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    Tottenham and Brighton hit with biggest Premier League fines of the season after De Zerbi and Stellini bust-up

    TOTTENHAM and Brighton have been fined £100,000 each following the touchline brawl between the two benches in the recent Premier League game.The ill-tempered match, that saw interim Spurs boss Cristian Stellini and Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi clash before kick-off, flared up in the second half with a mass confrontation between staff from both dugouts.
    Tottenham and Brighton have been fined £100,000 each by the FACredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Cristian Stellini and Robert De Zerbi clashed on the sidelinesCredit: Twitter / @SkySportsPL
    That led to Stellini, who appeared an innocent bystander, and De Zerbi being sent to the stands and both clubs have now been fined by the Football Association.
    An FA statement read: “Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion have been fined £100,000 each for a mass confrontation that occurred during their Premier League match on Saturday 8 April.
    “Both clubs admitted they failed to ensure their benches conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and did not behave in a way which is proper during the 58th minute.
    “An independent regulatory commission imposed their fines following a subsequent hearing.”
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    The £100,000 punishments are the biggest fines dished out to Premier League clubs this season.
    The previous highest is understood to be the £75,000 for Manchester City for failing to ensure their players behaved in an orderly fashion at Arsenal in February.
    Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Brighton was shrouded in controversy as Brighton had two goals disallowed and two strong penalty appeals waved away.
    Fans were left in disbelief that Karou Mitoma’s effort was ruled out, claiming the ball had in fact hit him on the shoulder.
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    The Seagulls also felt they should have been given a penalty when Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg appeared to trip Mitoma in the box.
    And the red cards for the gaffers were brandished following a melee between the two dugouts after Alexis Mac Allister’s strike was disallowed.
    PGMOL chief Howard Webb had to apologise for the errors after the game.
    A seething Lewis Dunk did not hold back at VAR in his post-match interview.
    The Brighton centre-back dropped an F-bomb at the start of the chat, before quickly apologising.
    But his rant continued.
    He fumed: “There’s no point having VAR in the game if you’re not going to make big decisions like that.”
    Webb also apoogised to the Seagulls when they had a perfectly legitimate goal chalked off for offside in the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.
    They were also unhappy this weekend when Christian Pulisic escaped punishment for an apparent handball in the Chelsea penalty area – although De Zerbi’s side did come back to in 2-1. More

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    Aleksandar Mitrovic slapped with EIGHT-MATCH ban after Man Utd madness in one of biggest punishments in Prem history

    ALEXSANDAR MITROVIC has been banned for EIGHT matches following his furious Old Trafford meltdown.The Fulham striker shoved and reacted angrily at referee Chris Kavanagh when he awarded a penalty and sent off team-mate Willian in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat.
    Aleksandar Mitrovic has got an eight-game ban following his sending off at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    Kavanagh showed the red card – prompting an automatic three-game ban.
    But now the FA have slapped him with an extra five matches and a £75,000 fine.
    Manager Marco Silva, also red carded in the flashpoint, got a two-game touchline ban and £40,000 fine for his behaviour and comments.
    Mitrovic served the first of those eight in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth.
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    He will now miss Fulham’s next seven matches before returning for May’s trip to Southampton.
    The Serb is also available for the London derby at home to Crystal Palace and the away day back to the scene of the crime, Old Trafford, for the final game of the season.
    The FA said: “We claimed the standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksandar Mitrovic for the sending-off offence of violent conduct that he committed towards the match referee around the 72nd minute was clearly insufficient.
    “The forward denied this, but it was upheld by the Regulatory Commission, and a three-match ban was imposed.
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    “This is in addition to the three-match ban he had already received for the red card offence. 
    “The forward separately admitted that his behaviour and language after being sent off was improper, abusive, insulting and threatening, and the Regulatory Commission imposed an additional two-match ban and £75,000 fine. 
    “In total, the Regulatory Commission has suspended Aleksandar Mitrović for eight matches. One of these has already been served, and therefore the forward will be unavailable for Fulham FC’s next seven matches.”
    The eight-match ban is similar to the punishments dished out to David Prutton and Paolo Di Canio.
    Prutton got ten games in 2005 for pushing Alan Wiley after his red card while Di Canio missed 11 matches for shoving ref Paul Alcock to the ground.
    The longest bans in Premier League history were the nine-month suspensions for Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick and Mark Bosnich for taking cocaine.
    Biggest Premier League bans
    Mark Bosnich – 9 months
    Australian goalkeeper Bosnich was sacked by Chelsea after being found guilty of taking cocaine
    Eric Cantona – 9 months
    Cantona jumped into the crowd to kung-fu kick a Crystal Palace fan and also got 120 hours of community service
    Rio Ferdinand – 8 months
    Ferdinand got a big ban in 2003 after missing a drugs test and claimed he was out shopping
    Adrian Mutu – 7 months
    Mutu’s Chelsea spell was cut short after testing positive for cocaine
    Kolo Toure – 6 months
    Tour got the ban after being found with performance-enhancing substances – but it was overturned as the FA believed it was taken unknowingly
    Paolo Di Canio – 11 games
    Di Canio sent referee Paul Alcock tumbling to the turf amid a row between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal
    David Prutton – 10 games
    Prutton also pushed a ref, Alan Wiley, during a game with Arsenal – and got a £6,000 fine too
    Aleksandar Mitrovic – 8 games
    Mitrovic shoved ref Chris Kavanagh in a furious reaction to red cards for Willian and Marco Silva after awarding a penalty

    THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY…The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

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    Fulham boss Marco Silva faces even bigger ban after Man Utd outburst as he’s slapped with fresh FA charges

    FULHAM boss Marco Silva has been hit by ANOTHER FA charge – and could see his looming red card ban extended.Silva was already in hot water after being sent off by ref Chris Kavanagh for his reaction to Willian’s VAR dismissal in the FA Cup defeat at Manchester United.
    Marco Silva could get a longer ban after his post-FA Cup comments about ref Chris KavanaghCredit: Getty
    The red card and then the Cottagers’ boss angry reaction was the apparent catalyst for Aleksandar Mitrovic shoving Kavanagh to also be sent off as Fulham lost their heads.
    But now the Portuguese manager’s post-match comments, in which he suggested Kavanagh might have an agenda against his team, have led to the latest Wembley charge.
    Silva pointed to Kavanagh’s displays in games against West Ham and Leeds as he said: “Unfortunately for us we have been very unlucky with Chris Kavanagh this season, many moments.
    “Chris was in a game we played away at West Ham where we lost with two clear handballs. We received the apology because of the mistakes.
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    “The last game at Leeds in the FA Cup it was him again. And for a game that is the quarter-finals, it’s him again.’
    Silva then suggested Fulham had been wrongly denied two first-half spot-kicks, adding: “It cannot be in a quarter-final and both teams have to have the same conditions.
    “There is pressure to play United away at Old Trafford. The referee sometimes feels the pressure because they are here.
    “It is really difficult to accept the things that are happening this season week by week.”
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    Confirming the misconduct charge, an FA spokesperson said: “It’s alleged that his comments constitute improper conduct in that they imply bias and/or question the integrity of the match official, and/or bring the game into disrepute.
    “The manager has until Wednesday 29 March to provide his response.”
    Silva faces a minimum of a significant fine in addition to a likely three-game ban for his touchline behaviour, although FA beaks could add an extra game to the suspension.
    An independent commission is due to be held next month to decide Mitrovic’s lengthy punishment, likely to be a ban of up to ten games, while Fulham will also be fined for failing to control their players.
    Alexandr Mitrovic and Willian were both sent off for FulhamCredit: AFP
    Mitrovic could be banned for up to ten gamesCredit: Reuters More

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    Idiot England fan has ticket to Italy match RIPPED UP by FA after showing off offensive Maradona flag

    AN IDIOTIC England fan had his ticket for the Italy match ripped up by the FA after showing off an offensive Diego Maradona flag.A photo circulated on social media of the Three Lions supporter seemingly travelling on a train.
    An offensive and vile England flag mocked Diego MaradonaCredit: Twitter
    Maradona is still adored in Naples for his exploits for NaplesCredit: EPA
    He is standing up holding out a large St George’s cross.
    And in the white sections, the words “Diego’s In A Box” are printed, in reference to the Argentine icon’s death in 2020.
    England took on Italy in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier, with the game staged at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples.
    Maradona was a hero at Napoli between 1984 and 1990 before his drugs ban, scoring 115 goals in 259 appearances and winning five trophies including their two Serie A titles.
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    The FA slammed the vile and tasteless flag with a brief statement and swift action.
    A statement said: “We strongly condemn the actions of the individual who travelled to Naples with a flag that had a highly offensive message on it.
    “We immediately took steps to have their tickets cancelled before the match.
    “The matter will be reviewed further when we return to England.”
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    Others on social media were convinced the fan would regret the crass gesture if he went to Naples and was confronted by Italian ultras.
    SunSport revealed their chilling “battle plans” to attack England fans.
    A friendly match between supporters was cancelled as a result of the violent threats.
    The 3,000-plus Three Lions followers heading to Italy were even told not to wear belts to the match because security officials could confiscate them and deem them to be weapons.
    Just last week, the streets of Naples were overwhelmed with thuggish violence before Napoli’s Champions League match with Eintracht Frankfurt.
    The German supporters defied a police ban and clashed with Napoli ultras, which left more than eight hooligans arrested.
    Pictures showed the total carnage with shop fronts smashed up, cars lit on fire and masked thugs storming alleyways with weapons as they hunted their rival supporters. More

