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      in Soccer

      Reuben brothers David and Simon have property worth £18bn, own a £54m yacht and are involved in Newcastle takeover

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      THEY say money can’t buy you happiness, but the Reuben brothers don’t seem to be complaining.The property tycoons are self-made billionaires and the second richest family in the UK, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
      Simon Reuben, left, and David Reuben are part of a consortium set to take over NewcastleCredit: Getty – Contributor
      David Reuben, 79, and younger sibling Simon, 76, have amassed a staggering fortune of £18.6bn thanks to a business acumen even Lord Alan Sugar would be envious of.
      Over the years, they’ve splashed their wealth on a plethora of boys’ toys, including a £54million super yacht and a £19million private jet.
      They even own a nightclub in the exclusive Italian island of Capri that’s seen glamorous guests like Jennifer Lopez, George Clooney and Beyonce walk through its doors.
      Now, the pair are set to move into the football world.
      They have joined forces with Saudi Arabia prince Mohammad bin Salman and Amanda Staveley in a £300m takeover of Newcastle United from beleaguered owner Mike Ashley.
      They stand to own 10 per cent of the club, according to reports. This is their story.
      HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
      David and Simon were born in India to Jewish-Iraqi parents, and moved to London in the 1950s.
      The family grew up in poverty, and were poorly educated in a state school in Islington.
      They loved their football, but didn’t support their local team Arsenal, instead opting for London rivals Chelsea.
      Both left education when they were 17, David worked in scrap metal and began trading, while Simon started out in carpets, before buying England’s oldest carpet company from the receivers.
      In the past, Simon has been quoted as saying: “I can’t read a computer screen and never use a calculator. It’s all in my head and by hand.”
      The Reuben brothers are said to have amassed a fortune of over £18bnCredit: Camera Press
      The company made enough money for Simon to start spending on property, with early investments on Walton Street and the King’s Road in Chelsea.
      Eventually, the brothers joined forces by launching Trans-World Metals – an operation that specialised in aluminium and tin out of London and copper and tin out of New York.
      By 1984, the company was worth a staggering $20million, and at its peak they controlled around seven percent of the world’s aluminium output.PROPERTY MAGNATES
      The Reubens moved into Russian territory shortly after the break-up of the Soviet Union, buying half of Russia’s aluminium supply.
      Remarkably, their global sales topped $8bn in 1995.
      They did business with Roman Abramovich, as well as Oleg Deripaska, the oligarch pal of Nat Rothschild and Peter Mandelson.
      However, their relationship with Deripaska turned sour, and eventually the Reubens took him to court claiming damages of $300m in lost earnings.
      The Reubens have now focused their attentions on reshaping the London skyline. They redeveloped Paddington Basin, own Connaught House on Berkeley Square, as well as the John Lewis HQ in Victoria, Burlington Arcade, 100 Pall Mall, Clareville House, and several shops in pricey Sloane Square.
      After making a mint in aluminium, the Reubens went about changing London’s property landscape acquiring buildings like the Millbank Tower and CentreCredit: Alamy
      The trendy Curtain Hotel and Private Members Club in Shoreditch is a part of their vast property portfolioCredit: Alamy
      Burlington Arcade is also owned by the Reuben brothersCredit: Ben Gurr – The Times
      CAMBRIDGE HOUSE
      In 2017, they were granted planning permission to turn a former Piccadilly private members’ club into one of London’s most astonishing five star hotels, after acquiring the property for £130million in 2011.
      Originally, the site was the infamous In and Out Club that boasted past members like Lawrence of Arabia, Ian Fleming and Rudyard Kipling.
      The Grade I-listed property known as Cambridge House, also formerly a home of past PM Lord Palmerston, will also house a restaurant, bars, a spa, pool and gym, and seven residential apartments when it is built.
      But its most amazing feature will be its 2,360sq ft grand ballroom, double the size of the average home.
      In 2011, the Reuben brothers bought Cambridge House for £130m
      Former Prime Minister Lord Palmerston once lived in Cambridge HouseCredit: Susannah Ireland – The Times
      Planning permission was granted to turn Cambridge House into a lavish five star hotelCredit: Susannah Ireland – The Times
      BUY LAND, BY SEA
      Through their company Kristal Waters, the brothers built five super yachts.
      They sold four – Triple Seven, Sapphire, Mogambo and Graffiti, but kept the £54million Siren, which is now used by the pair as a private yacht.
      The 241-foot vessel has six cabins, a master suite, a VIP stateroom, three double cabins, as well as a twin cabin.
      The master suite also has a fold out balcony on which guests can enjoy incredible views of  the skies and the ocean.
      There is space for up to 12 guests, while 18 cabin crew can wait on you hand and foot.
      The Reubens are the proud owners of the Siren super yachtCredit: Alamy
      The £54m Siren boasts a stunning saloon room
      The dining room inside the Siren offers ample space for the family and guests
      The Reuben family enjoy the delights of the Siren
      JET-SET LIFE
      If travelling by sea doesn’t cut it for the Reubens, they have exclusive use of their own private jet worth around £19million.
      They own an Embraer 135BJ Legacy 650 that can fly up to 14 passengers in one flight.
      The jet has a top speed of 518mph and a maximum range of 3,740 miles, which means it can get to the States from the UK.
      But, the Reubens don’t have far to go when it comes to their mansions.

