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      in Soccer

      Everton furious with Jordan Pickford over his wife’s ‘anti-vax’ social media posts

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      EVERTON “read the riot act” to goalie Jordan Pickford over his wife’s apparent anti-vax messages on social media.The England keeper is among football stars who have been blasted after loved ones shared conspiracy content around critical jabs.
      Megan has told Wags she is angry that a family member has been threatened with the sack by the NHS if they don’t get jabbed
      Last month Jordan’s wife Megan Davison, 25, shared a photo from a Freedom Rally in London
      Fed-up Everton bosses have ordered their players to ensure their relatives “toe the line” on Covid.
      Last month Jordan’s wife Megan Davison, 25, shared a photo from a Freedom Rally in London where police faced violence.
      It showed a protester with a placard reading: “Even if you’re not conspiracy minded, something in your soul has to say . . . something is wrong.”
      This week Megan, who has a children’s studies degree, posted a second message showing a voodoo doll with dozens of pins in it with the words “just one more booster to freedom”.
      After a dressing down at the club, Jordan, 27, contacted Megan, and her message was removed.
      She has told Wags she is angry that a family member has been threatened with the sack by the NHS if they don’t get jabbed.
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      A source revealed: “A number of players were read the riot act about their conduct and the behaviour of their families.
      “Officials explained they were trying to get as many fans vaccinated to keep attendances up.”
      This would be undermined by players or their partners writing anything negative about jabs, the source added.
      Stars were told further breaches would be dealt with severely.
      But one source declared: “Good luck telling my partner what to do.”
      The latest data shows 16 per cent of Premier League stars have not had jabs.
      Everton did not comment.
      Jordan contacted Megan, and her message was removed
      Meet Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan Davison More

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      in Soccer

      David Beckham in line for long-awaited knighthood after having finances cleared by the taxman

