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      in Soccer

      Ryan Giggs has ‘special Wales leave’ extended to include World Cup draw after alleged bust-up with on-off girlfriend.

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      RYAN GIGGS has had his ‘special leave’ extended to cover the 2022 World Cup draw on Monday.
      The Wales boss missed three internationals last month following his November 1 arrest on suspicion of actual bodily harm and assault after an alleged bust-up with his on-off girlfriend.

      Ryan Giggs ‘leave’ with Wales has been extended to include the World Cup drawCredit: Getty

      Giggs has been rebailed ‘pending further enquiries’ by Greater Manchester Police until February 1. The 47-year-old denies the allegations.
      But the FA of Wales announced that caretaker boss Rob Page will represent the Dragons in Zoom media duties following the virtual draw in Zurich.
      Wales are in Pot Two for the qualifying draw as they bid to book their first World Cup finals spot since 1958 in Qatar.
      The Dragons start their qualifying campaign in March.

      Then they take part in the Euro 2020 finals, delayed by 12 months due to the pandemic, where they will face Switzerland, Turkey and Italy.
      However, with Giggs continuing to be sidelined, the uncertainty remains over his future.

      The FAW are due to conduct their own investigation into the matter.
      But in the meantime, they have once again turned to ex-Watford defender Page, 46, who has impressed.

      In Giggs’ absence, Page led the Dragons to clinch promotion to League A of the 2022 Nations League with wins over Ireland and Finland, as well as a friendly draw with USA.

      Ryan Giggs rowed with girlfriend over flirty messages to a lingerie model before arrest More

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      in Soccer

      Agent Eric Hall represented shiftier side of football, greed was not only good, it was his business before his death

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      SHOWBIZ grasped football by the throat when Eric Hall became an agent. And the wallet, of course.
      He represented the shiftier side of our game. Proud of his roots in the East End, he was the little man’s Lew Grade who, in between puffing on a gigantic cigar, told whoppers and managed to add a few noughts to transfer fees.

      Legendary football agent Eric Hall died last month aged 73Credit: Rex Features

      For him, greed was not only good, it was his business. He had no real interest in the game. As he used to boast . . . “I ain’t interested in the clubs, I want all I can get for my players.”
      For himself, too.
      Hall died last month, aged 73. Tributes poured in from the usual suspects, ‘Razor’ Ruddock, Dennis Wise, Terry Venables. They all loved a “laff” with the little monster. To be honest, I did occasionally myself.
      In showbiz his punk attitudes — he was a mate of the Sex Pistols — went down well. He could usually guarantee big publicity. Football was an open goal for his type, though.

      His discovery was that it was rich at the top level and highly competitive, too. His was the copybook for the super-agents who have followed.
      Somehow it is appropriate that at almost the same time he died, Fifa are finally putting forward proposals to control agents.
      With hindsight, Eric was dealing in high stakes while today’s middlemen have been setting their own ever since Fifa ignominiously surrendered in trying to cut them down to size five years ago.
      The figures are breathtaking. Fifa estimate that just under half a billion pounds was spent on agents’ fees, a rise on the previous year of 19.3 per cent.

      The percentage of answers have been round up or down from their decimal points

      And notoriously, Mino Raiola is reported as having taken away £25million when he represented Juventus, the selling club, Manchester United, the buyers, and Paul Pogba, the player, in 2016.
      Raiola laughed all the way to the bank when he used about £9m of the Pogba haul to buy Al Capone’s house in Florida. But he may not be laughing for long as triple representation (acting for player, buyer and seller) will no longer be allowed if new rules are passed.
      Fifa have been smarting for years. They have had to sit and watch as agents have ripped away their control of the game.
      Now they are prepared to tackle their tormentors and resume as the regulating authority of the game.

      Modern super agent Mino Raiola reeled in millions through client Paul PogbaCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Raiola represented Pogba, United and Juventus but new rules could prevent a repeatCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Fifa is far, far from perfect. It has crippled itself through corruption in the executive committee that voted for Russia and Qatar as World Cup venues.
      Still, they are all we have and if their latest proposals are the basis of new regulations then the boardrooms of every big club will stand and applaud.
      Fifa aim to cap the amount agents can earn and also make them pass ‘character tests’ and be subject to a code of conduct which will include the fact that they will ‘always adhere to the truth’.
      Well, that might be the hardest rule of all to enforce!

      Watch Mino Raiola hang up on Simon Jordan in furious row over Ibrahimovic’s FIFA 21 image rights live on talkSPORT More

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      in Soccer

      Pep Guardiola to manage 700th game against Fulham as Man City boss reveals he wants to do another 700 before retiring

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      PEP GUARDIOLA chalks up 700 games as a manager today — and wants to do 700 more.
      The Manchester City boss has one of the greatest CVs in world football from his time at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the Etihad.

