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    Nike and Puma to stop making football boots from premium kangaroo leather

    TOP sports brands are to stop making football boots with premium kangaroo leather.The likes of Nike and Puma are ditching it in favour of synthetic uppers after pressure from animal rights activists and a crackdown in the United States.
    The popular Nike Tiempo will in future use alternative synthetic fabric
    Ex-England captain David Beckham stopped wearing his kangaroo-skin boots in 2006 after he was sent graphic images of animals being slaughtered for them.
    US sportswear giant Nike announced last week that by the end of the year kangaroo leather would not be used in any of its products.
    They said its popular Tiempo range — worn by stars including Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson — will in future use alternative synthetic fabric.
    It comes after German brand Puma agreed to ditch kangaroo leather a few weeks ago.
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    Nike’s recent announcement has been welcomed by Wayne Pacelle — the president of animal welfare group the Centre for a Humane Economy — who called it a “seismic event for wildlife protection”.
    Nike was a target of the group’s “Kangaroos are not shoes” campaign video. More

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    Losing baby Angel wasn’t our first tragedy – we had three miscarriages, reveals Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez

    IT’S almost a year since Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez welcomed their daughter Bella Esmeralda into the world in a very bittersweet way, with the tragic loss of Bella’s twin brother Angel.And Spanish influencer Georgina, 29, has now revealed she had suffered three miscarriages before.
    Georgina Rodriguez said: ‘I was very afraid at each ultrasound. I felt very tense because I’d had three previous miscarriages and I came home in pieces’Credit: Reuters
    The couple on Instagram with the ultrasound scan of their unborn twins
    She says: “Every time I went to the gynaecologist’s at night I had nightmares because I was worried about what position they would be in, what the delivery would be like, if it would be a Caesarean section.
    “I was very afraid at each ultrasound. I felt very tense because I’d had three previous miscarriages and I came home in pieces.”
    She describes her visits to the gynaecologist as “horrible, because I was always vomiting”.
    Soon after Georgina gave birth in April 2022, she and Ronaldo, 38, announced Angel’s death as they paid tribute online.
    Read More on Georgina Rodriguez
    He wrote on social media: “It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away. It is the greatest pain that any parents can feel.
    ‘You ask yourself how you’ll carry on’
    “Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness.
    “We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for all their expert care and support.
    “We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly ask for privacy at this very difficult time.
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    “Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.”
    Georgina makes her shock revelations in the new series of Netflix documentary I Am Georgina, which is set to premiere on Friday.
    As well as Bella, she shares daughter Alana, three, with Ronaldo, while the former Manchester United star also has son Cristiano Jr, 12 — whose mother’s identity he has never revealed — and four-year-old twins Eva and Mateo, who he had with an American surrogate.
    Georgina, who treats all of Ronaldo’s brood as her own, says she didn’t immediately tell her other children that Angel had not survived, instead saying he would be born a little later than his sister.
    She says: “They were born on Easter Monday. The most-awaited moment arrives and your heart stops.
    “Bella was born strong and healthy but a piece of my heart shattered.
    “You ask yourself how you’re going to carry on. I wasn’t prepared to accept or recognise what had happened to me and I wasn’t ready to tell my children about it.
    “As I still had a belly, I told them that Angel was still going to wait a bit to be born, until Cris told them that Angel was in Heaven. That was a dose of reality.”
    Ronaldo has previously spoken of the challenging conversations he had to have with his other children when they returned home from hospital without Angel.
    The smiling family with their new addition, their daughter Bella
    Ronaldo holds the couple’s new baby Bella
    He told Piers Morgan on TalkTV: “In the beginning Gio (Georgina) arrived home and the kids start to say, ‘Where’s the other baby?’
    “I had a conversation with Cristiano (Junior) on the day, because he’s 12 years old, he knows, understands everything, and I had a nice conversation with him.
    “We cried together in his bedroom and explained and he does understand, but in the same way he was a little bit confused.
    “The other ones in the beginning, the kids start to say, ‘Mum, where is the other baby, blah blah blah’. And you know, she had a little bit of a belly because they had two, it’s a hard process.
    “And after one week I say, ‘Let’s be up front and let’s be honest with the kids, let’s say that Angel, they go to Heaven’.”
    Before Georgina returned home from hospital, her sister Ivana helped by removing the cot, Moses cradle and teddy bear that Georgina had prepared for Angel at the Cheshire home where the family were then living.
    This year they moved to Saudi Arabia, after Ronaldo signed for Riyadh club Al-Nassr.
    And after the turmoil of the last year Georgina has found that being a mum to Bella has provided some comfort.
    She says: “She has managed to fill to some extent that hole that is present in my life.
    “When she’s older and we tell her what happened, she will be very proud of what she has achieved.”
    But she continues: “I will never be the same person again. Every time I look at Bella I ask myself, ‘Would Angel be like that?’
    “The truth is I feel I am not ready to think about it, as if I still haven’t accepted it.
    “I always say to my children, ‘Your little brother is in the sky, he doesn’t want to walk, he wants to fly. Every time you look at the sky, think of him’.”
    There are other reminders of Angel for Georgina and Ronaldo.
    In the documentary, Georgina is filmed getting a tattoo done, thought to be in memory of Angel, and Ronaldo has said he keeps his son’s ashes with him in the house, as well as those of his father José, who died of liver failure in 2005.
    ‘We are a nice couple and we help each other’
    The couple met when Georgina was working as a £10-an-hour sales assistant at the Gucci shop in Madrid, and she has previously said it was “love at first sight”.
    They were first seen together going on a string of dates towards the end of 2016.
    In the new Netflix series Georgina, who now has 47 million followers on Instagram, thanks her partner for his “unconditional support and love” and helping her through one of the toughest periods of her life.
    She adds: “Cris really encouraged me to continue with my agenda.
    “He said, ‘Gio, get on with your life, it’ll do you good’.
    “He has played a really important role. Gods put the right people in your path.”
    Likewise, Ronaldo has spoken about the support that Georgina has given him.
    He said: “She’s very mature for this age. We help each other sometimes when I’m a little bit down she pushes me up and I do it the other side.
    “So we are a nice couple and we help each other, so I’m really pleased that she’s on my side.”
    For now, it seems Georgina is trying to be as strong as she can for the sake of herself and her family.
    She says: “Life’s hard, life goes on. I have reasons to move on and be strong. My priority right now is my family and my children. I’m so happy and thankful.”
    Having taken on the mother role for all of Ronaldo’s children, Georgina says she feels “like a super mum, and Superwoman”.
    But for now at least, it doesn’t sound as if they will be having any more kids.
    Ronaldo, the all-time leading goal scorer in men’s football, has said that he and Georgina are content with their family set-up and plan to enjoy their time with their children while they are little.
    He said: “I’m not thinking more kids now, I think we are done, but we never know the future, only God knows.
    “But right now we all want to have a break to enjoy these ones because they are little. We want to enjoy a little bit of these ones. Let’s see in the future.”
    However, marriage does sound like it is on the cards, as Ronaldo says it would be his mum Maria’s dream to see him and Georgina walk down the aisle.
    “We’ll be (married) one day, for sure,” he said.
    “It’s my mum’s dream as well, so one day. Why not? It’s great.”
    And he said of Georgina: “She’s my friend. We have conversations. I open the heart for her and she opens the heart for me.
    Read More on The Sun
    “I’m not thinking now about that but I can see in the future I think I deserve, she deserves.
    “But it’s something that’s not coming now in my plans but in the future is yes, I want.”
    Tearful Georgina breaks down on the show
    Georgina and Cristiano united in 2019Credit: Splash News More