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      DAVID Beckham is in line for a knighthood after having his finances cleared by the taxman.The former England captain, 46, is believed to have been formally nominated and moved to the official recommendations list for next June.
      Former England captain David Beckham is in line for a knighthood after having his finances cleared by the taxman
      The legend was embroiled in a tax-avoidance scheme for ten years but may now receive the honourCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
      It comes ten years after he was embroiled in a tax-avoidance scheme. The taxman upgraded his status from red — meaning he was barred from recognition — to green.
      It means the Manchester United and Three Lions legend has finally become eligible to be a Sir after a long-running tax fiasco.
      Last night MPs and charity campaigners praised the move, saying a knighthood for one of England’s most successful players — and a prolific charity fundraiser — was “long-overdue”.
      It comes ten years after Becks was caught in the Ingenious tax avoidance scheme and blacklisted by the Inland Revenue.
      However in August the firm won a multi million-pound appeal against HMRC and Beckham’s representatives approached tax officials to settle his finances.
      A source said: “David, like many of the celebs embroiled with Ingenious, had no knowledge of what was going on at the time.
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      “His team first proactively approached HMRC almost two years ago, when David made his business independent, and then finally got it all settled, once and for all, this year.
      “In 2013 David was told the only reason he was overlooked for a knighthood was because of the tax fiasco. Now it’s been cleared up, there is absolutely no reason for him not to be honoured.
      “He would obviously be utterly thrilled with a knighthood — but is under no illusions and will only believe it when he sees it.”
      ‘Long overdue’
      Anyone with financial irregularities is given a “red warning” by the Inland Revenue and barred from honours recognition.
      But David, whose heroics for England included a wonder goal against Greece which qualified us for the 2002 World Cup, has now been upgraded from red to green.
      The dad of four, who has raised around £50million for charity, is believed to be on the official recommendations list — meaning he has been successfully vetted and is eligible for recognition.
      It is now down to the Honours Committee — chaired by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries — to formally approve his nomination next June for the Queen’s Birthday Honours. It would mean his former Spice Girl wife Victoria, 47, becomes Lady Beckham.
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      However the star, who played a pivotal role in helping London host the 2012 Olympic Games, could still be overlooked.
      Last night the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore — who raised millions for the NHS by doing laps of his garden — praised the move.
      The war veteran, who died earlier this year aged 100, was honoured by Becks who visited him at home to present him with an FA-backed distinction.
      We’re delighted David is finally in line to receive a knighthood — something he thoroughly deserves. Hannah Ingram-Moore, co-founder of The Captain Tom Foundation
      His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, co-founder of The Captain Tom Foundation, told The Sun: “We’re delighted David is finally in line to receive a knighthood — something he thoroughly deserves.
      “We will never forget the kindness and support that David and his family have shown my late father and our family.”
      Last year David also helped The Sun launch its poppy campaign, visiting the Chelsea Pensioners to help boost sales during the pandemic. And he joined Prince William at our Who Cares Wins awards earlier this year.
      Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said last night: “As someone who has been very critical of footballers in the past, I actually think this is long overdue for David Beckham.
      “He’s made good on his tax issues, has raised millions for various charities and, of course, was instrumental in our Olympics bid.“
      It comes two years after The Sunday Times revealed that David and Victoria were two of Britain’s highest taxpayers, coughing up £12.7million in 12 months.
      However, earlier this year he came under fire for agreeing to be an ambassador for Qatar ahead of next year’s World Cup. The Middle Eastern country has been heavily slated over its appalling human rights records as well as its outlawing of homosexuality.
      However, he brushed off criticism of the £150million, ten-year deal, insisting he hopes to bring about change “from within” and “use football as a force for good”.
      ‘He does more than people realise’
      Last night a source close to David’s charity work added: “David has been a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for the past 18 years, and has worked tirelessly for them.
      “This year he fronted their global vaccination programme, and he raises around £5million a year to support them, in addition to the women and children’s projects he funds under the umbrella of his 7 Fund. Over the years he has probably raised over £50m for Unicef and other charities and also quietly gives about a million a year from his own pocket.
      “He does more than people realise — even in lockdown, he was volunteering locally for Age UK, visiting the Chelsea Pensioners. It’s not just about money — it’s the time he gives. And everyone knows what a massive royalist David is — he is close to Prince William, and loves the Queen, and has been a big supporter of William’s mental health campaign.
      “He’s really not expecting anything at this stage — but to receive an honour now would be beyond anything he could ever imagine.”
      Ant and Dec, Robbie Williams, Guy Ritchie, Davina McCall and Andrew Lloyd Webber were among 140 celebrities in the Ingenious schemes, which gave tax breaks to film investors.
      The firm — which has always denied tax avoidance — was using “sideways loss relief” which allowed investors to offset their potential tax bill against losses made in other areas.
      HMRC argued the scheme was a form of avoidance and tried to claw back some £700million — which Ingenious successfully appealed in the summer.
      He’s really not expecting anything at this stage — but to receive an honour now would be beyond anything he could ever imagine.A source close to David’s charity work
      In 2017 David, dubbed Goldenballs, was publicly embarrassed after private emails he wrote to his then-advisers were leaked. In them, he angrily reacted to being overlooked for a knighthood in 2013, calling the Honours Committee “c***s”.
      In 2003 Beckham, who played 115 times for England and was captain for six years, was awarded an OBE for services to football.
      He received it from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, watched by Victoria, sons Brooklyn and Romeo, and his grandparents.
      A source close to Becks said ‘David has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the past 18 years, and has worked tirelessly for them’Credit: Splash News
      They added ‘He is close to Prince William, and loves the Queen, and has been a big supporter of William’s mental health campaign’Credit: Darren Fletcher
      David also backed The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards earlier this year, here at the Roundhouse in Camden with Carmella Chillery-WatsonCredit: Darren Fletcher
      If the footie legend receives a knighthood, his wife Victoria would become Lady BeckhamCredit: Getty
      In 2003 he was awarded an OBE for services to footballCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdTimeline of football legend & style iconClemmie Moodie