      The two, who live privately, are said to have splendid abodes in Monaco, a tax haven for men with money.
      Simon is said to have a flat in Knightsbridge, while David is shacked up in Holland Park.
      Their private life’s are just that – David’s wife is Debra, an American designer. Simon is married to Joyce Reuben, and they are sometimes seen at high-society functions, mingling with socialites and hanging out with celeb pals including Joan Collins.
      The Reubens share this £19m private jet
      Simon Reuben enjoys mingling with high society, but manages to remain privateCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Joan Collins is a pal of the Reuben brothersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Simon is married to Joyce ReubenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      David Reuben poses with wife Debra and their daughter LisaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      FOREIGN VENTURES
      If a burgeoning London property portfolio isn’t enough, the Reuben brothers have expanded overseas.
      They completed the acquisition of the iconic La Palma Hotel in Capri, the first and oldest hotel on the island, opened in 1822, and are planning an extensive renovation.
      La Taverna Anema e Core, Capri’s most famous nightclub, comes with that investment – a spot where Hollywood glitterati like Beyonce, J-Lo and Clooney are happy to let down their hair.
      Add to that hotels in Mykonos, Ibiza, Greece and the US, you can imagine Newcastle United’s stars may be thinking they’ll be getting mates’ rates when booking their summer holidays.
      The Reubens acquired the Hotel La Palma in Capri, ItalyCredit: Alamy
      The Hotel La Palma is the oldest hotel on the island of Capri
      La Taverna Anema e Core is a nightclub that has hosted George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez and BeyonceCredit: Alamy
      El Hotel de Pacha in Ibiza is another hotel the Reuben brothers have invested inCredit: Alamy
      The San Remo Hotel de Paris, Luxury Hotel and Spa is also part of the Reubens vast hotel portfolioCredit: Alamy
      FAMILY VALUES
      The Reuben heirs are just as flamboyant and interesting as their fathers.
      James, the son of David, is managing partner of investment firm, Melbury Capital, as well as a director at Britain’s largest horse racing company, Arena Racing Company.
      He is  also the first family member to get into football, and currently sits on the board of QPR.
      While David’s other son David Jr had a hippyish wedding at the Burning Man festival in Nevada last year, where he married sexy Colombian actress Carolina Guerra.
      James Reuben is a friend of the Hollywood glitterati, hanging out with the likes of Justin BieberCredit: Getty Images
      James Reuben Jr is also on the board of QPRCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      David Reuben Jr had a hippyish wedding at the Burning Man Festival last year to Colombian actress Carolina Guerra

      Lisa Reuben, posing with ex Arsenal star Mathieu Flamini, works for SothebysCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Their cousin, Lisa works in the contemporary art department of posh auctioneers Sotheby’s.
      Her wedding to coal and steel trader Ron Valk  took place at the plush Monte Carlo Sporting Carlo, which was decorated with 5,000 white roses for the nuptials.
      Whatever the Reubens plans for Newcastle are, it’s clear that they’re not afraid of spending a bit of money. More

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      in Soccer

      Meet Amanda Staveley, the Newcastle takeover leader and former model, who rejected Prince Andrew’s marriage proposal

      by

      AMANDA STAVELEY has led the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium trying to take over Newcastle United since 2017.Finally, it appears the mega-connected businesswoman has been successful – with the Toon set be taken over in a £300million deal.
      Businesswoman and former model Amanda Staveley led the Saudi-based takeover of NewcastleCredit: Camera Press
      Staveley met Prince Andrew in 2001 and they dated for two yearsCredit: Rex Features
      Staveley, herself, and her PCP Capital Partners firm are set to take a 10 per cent stake in the club as part of the deal, and she will take her seat on the board.
      But behind-the-scenes, the Yorkshire-born financier, 48, is battling a crippling brain disease that can lead to dementia.
      She was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease in 2013, for which there is no cure.
      And before she made her foray into the football world, Amanda was courted by ‘Randy Andy’ Prince Andrew.
      However, two years later the former blonde model, who stands 6ft tall in heels, turned down his hand in marriage because she didn’t want to become a Royal.
      THE MEETING PLACE
      In 2000, Staveley launched Q.ton – a health club, gym, restaurant and conference centre in the Cambridge Science Park for £10million.
      A year later, Andrew, then a UK trade ambassador, went to the science park with King Abdullah of Jordan, one of its many investors, and met Staveley for the first time.
      Immediately besotted by her beauty and intelligence, Andrew took her number and they began dating.
      The relationship was beneficial for both parties – Amanda was introduced to Andrew’s contacts book, while he reportedly enjoyed inaugurating her into his inner circle.
      According to reports, she called him “Babe”, while he sent her racy jokes in text messages and emails.
      Andrew soon became entranced by Staveley reportedly sending her racy text messagesCredit: Camera Press
      Andrew loved introducing Staveley to his high-society friendsCredit: Rex Features
      Andrew was so entranced by his new love, Staveley was invited to Buckingham Palace and Sandringham, while she also helped decorate his home in Windsor Great Park.
      The Queen and Prince Philip were believed to be delighted for Andrew, and gave Staveley their seal of approval.
      However, he couldn’t get her down the aisle. In 2003, she politely declined his marriage proposal.
      “Andrew’s a lovely man and I still care for him a great deal,” she told the Daily Mail.
      “But if I’d married him, my independence would have disappeared.”
      HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE
      In 2013, Amanda was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease – a degenerative disorder that affects people later in life.
      When the cruel illness takes effect, sufferers’ brain functions begin to slowly decline and mood swings, memory loss, as well as involuntary body movements are just some of the symptoms she could face.
      She was told by doctors that the disease is dormant, but could be triggered through stress and pressure at work.
      Amanda discovered she had inherited the Huntington’s gene from her mum Lyne – a former champion show-jumper – when she was tested before starting her own family at 37.
      In 2011, Staveley married Iranian businessman Mehrdad GhodoussiCredit: Robert Shack Photography
      Staveley suffers from Huntington’s diseaseCredit: Rex Features
      She credits husband Ghodoussi for being patient with herCredit: Avalon.red. All rights reserved.
      “The stress brings on the onset of the disease, and the disease is fatal,” she revealed to the Mail on Sunday.
      And she is the first to admit it has made her difficult for her husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, who she married in 2011.
      “I have the most incredibly patient and loving husband. I didn’t want to get married when I found out about the disease – but he said he didn’t care, and that we would find the best medical care available.”
      Although, rather strangely, Huntington’s made Amanda better with numbers when she was a City dealmaker with Barclays bank.