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    Ivan Toney slams FA for ‘leaking’ gambling charge investigation as he faces lengthy ban

    IVAN Toney has slammed the FA for “leaking” news of his gambling charge admissions.Toney faces a lengthy ban, likely to extend into next season, after admitting a number of the 362 separate charges against him.
    Ivan Toney is unhappy details have got out ahead of a hearing after he admitted breaches of betting rulesCredit: Getty
    Betting on any games is a breach of FCA regulations and Toney is charged with placing the wages between 2017 and 2021.
    But the Brentford striker went on the attack as he posted a statement condemning Wembley beaks over the news of his guilty pleas.
    Toney said: “I was shocked and disappointed to see press speculation yesterday and today about the FA investigation process concerning me after I had been told by the FA it was a confidential process until any decision has been made.
    “It is especially disturbing for me to read that the FA has said I shall be banned for six months before there has even been a hearing.
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    “And it does make me worried about the process.”
    The frontman added: “My lawyers will be writing to the FA to request that they conduct a leak enquiry as this is the second time stories have appeared in the newspapers.
    “The last time was just before the selection of the England World Cup squad.
    “As I continue to be told the investigation is meant to be confidential I am unable to provide any further comment and shall continue to concentrate on my football.”
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    SunSport understands an independent commission hearing is likely to take place in the coming weeks with a ban virtually certain now the striker has admitted to the offences.
    But his statement will put pressure on the FA head of that hearing and is likely to see his lawyers arguing a for a more lenient punishment. More

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    Brentford star Ivan Toney admits multiple betting breaches and could face lengthy ban THIS season

    IVAN TONEY has admitted a number of FA betting charges – and is set to start a lengthy ban before the end of the season.Brentford striker Toney was charged with 262 breaches of FA rules outlawing betting on games across two batches of allegations in November and December.
    Ivan Toney is set to serve a lengthy banCredit: Getty
    The allegations were revealed by The Sun before the World Cup and while the FA did not put a block on him being selected by Gareth Southgate for Qatar they were something the England boss was fully aware of when he omitted the uncapped striker.
    Now it is understood that Toney has admitted a significant number of the charges although he is denying others.
    It is expected the formal FA disciplinary commission into the case will be held within weeks, allowing Toney to begin to serve any ban before the end of this campaign and which would include the fallow months across June and July.
    The striker has scored 26 Prem goals across two seasons for Thomas Franks’ Bees.
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    There is no suggestion that Toney placed wagers on any matches – which took place between 2017 and 2021 – in which he was involved.
    Toney, 26, was on loan from Newcastle at Wigan and Scunthorpe during the early part of that period before his moves to Peterborough and Brentford, whom he joined in 2020
    England star Kieran Trippier was penalised for breaking FA betting rules after telling a friend to “lump on” ahead of his transfer from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid in 2019.
    Trippier did not directly place a bet but following an investigation he was banned from football activity for ten weeks and fined £70,000.
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    In 2016 Joey Barton was found to be in breach of the betting rules after placing 1,260 bets over a period of ten years.
    The following April he was banned for 18 months, effectively ending his career as he retired instead of deciding to appeal his punishment.
    Former England striker Daniel Sturridge was banned for four months in January 2018 after being found guilty of passing on information relating to his transfer.
    He was also hit with a £150,000 fine and Turkish club Trabzonspor terminated his contract.
    Toney has been in red-hot form this season and is the joint-third top scorer in the Premier League.
    His tally of 14 strikes is level with that of Marcus Rashford, and only behind those of Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.
    Toney is uncapped at international level, but was an unused substitute for England’s 3-3 draw with Germany last September – prior to missing out on the World Cup.
    His impending ban is set to rule him out of the Three Lions’ clashes with Ukraine and Italy next month.
    Toney, 26, was part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad last SeptemberCredit: Getty More

