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      FA bans parents from cheering their kids at football matches – calling for polite clapping instead

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      PARENTS are being banned from cheering their kids at FA youth soccer matches this weekend — to shield the youngsters from abuse.English football’s rulers have been accused of going woke by calling for only polite applause from the touchline at games.
      The FA hopes to reduce pressure on players and referees by introducing the first National Silent Support WeekendCredit: Getty
      It follows the unveiling of the first National Silent Support Weekend which organisers hope will reduce pressure on players and referees.
      This scheme urges spectators to let youngsters “make mistakes and make their own decisions” without being harassed and to clap good play.
      The idea was devised amid fears youth league fans, and players, were picking up bad habits from watching Premier League matches.
      Anyone in breach of the FA’s Respect Codes of Conduct “may be asked to leave the venue or asked not to attend future games”.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL NEWS
      Yet clubs say poorly behaving spectators will ignore the initiative.
      Alan Moore, director of youth club Sedgley and Gornal United FC in the West Mids, said: “I applaud any initiative to stop some of the crazy behaviour I’ve seen, but this isn’t it.
      I don’t care if it’s woke or nannying, I just know it’ll take more than this gesture to solve the problem.”
      He said the club had just filed a complaint on a pitch invader mum who swore at an under-ten over a tackle.
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      He said: “I doubt people like that will be changing their ways because the FA says so.”
      Terry Humphreys, club secretary of Redbridge United Boys FC in Essex, said: “I’ve been involved in grassroots football for 35 years and I doubt this will change attitudes.
      I’ve seen youth games abandoned because of the terrible behaviour of supporters.
      “The aggression we see on ­touchlines is bad for the players and stops them learning the game and for young referees who get a lot of stick.
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      I’m not sure what the Silent Support idea will achieve but it’s worth a shot.”
      FA boss Mark Bullingham said the plan would help kids focus on their game with no distractions. More

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      I wear the poppy to salute my World War II hero grandad – it makes me proud, says Gareth Southgate

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      ENGLAND footie boss Gareth Southgate says he is proud to wear a poppy — to salute his World War Two hero grandad.He explained Arthur Toll, who served with the Royal Marines, instilled in him the importance of remembering those who serve.
      Gareth Southgate’s war hero grandad Arthur, instilled in him the importance of remembering those who serve or have servedCredit: Rex
      Gareth, who will lead the Three Lions in this month’s World Cup, said: “The poppy is a symbol that leads people to remember.
      “It keeps humility in the group because it means you’re not just thinking about yourselves.
      “The freedoms that we have are because of the commitment and sacrifice the people that came before us made.
      “My grandad was in the Royal Marines so since I was a kid there’s been that connection and appreciation of what people went through.”
      READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
      Gareth, 52, was launching this year’s football shirt auction in which fans can bid for stars’ kit embroidered with the poppy to raise money for the annual British Legion appeal.
      His grandad Arthur was a meat wholesaler in 1939 when war broke out.
      He died in Watford, Herts, in 1994, age 87.
      To bid in the auction go to matchwornshirt.co.uk/poppy
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      England star Terry Butcher poses with Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ ball which could fetch more than £3million at auction

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      EX-England star Terry Butcher poses with Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” ball — as speculation grows it will fetch more than its £3million estimate at auction.The defender played in the 1986 World Cup defeat to Argentina in which Maradona scored twice — the first with a punch.
      Ex-England star Terry Butcher poses with the ball used in the 1986 World CupCredit: AFP
      It is expected to fetch more than £3million at auctionCredit: Popperfoto
      The ball will be sold in two weeks, with auctioneer Graham Budd saying: “All the best prices I’ve ever had at auction have made multiples of the estimate.
      “When you have an exceptional item, you get multiple bidding.
      “Sometimes it takes a long while for the last person to pull out.
      “Almost anything’s possible at auction which is why it’s so exciting.
      READ MORE ON MARADONA
      “It’s an absolutely exceptional piece.”
      We told earlier how Tunisian ref Ali Bin Nasser was selling the ball.
      Maradona died aged 60 in 2020.
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      Newcastle hires Mr Fix-It to help star players with daily chores such as paying bills

