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    How footballer went from Euros star to drug dealer gripped by debt & ultimately a Putin pawn killed on Ukraine frontline

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    HIS body lies somewhere on the frontline in Ukraine. A former star footballer, now one of the countless casualties of Vladimir Putin’s brutal meat-grinder war.Alexey Bugayev was killed in Ukraine after joining up to escape a jail sentenceCredit: Рейтинг БукмекеровBugayev, left, playing for Russia against Portugal icon Luis Figo at Euro 2004Credit: GettyBugayev, back row second from left, was a rising star with the Russia teamCredit: GettyTwenty years ago Aleksei Bugayev was playing against footballing icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo at the Euros.He had achieved what millions could only ever dream of; football stardom and a place on a world stage to show off his skills.But when his career ended prematurely in 2010 at the age of 29, Bugayev’s life would begin to spiral out of control.Gripped by poverty, debt, alcoholism and drug dealing, he was left a dishevelled ghost of his former life.READ MORE UKRAINEIt would eventually lead him into a desperate decision – one which would seal a terrible fate in the merciless war in Ukraine.Yesterday Bugayev’s dad confirmed to Russian media that his 43-year-old son had been killed in Ukraine as part of Putin’s “special military operation”.Ivan Bugayev said his son’s body could not be recovered due to “active fighting”.“Now my son’s body is lying somewhere,” he said.Most read in FootballBugayev’s fall into the abyss was a tragedy which friends and fellow players had seen develop when he was just in his 20s.Born in Moscow at the height of the Cold War in 1981, Bugayev was able to sign for one of the city’s footballing giants, Torpedo Moscow, known as the Car Factory Workers.Russian footballing legend Valery Petrakov, who managed Bugayev, said he was as a naturally gifted young player; “superbly equipped technically” and with “an excellent view of the field”.Watch as Putin’s N Korean troops sent to die with suicidal jog on frontline”He could do everything on the field,” he added. “He had speed, a pass, a shot, positioning, coordination, jumping ability… and phenomenal health, too. He was a devil of a player.”Despite being just 5ft 9in, not tall for a centre-back, Bugayev secured a place in the national squad for the Euro 2004 championships held in Portugal. At the Estadio do Benfica in front of 50,000 fans, and millions watching on TV around the world, Bugayev started the game against eventual finalists Portugal.The tournament hosts featured some the world’s greatest players, Luis Figo, Deco and Rui Costa.A young Cristiano Ronaldo, then just 19, came on as a sub during the game which Portugal won, 2-0.A picture from the match shows a dejected Bugayev as striker Rui Costa celebrates Portugal’s second goal.Bugayev looks down as Portugal striker Rui Costa celebrates after scoring in Euro 2004Bugayev’s career would crash soon after his Euros appearanceCredit: GettyThe tournament would mark the breathtaking emergence of Ronaldo at the start if his astonishing rise to a footballing great.But as Ronaldo was bursting onto the world football scene, Bugayev’s Euro appearances would mark a premature epoch for such a young player. He would be capped seven times for Russia, but he was also starting to display the troubling personal demons which would haunt him through the rest of his life.After his international appearances, Bugayev was transferred for $2m to Moscow rivals Lokomotiv.But he failed to secure a regular place in the team and the quiet and reserved young man started drinking.Another former team-mate Igor Semshov told Russian sports reporter Artem Lokalov that Bugayev’s career began to unravel when he moved to Locomotiv and he lost the personal support of his Torpedo team-mates.He added: “Bugayev could break the rules, but we put these moments aside and looked at him as someone the team needed.”If we had managed to spend a career with him in the same club, we would not have let him give up everything and go downhill.“But we all moved to other clubs, where everyone was on their own. At Torpedo, we could shower (him) with care or put pressure on him at the right moment, but everyone went their separate ways.”Bugayev playing against eventual winners Greece at Euro 2004Credit: GettyTransferred to Siberian team Tom Tomsk in 2006, Bugayev quickly found himself in trouble, including disappearing at a beer festival in Moscow.Speaking to Russian media, his former manager Petrakov told Russian media: “It’s a shame that Bugayev drowned his talent in alcohol.