      Pep Guardiola at the start of his career at Barcelona and now at Manchester CityCredit: Getty

      He has eight domestic titles, two Champions League crowns and a host of other cups from his 13 years as a manager.
      But Pep — who turns 50 next month — is not thinking of packing it all in just yet.
      Ahead of today’s match with Fulham, the Spaniard said: “700 games — and I’m going to do 700 more.
      “And after that, I’m going to retire. So, good. In life, when you start something, you don’t expect what will happen in the future and I never expected it.

      “It’s good to have 700 games with few defeats in these games.
      “For all the players and staff we had in Barcelona B team, first team, Bayern and here, we share it.
      “It is an incredible number with all the people we were together and have made incredible things together.

      Guardiola won the Champions League with Barcelona after beating Man Utd in 2011Credit: AFP
      “Hopefully, we can do it in the future.”

      Last Saturday’s 5-0 thumping of Burnley was his 248th game in charge of City, surpassing the number of games he spent in the dugout with Nou Camp giants Barca.
      But the players at the Etihad who thought they knew him have realised in recent weeks he is ready to get tough to take the club back to the top.
      French centre-back Aymeric Laporte was considered the best defender at the club last season.
      But the 26-year-old has been left out of the last three matches.

      Man City’s owners have added a tenth club to their stable after buying Troyes
      And last term’s 31-goal top-scorer Raheem Sterling found himself on the bench for the weekend win over the Clarets.
      Guardiola has told his squad he is not interested in their reputations, or what has happened in the past — all that matters is current form.
      He said: “There is a misunderstanding about the word rotation.
      “Rotation looks like ‘I’m a big star and I don’t play this game because I’m going to play the next game and it’s important’. This is a huge mistake for the players to have in their heads.
      “They have to understand that if I don’t play them because of rotation, they have to do more to play in this team.

      Pep Guardiola admits Lionel Messi’s future is up in the air as Man City plan transfer bid for unsettled Barcelona star
      “That’s the only way to get close to the biggest teams in Europe and the biggest teams in the Premier League.
      “Riyad Mahrez scored three goals against Burnley and on Saturday he’s going to play — because he scored a lot of goals.“The guys who score goals are going to have more chance to play.
      “The guys who don’t make mistakes behind are going to play.
      “This is about the performance.
      “We know they have the quality — they are top players but it’s about performance. The performance has to be better and better than the day before.”

      Laporte’s absence through a long-term knee injury was one of the reasons why City’s title defence came up so short last season, as they finished 18 points behind Liverpool.
      Yet with Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake arriving in the summer and John Stones looking more like his old self, £57m man Laporte faces a battle to get his place back.
      Guardiola added: “Having 19 or 20 players fit, they have to raise their standards and play in as high a level as possible to keep in the team.
      “The guy who is playing good, I want them to continue to give them the chance to play. That’s the reason why. Aymeric continues to be really important for us.
      “Right now, I’m playing other guys but in future I’m pretty sure he’s going to play a lot of games. It’s how you perform today, right now. Statistics are in the past.
      “All that matters is the next game at 3pm — how you play and perform, that is the point and everyone has to be ready.”

      Man City likely line-up against Fulham

      Ederson
      Walker, Stones, Dias, Mendy
      Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden
      Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling.

      Striker Sergio Aguero remains sidelined as he edges his way back from a knee injury but otherwise Guardiola has a fully fit squad to choose from for the Cottagers’ visit.
      Aguero has missed City’s last two games after a brief appearance as a sub against Olympiakos last month.
      And despite returning to training, Guardiola does not want to risk another set-back.

      Aguero, 32, had surgery in the summer and was hit by a hamstring injury earlier in the campaign.
      When asked if Aguero could face Fulham, Guardiola said: “No. He is getting better.
      “He was part of the training, that is the good news. He is already on the pitch with us.” More

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      in Boxing

      Anthony Yarde looking to turn Lyndon Arthur’s lights out after being inspired by Take Me Out star Paddy McGuinness

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      ANTHONY YARDE wants to turn Lyndon Arthur’s lights off tonight after taking inspiration from Take Me Out star Paddy McGuinness.
      The always-upbeat light-heavyweight endured a heartbreaking start to the year, losing his father and three grandparents in just six tragic months.

      Anthony Yarde is taking inspiration from Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinnessCredit: The Sun

      But Yarde, 29, still beat Dec Spelman in September and now has a date with Manchester’s 17-0 underdog.
      And the Ilford KO artist has leaned on the show-must-go-on attitude of dating show, catchphrase king McGuinness.
      The 20-1 ace said: “I look at other entertainers, not just boxers, as a template.
      “If you think of someone with big energy like Paddy from Take Me Out. If he were to show he was down, people would say ‘what’s going on here?’