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      NEWCASTLE United has taken on a Mr Fix-It to help its star players with daily chores — such as paying their TV licences.The Saudi-owned club appointed Jamie Morren as a liaison officer.
      Newcastle appointed Jamie Morren, pictured on the right, as a liaison officer to help its star players with choresCredit: NUFC.TV
      He is helping big-bucks signings, such as Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes and Dutchman Sven Botman, settle in on Tyneside.
      His job is to take care of tasks such as paying bills and setting up direct debits so they can concentrate on playing.
      The lifelong United fan said: “The whole point of my job is to take away any kind of distraction for the players so that football is the only focus.
      “It could be things like setting up direct debits, paying bills, finding houses, cars, transport.
      READ MORE ON NEWCASTLE UNITED
      “Imagine you’re 22, you’re moving to a country you’ve never been to before and someone says, ‘By the way, have you paid your TV licence?’
      “In the summer, it took a good 10 minutes of convincing Sven that TV licences were a real thing.
      “If I moved to Brazil at 24 years old, for example, I wouldn’t know how to set up a direct debit or pay council tax or whatever.
      “I think some people look at it and think, ‘you’ll just do everything for them’, but it’s a case of making sure they’re adjusted so they don’t have worries of ‘I don’t understand what this means’ or ‘what on earth is a TV Licence’ and making sure they’re completely comfortable and settled in that sense.
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      “They’re moving to a new environment, a new country, often with no family with them, and they’re having to learn all of these new things on top of perhaps learning a new language.
      “It’s not just about ‘my boiler’s gone off, can you show me how to get it back on?’ It is about making sure you’re there if a player does have an issue.
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      “We’re a family, and player care is part of that.”
      And the mollycoddling seems to be working — with the Magpies fourth in the Premier League. More

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      Wayne Rooney’s head was cut open on night out by flying plate thrown by his youngest son

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      WAYNE Rooney’s head was cut open on a night out by a flying plate thrown by his youngest son.Cass, four, launched it like a frisbee and accidentally hit his dad as the former footie ace enjoyed a boozy meal at a restaurant.
      Wayne Rooney suffered a cut on his forehead during a boozy night out with pals in Dubai
      Wayne was hit by a plate thrown by his youngest son
      Cass, pictured left, launched it like a frisbee and accidentally hit his dad
      We reported his wound last week and Cass has been revealed as the culprit — after he got over-excited during traditional Greek plate smashing.
      A witness said: “Wayne took it very well. His poor lad was very sorry.”
      Wayne, 37, wife Coleen, 36, and pals were partying on holiday in Dubai when Cass scored his direct hit.
      But the England and Man Utd legend laughed it off despite his gashed forehead.
      READ MORE ON WAYNE ROONEY
      The couple were with kids Kai, 12, Klay, nine, Kit, six, and Cass plus pals including ex-Red Devils team-mate Phil Bardsley and his wife Tanya, who shared footage online.
      It included Coleen balancing a plate and shot glass on her head as a waiter poured at the restaurant, where ex-boxing champ Amir Khan was also eating and posed for a picture.
      The onlooker said: “The group were having a whale of a time and the drinks were flowing.
      “At one point, guests are invited to smash plates on the floor.
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      “It is always a highlight and the crowd are usually well inebriated at this point.
      “It was no different this time and, amid the chaos, the youngest Rooney kid threw a plate across the table frisbee-style and caught him right between the eyes.
      Coleen Rooney was also seen smashing plates and enjoying herself at the restaurant
      Ex-boxing champ Amir Khan was also eating and posed for a picture with Wayne at the restaurant
      “There was no malice but it caught Wayne smack in the middle of his forehead.”
      Roo was seen using a napkin to dab the blood in footage taken seconds after he was hit.
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      The witness added: “It must have hurt like hell but it was a complete accident. He didn’t want little Cass to see his upset, and they had a cuddle.
      “As soon as it emerged he wasn’t seriously hurt, the entire table exploded in laughter.” More

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      I was beaten unconscious by Iranian government henchmen for listening to music – Fifa must kick my country out World Cup