      BECKHAM enjoyed a 20-year football career which includes the remarkable feat of having won league titles in three countries — England, Spain and France.
      Here’s the timeline of his remarkable life:
      APRIL 1995: Makes his debut for Man Utd vs Leeds.AUGUST 1996: Scores a halfway line goal for United against Wimbledon.MARCH 1999: Has his first child, son Brooklyn, with fiancee Victoria.MAY 1999: Wins the treble with United after beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at the Camp Nou, Barcelona.JULY 1999: Marries Spice Girl Victoria.NOVEMBER 2000: Named England captain.OCTOBER 2001: Scores wonder goal vs Greece that takes England to World Cup.JUNE 2003: Joins Real Madrid’s Galacticos in a £24.5million transfer.MARCH 2005: Opens his first football school, The David Beckham Academy.JULY 2005: Helps London to win their bid to host the 2012 Olympic GamesJULY 2007: Joins Major League club, LA Galaxy. Has two loan moves with Italian giants AC Milan while in LA.JANUARY 2013: Joins Paris Saint Germain in France.MAY 2013: Retires after winning 19 major trophies.

      Romeo Beckham joins dad David Beckham to watch thrilling Arsenal loss More

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      Man Utd legend Bryan Robson reveals the ONE time he faced one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous ‘hairdryer’ blasts

      by

      SIR ALEX FERGUSON was renowned for his ‘hairdryer’ blasts at his players.His old Manchester United skipper Bryan Robson managed to dodge it — apart from once…
      Bryan Robson has revealed he was only once on the receiving end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s infamous ‘hairdryer’ treatmentCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Captain Marvel, now 64, recalls: “We were playing up at Newcastle and it was going badly, we were losing 1-0 and Gazza was running us ragged.
      “We didn’t really know much about Gazza back then, but we certainly found out quickly when he was having such a good game against us.
      “I could see what was coming at half-time, so I thought it best to get in first.
      “I said, ‘Yeah, we didn’t know much about him — I will try to get it sorted in the second half’.
      “Fergie screamed at me, ‘Get it sorted!’ — so I got it sorted in the second half.
      “It was definitely a hairdryer moment but more half a hairdryer.
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      “I had seen much worse — and you definitely don’t want to be on the receiving end of the full hairdryer!
      “I still see quite a bit of ‘The Gaffer’. I am sure he misses being in the dug-out but I know he is enjoying his retirement.”
      Neil Webb, now 58, played under Brian Clough but says that was nothing compared to his time under Ferguson.
      His main fallout centred around his England call-up under Three Lions manager Graham Taylor for a game against Czechoslovakia in 1992.
      The Euros were coming up but the Red Devils were top and Fergie wanted to keep his players fresh. United took on Wimbledon prior to the midweek England game.
      And Webb says: “I was substituted in that game… our physio Jim McGregor came and told me, ‘By the way, you are injured, and you are not going with England’.
      “I told him, ‘No, I’m not injured’ and Jim said, ‘The Gaffer is not letting you go to report for England duty’.
      “By the time I got home there was a message from Graham Taylor to call him back urgently.
      “I called and said I wasn’t injured and wanted to report for England.
      “He told me, ‘The club have told me you are injured, so you have a decision to make — if I don’t see you, then you will be jeopardising your England career’.
      “I’d been put into a ridiculous position. Do I let down England? Or my manager and club?”
      Ian Webb, pictured with Mike Phelan and Fergie, has recalled an incredible club vs country war of his Man Utd boss’ makingCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Webb continued: “I didn’t want to fall out with my manager. So didn’t report for England.
      “Yet, when I turned up at United on Monday morning, I trained. 
      “The manager didn’t care who would see me train, even though it proved I wasn’t injured.
      “That week, he called me to his office and as I walked in the door a pen went past my head!
      “He lurched straight into, ‘What do you think you are doing? You rang Graham Taylor…’
      “I told him, ‘I rang him because he left a message to call him, and yes I told him the truth — and you having me training shows I wasn’t injured’.
      “He now lost it, and in his thick Scottish accent I got it full barrels, and some of the words were pretty choice.
      “He went into full rant mode. That was my first and certainly my major fall out with him.
      “I thought Cloughie was a law unto himself, but this one was off the wall.”
      *Harry Harris’ book Sir Alex: Simply the Best published by Ad Lib is available in paperback for £8.99.
      ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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      Sir Alex Ferguson’s best quotes from squeaky-bums and Liverpool’s ‘f***ing perch’ to Mourinho’s ‘paint-stripper’ wine