      “It’s actually very useful because I’ve never needed a calculator,” she said.
      “The Barclays guys were always shocked that I could do complicated financial models in my head. I thought I was just good with numbers – it turns out I was sick.”OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES
      Before she could count the likes of Simon Cowell and Sir Philip Green as mates, and was whisked around in a chauffeur-driven £250,000 Rolls Royce Phantom, Staveley had to overcome adversity as a teenager.
      Incredibly, she was accepted at Cambridge University aged just 16 – after completing her A-Levels in one year.
      But Amanda had to drop out after suffering a number of setbacks.
      Staveley has accrued a wealth of £120m and can count on mates including Sir Philip Green and Simon CowellCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Aged 16 Staveley was accepted to Cambridge UniversityCredit: Rex Features
      Her dad Robert Staveley, a north Yorkshire landowner who founded the Lightwater Valley theme park, suffered a heart attack.
      And her mum’s Huntington’s illness reared its ugly head, and she had her own personal issues to deal with too.
      “When I got to university my dad had a heart attack, my mum was very ill with Huntington’s, and I also had an eating disorder,” she said.
      “I was educated at a girls private school – Queen Margaret’s in York – and I found being educated with men at university very tough. I had a psychologist, I was sectioned, my weight dropped and I didn’t know how to cope.”
      MAKING CONTACTS
      At the age of 23, Staveley managed to convince a bank to lend her £180,000 to set up her own restaurant.
      Stocks was launched in the village of Bottisham, Cambridgeshire, where Amanda took on the role of chef and waitress – often working till 4am to make sure she was prepped for the next day.
      But, despite her long hours, it didn’t deter her from studying for her City exams with ambitions to become a financial adviser, as well as fulfilling modelling duties for extra cash.
      With its proximity to the Newmarket Racecourse, Stocks became a haunt for the flat-racing fraternity.
      Members of the Dubai-ruling family, the Maktoums, who own the Godolphin Stables, were regulars.
      Arab princes and dotcom tycoons from ‘Silicon Fen’ – a nickname given to a region of Cambridgeshire which is home to a cluster of high-tech businesses, were also customers.
      Staveley’s first business venture was Stocks restaurantCredit: 2008 AFP
      Over the years Staveley built up an enviable contacts bookCredit: PA:Press Association

      And with such high-prestige clientele, Staveley was well-placed to pick up an enviable contacts book when she finished her studies.
      Since her Stocks days, she has amassed a personal fortune worth around £120million, has a home in Dubai and a luxury apartment on Park Lane.
      Soon, she may just add a Quayside penthouse overlooking the Tyne to her property portfolio.
      Newcastle United Supporters Trust welcome proposed Saudi takeover More

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      in Boxing

      Inside family company Sartonk, who make amazing boxing belts for likes of Mayweather, Tyson and Canelo in New Jersey

      by

      FROM a tiny warehouse in Union City, New Jersey the ultimate accessory for the world’s best boxers are painfully handcrafted.US company Sartonk are responsible for creating the amazing looking WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO championship belts.
      The late Ardash Sahaghian was the man responsible for handcrafting boxing belts from the 1970sCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      Sahaghian designed belts for different boxing federationsCredit: Instagram / @emaijian
      Mayweather shows off two belts designed by Sahaghian, including the WBC beltCredit: Reuters
      Their story started 45 years ago, when Romanian immigrant Ardash Sahaghian began working at an uptown jewellery shop.
      He was asked by his jeweller boss Phil Valentino if he would be interested in making belts for the emerging boxing organisations.
      The first belt he made was a reproduction of a classic Rocky Marciano championship belt from the 1950s.
      In the mid-70s, as boxing bodies were established, Sahaghian was then commissioned for nearly every belt.
      In 2017, after dedicating his life to his craft, he passed away at the age of 95 – five years after he was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame as boxing’s master craftsman
      Now, it’s his grandson Edward Majian who handles Sartonk’s production line. This is their incredible story.
      THE GOLDEN PERIOD
      Sahaghian, who is of Armenian descent, had a tough existence in Romania.
      After he was tortured in a Communist prison camp in his homeland, he eventually fled with his wife, Nazeli to South Africa and Brazil, before settling in the United States.
      There, he became a shoemaker, leather craftsman and toolmaker. All would put him in good stead for his future career as belt connoisseur.
      It was at a jewellery shop owned by Paul Valentino Sr, a boxing fan with ties in the sport who was already designing belts for boxers, he would find his calling.
      Critical Sahaghian wasn’t keen on Valentino’s designs and told his boss he could do better.
      Sahaghian, who passed away in 2017, made his first belt in the mid-1970sCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      Mike Tyson’s WBC belt was one of many designed by Sahaghian during boxing’s golden period for belt makingCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      Mexican champ Canelo Alvarez shows of Sartonk’s most recent designsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “Take the key. You make what you like,” Sahaghian recalled Valentino telling him in an interview with NJ.com before his death.
      Between the 1970s all the way through to the 1990s, Sahaghian contributed to boxing’s golden period when it came to championship belt design.
      His work was worn on the waists and shoulders of great champions including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.
      Most recently, it’s Mexican brawler Canelo Alvarez who is decorated with Sahaghian’s WBA, WBC, and WBO belts.
      And despite losing his titles to Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua kept his belts designed by Sartonk.
      The Ukrainian fighter was seen returning them to AJ after the fight, and will now receive his own. Each fight, once they become a champ, has the belt as a keepsake for their journey to the top.
      “He really revolutionised how championship belts were made,” president of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, Henry Hascup revealed.
      ”He’s the modern inventor or designer of these belts. He takes great pride in his product.”
      HANDING ON THE BATON
      Enjoying near anonymity, Sahaghian worked tirelessly well into his 90s in a small concrete floor workspace
      He turned up five days a week, while his wife painted the belt medallions on her kitchen table.
      But it was his grandson Edward Majian who knew he had to protect Sahaghian’s legacy.
      Sahaghian’s grandson Edward Majian took over the family business in 2017Credit: Instagram / @emaijian
      The business was renamed Sartonk to protect Sahaghian’s legacyCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      In 2009, the business became Sartonk – derived from the Armenian word Zartonk which means ‘rebirth’.
      The ‘Z’ was changed to an ‘S’ in honour of Sahaghian.
      Majian, who had shadowed his grandad in the studio for so long, took over the mantle.
      And the quality hasn’t been allowed to slip, either.
      HANDMADE
      The belts, themselves, are usually 44 inches long and weigh between three to four kilograms – with Majian keeping a close eye on proceedings and his small workforce.
      An old but reliable Singer sewing machine is used to create the intricate stitching and designs.
      However, they begin life as a mould made of organic rubber – and look more like a film reel tin than a championship boxing belt.
      “The currency we work in is our craftsmanship and the respect we have for these fighters,” Majian said.
      “Boxing is the sport of the oppressed. These fighters are not coming out of gated communities. For many, boxing has saved their lives.”
      Majian refers to the belts as “devotional art” –  gold-plated and crystal-studded to honour the warriors that wear them.
      “We’re creating symbols of victory and triumph,” Majian revealed.
      “We all have this Rocky inside us, waiting to be unleashed.
      The belts are handcrafted by Majian and his teamCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      Gold-plated and crystal-studded, Sartonk belts are designed for championsCredit: Instagram / @emaijian