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    Lewis Hamilton looks relaxed wearing very baggy trousers ahead of Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

    SIR Lewis Hamilton peaces together what he hopes could be a winning combo ahead of today’s Saudi Arabia F1 GP.The seven-time world champ, 38, sported an all-black outfit of short sleeve-fitted top with loose-fitting cargo pants and big rounded boots.
    Lewis Hamilton was in good spirits as he arrived for qualifying in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Splash
    Hamilton qualified in seventh place for the second Grand Prix of the seasonCredit: AFP
    He rounded off the look with a peace sign as he arrived for qualifying at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit yesterday.
    Sir Lewis was pictured smiling, but wasn’t quite as joyful after only managing seventh place on the grid for today’s race.
    It was at least better than rival Max Verstappen, who could only qualify in 15th.
    Days earlier, the race ace spoke of his unease at human rights violations in the Middle East.
    READ MORE LEWIS HAMILTON
    And this week he split from long-time performance coach Angela Cullen after seven years working together.
    Amid speculation over his Mercedes future, former teammate Heikki Kovalainen has backed him to stay and even win an eighth world title.
    Team supremo Toto Wolff has admitted Mercedes need to provide Hamilton with a car capable of winning.
    Hamilton this week ended his working relationship with his long-time performance coachCredit: Rex More

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    Football WAG Jessica Aidi shows off her stunning figure in blue bikini as she takes a dip

    Football wag Jessica Aidi proves to be handy when it comes to her eye-catching hair.The 31-year-old French born model is married to Paris St Germain Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, 30.
    Jessica Aldi showed off her stunning figure as she posed in a blue bikiniCredit: Getty
    Jessica is married to Italian footballer Marco VerrattiCredit: Splash
    And she is known for her amazing curly locks.
    They look great but proved a handful when she posed up for this Caribbean ocean shot in the Bahamas.
    The former Sports Illustrated pin-up and Verratti wed just a week after he helped Italy to victory over England at the 2020 Euros Wembley final.
    Former PSG team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic and France superstar Kylian Mbappe all attended the lavish ceremony.
    READ MORE WAG NEWS
    And the pair did not hold back on their honeymoon as they cuddled up in Mykonos.
    When started her modelling acreer she joked: ” I see the world recognising who I am in two or three years and realising that it will be a truly inspiring and memorable moment – if me and my big curly hair turn up!” More

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    Man Utd outcast Mason Greenwood to tie knot with pregnant partner as they’re spotted on London city break

