagram in February after she viewed his profile.
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    She said: “I got a notification that I had a message from Amir Khan. I was shocked and, at first, thought it was a joke but he asked me for my number and then started messaging me on WhatsApp.
    “He was intense straight away and spoke about his marriage problems. I thought he was very confident.”
    In one text, Khan said: “Things were a little tough [at the moment] with what we going through.”
    The woman said: “He then rang me and told me he was in an unhappy marriage — and it was more of a business arrangement.”
    The next day, Khan sent a number of selfies from a Pakistan work trip and asked her to send him some “naughty pictures”.
    He wrote: “I need to let me have u for a day locked up with me. Make it dirty n naughty. No holds bar. Everything goes. U know it’s been 4 months for me. No sex.”
    A fortnight later, the couple met up at a ­restaurant in Wembley, North West London, where Khan was hanging out with pals.
    She said: “I went to meet him for the first time and he was with friends.
    “We just chatted and it seemed normal to them he was meeting a woman that wasn’t his wife, which I found surprising.
    “Nothing happened but then the next day he asked me to drive to visit him in Manchester.”
    On March 7, the woman travelled from London to a plush hotel in Manchester where she checked in under the company name “Khan Operations”.
    She said: “It was quite brazen that I was checking in under his name.
    “We went out to dinner and then he had to go back to his friend’s house to FaceTime Faryal so she would think he was staying there while I waited at the hotel. We had a night of passion.”
    The following week, the woman claims Khan begged her to visit him at a hotel in London, where he was staying during a trial after he was robbed of his £72,000 watch in April 2022.
    She said: “He messaged me, pleading me to get to his hotel room at 3am. I ended up driving there later and stayed four hours.”
    She added: “Things started to get serious. He’d message he loved me and even asked me to be his girlfriend.”
    Just days later, Khan messaged: “Me and my wife are having big problems. On camera looks okay . . . I’m done.”
    But in May, he turned on a Whats-App function which means texts are deleted automatically after 24 hours.
    She said: “I asked him to turn it off as I felt insulted — like I was his dirty little secret.
    “He told me over the phone he’d been kicked out as Faryal had caught him cheating but he said it was an old video on his phone.”
    She and Khan met up one more time before the relationship swiftly ended.
    SEX SCANDAL
    On June 5, the woman claims she received a phone call from him to warn her that his wife had found her number on his phone and blocked her.
    She said: “He was flying back to Dubai without her and said he’d call me when he got there.”
    The woman then received a second call at midnight — but this time from Faryal, adding: “She said she wanted to know what was going on and Amir had told her I was a fan who was harassing him.
    “I put the phone down on her and she sent me a text message.”
    Faryal’s text to the woman, seen by The Sun on Sunday, read: “I know you’re a very bad liar and I can see right through your bs.
    “So next time stop stuttering and get your story straight.
    “Trying to protect a man who blocked you and doesn’t rate you. I have recorded the whole call and have proof of your harassment.
    “I don’t want to name and shame you . . . if I was you I wouldn’t even attempt to contact him.”
    The woman said: “I was in shock. There was no harassment as proven by the messages. I wasn’t allowed to contact Amir first.”
    On June 8, Khan sent a text saying: “She’s back today. I will message you soon.” The woman said: “He then went to the Maldives and I didn’t hear from him.
    “On June 15, I got a missed voice call and a voice note saying he’d call me when he can and a few days later he changed his number.”
    She added: “It made me feel like s***. He got what he wanted and then just dropped me.
    “I always knew he was married. It’s not about that. It’s the lack of respect and the sudden shift in behaviour. Faryal’s message was horrible too. It scared me.
    “I then found out that he had been sexting other women at the same time he was having sex with me — which I find vile.”
    The couple are now splitting their time between their homes in Dubai and the UK.
    Khan recently jetted back to London alone as he shared snaps onboard an Emirates flight.
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    He used an airplane emoji to cover his wedding ring finger.
    A source said: “Faryal is taking time to think about whether or not to walk away.”
    A woman told The Sun on Sunday she met up with Khan over a period of four months for hotel sexCredit: tnt sports
    He used an airplane emoji to cover his wedding ring finger when he recently jetted back to LondonCredit: instagram More

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    Daniel Ricciardo broke his own sex ban with stunning Wag and daughter of ex-F1 star – and was even BETTER in Grand Prix

    DANIEL RICCIARDO has revealed that he has gone back on his previous sex ban after meeting partner Heidi Berger.Ricciardo made his long-awaited return to F1 at the Hungary Grand Prix yesterday.
    Ricciardo admitted he is ‘in love’ with Heidi BergerCredit: danielricciardo/instagram
    Ricciardo and Berger on holiday in VeniceCredit: heidiberger_/instagram
    Berger has attended Ricciardo’s races since the two went public last yearCredit: Rex
    Berger is a model and aspiring actressCredit: heidiberger_/instagram
    He was left without a team at the beginning of this season and was a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing.
    But after a disappointing beginning to the season for Dutch driver Nick De Vries, Red Bull moved to remove the driver from AlphaTauri Racing.
    Ricciardo was then bumped up from reserve driver at Red Bull into De Vries’ place at Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri.
    But those thinking Ricciardo would be abstaining ahead of the race would have been wrong – after Ricciardo admitted he no longer believes in a sex ban on a podcast.
    READ MORE IN F1
    The Australian was interviewed by podcaster Dax Shepard on The Armchair Expert podcast.
    Shepard was keen to find out whether it was still common practice for athletes to refrain from sex before events to which Ricciardo said: “I used to, but not any more.
    “I went against my rules obviously once and I was probably even better on Sunday so it’s all good. I threw that one out a few years ago.”
    Ricciardo has dated Berger since 2019 and has admitted to being loved up with the aspiring actress in a podcast interview last year.
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    He told the Fitzy and Wippa show: “Yeah mate, I’m in love,
    “I’ve got a good thing going on, so yeah, I’ve got a good balance in life right now.”
    Berger at last year’s Miami Grand PrixCredit: heidiberger_/instagram
    Berger regularly gives an inisight into her luxury lifestyle on InstagramCredit: heidiberger_/instagram
    Ricciardo’s girlfriend, Heidi Berger, is the daughter of former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger.
    She is an aspiring actress and model – and the two have been publicly loved up since August of last year.
    The two regularly share their glamorous lifestyle on their Instagrams, which includes holidaying in some very exotic locations.
    Berger cheered on Ricciardo’s return to the track at the Hungaroring yesterday – with the Australian finishing in 13th on his AlphaTauri debut. More