      “I’m often confronted by angry boxing fans who say there are too many belts.
      “But each one of these belts is something to aspire to, something you work for.”
      And you can bet the next time a boxer wins one, that’s precisely how they will look at it too.
      Tyson Fury admits he was outboxed by Steve Cunningham but still says he got the job done More

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      in Soccer

      Barcelona kid Gavi, 17, has been likened to legend Xavi and is now Spain’s youngest ever international

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      BARCELONA kid Gavi, 17, has already gone down in the record books.When Luis Enrique named him in his first eleven in the Nations League semi final against Italy, he became Spain’s youngest ever international.
      Barcelona wonderkid Gavi provided a star turn against Bayern Munich as a subCredit: AFP
      Midfielder Gavi has been tipped as the next Xavi at the Nou CampCredit: Getty
      “It was his first game with Spain, but we already knew all about him,” Luis Enrique said after the game.
      “It’s not normal that he plays like that [at 17]. He’s a player with personality, enviable physical conditions and he plays our style of football. He plays like he’s at school or in his garden at home.
      “It’s a pleasure to have a player with that quality and character with us. We can say that he’s the national team’s present, not [just] the future.”
      And he deserved his bow for his country, after emerging on the scene at Camp Nou.
      Barcelona may have been on the receiving end of Champions League thumpings at home to Bayern Munich and away against Benfica, but Gavi is getting a valuable lesson in game time.
      The struggling LaLiga club have seen an opportunity to bleed a youngster that’s going to be integral to their success moving forward, as their fortunes suffer on the pitch.
      In the 59th minute against Bayern, boss Ronald Koeman brought teen wonderkid Gavi, 17, on for stalwart Sergio Busquets.
      15 minutes later, the attacking midfielder tried to burst through the Germans defence before he was expertly stopped by Dayot Upamecano. However, the potential was there to see and the crowd responded every time he touched the ball.
      On Wednesday, Gavi became his country’s youngest ever internationalCredit: Getty
      Perhaps he was lucky to stay on the field after consecutive fouls on Thomas Muller and Dayot Upamecano, but fans were already buoyed by what they had seen.
      Gavi, who has been likened to Spain legend Xavi, is the future of Barça’s and Spain’s midfield.
      ARRIVED FROM BETIS
      Although he already appears to have the Barcelona style of play engrained in his DNA, he didn’t join La Masia until he was 11.
      Originally from Los Palacios y Villafrance, some 18 miles outside of Seville, Gavi’s technical ability made him a standout.
      He played for Real Betis, scoring 96 goals in youth football, and getting scouted by Villarreal, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
      But in 2005, it was Barcelona who convinced the talent his future belonged at the Nou Camp.
      Gavi, playing against Real Madrid as a kid, signed for Barcelona aged 11Credit: Instagram / @pablogavi10
      Gavi played last season in a mask after breaking his jawCredit: Getty
      “He is so technically gifted,” his former La Masia coach Franc Artiga told Goal.
      “He is capable of changing a what he is about to do in tenths of a second, and improvising under any circumstance of the game.
      “It is very difficult to find a player with these abilities, and with this speed of execution.”
      Gavi rose through the ranks and skipped U18 football to go straight into the U19 team last term.
      “Physically, this year he has evolved a lot,” Artiga said.
      “He has made the change and is now a very strong player.
      “This physique complements his technical quality and decision making. He now has the quality to protect the ball. His lower body helps him and has made him more competitive in the youth teams.”
      ‘HYPERCOMPETITIVE’
      As was proven by his over-eagerness in the tackle against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, Gavi’s competitive nature can get the best of him in the pitch.
      “He  is hypercompetitive,” Artiga revealed.
      “He is one of the most competitive players I know. That is something you have to stabilise.
      “He has improved a lot in the control of his emotions. He is always on top of them, while keeping a winning mentality until the last minute. He still, though, has room for improvement in this.”
      Last season, Gavi appeared for the Barcelona B team twice before he was promoted to the first team for this summer’s preseason friendlies.
      It was against VfB Stuttgart in a 3-0 friendly win, where he earned comparisons to ex-Barcelona star Xavi.
      So far, he has already appeared seven times for the Catalans in LaLiga.
      Gavi’s cameo against Bayern Munich had fans on their feetCredit: Rex
      Competitive Gavi does sometimes let his emotions get the better of him on the football pitchCredit: Getty

      But, they do want to ease him in gentle. After all, there is the belief he will be gracing the Nou Camp for years to come.
      Artiga divulged: “He plays and executes on instinct. More experience will help him be able to read the game, and not act so much on instinct.
      “We have to be patient, we have to let him reach certain objectives.
      “If we do things well and have a good environment, we will have Gavi for many years.”
      Lionel Messi tipped to return to Barcelona and retire after winning Champions League with PSG by Riquelme More

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      in Soccer

      How Bin Salman’s wealth compares to Man City chief Sheikh Mansour, with Crown Prince on verge of Newcastle takeover