“He lasted three or four months, and then everything started all over again.””It all ended with a riot at a training camp in Turkey. He smashed a shop window. The next day, Bugayev’s contract was terminated.”Bugayev was handed a lifeline by the newly formed FC Krasnodar, playing 20 matches before parting company with the club.At the age of 29, he would never play professional football again.Another former coach Nurbiy Khakunov described how at Krasnodar the club “tried to help” the player as his personal life deteriorated.He added: “It didn’t work to restart his career. Bugayev decided to go down a non-sports path. It’s no secret that he had problems with alcohol.“We fought as best we could, but it didn’t work. He came to Krasnodar already with problems and hardly played.“I feel sorry for him, because he could have played (more games) for the national team, but he went down such a bad path. That’s for sure. He had a very good brain, he was very strong in one-on-one combat.”Bugayev, who insisted later that he quit football to spend more time with his family, slipped into obscurity, only reemerging in 2015 when he agreed to an interview about his playing career.Then he was working collecting waste paper and transporting cargo around Russia from a run down home in the Moscow suburb of Chekhov.He said he and his friend made the equivalent of 1p for every kilo of paper they found.There he admitted to Lokalov that he had been drinking through his playing days but looking back on his career said “Do I regret anything? Never and for nothing.”Bugayev’s life would continue to disintegrate however.Bugayev, left, worked in Moscow collecting paper for 1p a kiloCredit: Рейтинг БукмекеровBugayev appears in court charged with drug smugglingSeven years later in October 2023 he was arrested for drug smuggling.He admitted to cops that he “responded to an advert for a job as a drug courier” in a bid to pay off 70,000 roubles of debt – then the equivalent of about £500.Bugayev claimed he had been told to distribute half a kilo of mephedrone, or M-Cat, but was caught. He faced 20-years in prison.After a year on remand, in September a court in Krasnodar sentenced Bugayev to 9 and-a-half years in a maximum security penal colony.It was then he was offered a deal that would seal his tragic fate.Those convicted of serious crimes in Russia are now being lured into the military in a desperate bid by Putin to shore up immense losses in his war against Ukraine.Russian conscripts in Putin’s armyCredit: East2WestKillers, rapists and drug dealers are offered pardons – even before their trials – if they agree to military service and being sent to the front.Facing almost a decade in a dreaded Russian penal colony, Bugayev took the gamble and signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry.He was then quickly sent to Russia’s North Military District and soon, after the most basic military training, to the frontline in Ukraine.There he joined the battered, ill-trained and ill-equipped legions of convicts, many in their 40s, 50s and 60s, being used as cannon fodder to try to secure pitiful yards of gains against Ukraine’s highly trained troops, tanks, killer drones, artillery and trenches.The news of Bugayev’s fate came first from his lawyer Anton Smirnov who told the Russian website Sports.ru that the former player had been killed in action at the front.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe added: “Due to the fighting there is no way to pull out the body yet.””Unfortunately, the news of Aleksei’s death is true,” his dad later said. “How did it happen? And how are they killed during the military operations, I do not know.”Bugayev was dead just a few months after joining Russian forces in UkraineCredit: REUTERSUkrainian artillery in actionCredit: Getty More

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      Tyson Fury’s warrior rival Usyk was taught to fight with a knife by soldier dad & is haunted by missing final moments

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      IT’S the highly anticipated rematch that will see British boxing legend Tyson Fury attempt to unify the heavyweight titles.Six months after the Gypsy King’s first-ever defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in May, the pair will face each other for a second showdown tomorrow night. Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will face off for a second time on December 21Credit: GettyTheir last bout in May ended with Usyk as the victorCredit: GettyOleksandr Usyk pictured as a baby with soldier dad and older sister ViktoriaCredit: East2WestUkrainian heavyweight Usyk, who is the first to hold all the major heavyweight titles in 24 years, carries with him the fighting spirit of his dead soldier dad and a boxer pal killed by the Russians.His father, also called Oleksandr, was twice injured while serving the Soviet army in Afghanistan.He taught his son to duel with a blade, something that could have come in useful when the boxer joined Ukraine’s territorial defence battalion after Russia launched an all-out invasion of his country two years ago.The city where Usyk, 37, was born and grew up is under the control of Vladimir Putin’s invading forces.Read More in The SunAnd his boxer friend Oleksiy Dzhunkivskyi was shot dead