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    Bury back from the dead as Shakers formally apply to play in non-league next season and plot EFL return

    BURY could finally be back up and running next season after the expelled EFL club yesterday formally submitted an application to play non-league.The Shakers — who were formed in 1885 — have submitted a business plan to the FA setting a target of returning to the EFL by 2031 and are likely to be placed in the North West Counties League.
    SunSport can reveal Bury have applied to rejoin the football pyramidCredit: PA
    The club were booted out of the Football League in 2019Credit: PA:Empics Sport
    SunSport’s Justin Allen visited Gigg Lane and is pictured with the club’s applicationCredit: The Sun
    A friendly against a Premier League or EFL club has been pencilled in for July 1Credit: PA:Empics Sport
    Bury’s last season in football saw them clinch promotion to League One at Tranmere
    Club sources have revealed to SunSport that they already have experienced and successful non-league managers who have applied to build a team with a friendly at Gigg Lane against either a Premier League or EFL club pencilled in for July 1.
    Bury have not kicked a ball at their spiritual home since 2019 when the then League One team were controversially booted out after previous owner Steve Dale failed to show proof of funds and a subsequent takeover bid collapsed — ending their proud 125-year EFL membership.
    But in October 2021 the Bury Football Club Supporters Society successfully purchased the Bury FC name, intellectual property, history, memorabilia and, crucially, their Gigg Lane stadium from the club’s administrators.
    In that time since, the stadium, which suffered vandalism and decay while it sat dormant, has been slowly but surely spruced up, mostly thanks to the help of volunteers and local businesses offering their services, hardware and equipment for free. As well as benefactors donating funds to the project.
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    SunSport has seen the impressive 230-page application that has left virtually no stone unturned as the club detail how they plan to grow steadily from a non-league team to eventually restoring their EFL status.
    The North West Counties League are tiers nine and 10 of English football’s pyramid so the club would need to win a minimum of five promotions to return to the EFL.
    Already the club are renting space inside the stadium with plans in place to install more office space to hire out.
    The ground has been opened up for community use and already 39,000 people have passed through the doors — whether it be playing football, using the community hub, watching legends games, local league cup finals and women’s football. The ground has also hosted kids’ soccer camps in the summer.
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    Bury will be installing a new pitch in March and April before hoping to host local cup finals before final preparations are made for the new season.
    The club is making its application under the name Bury Community United Football Club but are hopeful the FA will ratify its bid to be called Bury FC from the onset.
    The club, however, will be able to rebrand itself to Bury FC in 18 months anyway.
    Bury Football Club Supporters Society were handed a £1million government grant from its levelling-up fund to purchase Gigg Lane and develop the stadium for community use.
    So far, despite no first-team fixtures, they have turned over £133,000 with £50,000 in the bank.The community club will use the German model of being 51 per cent fan owned with 49 per cent made up of investors. This is to safeguard it from being taken over by rogue owners. More

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    FA demand extended ban for disgraced ex-Crawley Town boss John Yems after fury at ‘not a conscious racist’ findings

    THE FA is demanding an extended ban for disgraced former Crawley boss John Yems after getting the green light from lawyers Wembley bosses were furious that Yems was ruled to be “not consciously racist” by the three-man commission that handed him an 18-month ban from the game.
    The FA are demanding an extended ban for John YemsCredit: Getty
    Yems’ attempts to shift the blame and portray himself as the victim.
    Despite admitting one racism charge and being found guilty of 11 more – added to FA angst.
    While anti-racism campaigners and prominent black football figures, including Ian Wright, slammed the wording.
    FA prosecutors had demanded a two-year ban at the initial hearing.
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    And now, after consulting lawyers, the FA confirmed it would demand a new hearing.
    An FA spokesperson said: “We are appealing the sanction imposed by the Independent Panel on John Yems. 
    “We believe a longer sanction is appropriate.
    “We are unable to comment further until the appeal is complete.”
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    The FA does not believe it can challenge the findings of the commission, headed by a leading KC and including former Watford and Sheffield United striker Tony Agana.
    But the appeal panel does have the right to extend the punishment if it agrees with the FA view that the Yems ban was insufficient. More