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      BILLIONAIRE Mohammed bin Salman is moving closer to a £300million takeover of Newcastle.The Saudi government has lifted its ban on Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports, after they were locked in a brutal dispute as Doha-based beIN had its feed across the Middle East hijacked, which was believed to have been holding up a deal.
      The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is set to buy Newcastle for £300mCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Sheikh Mansour who has spent over £1billion as owner of Manchester CityCredit: Reuters
      And a deal could be completed as soon as Thursday, with Premier League permission, as Mike Ashley looks to finally conclude a sale of the Toon.
      Ashley, who bought the club for £135m in 2007, came close to selling it to Arab Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan in May 2019.
      But the latest takeover plan is part of the Saudi billionaire’s bid to take his nation into the 21st century.
      He sees the worlds of sports and entertainment as ways to lift his nation to become a global player.
      The crown prince funded the Anthony Joshua rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr which took place in the kingdom.
      Bin Salman, 36, has already set about improving the kingdom’s human rights record and giving women more liberty.
      His Toon takeover would mirror Abu Dhabi’s 2008 acquisition of City.
      Since then Sheikh Mansour, 50, has spent over £1billion on players and improving the club.
      In that time, City have won five Premier League titles, five League Cups and two FA Cups in the most successful period in their history.
      It’s reported that Bin Salman is motivated by a desire to compete with Abu Dhabi royal family member Mansour.
      But how does the Crown Prince compare to the Sheikh?
      We take a look through their lifestyle and wealth… and controversies.

      Wealth
      Neither of the pair are struggling for cash.
      Bin Salman has an estimated personal wealth of around £13billion – although he has almost the full riches of Saudi Arabia at his fingertips.
      Sheikh Mansour’s personal fortune is believed to be somewhere in the region of £17billion.
      Politics and business
      Bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the son of the King and the de facto leader of the Gulf state as King Salman is unable to fully rule because of dementia.
      Bin Salman is also the deputy prime minister and defence minister and has attempted to present himself as a moderate reformer.
      The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin SalmanCredit: AP:Associated Press
      In 2019, for the first time Saudi women were allowed to to travel abroad, register to marry or divorce and apply for official documents without the consent of a male guardian.
      Mansour is the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
      However, while Bin Salman has focused on his political career as leader of Saudi Arabia, Mansour has spent much more time on his personal business portfolio.
      Mansour heads the International Petroleum Investment Company, which has stakes in a number of businesses around the world.
      The Manchester City owner has a 32 per cent stake in Virgin Galactic – investing more than £200m in the company in 2009 – as well as a 9.1 per cent stake in Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz and others.
      Mansour’s Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation also established Sky News Arabia and English-language newspaper The National.
      The Crown Prince meets HRH Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham PalaceCredit: PA:Press Association
      Family
      Bin Salman is part of the House of Saud, the ruling family of Saudi Arabia since 1744.
      The family has some 15,000 people, although the majority of the power and the wealth sits with around 2,000 of them.
      The Al Saud family has a reported combined wealth of £1.3TRILLION – with many political commentators stating that amount is a huge under-estimate.
      Mansour is the half-brother of the current president of the UAE and a member of the ruling Al Nahyan family.
      The oil-rich family have an estimated combined wealth of at least £150billion and have driven the building of holiday hotspot Dubai.
      Mohammed bin Salman could complete a deal for Newcastle United in a £3o0m deal on ThursdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Bin Salman is married to Sarah bint Mashhoor – known as the ‘Barbie Princess’ – in 2008, the couple have four children.
      There are unconfirmed rumours that the Saudi has three other wives.
      Sheikh Mansour has two wives and six children.
      He married Sheikha Alia bint bint Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed in the mid-1990s, with whom he has one son and Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
      Manal, who has two daughters and three sons with Sheikh Mansour, is the president of the Dubai Women Establishment.Homes and holiday
      Both Sheikh Mansour and Mohammed bin Salman have full access to the lavish presidential palaces where their families call home.
      Both are lovers of the Costa del Sol in Spain and Mansour bought the 20,000-acre Los Quintos de San Martin in 2016 for £42million.
      His family also own and regularly stay at the Emirates Palace hotel, described as a ‘seven-star’ hotel in Abu Dhabi.
      Sheikh Mansour reportedly snapped up Los Quintos de San Martin in Spain for £42m in 2016
      The family-owned Emirates Palace has been described as the best hotel in the worldCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Sheikh Mansour owns this mansion in MoroccoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Bin Salman went one better, however.
      In 2015 he splashed out on the world’s most expensive home – the £230MILLION Chateau Louis XIV, west of Paris.
      From the exterior, the Chateau Louis XIV appears to be a 17th-Century chateau, constructed in a similar style to the nearby palace at Versailles.
      On closer inspection, however, this is not the case: it was built after developer Emad Khashoggi demolished a 19th-Century building that had previously stood on the 57-acre site.
      The new-build 10-bedroom home is designed to look like a 17th-century palace and boasts a cinema, deluxe swimming pool and glass-bottomed moat to watch koi carp.
      Fountains can be controlled by a tablet or mobile phone, while the 57-acre plot has immaculate gardens and a maze.
      A statue of Louis XIV made of Carrara marble stands watch over the grounds.
      Mohammed bin Salman owns the world’s most expensive home – the £230million Chateau Louis XIVCredit: Reuters
      The new-home is based on a 17th-century French mansionCredit: Reuters
      Built across 50,000 sq ft, it has 10 bedrooms, an indoor and outdoor pool and a moat circled by an aquariumCredit: Reuters
      The gardens of the £230m chateau in France owned by Mohammad bin Salman
      Yachts
      Bin Salman may win the battle on land, but Mansour wins the battle on the seven seas.
      That’s because although the Saudi owns the extravagant Serene, Mansour owns the Topaz.
      Not that any of us wouldn’t dream of being aboard the Serene.
      The 439ft 4in super-yacht was the ninth-largest in the world when it was built for vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler for £200million 2011.
      Bin Salman bought the boat, which houses 24 guests and 52 crew, in 2015 for an eye-watering £380million.
      Mohammed bin Salman splashed £380million on his superyacht, the SereneCredit: Alamy
      The Serene was in the top ten of world’s biggest yachts when it was built for vodka tycoon Yuri SheflerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Bill Gates once rented it for a week at a cost of $5million and it comes with seven decks, two helipads and a full saltwater swimming pool.
      However, in August 2017 she suffered significant damage to her hull after running aground off the coast of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
      Mansour’s yacht Topaz far outdoes the Serene.
      Built in 2012, the Sheikh coughed up more than £320m to build the 482ft yacht that comes with jacuzzis, two helipads, a swimming platform and eight levels.
      It is now valued at more than £400m.
      The Topaz super yacht is said to be worth £400m and is the fifth-largest yacht in the worldCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The Topaz boasts two helipads, three swimming pools, a cinema and eight levelsCredit: Splash News
      Cars
      Again, Mansour definitely has the more luxurious car collection.
      In fact, it appears that Bin Salman is barely interested in cars at all.
      Some reports claim he has a modest fleet (in comparison to other billionaires at least) with a Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bugatti in his garage.
      On the other hand, Sheikh Mansour can’t get enough.
      Mansour owns a  five per cent stake in Ferrari, as well as this £2.5m EnzoCredit: 4WheelsofLux
      The Sheikh’s Mercedes SLR-McLaren is worth £350,000Credit: 4WheelsofLux
      He also owns this Porsche 911 GT1 worth around £3mCredit: 4WheelsofLux
      His personal collection includes an £840,000 Lamborghini Reventon, FIVE Bugatti Veyrons – costing more than £1million each – as well as a £2.5million Ferrari Enzo and a £3m Porsche 911 GT1.
      Mansour was also instrumental in bringing Formula One to Abu Dhabi and has a stake in both Ferrari and Mercedes parent company Daimler AG.
      Sheikh Mansour is rarely seen at the EtihadCredit: Reuters
      Controversies
      Both men and their families have been linked with several humans rights abuses.
      Bin Salman is considered the architect of the war in Yemen, which included indiscriminate bombing, while he ordered the blockade of the country that sparked a famine and humanitarian crisis which has killed tens of thousands.
      Human Rights Watch director Sarah Leah Whitson described his regime as “despotism”, while there was international outcry when dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated in Turkey in 2018.
      In April this year, Saudi Arabia carried out a mass execution of 37 imprisoned civilians who had been convicted – 21 of those on the basis of confessions obtained under coercion and torture – of terrorism.
      They were executed by beheading, with two of the bodies left on public display.
      In 2018 and again in April this year, there were waves of arrests for women’s rights activists involved in the women to drive movement and anti male-guardianship campaign.
      Sheikh Mansour with former Man City star Sergio AgueroCredit: Manchester City FC – Getty
      Six of these arrested were tortured.
      Sheikh Mansour has been accused of using Manchester City and football to ‘launder’ the image of his state, having only been to one game in ten years.
      Homosexuality remains illegal and is a capital offence in the emirate.
      The ruling regime is also accused of a number of human rights abuses, while flogging, stoning and amputation all remain legal punishments.Sport
      Sheikh Mansour is a much more visible lover of sports.
      As well as his love of Formula One and football, Mansour is also the chairman of the Emirates Horse Racing Authority and the patron of a local half-marathon.
      He hasn’t just invested more than £1billion into Manchester City either, the City Football Group owns and part owns a host of clubs around the world.
      They bought New York City FC to Major League Soccer in the US and own Melbourne City in Australia.
      The holding company also has stakes in Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, Club Atletico Torque in Uruguay and Girona in Spain.
      There are plans to expand further into Europe and Africa.
      Apart from his link to Newcastle, Bin Salman’s only other link to the sporting world is the Saudi second division, which is named after him. More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Tyson Fury’s amazing car collection, from luxury Rolls-Royces and Ferrari supercars to a humble Mini Cooper