by the dictator’s troops when they entered Irpin, close to the capital Kyiv, in 2022.Usyk, nicknamed The Cat, wanted to continue defending his nation, but was urged by soldiers to win for his country with his fists instead.The boxer’s dedication to his sport cost him his chance to say goodbye to his father properly – because he didn’t get back in time from winning a gold medal at the London Olympic Games in 2012 before he died.Talking about his late father, he said:  “Everything I have now is thanks to him. He put a lot in me, he taught me about the priorities in life, which are family, sports and education. Most read in Boxing“He was a military man. My mother hated it when he taught me how to fight with a knife.” She’d shout ‘Sasha, he’ll grow up to be a criminal’.”Tyson Fury warned there’s ‘nothing he can do to stop what’s gonna happen’ in rematch with ‘bogeyman’ Oleksandr UsykParents Oleksandr and Nadezhda were proud of his medalsCredit: East2WestThe boxer with mum NadezhdaCredit: East2WestBrush with deathUsyk was born in Simferopol in Crimea where his security guard dad had met his mum Nadezhda, who worked in construction.His father did not talk much about his time serving with the Soviet army, which had invaded Afghanistan in 1979.But Usyk recalled: “I saw the consequences of this post-war condition and what happened to him. He often had headaches, he had very high blood pressure.“I remember that until the last he had some nightmares in which he called out the names of his comrades who were killed.”Usyk senior was injured twice while fighting for the USSR, which controlled by Ukraine until 1991.His son, who was born under Communist rule in 1987, first had a passion for football.The family moved to a village called Rybotyn in the north of Ukraine where he nearly died from pneumonia as a child.Usyk said: “It was really bad. The doctor even told my mother that I might not survive.” Mum Nadezhda revealed: “As a child, Sasha was a very sick child.”Then my son spent a whole year in the Chernihiv hospital.”My heart was aching and the doctors were afraid to make any predictions for the future.”Oleksandr Usyk was born under Communist ruleCredit: instagram/usykaa/Usyk took up boxing at 15Credit: instagram/@usykaaPunch on pitchThe family returned to Simferopol when he was a teenager, still at school.His father was a harsh disciplinarian, who would give him a “slap on the head” if his grades fell below C.“He raised me to be a man from childhood,” he said. “He forced me to wash socks and underwear, clean the room, and iron my trousers. He said that if I don’t learn this, if I don’t learn discipline, then I won’t succeed in life. “He said: ‘The way a man behaves in life, behind the wheel, with women, shows his true strength. If he can’t cope, if he’s dirty, neglected, and doesn’t know how to behave with women, then he’s not a real man’.”He’d recovered enough from his illness to play football for his school team – something that ended when he punched an opposition player during a match.Aged 15 he took up boxing instead – encouraged by his dad, an amateur boxer.My children are asking, ‘Daddy, why do they want to kill us?’ I don’t know how to answer thatOleksandr UsykHis swift reflexes and dedication led him to success in the ring, which impressed his childhood sweetheart Yekaterina, generally called Kateryna.She once admitted: “I didn’t consider him at all, except as a friend. He said ‘If I win the fight today, will you go somewhere with me tonight?’ I say: ‘Win, we’ll see there.” He won. And that’s it.”Usyk became a national hero when he picked up a gold medal at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 in the heavyweight division.It was a victory that was to be followed by tragedy – because his dad died a few days later back in Ukraine while Oleksandr was abroad.He remembered:  “He watched me become Olympic champion, but I didn’t make it back in time to show him the gold medal.”When I arrived he was already lying in the coffin.”I handed him the medal, put it in his dead hand and then left the room.”What was most difficult to cope with is that rather than heading home directly from London, Oleksandr had stopped off to collect a supercar, which delayed him going home.During an emotional interview with TNT he said: “I wanted to bring it with me and show him what a cool car I had. My mom called me at 3am and told me the news.”Usyk’s dad saw him win an Olympic gold but died before he saw his son againCredit: Getty Images – GettyThe boxer wept as he told the story on TNTCredit: X @boxingontntHe later revealed the emotional phone call to his dad after winning the gold, saying: “I called my dad and started screaming: ‘Yes! We won!’ My father told me: ‘I congratulate you, son. I love you’. “My father never told me he loved me. It remains in my memory as something special. I tell my children every day that I love them.”War in UkraineIn 2013 Usyk became a professional boxer, becoming a world champion in the cruiserweight division, which is just below heavyweight.A year later Russian-backed separatists took control of Crimea and parts of the east of the country.He was the undisputed champion when he defeated Brit Tony Bellew in 2018.After that Usyk stepped up to heavyweight, twice beating Anthony Joshua, the second time after Russia had launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine.That fight had been in doubt because The Cat wanted to defend his country rather than be a sportsman. He returned to his homeland in February 2022, armed himself with a rifle and joined the territorial defence force.He later recalled the night bombs began to rain down on his house in Bucha, on February 24, 2022 – his daughter Yelizaveta’s birthday.He said: “My children are asking: ‘Daddy, why do they want to kill us?’ I don’t know how to answer that.”A month after signing up to fight he was persuaded to go on training for the bout with Brit Joshua.Instead, he is providing financial support for the rebuilding of his heavily bombed homeland.In his first bout, it was reported that Fury had to agree to give £1million of his reported £115m fight fee to the reconstruction of Ukraine in order for the contest to go ahead. Usyk is funding the rebuilding of a property in Irpin where one of his friends was killed by advancing Russians who seized the city in February 2022. It was recaptured by Ukrainian forces on March 28 of the same year. He said: “In this house, there was a boxing gym of my good friend. He and I were in the national team, we went to boxing competitions together. “Oleksiy Dzhunkivskyi was shot by Russian soldiers right in this hall.”World champ Oleksandr Usyk after beating Tony Bellew in 2018Credit: PA:Press AssociationThe fighter (centre, in black) joined the Kyiv Territorial Defence in Ukraine in 2022Credit: Refer to CaptionUsyk and Yekaterina have three kidsCredit: instagram/@usykaaEeyore toy Usyk’s wife and three children, Kyrylo, Mykhalio and Yelizaveta, live in the capital, Kyiv.Unlike Fury’s wife Paris, who has appeared in reality shows with her husband, Kateryna stays out of the limelight.Usyk often speaks about how much he loves her and their children.Sometimes he can be seen clutching a cuddly Eeyore toy which was given to him by his daughter after the Russian invasion separated them.Usyk carries the Eeyore toy given to him by his daughterCredit: Instagram/@usykaaOleksandr Usyk with his daughterCredit: instagram/@usykaaThe dedicated, incredibly fit pugilist has been getting up at 4.45am every day to get in shape for the biggest bout of his career.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd before he walks out to the roaring crowd for a second time on Saturday, the spirit of his late father could be with him.Usyk said, with tears in his eyes: “Sometimes he comes to me the day before the fight. Yes, sometimes he comes the day before the fight and smiles.” More

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      Fifa ‘sincerely regret’ the ‘unacceptable’ error made in World Cup qualifying draw as they release full statement

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      FIFA chiefs have issued a grovelling apology to the Ukrainian FA for an “unacceptable” error they “sincerely regret” during the World Cup qualifying draw.The Eastern European country ended up in Group D alongside Iceland, Azerbaijan and either France or Croatia.Fifa have apologised for a mistake regarding Ukraine during the World Cup qualifying drawCredit: X @KarpatyLvivFCUkraine was illegally invaded by Russia in 2022Credit: GettyBut there was a controversial moment during the draw when Fifa attempted to depict countries which could not cross borders to face each other.Spain vs Gibraltar was cited as one example, with Kosovo versus either Serbia or Bosnia & Herzegovina another.A map with shaded areas revealed which nations fell into the category.But Ukrainian chiefs were left outraged when their country was flagged for any potential clash with Belarus.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe dark patch showed Ukraine without the territory of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.The Black Sea peninsula is still officially classed as an administrative division of Ukraine.But Russia now occupies Crimea and has several military air bases stationed there following 2022’s illegal invasion of the mainland.Ukraine’s FA wrote a furious letter to Fifa expressing their anger over the map.