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Sir Alex Ferguson will go down as one of the greatest football managers to ever live.A 13-time Premier League champion, the Scot was a master tactician.
      Sir Alex Ferguson dropped some gems during his career, including his iconic ‘football, bloody hell’ after Man Utd’s Champions League final comeback win over Bayern Munich in 1999Credit: Getty
      Man Utd’s last-gasp 2-1 win inspired one of football’s most-recognisable quotes from FergieCredit: Action Images
      Nothing proves that point quite like United’s demise since his retirement in 2013.
      But not only was Fergie known for being an incredible manager, he has always been regarding as one of the most quotable.
      As Ferguson celebrates his 80th birthday, we take a look at some of the ex-Man Utd boss’ most-memorable quotes…
      1. “Football, bloody hell.”

      After Manchester United’s incredible, comeback win over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.

      2. “It’s getting tickly now — squeaky-bum time, I call it.”

      On the 2003 Premier League title race.

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      Ferguson once claimed Eric Cantona ‘was made for Man Utd’Credit: PA:Press Association
      3. “If ever there was one player anywhere in the world that was made for Manchester United, it was Cantona.
      “He swaggered in, stuck his chest out, raised his head and  surveyed everything as though he were asking, ‘I’m Cantona. How big are you? Are you big enough for me?’.”

      On Eric Cantona.

      4. “My greatest challenge is not what’s happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f***ing perch.
      “And you can print that.”

      On the 2002-03 Premier League title.

      5. “It was a freakish incident. If I tried it 100 or a million times it couldn’t happen again. If I could I would have carried on playing!”

      6. “When an Italian says it’s pasta, I check under the sauce to make sure. They are innovators of the smokescreen.”

      On Italians.

      7. “I’m going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France.
      “They fly in V- formation but the second ones don’t fly.
      “They’re the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over — so it’s teamwork.”

      On squad rotation.

      8. “There has been a lot of expectation on Manchester City and with the spending they’ve done, they have to win something.
      “Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour and have to live with it.”

      On Man City’s mega-money takeover and rise to the top.

      9. “To not apologise for the behaviour of the players to another manager is unthinkable.
      “It’s a disgrace but I don’t expect Wenger to ever apologise — he’s that type of person.”

      10. “He was certainly full of it, calling me ‘Boss’ and ‘Big Man’ when we had our drink after the first leg.
      “But it would help if his greetings were accompanied by a decent glass of wine. What he gave me was paint-stripper.”

      On his first impressions of self-professed ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho.

      11. “I used to have a saying that when a player is at his peak, he feels as though he can climb Everest in his slippers. That’s what he was like.”

      On Paul Ince.

      ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Paul Ince came in for some huge praise from Ferguson during his Man Utd daysCredit: Getty More

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      Sir Alex Ferguson pictured through the years from 20-year-old St Johnstone striker to sitting in own Man Utd stand at 80