      by

      THE Gypsy King boasts chariots that have been the envy of the sporting world over the years.Tyson Fury, 33, is gearing up to face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight this weekend.
      Tyson Fury boasts an epic car collection through the yearsCredit: Refer to Caption
      Fury has also been seen cruising around hometown Morecambe in a £10k Mini CooperCredit: Refer to Caption
      And show he be victorious, the WBC champion – said to be worth around £40million – could add to his impressive car collection.
      Over the years, Fury has been seen behind the wheel of a beautiful Ferrari GTC4Lusso worth around £250,000.
      But on the opposite end of the scale, the heavyweight boxer has also squeezed his giant 6ft 9in frame into a 1993 Mini Cooper that would’ve cost not more than £10,000.
      Here’s a look inside Tyson’s motors through the years.
      THE FASTEST
      Fury is a big fan of the Ferrari brand, having previously owned a California which he sold to a pal.
      His GTC4Lusso is the priciest car in his garage, which has a value of around £250,000.
      He added it in 2019, after he confirmed his second fight with the Bronze Bomber.
      It’s a speedy supercar too – able to hit 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds.
      Fury added a £250,000 Ferrari GTC4Lusso to his car collection in 2019Credit: BackGrid
      THE MOST EXPENSIVE
      The Rolls-Royce Phantom is one of the classiest motors you can get.
      And, of course, it comes with a hefty £360,000 price tag that only the mega-rich can afford.
      Fury had one, regularly posing on social media with it over the years.
      However, he sold it when he suffered with depression and his life spiralled out of control.
      The most expensive motor Fury ever owned was a £360,000 Rolls-Royce PhantomCredit: BackGrid
      Fury sold the car when his life hit rock bottomCredit: Refer to Caption
      LOVES A ROLLER
      Fury also owned a Rolls-Royce Cullinan alongside his brilliant Phantom.
      But again, with the trappings of fame and wealth too much to stand, he decided to flog it.
      The Wythenshawe fighter even posted an emotional video on YouTube waving goodbye to the motor as it left his drive.
      He claimed to have swapped it for a used Volkswagen Passat that cost him £500.
      Fury was also believed to own a Rolls-Royce Cullinan worth £300,000Credit: Alamy
      MOST RIDICULOUS
      Everybody knows a Mini Cooper isn’t exactly the roomiest vehicle on the market.
      Worse still, if you are as tall as 6ft 9in and weigh around 20 stone, it’ll be a tight a squeeze fitting into one.
      But that didn’t bother Tyson, who was seen in a £10,000 Mini Cooper driving around Morecambe.
      He even, unashamedly, shared an image giving the thumbs up inside the British icon.
      6ft 9in Fury squeezes his frame into his 1993 Mini CooperCredit: Refer to Caption
      ITALIAN STALLION
      He matches cars with his mate, Billy Joe Saunders.
      In 2019, Tyson showed off his red Ferrari Portofino motor, alongside Saunders’ similar model in a car park.
      The Portofino usually retails at around £170,000 for a base model.
      Astonishingly, it has a top speed of 198 mph.
      Tyson Fury shows off his matching Ferrari Portofino with friend Billy Joe SaundersCredit: Instagram @gypsyking101
      The red Portofino carries a price tag of around £170,000Credit: Instagram @gypsyking101
      OUT OF RANGE
      As Tyson began his recovery from mental health issues and substance issues, he treated himself to a Range Rover.
      But, he wasn’t going to get any old Range Rover – splashing the cash on a £65,000 Sport SVR.
      Even better, he got it wrapped in camo.
      “Massive thanks to @automotivefashion for wrapping my SVR, looks & feels great. Army edition,” he shared on social media with a snap of his motor.
      This £65,000 Range Rover Sport SVR was specially wrapped in camo for FuryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      NICE WAGON
      In 2016, Fury was spotted driving a Mercedes-AMG G class SUV.
      The £160,000 is one of the most luxurious vehicles around and is favoured by plenty of Premier League stars.
      Fury’s is personalised with blacked out windows, with one having an etching of his famous nickname’s initial ‘GK’.
      A year before that, he took to Twitter to show off an original G Wagon from 1991.
      A personalised G Wagon with ‘GK’ signature on a blacked out window was Fury’s ride in 2016Credit: Maverick Photo Agency More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Deontay Wilder’s amazing car collection, from a £430k alligator-skin wrap Lamborghini to a metallic bronze Hummer