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnd football’s governing body have now responded, expressing their “sincere regret” over the decision.Elkhan Mammadov, Chief Member Association Officer, said: “We acknowledge receipt of your letter and would like to thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts to Three Lions’ World Cup 2026 qualifying drawWorld Cup qualifying draw in fullGroup A: Winner GER/ITA, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, LuxembourgGroup B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, KosovoGroup C: Loser POR/DEN, Greece, Scotland, BelarusGroup D: Winner FRA/CRO, Ukraine, Iceland, AzerbaijanGroup E: Winner SPA/NED, Turkey, Georgia, BulgariaGroup F: Winner POR/DEN, Hungary, Ireland, ArmeniaGroup G: Loser SPA/NED, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, MaltaGroup H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San MarinoGroup I: Loser GER/ITA, Norway, Israel, Estonia, MoldovaGroup J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, LiechensteinGroup K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, AndorraGroup L: Loser FRA/CRO, Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar“We deeply respect the concerns raised and the sensitivity of the issue at hand.“The infographic in question was developed by an external third-party service provider.“Upon recognising the issue, we have taken immediate steps to address the situation, including working to have the image removed from circulation.“Additionally, we are conducting an internal review to ensure such oversights do not recur in the future.“We fully understand the delicate sensitivity of this matter and while the incident was unintentional, we sincerely regret any concern it may have caused and appreciate your understand as we work to address this situation responsibly.”The Ukrainian FA’s initial letter had stated: “We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the infographic map of Europe shown during the TV broadcast of the European Qualifiers draw for the Fifa World Cup 2026 on December 13, 2024.”The map, which indicated the countries unable to cross borders, highlighted the territory of Ukraine without the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Considering several official decisions and resolutions passed by the Fifa Council and the Uefa Executive Committee since 2014, which addressed the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the protection of football stakeholders in our country from the aggressive policies of the Russian terrorist state, including regarding the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, we emphasise that the version of the map presented by Fifa during the global broadcast to a multi-million audience is unacceptable.”It appears as an inconsistent stance by Fifa and Uefa on this crucial issue, especially in light of the ongoing destructive invasion initiated by Russia against Ukraine in the 21st century, in the heart of Europe.”Russia’s invasion of Ukraine timelineVLADIMIR Putin waged a murderous invasion on his neighbouring country in 2022, following years of heated Russo-Ukrainian tensions.24 February 2022: Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with an invasion of the eastern territory of Donbas. Explosions were also reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa25 February 2022: Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and his team posted a video following rumours they had fled the country.16 March 2022: Russia blitzed Mariupol’s Drama Theater where around 1,300 civilians were sheltering.1 September 2022: Russian forces flee the eastern Kharkiv region following a strong Ukrainian counteroffensive.21 September 2022: Putin announced a controversial partial mobilization to draft soldiers, the country’s first since World War Two.12 November 2022: The city of Kherson, in the south of Ukraine, was liberated after an eight-month occupation.21 December 2022: Zelensky travels to Washington D.C. to meet President Joe Biden and address Congress.25 January 2023: Germany approves sending tanks to Ukraine20 February 2023: US President Joe Biden makes a surprise visit to Kyiv for the first time since the invasion began.23 June 2023: Russian mercenaries stage a mutiny attempt with the paramilitary organization Wagner.24 June 2023: The shortlived Wagner Group march to Moscow and the coup attempt ends.27 August 2023: Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was confirmed dead in a plane crash.8 February 2024: Zelensky replaces his top army leader Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi.20 April 2024: US House of Representatives approves a huge foreign aid package for Ukraine.6 August 2024: Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region.19 November 2024: Ukraine fires several long-range US-supplied missiles into Russia for the first time.21 November 2024: Putin’s forces fire new ballistic missiles into Ukraine for the first time. More

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      Fuming Ukrainian FA blast Fifa over ‘unacceptable error’ during World Cup 2026 qualifying draw