      “People don’t really take into consideration what he might be going through.
      “It’s the same with boxing and boxing is more serious. It’s unforgiving. People don’t care about excuses.”
      Yarde recently moved his camp from Peacock Gym in Canning Town to Box Up Crime — a training and charity base he is the face of, which is close to his home and heart.

      The sweatbox is rammed with boisterous kids in the day but after hours it is a place for Yarde to take five.

      He said: “I’m there like a counsellor explaining about things which happen in life.
      “I use examples of people in other countries who go through crazy tragedies, wars — and they just have to get on with it.
      “When I do sit down and think about it, I do get emotional. It does get overwhelming, but the job must go on, that’s just life.”

      Arthur, like Yarde, has emerged from a gang-plagued part of the country, but neither has any interest in bad blood.
      The Pat Barrett-trained ace, 29, said: “Anthony is cool, he’s one of the boys.
      “There’s no animosity — we saw each other out in Manchester and it was nothing but love.
      “But now we are going into battle, it’s war time.”

      Anthony Yarde vs Lyndon Arthur UK start time, free live stream and TV channel More

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      in Soccer

      Crewe captain Perry Ng banned for six games after SPITTING at rival coach that was spotted by camera after ref missed it

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      CREWE skipper Perry Ng has been handed a six-match ban for spitting at a rival coach.
      Ng was caught on video spitting water at Cheltenham coach Wade Elliott after last month’s FA Cup first-round defeat.

      Crewe ace Perry Ng has been banned for six games for spittingCredit: Getty

      The incident took place behind the backs of the match officials but was spotted on camera.
      Ng, 24, who has been involved in all of Crewe’s game this term, admitted the offence.
      He appealed against the ban, claiming the standard penalty for the offence was “clearly excessive”.
      His argument was rejected by an independent commission.

      The defender was ruled out of action until the December 29 trip to Rochdale.
      Liverpool-born Ng came through the Crewe academy in 2014, making his way up the youth ranks.
      He has made 177 appearances for his boyhood club and scored ten times.

      PSG star Angel Di Maria given four game ban for SPITTING on Marseille player during melee which saw five sent off More

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      in Soccer

      Man City’s Benjamin Mendy in fight to save his £475k Lamborghini from being crushed after driving without insurance

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      MAN CITY star Benjamin Mendy is in a race against time to save his £475,000 supercar from being crushed.
      His white Lamborghini Aventador SVJ was seized by police last month.

      Benjamin Mendy is racing to save his Lamborghini Aventador from being crushed

      The Man City ace had his supercar seized after driving without a valid licence or insuranceCredit: Dave Thompson Telegraph Media Group

      They stopped the £52million ace for driving without a valid licence or insurance.
      But 20 days after the car was taken French defender Mendy has yet to come up with any documentation.
      Police usually keep a car for 14 days before selling it at auction or crushing it.
      A source said: “Ben is a great footballer but he’s not great on bureaucratic details like paperwork.

      “He didn’t realise he wasn’t insured so it’s a monumental blunder on his part.
      “He’s desperately trying to correct it but the fact it’s now 20 days since his car was seized, he’s at risk of it being destroyed.
      “The police know he wants it back and are happy to return it but only once he’s provided the necessary paperwork.
      “It’s worrying that after almost three weeks he still hasn’t managed to sort it out. It’s a beautiful car and he just wants it back in one piece.”

      The £475,000 car has been held at a secure pound for 20 days

      Mendy bought the car in France and was pictured driving it in Cannes this summer

      A source says ‘it’s worrying that after almost three weeks he still hasn’t managed to sort it out’
      Mendy, 26, was pulled over at 5am on November 15 in Prestbury, Cheshire.
      The motor, with a French number plate, was taken to Macclesfield police station and is now at a secure pound.
      Mendy, who joined City in 2017, bought the car in France and was pictured driving it in Cannes this summer.
      The SVJ, which can do 0-60mph in three seconds, is an improved version of the Aventador S, with only 900 made.
      According to the Cheshire Police website, any motorist who needs to reclaim a vehicle has just 14 days to do so.
      The force charges £150 to take a car and £20 a day for storage. A spokesman said: “Arrangements are being made for the vehicle to be recovered.”
      Last year 137,410 vehicles were seized for no insurance, according to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. Uninsured drivers face their cars being crushed, a £300 fine and six penalty points.
      In June, we told how Man United star Paul Pogba had his French-registered Rolls-Royce seized in Manchester.

      Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

      Top speed: 217mph
      0-62mph: 2.8seconds
      Engine: 6.5litre V12
      Power: 759BHP
      Price: £475,000 (that’s 21 new Ford Focus cars)

      The SVJ is an improved version of the Aventador S, with only 900 madeCredit: charliemagee.com

      The impressive supercar can do 0-60mph in just three seconds

      Foreign vehicles that have been in Britain for more than six months in a year must be registered with the DVLA and fitted with UK plates.
      But if the owner is a UK resident they must register their car within two weeks of import.
      Man City was contacted for comment.

      Man City insist Benjamin Mendy did NOT break coronavirus rules after ’15-guest party’ at his £2m mansion
      GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk More

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      in Soccer

      Olivier Giroud tells Frank Lampard ‘play me or I’m off’ as Chelsea striker eyes January transfer to boost France hopes

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      OLIVIER GIROUD told Chelsea manager Frank Lampard: Play me or I am off.
      The France striker hit four goals in the 4-0 Champions League victory away in Sevilla on Wednesday before delivering the sobering message.

      Olivier Giroud wants more game time at Chelsea or he will quitCredit: Rex Features

      Giroud, 34, says the next month will be crucial for both his club and international hopes as he bids for more first-team action ahead of the Euros next summer.
      He said: “I am ready to fight until the end. But obviously to be happy I need to be a little bit more on the pitch.
      “I have a good chance to be ready for the Euros if I play more than in the beginning of the season.
      “I had a conversation with France manager Didier Deschamps and he said if the situation stayed like that, you will have to make a decision in January.

      “But I’m pretty sure I can grab more game-time and stay at Chelsea because that’s what I want.
      “But you never know in football — everything is going very fast.”
      Giroud remains on good terms with Lampard, despite spending much of the season on the bench.
      It has not affected the World Cup winner’s sharpness as he helped Chelsea grab top spot in their Champions League group with a game to spare.

      He is the best pound-for-pound goalscorer at the club — with one for every 46 minutes he is on the pitch.
      Next best is Tammy Abraham on 155.
      The Blues face Leeds tomorrow with a strong call for Giroud to start his first Prem game this campaign.
      He said: “The best answer when you are not playing much is not being sad — it’s being positive.
      “I try to do that every single day. I believe in my qualities and keep calm and confident. I know what I am capable of.”
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

      Frank Lampard reacts to Olivier Giroud masterclass in Chelsea’s 4-0 win at Sevilla More

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      Jewish groups slam ‘disgraceful’ Sheffield United as Prem strugglers fail to sign anti-Semitism declaration

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      JEWISH groups slammed “disgraceful” and “scandalous” Sheffield United after the Saudi-owned club were the only team in the Prem not to sign up for a declaration against anti-Semitism.
      Premier League chiefs confirmed the League had adopted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism as part of its campaign against discrimination.

      Sheffield United are the only Prem team not to sign up for a declaration against anti-SemitismCredit: PA:Press Association

      But while 19 of the 20 Prem clubs signed up individually to the statement, the Blades opted out.
      And that brought a furious backlash from Jewish and anti-discrimination groups.
      The Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The Premier League’s adoption of the international definition of anti-Semitism is a momentous day for everyone who opposes racism in sport.
      “It is therefore all the more astonishing that Sheffield United alone would disgracefully decline to adopt the definition.

      “This sends the wrong message to fans and players and undermines the growing consensus that racism has no place in football.
      “Serious questions must now be asked of the owners and management of the club over this scandalous own goal.”
       Amanda Bowman, vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, added: “We would urge Sheffield United to follow the Premier League’s example and sign up as soon as possible.
      “That would be a sign of their commitment to identifying and combating the anti-Jewish racism which has for too long stained the reputation of English football.”

      The Bramall Lane outfit are owned by Prince Abdullah Al Saud, a member of the Saudi Royal Family.
      Saudi Arabia is one of 16 Arab nations which refuses to recognise the  existence of the State of Israel.
      While the Blades insisted the club “supported” the IHRA definition, Sheffield United did not promise to sign up independently and declined to explain if the decision was linked to their ownership
      Sheffield has a “small but active” Jewish population and the city’s “United Synagogue” is situated a mile or so from Bramall Lane.
      The club statement “acknowledged” the Prem decision and said the club supported it “as a shareholder”.
      United added: “We should also like to stress our ongoing work and commitment with regard to equality, diversity and inclusion, plus a zero tolerance approach to any form of discrimination, including anti-Semitism.
      “Through our support of a number of campaigns, we have consistently reaffirmed our deep commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.”
      However, Jonathan Metliss, of Action Against Discrimination, said: “We hope they come round to signing up.
      “Sheffield United and its supporters do not have a history nor record of anti-Semitism or anti-Semitic behaviour but it would be better to have them on board.”

      Sheffield United’s Sander Berge takes on intensive workout in training More