      by

      SIR ALEX FERGUSON turns 80 today with no end in sight to his reign as the most successful manager in world football.The legendary boss retired from the dug-out eight years ago.
      Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates his 80th birthday on New Year’s EveCredit: Getty
      The Scot is the most-successful manager in the top-flight’s historyCredit: Getty
      But the legendary former Manchester United manager’s 49 trophies is still the biggest haul of any top-flight boss.
      His 13 Prem titles put him clear of Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola all put together!
      And no one has managed to emulate his 1999 Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble.
      Even United have still not recovered ever since his departure.
      Despite the efforts of David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the club have yet to lift the title again since Ferguson’s retirement.
      The Scot enjoyed a landmark career with a host of memorable moments.
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      And not all of them occurred at the Theatre of Dreams.
      Here Sun Sport takes a brief trip down memory lane to mark the icon turning 80.
      Have a great birthday, Fergie!
      Fergie was on the brink of giving up football and moving to Canada when he scored a hat-trick for St Johnstone against RangersCredit: Offside
      AT 20…
      HAVING joined Queen’s Park in his teens as an amateur while he was an apprentice toolmaker in Glasgow, the young Fergie switched to St Johnstone at the age of 19.
      He was playing as a forward for the Saints when he reached the age of 20 on December 31, 1961.
      Sir Alex Ferguson was lining-up for Falkirk at the age of 30Credit: Scottish News and Sport
      AT 30…
      SPENT four seasons at St Johnstone and had three years at Dunfermline before a dream switch to Rangers for £65,000 in his twenties. 
      But by the time he was 30 at the end of 1971, Fergie was playing for Falkirk, having moved to the Bairns when he was 28.
      Fergie already had his first piece of managerial silverware by the time he was 40Credit: Getty
      AT 40…
      BY the time he was 40 on New Year’s Eve 1981, he had already enjoyed his first honour as a boss.
      Fergie was 35 in 1977 when he guided St Mirren to the First Division title.
      He won three top-flight crowns at Aberdeen with his first in 1980 aged 38 — he went on to lift the 1983 Cup Winners’ Cup.
      Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed European success at United in his 50th yearCredit: Rex
      AT 50…
      NOW entrenched as Manchester United manager after a rocky first few years, Fergie tasted his first European success with the club in the year of his 50th birthday.
      United secured the 1991 Cup Winners’ Cup in Rotterdam, after beating Barcelona in the final 2-1 — Mark Hughes netted both goals.
      He celebrated his 60th year with a seventh title in nine years
      AT 60…
      IN another milestone year, Fergie’s United continued their domination of the English game in 2001.
      They won their seventh Prem title in nine years, this time with five games to spare.
      The Scot also became the first boss to win three successive English titles with the same team.
      Fergie had led United to their 20 league title by the time he turned 70Credit: PA:Press Association
      AT 70…
      AFTER leading United to their 20th league title in 2011, Fergie revealed he would retire at the end of the season but would remain at the club as an ambassador. 
      He would also be handed the same role at Uefa before taking up a long-term teaching position at Harvard University.
      Fergie now watches games from the Old Trafford directors’ boxCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      AT 80…
      SINCE recovering from emergency surgery on a brain haemorrhage in 2018, Fergie enjoys himself by tending to his racing horses, watching games at Old Trafford and spending time with his wife Cathy.
      ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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      in Soccer

      Sir Alex Ferguson turned Man Utd into a global sporting monster… his trophy-laden reign will NEVER be matched