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      THE Ukrainian FA sent a furious letter to Fifa and Uefa complaining about an “unacceptable error” during the World Cup qualifying draw. Ukraine learnt who they will face to try and book their spot at the 2026 tournament in North America. Ukraine hit out at Fifa and Uefa following an ‘unacceptable error’Credit: ReutersThe World Cup qualifying draw map excluded Crimea from UkraineCredit: X @KarpatyLvivFCHowever, the country was left apoplectic following a map graphic depicting countries which could not cross borders to face each other – such as Ukraine and Belarus, Spain and Gibraltar and Kosovo versus either Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia.On it, though, the shaded Ukrainian region excluded the territory of Crimea.The peninsula in the Black Sea – officially the Autonomous Republic of Crimea – is classed as an administrative division of Ukraine after previously being annexed by Russia in 2014.Russia occupy the territory and have several military air bases stationed there during the war between the two nations, which has now claimed the lives or injured a million people since Vladimir Putin ordered the illegal invasion in February 2022. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLUkraine, though, continue to view the region as part of their country so they were understandably indignant following Friday’s draw.And the Ukrainian Association of Football wrote to Fifa Secretary General Matthias Grafstrom and Uefa Secretary General Theodore Theodoridis to express their anger. The raging letter said: “We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the infographic map of Europe shown during the TV broadcast of the European Qualifiers draw for the Fifa World Cup 2026 on December 13, 2024. “The map, which indicated the countries unable to cross borders, highlighted the territory of Ukraine without the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.Most read in Football”Considering several official decisions and resolutions passed by the Fifa Council and the Uefa Executive Committee since 2014, which addressed the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the protection of football stakeholders in our country from the aggressive policies of the Russian terrorist state, including regarding the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, we emphasise that the version of the map presented by Fifa during the global broadcast to a multi-million audience is unacceptable. “It appears as an inconsistent stance by Fifa and Uefa on this crucial issue, especially in light of the ongoing destructive invasion initiated by Russia against Ukraine in the 21st century, in the heart of Europe.”Russia’s invasion of Ukraine timelineVLADIMIR Putin waged a murderous invasion ok his neighbouring country in 2022, following years of heated Russo-Ukranian tensions.24 February 2022: Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with an invasion of the eastern territory of Donbas. Explosions were also reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa25 February 2022: Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and his team posted a video following rumours they had fled the country.16 March 2022: Russia blitzed Mariupol’s Drama Theater where around 1,300 civilians were sheltering.1 September 2022: Russian forces flee the eastern Kharkiv region following a strong Ukrainian counteroffensive.21 September 2022: Putin announced a controversial partial mobilization to draft soldiers, the country’s first since World War Two.12 November 2022: The city of Kherson, in the south of Ukraine, was liberated after an eight-month occupation.21 December 2022: Zelensky travels to Washington D.C. to meet President Joe Biden and address Congress.25 January 2023: Germany approves sending tanks to Ukraine20 February 2023: US President Joe Biden makes a surprise visit to Kyiv for the first time since the invasion began.23 June 2023: Russian mercenaries stage a mutiny attempt with the paramilitary organization Wagner.24 June 2023: The shortlived Wagner Group march to Moscow and the coup attempt ends.27 August 2023: Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was confirmed dead in a plane crash.8 February 2024: Zelensky replaces his top army leader Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi.20 April 2024: US House of Representatives approves a huge foreign aid package for Ukraine.6 August 2024: Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region.19 November 2024: Ukraine fires several long-range US-supplied missiles into Russia for the first time.21 November 2024: Putin’s forces fire new ballistic missiles into Ukraine for the first time.SunSport has contacted Fifa for comment.  Ukraine were pitted in Group D alongside Iceland, Azerbaijan and the winners of the two-legged France vs Croatia Nations League quarter-final.Thomas Tuchel’s England, meanwhile, got Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in a five-team Group K. World Cup qualifying draw in fullGroup A: Winner GER/ITA, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, LuxembourgGroup B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, KosovoGroup C: Loser POR/DEN, Greece, Scotland, BelarusGroup D: Winner FRA/CRO, Ukraine, Iceland, AzerbaijanGroup E: Winner SPA/NED, Turkey, Georgia, BulgariaGroup F: Winner POR/DEN, Hungary, Ireland, ArmeniaGroup G: Loser SPA/NED, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, MaltaGroup H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San MarinoGroup I: Loser GER/ITA, Norway, Israel, Estonia, MoldovaGroup J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, LiechensteinGroup K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, AndorraGroup L: Loser FRA/CRO, Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar More