      by

      THE Bronze Bomber loves his motors.Deontay Wilder, 35, has amassed a £30million fortune during a boxing career that’s left many of his opponents dazed and confused and hitting the canvas.
      Deontay Wilder, worth £30m, has splashed the cash on carsCredit: Instagram
      The motors in Wilder’s garage are a knockoutCredit: Alamy
      And his car collection is also a knockout, featuring a very special Lamborghini, a gentleman’s Rolls Royce, as well as a good, old American favourite.
      As Wilder gets ready to face Tyson Fury for a third time – at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday – SunSport takes a look at the Alabama native’s fine garage.
      It’s just as impressive as his famous right hook.
      LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR, £430,000
      In 2015, after claiming the WBC heavyweight title from Bermane Stiverne, Wilder wanted to treat himself – and why not?
      He rolled up to Exotic Euro Cars in Woodland Hills, California, and reportedly splashed around £430,000 on a special Lamborghini Aventador.
      What made this Aventador stand out from the crowd was its faux alligator-skin wrap that would even leave Floyd Mayweather jealous.
      This £430k Lamborghini Aventador is Wilder’s most extravagant possession and has a faux alligator-skin wrapCredit: Instagram
      Boasting a cream leather interior, it’s unlike any Lamborghini we’ve ever seen.
      A coat of bronze was added to the wrap – after all he is the Bronze Bomber – to complete the look.
      The Aventador can reach a top speed of 217 mph, and is one of the fastest Lamborghinis ever manufactured.
      It has a 700-plus horse power V12 engine that can reach 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds.

      ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM, £347,000+
      Every man of wealth should have a Rolls-Royce, after all it’s a true gentleman’s car. Lucky for Wilder he has two.
      His Phantom is a convertible, perfect to cruise around in with those hot, Alabama summers.
      You won’t be shocked to discover that the Phantom is the most expensive Rolls-Royce available on the market.
      Again, Wilder has his custom-made with a bronze metallic coat that’s fitting with his Bronze Bomber moniker.
      His model, the Phantom VII, has a 563 horse power V12 engine that’s capable of hitting 60 mph in 5.1 seconds.
      Deontay often shares snaps sat on the bonnet of this beast on social media, and who can blame him.
      It’s certainly a ride of beauty.
      Wilder rests on the bonnet of his Rolls-Royce PhantomCredit: Instagram
      A gentleman’s car, the Phantom is worth more than £347kCredit: Instagram
      Wilder often takes his Rolls-Royce for a spin with the hood downCredit: Instagram
      HUMMER H2, £70,000
      There was a time when you couldn’t move for Hummers in the US, especially among the sporting elite.
      However, the car manufacturer GM stopped making the Army-inspired SUVs in 2010.
      That’s now made the Hummer a collector’s item, something Wilder is well aware of, which is why he owns one.
      Reportedly worth around £70k, it’s bronze (again!) and it even has its own nickname – the Bomb Zquad Mobile.
      The 34-inch custom bronze and chrome star wheel rims are also engraved with the words Bomb Zquad on them.
      There was recent speculation that Wilder parted with his prized possession, but this was never confirmed.
      Another prized possession of Wilder’s is his Hummer H2, which was discontinued from 2010Credit: Instagram
      The nickname for Wilder’s Hummer H2 is the Bomb Zquad MobileCredit: Instagram
      ROLLS-ROYCE CULLINAN, FROM £269,310
      Wilder’s most recent purchase, he was spied driving the Rolls-Royce SUV back in August 2019.
      Just like his Lamborghini Aventador, the champ has wrapped the expensive motor in glorious fashion.
      His Rolls-Royce has a mottled black and bronze snakeskin finish, as well as a smooth leather interior.
      The hub caps surrounding the 26-inch wheels are customised with Wilder’s now famous logo.
      Wilder had his Roller souped up by Dreamworks Motorsports in North Carolina by Adam Wolfe.
      The moment it was delivered to him, he took to Instagram to record a video of his new wheels.
      Wilder shows off his recent wrapped Rolls-RoyceCredit: Instagram
      This Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a stunning vehicle that’s part of Wilder’s collection
      Wilder had it custom wrapped in a mottled black and bronze snakeskin finish
      Wilder took to Instagram to share his purchase with his followers
      DODGE CHALLENGER, £30,000+
      There’s nothing like a muscle car to complete your enviable garage.
      The cheapest motor in Deontay’s collection, you could argue that it’s his finest looking.
      His Dodge Challenger came with a starting price of around £30,000, but you can bet with extras and the custom paint job he had done to it, it’s now worth a lot more.
      Impressive hub caps, special side-opening doors and sprayed in shades of red – this motor looks like it belongs to the Fast & Furious franchise.
      We bet it drives like a dream too, thanks to a powerful 6.2-litre V8 engine.
      A £30k Dodge Challenger is the cheapest car in Wilder’s collectionCredit: Instagram
      Wilder’s Dodge Challenger looks like a car from the Fast & Furious franchiseCredit: Instagram
      SUZUKI HAYABUSA, FROM £14,500
      When four wheels won’t cut it, Wilder has been known to try two to get some kicks.
      Back in 2014, he shared an image of a Hayabusa that had been jazzed up with an exterior that looks like it belongs in a Mad Max film.
      The Hayabusa was designed with the sole intention of being the fastest production motorbike of its day.
      Incredibly, it can reach a top speed of 186 mph. Opening the throttle reveals its brutal power.
      “Imma keep riding my baby as long as the weather’s right,” Wilder wrote in a Tweet with a pic of the beautiful bike.
      Wilder’s Suzuki Hayabusa looks like something out of a Mad Max filmCredit: Instagram
      POLARIS SLINGSHOT, FROM £15,500
      The ultimate boy’s toy.
      Lewis Hamilton and Shaquille O’Neal also own the three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot that’s on every petrol head’s wishlist.
      And Deontay Wilder has shared images on social media, zooming around town on one.
      Launched in 2015, the Slingshot is capable of reaching 0-60 mph in under five seconds and is practically a street-legal go-kart.
      It’s powered by a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine that was built in Germany alongside Mercedes-AMG V8 hardware.
      Who knew Wilder was such an adrenalin junkie?
      Like Lewis Hamilton, Deontay Wilder has a three-wheel Polaris SlingshotCredit: Instagram
      Deontay Wilder boards private jet to Las Vegas for Tyson Fury trilogy fight More