    MASON Greenwood is spotted out with his pregnant partner — and plans to marry her.The £75,000-a-week Manchester United striker is expecting his first child with the university student this summer.
    Mason Greenwood was spotted out with his pregnant partnerCredit: Raw Image Ltd
    The couple were pictured at the five-star Langham Hotel, central LondonCredit: Raw Image Ltd
    Greenwood’s career hit the skids in January 2022 when he was arrested after a woman made allegations against himCredit: PA
    The couple were pictured at the five-star Langham Hotel, central London, where rooms cost £600 a night.
    The Sun understands that 21-year-old Greenwood, capped once by England, has told his family about his marriage plans.
    His career hit the skids in January 2022 when he was arrested after a woman made allegations against him.
    He was charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.
    Read More on Mason Greenwood
    He appeared before magistrates and was told he would face trial later this year.
    But in February the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges after several alleged witnesses refused to co-operate.
    United, who had suspended him on full pay, announced they would hold an internal investigation into the circumstances around his arrest.
    The Sun revealed he has spoken to manager Erik ten Hag and met with club officials — but his future at the club remains unclear.
    Most read in Football
    Before his arrest, Greenwood was valued at around £50million and regarded as one of the hottest young talents in European football.
    But Nike ended his multi- million-pound boot deal, while EA Sports removed him from its iconic FIFA 22 video game. More

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    Ex-Premier League star sues surgeon for millions after ‘his career was ended by unnecessary operation’

    AN ex-footie ace who says his top-flight career was ended by an unnecessary operation is suing a surgeon for millions.Former Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, 36, underwent surgery after breaking a leg in 2013.
    Sylvan Ebanks-Blake says his career was ended by an unnecessary operationCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    However, Prof James Calder also performed a type of keyhole surgery to his ankle, partly to remove damaged tissue.
    High Court documents claim Ebanks-Blake, then 27, began to suffer pain and stiffness in his joint, which was previously fine.
    The Cambridge-born forward — on Manchester United’s books as a youth — moved to a number of clubs but never played in the Premier League again.
    He retired in 2019 after another leg fracture.
    READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
    The size of his “substantial” claim against the London-based orthopaedic surgeon has not been disclosed, but the average top-flight salary at the time was £1.6million. More

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    BBC needs to overhaul rules to regain trust after Gary Lineker’s Nazi tweet row, Ofcom warns

    THE BBC needs to overhaul its social media rules to regain trust in the wake of the Gary Lineker row, Ofcom’s boss warned.It was told to lose the grey area which led to the Match of the Day host being suspended then reinstated over his remark about migration policy.
    Ofcom has urged the BBC to overhaul social media policy in order to regain public trust, following the Gary Lineker tweet debacleCredit: BBC
    The TV regulator’s CEO Melanie Dawes told MPs its rules around staff tweeting were too ambiguous.
    Under-fire BBC chief Tim Davie has launched a review into social media use after Lineker, 62, likened the Government’s language over its Immigration Bill to 1930s Germany.
    Ms Dawes told the Commons Culture Committee it needed to establish “a level of trust about what they require of the people who work for them”.
    She said: “This goes straight to the heart of the BBC’s wider reputation beyond their news and current affairs coverage.
    READ MORE ON BBC
    “They need to look at the guidelines and see whether they’re still right.”
    It came as Culture Minister Julia Lopez claimed the licence fee was losing support among the public.
    Tory MPs also accused the corporation of caving in to “out of touch, insensitive, avaricious, smug and arrogant football pundits”.
    Ex-minister Damian Green called on “presenters whose reputations and bank balances are enhanced by regular appearances” to show self-restraint online.
    Most read in Football
    Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell was also criticised for comparing the Government’s handling of the row to “Putin’s Russia”. More

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    Fan, 24, who racially abused England striker Ivan Toney online banned from every ground in country in legal first

    A FAN who racially abused England striker Ivan Toney online has been banned from every ground in the country in a legal first.Antonio Neill, 24, was barred from domestic matches for three years and will be stopped from going abroad to watch international games of any kind.
    Brentford FC said: ‘Ivan Toney has been subject to sickening racist abuse on a regular basis’Credit: Rex
    He was the first person to be banned under a 2022 law, which widened the scope for orders to be issued for online hate crimes linked to football.
    Police said they hoped the sentence would send a strong message that racism would not be tolerated.
    The player’s club, Brentford FC, added: “Ivan Toney has been subject to sickening racist abuse on a regular basis, and we want to see tough action taken against anyone found guilty of such abuse.”
    Neill, of Blyth, Northumberland, sent the racist Instagram message in October.
    Read More on Football
    Police tracked him down after Toney, 26, shared it online.
    He pleaded guilty to sending an offensive message when he appeared at Newcastle magistrates’ court in January.
    Neill apologised to the player, saying he was disgusted with himself.
    At the same court on Monday, he got a four-month suspended jail term along with the ban.
    Most read in Football
    Hate crime chief at Northumberland Police, Supt Scott Cowie, said: “Discrimination has absolutely no place in society.” More