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      AN IRANIAN schoolgirl beaten unconscious by government henchmen for listening to music has urged Fifa to kick her country out of the World Cup.Mahnaz, 17, was walking home with two friends when the brutes from the Basij morals militia began interrogating them.
      Fifa has been urged to kick Iran out of the World Cup after a teen girl was beaten by government henchmenCredit: AFP
      Iranian Mahsa Amini, 22, died in custody following her arrest for not wearing her hijab correctlyCredit: Newsflash
      When Mahnaz — whose true ID we are concealing — questioned why they were stopped, one responded by punching her in the head, knocking her out.
      She has written about her ordeal for thesun.co.uk — and wants Fifa to act ahead of Iran’s cup opener against England in less than three weeks.
      Mahnaz said: “Ever since it happened I jump up in horror when someone rings our doorbell.
      “I am convinced that every siren I hear on the streets is meant for me or my family. This is normal life in Iran now but I don’t think the rest of the world realises how bad it has become.
      READ MORE ON IRAN
      “Hopefully, the attention of the World Cup will change that.
      “People love football here and have a huge pride in the national team.
      “But the protests have changed everything. People now feel the team represents not the nation of Iran but the regime and all of its aggression.”
      Mahnaz also demanded action over Iran’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The country has supplied kamikaze drones and deployed experts.
      Most read in The Sun
      She said: “How can Fifa support that?”
      At least 270 people have been killed and 14,000 arrested in the Iranian regime’s crackdown on protests.
      Read More on The Sun
      The uprising began when student Mahsa Amini, 22, died in custody following her arrest for not wearing her hijab correctly.
      Fifa declined to comment.
      Mahnaz’s plea
      WHEN I was younger I loved my life in Iran playing with my friends and going to school.
      I thought the life we had here was the same as for every other young girl in the world – but now I know different.
      Two weeks ago, I was walking home from school with two friends.
      We were gossiping about things at school and listening to music, just like teenage girls everywhere.
      But what happened next doesn’t happen in most other places.
      Three men in Basij uniforms stopped us and began asking us questions about the music and what we had in our bags.
      They pushed us and were very aggressive so I asked: “Who are you?”
      The answer came instantly – a fist to my eye.
      I fell to the ground in agony and then everything went black.
      The next thing I knew was when I was back at home. When I woke I couldn’t see very well and the light sent strokes of pain through my eyes into my head.
      My family was afraid to call a doctor so we contacted a nurse who lives in our block.
      It might sound crazy but my family was terrified that being hit by the Basij would be considered a sign of guilt.
      Ever since it happened I jump up in horror when someone rings our doorbell, terrified it is the Basij again.
      I am convinced that every siren I hear on the streets is meant for me or my family.
      I don’t know what I have done wrong, so I don’t know what they will punish me for.
      It wasn’t as if we were not wearing the hijab correctly, like some of the brave women in the recent protests.
      We were just walking home from school listening to music.
      I never thought this could happen here. My three brothers have a good business, my father is a well-respected war veteran and my mother educated many children as a school teacher.
      We are a good family and have never done anything wrong.
      But since the protests in Tehran everything changed and the Basij now roam the streets looking for people to challenge to enforce their rules – even teenage girls.
      This is normal life in Iran now, but I don’t think the rest of the world realises how bad it has become.
      Hopefully the attention of the World Cup will change that.
      People love football here and have a huge pride in the national team.
      We all celebrated when the team qualified for Qatar and we were really hoping they would do well – we even thought they might beat England!
      But the protests have changed everything. People now feel the team represents not the nation of Iran, but the regime and all of its aggression against its own people.
      How can we support the national team when the Basij are attacking people like me on the street on for no reason?
      And how can Fifa allow a country that acts like Iran to compete in the World Cup?
      Russia was banned for invading Ukraine but our government is now helping Russia fight in Ukraine.
      How can Fifa support that – and how can the rest of the world let it happen?
      Fifa must take a stand and ban Iran from the World Cup.
      But however bad it feels for us at the moment, there is still hope.
      As the regime tries to force the population to live in a certain way the weakest link naturally suffers the most.
      In Iran, the regime considers that women are the weakest link – but they are wrong.
      In an Iranian household, the mother calls the shots.
      It is from our mothers that we get our strength and determination – and our hope that one day change will happen in Iran.
      We have no idea when that change will come – but it will happen eventually, of that we are certain.
      And when it does girls will be able to listen to music on their way home from school once more – and we will all support our team at the World Cup again. More

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      Gareth Bale’s second indoor golf bar to open by Christmas after winning battle with 80 locals

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      FOOTBALLER Gareth Bale’s latest indoor golf bar will open in time for Christmas after he won a battle with 80 locals.The Wales and Los Angeles FC player, 33, wants to open a chain of the courses in Britain and Dubai.
      After agreeing to cut the bar’s opening hours, Wales football star Gareth Bale has been given the go-ahead to open a second venue in BristolCredit: Getty
      The first of his Par 59 venues opened in his home city Cardiff — and features a booze stop at every hole for players.
      Residents 40 miles away in Bristol objected to a second one, raising concerns that it would encourage drinking and anti-social behaviour.
      But ex-Real Madrid star Gareth got the go-ahead after agreeing to cut its opening hours.
      Its website has began taking bookings for early December, with two nine-hole courses and four interactive dart boards.
      READ MORE ON GARETH BALE
      The venue promises to “bring the competitive world of mini golf to Bristol’s Harbourside!”.
      Its website says that “it will be home to a premium bar, exceptional food from independent kitchen, Dirty Birdie, with plenty of space for casual dining and socialising”.
      The Par 59 team says that it will be “the perfect spot for friends, family and work colleagues alike”.
      Despite their statement, the new venue will be over-18s only.
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      Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal voted worst refereeing decision in World Cup history

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      DIEGO Maradona’s infamous Hand of God goal against England has been voted the worst refereeing decision in World Cup history.The Argentine punched the ball into the net for the first goal in the 1986 quarter-final in Mexico.
      The infamous Hand of God refereeing decision has been voted the worst in World Cup historyCredit: Popperfoto
      The No2 clanger spot was Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany in 2010Credit: Getty
      But the handball wasn’t spotted by Tunisian ref Ali Bin Nasser.
      It was ranked No1 blunder by 37 per cent.
      England also featured in the No2 clanger spot.
      Some 33 per cent voted for Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany in South Africa in 2010.
      READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
      Third, with 28 per cent, is France ace Thierry Henry’s play-off handball assist.
      The move denied Ireland a place at the 2010 World Cup.
      The poll of 2,000 football fans was carried out for Samsung UK.
      Experts compiled a shortlist of massive mistakes.
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