      by

      AFTER Manchester United had marched to another Premier League title, Sir Alex Ferguson took to the microphone and addressed the crowd.They had come to expect these rituals every May, as silverware was held aloft.
      Sir Alex Ferguson turned Man Utd into a monster – his record will never be beatenCredit: Bradley Ormesher – The Times
      Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns at Old TraffordCredit: Getty – Contributor
      But on this occasion he wanted them to know that this was not a foregone conclusion.
      That winning these titles was hard, it took a lot of work, it was not just about turning up and letting it all happen.
      Perhaps he was feeling people simply did not appreciate what it took and wanted them to know.
      Perhaps it is only now in the last eight years, and as the great man turns 80 today, that people really comprehend what a phenomenal job he did.
      Look at those who have tried to emulate his feats in winning 13 titles and two European Cups.
      David Moyes was Ferguson’s ‘Chosen One’, picked in the belief that he would stick to the traditions of the club and keep the trophies coming.
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      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
      He aged ten years and was gone in ten months.
      Louis van Gaal — and he will probably tell you this himself — was regarded as one of the greatest coaches of his generation.
      He promptly bored Old Trafford into a deep sleep, picked up one FA Cup and was gone.
      Next was serial trophy winner Jose Mourinho — and he did put two in the cabinet while lifting the club to second in the table.
      But after two-and-a-half years the expectation became even too much for him as he combusted.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the wheel and guided the club back on to the right path but just did not have what it took to make the final turn.
      It was heart-rending to witness the disappointment in his voice in that final interview after also being axed.
      He felt he had come close but just could not do it and when it starts to unravel, it unravels very fast at United.
      Good men, good coaches, backed with lots of cash, they have all tried but ultimately failed to emulate the greatest of all.
      People expected the conveyor belt of titles to continue running post-Fergie.
      The problem was the bloke with the instructions of how to work it had retired and the manual was in his head.
      If his successors had continued his incredible feats then he would not have been that special after all — and he was.
      Everyone will have their own favourite achievements but, for me, it came in his final years.
      In three seasons from 2003 to 2006 United won one FA Cup and one League Cup.
      In the league in 2003-04 they were third, some 15 points behind champions Arsenal.
      In 2004-05 they were third again, this time 18 points behind top of the pile Chelsea, then in 2005-06 second and eight points behind the Blues.
      Ferguson can rest easy in the knowledge his incredible record will never be eclipsedCredit: PA:Press Association
      Sir Alex Ferguson had an unmatched passion for the game, from winning trophies to unleashing the ‘hairdryer’ on playersCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Such a run would have done for his successors but he had credit in the bank and used it to rebuild United into champions again, claiming a hat-trick of titles from 2006, five out of the seven up to his retirement in 2013, a European Cup and two other finals.
      That takes something special when people start to doubt you.
      Goodness, he even delayed his retirement by a year so he could leave with that title in his hands after it was ripped away by Sergio Aguero.
      There is another thing — the challenge of Manchester City that came at the end. Many moaned about their inordinate wealth after the Abu Dhabi takeover.
      Sir Alex just saw it as another challenge, like Chelsea had been, like Arsenal had presented. Like Liverpool were right at the start, and he saw them all off.
      He turned Manchester United into a global sporting monster.
      The size of Old Trafford is a testament to his success.
      Their global reach grew in his time and, yes, it was hard work.
      The only time we ever really saw him vulnerable was in the film, directed by his son Jason, in which he charts the time back in May 2018 when he suffered a brain haemorrhage.
      He beat that, too, and as he turns 80 today still looks as fit as someone 20 years younger.
      Fergie once said that retirement is for the young. What he meant was you had to enjoy it, make the most of it, still be active.
      Well he still very much is. Still kicking every ball at Old Trafford but from the directors’ box now.
      He still loves matchday when he hosts guests in his own lounge.
      Loves talking football, loves to be around his family.
      The pipe, slippers and rug have never, and will NEVER be needed.
      This man is something very different, very special.
      Happy birthday, Sir Alex.
      ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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      in Soccer

      Mafia bosses offering top UEFA referees £25k bungs online in bid to fix footie matches

      by

      MAFIA bosses are targeting top UEFA referees with cyber-crime hits to try to fix footy matches.Officials are offered up to £25,000 to swing matches, according to a leaked memo seen by The Sun.
      Mafia bosses are targeting top UEFA referees with cyber-crime hits to try to fix footie matchesCredit: Reuters
      Criminals are using the phishing techniques fine-tuned during the pandemic to tempt refs to throw European clashes.
      The memo, which was sent to the FA and other governing bodies, warns: “The corrupters made use of cyber-crime tactics not previously seen in reported corrupter messages, possibly pointing to a bleed-over in tactics from more sophisticated groups or even the potential for collaboration with such groups.”
      It talks of “incidents in which a suspected match-fixer attempted to recruit referees to manipulate matches via social media”.
      It reads: “This evolution may have been accelerated by the Covid lockdown, during which cyber criminals both diversified and intensified their criminal activities, according to Europol.”
      The memo adds: “We assess corrupters will likely continue to attempt contact with players, referees and other officials via social media and the use of more sophisticated messages, including personalised content and manipulation techniques.”
      The messages are understood to have originated from Asian crime gangs and were sent in English — but it’s not thought British refs were targeted.
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      Jude Bellingham slapped with £34k fine over match-fixing comments about referee after Dortmund defeat to Bayern More