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      in Soccer

      River Plate beat Boca Juniors with ex-Man Utd defender Marcos Rojo getting a red card, but the fans are the real stars

      by

      CINEMA goers all over the world are watching the same James Bond film. They have no power to change the ending of ‘No Time To Die,’ even if they want to.Football is different. A football crowd is not made up of passive spectators.  The fans are an active participant in the spectacle.
      River Plate fans cheers on their side against rivals Boca JuniorsCredit: Getty
      They create the atmosphere – which is both an attraction in itself, and a factor able to influence what happens on the field.
      The crowd can lift a team to new heights, or the nervousness in the stands can transmit itself to the players.
      And the crowd can make you glad you went to a game even if the football was disappointing.
      This is especially true in Argentina, where the atmosphere is something special. The rhythm and the fervour of the chants can lodge in the brain.
      In recent times, when the best players are transferred abroad at an early age, the atmosphere created by the crowd can be the best thing about going to a game in Argentina.
      It hurt, then, to have eighteen and a half months without supporters in the stadium.
      But, with the coronavirus pandemic under relative control, fans were back this weekend for the first time since the middle of March 2020 – that is, home fans only – Argentina has a problem with fan violence.
      And, as yet, only half of stadium capacity.
      So there were around 35,000 in the ground for the biggest of them all – River Plate against Boca Juniors.
      It was no coincidence that this weekend was chosen for the return of supporters. The government did badly in recent mid-term elections.
      In a country where football is so important, bringing fans back was an obvious response, an attempt to raise the nation’s morale.
      And River v Boca is a huge event. There was plenty at stake on the field.
      With the championship at the half way stage River took the field in second place, while Boca have thrown off a bad start and put together an eight game unbeaten run to move up to sixth. 
      A win on Sunday would put them well into contention for a title bid.
      River Plate played host to Boca Juniors last weekendCredit: Getty
      Ex-Man Utd defender Marcos Rojo saw red in the fiery clashCredit: AFP
      But first they – and the River players – would have to get used to playing in front of fans again. The entire emotional dynamic of the occasion had altered – which became clear very early.
      Twice in the first few minutes there were mass flare ups, with players from both sides running to get involved in a pushing skirmish.
      After just seven minutes referee Fernando Rapallini brought the two captains together and issued a warning. Marcos Rojo was clearly not paying close attention.
      After shaking off some injury concerns, the former Manchester United player has become an important part of the Boca line up.
      His experience and quality, both defending and setting moves in motion, have been important in Boca’s run of good form. But his lack of cool now decided the game.
      Twice in quick succession he went to ground and committed risky fouls.  The first time Rappallini reached for the yellow card. And the second, too.  On another day Rojo might have got away with the second challenge.
      But the warning had already been given. Rapallini had made it clear that the only way to control the game was to take a hard line. And so, after just fifteen minutes, Rojo had seen red.
      It ended Boca as an attacking force – before they had begun. Their most creative player, Colombian attacking midfielder Edwin Cardona was sacrificed as Boca went to their bench to bring on another centre back.
      And if the River fans were singing then, they were soon screaming in joy. In the next few minutes Julian Alvarez scored two superbly taken goals.
      Alvarez, 21, is the best thing that domestic Argentine football has produced in the last few years.
      A mobile, talented and intelligent support striker, he was linked in the summer with Aston Villa, and, to these eyes at least, he has plenty in common with former Villa park idol Gary Shaw, whose brilliant career was so cruelly cut short by injury.
      The match turned into a celebration, with River fans giving vent to a year and a half of frustration at not being able to go to the stadium, which has been remodelled in their absence.
      River’s Julien Alvarez proved to be the match-winner with two goalsCredit: EPA
      But it was the fans, back in the stadium for the first time since March 2020, that were the stars of the showCredit: Getty

      Boca’s objective after the break appeared to be to keep the score down. River repeatedly came close to adding to their lead. Finally, inside stoppage time, Boca grabbed a consolation with their only serious effort.
      The final score of 2-1 gives them some dignity, but hands the points to River Plate.
      And without fans it could all have turned out very differently.
      Boca spend night at police station after RIOTING, ‘attacking cops and threatening Atletico Mineiro chief with IRON BAR’ More