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      in Soccer

      Football thugs high on cocaine fuelling terrifying surge in violence – with the drug found at every stadium we tested

      by

      FOOTBALL thugs high on cocaine are fuelling a terrifying surge in violence at stadiums, a Sun investigation has found.Every ground we swabbed had traces of the class A drug, which sparked the shameful scenes at Wembley in July’s showpiece Euro 2020 final.
      Sun reporter Liam Coleman holding up a cocaine detection wipe at an Arsenal game at Emirates stadium
      Police chiefs are now calling for tougher punishments for cocaine users at grounds — including more use of bans — to prevent a return to the hooliganism seen in the 1980s.
      Britain’s top football cop, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, warned that more fans than ever were ­taking the drug at games, creating a “toxic mix” of violence.
      He said: “As we see more violent incidents, cocaine is one of those factors along with alcohol that will make it worse, and make people more violent.”
      One supporter also said cocaine at football was so rife that fans even snort it in their seats.
      We discovered lines had been racked up on top of loo roll holders at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, while our reporter was offered “charlie” outside a Brighton match earlier this month.
      At The Etihad — home of Premier League champions Manchester City — empty drug bags and one containing cocaine were found on a cubicle floor. Traces of the drug were also found on top of toilets at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium.
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      Our findings come after an FA report last month revealed cocaine was the catalyst for thousands of ticketless fans storming Wembley for the England-Italy Euro final.
      Fans were openly snorting the drug at the showpiece event, with one yob bragging to The Sun how he put a lit flare in his bum during a 15-hour drug-fuelled bender.
      Charlie Perry, 25, boasted how he had “banged a load of powder” during the big day and was then filmed firing off the flare in footage that went viral.
      Just before the pandemic, cocaine binges were blamed for a 45 per cent increase in trouble at football grounds over the previous two years — including violence, pitch invasions and assaults on players.
      However, cops and fans say more coke than ever is being snorted at grounds — which was backed up by our probe. Sun reporter Liam Coleman used cocaine detection wipes on surfaces in loos at Man City, Spurs, Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal this month — with 44 out of the 58 swabbed cubicles testing positive for cocaine.
      Mr Roberts told The Sun clubs are looking at installing specialist surfaces in toilets to make it harder to take drugs, as well as bringing in more sniffer dogs.
      MORE COCAINE THAN EVER
      However, the officer — head of football policing for England and Wales — admitted it was tough to catch users.
      He said: “Cocaine is now more common in broader society than ever before, and that includes football clubs and football fans.
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      “It’s an issue with society, but that being said it is then clearly going to impact football as well.
      “Where people are high on emotions which you do get in football, and then you add in cocaine use, that’s a pretty toxic mix as how people behave and it often leads to extreme violence.”
      He wants a Football Banning Order for anyone caught with drugs in a ground. Breaching one of those is a criminal offence, punishable by up to six months in prison.
      There are currently around 1,400 orders active across the UK, but Mr Roberts believes a bigger push would see a drop in drug use.
      It’s really difficult to police, frankly, unless you do full-body searches on peopleChief Constable Mark Roberts
      However, he added: “It’s really difficult to police, frankly, unless you do full-body searches on people, and then you’re still probably not going to find it anyway.
      “It’s something that’s easy to smuggle into the ground.
      “People can discreetly take it, probably easier than drinking a pint, so the hope will be we work with clubs and identify measures to make it just a bit harder for fans to take drugs.
      “Whether that is putting liquids on toilet cisterns, having regular checks and sniffer dogs at every ground.” Recommendations from the Euro 2020 report included stronger police powers against the use of illegal drugs.
      The independent review by ­former Government drugs tsar ­Baroness Casey slammed the thousands of football fans “fuelled by alcohol and drugs”.
      Experts at Oxford University have confirmed that cocaine use makes supporters more aggressive at football matches.
      ‘DOING BUMPS IN THE STANDS’
      One survey revealed that more than 30 per cent of fans had witnessed cocaine being taken inside a stadium — with six per cent admitting to personal use.
      However, drug possession or use was reported at only 103 of 2,663 regulated matches in England and Wales over the entire 2019-20 season, with the vast majority — 81 per cent — involving cocaine.
      Despite clubs promising tougher measures on stopping drugs being brought into grounds, one fan claimed cocaine usage was rife before and during games.
      The supporter, who does not want to be named, told The Sun: “You see huge queues in the toilets, you see them doing bumps off keys in the stands, or just off their hands. It’s everywhere.
      “I’ve never known it like this before, and it just feels like it’s getting worse and worse.”
      All the clubs where we found traces of drugs told The Sun they condemned use. Several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, said they had sniffer dogs in place at every match and that fans were searched using security wands before entering the ground.
      Another Premier League club said they use dogs outside away turnstiles for every game and on occasions outside home turnstiles.
      Ground regulations clearly state that drugs are prohibited and measures such as detection dogs are used frequently to combat itPremier League Spokesperson
      Bosses at Tottenham Hotspur described the drug issue as a “societal problem” and that it took a zero-tolerance approach to drugs in the stadium.
      The club, where a fan was photographed appearing to snort a line of cocaine on the pitch in 2017, also said it works closely with the Metropolitan Police on drug-related issues, and anyone found with illegal substances are banned.
      Meanwhile, bosses at Brighton and Hove Albion said it was “increasingly concerned” about the use of cocaine at matches.
      The club added: “We will continue to take all necessary and possible steps to prevent any illegal substance coming into our stadium, and we will continue to impose very severe sanctions on anyone found to be carrying or using any illegal substance in or around our stadium.”
      The Premier League said it also condemns the use of drugs at stadiums, and its clubs are working alongside police to tackle the problem. A spokesman said: “Possession or use of cocaine is a criminal offence and can result in a football banning order. Ground regulations clearly state that drugs are prohibited and measures such as detection dogs are used frequently to combat it.
      “Our clubs continue to work closely with police on this issue.”
      Coke & booze go hand in hand with violence
      FANS can spend up to £300 a week on drugs for each match, one Premier League club supporter said.
      The season ticket-holder, who wanted his identity hidden, said: “Class As are becoming more prevalent, there’s more of a buzz for it these days. It’s beers, as much coke as possible, everyone is bang on it.
      “It’s the only thing that will straighten you out after a day on the booze, it’s what you need.
      “You don’t want pills, you will start loving people. Coke and booze go hand in hand with violence, it’s what we all want.
      “It’s also just the nature of the football. You get boozed up all day, and then do the gear.”
      The fan added: “They get it in bulk. If it’s a home game then you’re more likely to get a few grams in, but away days you’re talking lots more.
      “I know blokes who go with their kids and they still do it.
      “It’s so easy to get it both inside and outside the ground
      “Football is like going clubbing but during the day, and spending all day with close pals and they share the same passions, which bring you closer together.
      “If you’re all sharing the gear and the booze, then it brings you closer together.
      “Unless they get sent behind bars for years like they did with the hooligans, it’s not going to make a blind bit of difference.”

      We found traces of coke in ten of 14 toilet cubicles in the South Stand of the Eithad Stadium during Man City v Leeds, Dec 14
      During a Chelsea game against Everton on December 16, five out of the six loo-roll holders wiped in the Matthew Harding Lower Stand in Standford Bridge went blue, meaning cocaine was present
      Eleven of 14 toilets had traces of cocaine with lines on roll holders in the bathrooms at Tottenham stadium
      Five of six cubicles in the West Stand at Brighton’s Amex stadium had traces of cocaine – our reporter was also offered drugs
      Stewards replace barricades after they were knocked over by supporters outside Wembley Stadium in London, during the Euro 2020 final match between England and Italy, on July 11, 2021Credit: AP
      Moment England hero Harry Maguire’s dad’s ribs were broken in a horror crush during the security meltdown at the Euro 2020 Final at Wembley More