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      Sudan is engaged in murderous civil war and stadiums have become graveyards but football brings a touch of humanity

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      SUDAN is engaged in a murderous civil war and yet football carries on, bringing a touch of humanity amid terrible suffering.Football is a long way from perfection but time and plenty of wars have shown that it motivates people and brings moments of grace among the desolation.Sudan reaching the Africa Cup of Nations finals has provided a glimpse of relief for the war-hit countryCredit: Instagram @sfa1936Most people know of the Christmas Day 1914 kickabout in a brief truce between German troops and British squaddies.On a later occasion, our soldiers were provided with footballs to kick as they charged enemy lines.Women played their part in that war and many munitions factories formed football teams.Shortly afterwards, the FA stopped this with a ban that prevented official women’s football for 50 years, claiming it was undignified.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMaybe, but the huge crowds they were drawing, 50,000 for one in Preston, caused official annoyance.Football is only “war” in the over-heated imagination of terrace drunks, psychopaths and plain idiots and only once, thank goodness, has it been a major cause.It happened after a 1969 World Cup qualifier between El Salvador and Honduras whose governments were already a long way from comradeship as neighbours in central America.The war lasted only four days but more than 2,000 people were killed and three El Salvador planes shot down.Most read in FootballWar as a backdrop is fairly common. In Sudan, it is life and death. About 150,000 people have been slaughtered and 14million displaced from homes. Football grounds around the capital, Khartoum, have become graveyards.James Kwesi Appiah managed Ghana twice and has now guided Sudan to a place in the Africa Cup of Nations finalsCredit: EPASo far Sudan have played home matches in five neighbouring African countries. Their head coach James Kwesi Appiah says: “Most of the time when we are in camp, a message will come that one of the players has lost a family member. It’s happened about five times.“Why can’t we all do something to let these guys achieve, so that at least the people back home will be happy?”Appiah, former Ghana captain and coach, has led Sudan to a place in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco in a year’s time and within hailing distance of the 2026 World Cup.It is an amazing achievement. And in the hell of Sudan, it is a mental haven of hope.When war gives way to fanaticism, results can be striking.In Afghanistan, the male-run Taliban outlawed women’s sport and the world in general has nodded acceptance.There have been no sanctions and so the country’s men — useless at football, useful at cricket — carry on, undisturbed by controversy or embarrassment.Neither war nor pestilence can keep a good team down.Why should they? Only men matter there.A few women have overcome this apartheid. The Afghan cricket team fled to Australia, whose cricket authority offered a sole protest on their behalf by refusing to play a men’s match against the rogue country.The International Cricket Council have remained silent and, far from any boycott, Afghan’s men’s team are flourishing.So is the Ukrainian Premier League, which defied the Russian invasion, and has just signed a new TV contract. The 16-team competition has only ever been halted by Covid.Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv dominate the top places since the league was formed after the country’s split from Russia.READ MORE SUN STORIESIndeed, after the invasion Shakhtar left Donetsk for Kyiv where, along with Dynamo and Metalist 1925, they share the 70,500 capacity Olympic stadium.Proving neither war nor pestilence can keep a good team down. More

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      in Boxing

      Oleksandr Usyk gets Tyson Fury to sign photo of first fight and vows to sell it to raise funds for Ukrainian troops

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      OLEKSANDR USYK got Tyson Fury to sign a picture from their first fight – so he can raise funds for the brave soldiers fighting back home.Usyk was ready to put his boxing career on hold to sign up and defend Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in 2022. Oleksandr Usyk got Tyson Fury to sign a picture from their first fightCredit: PAUsyk plans to donate the money to help Ukrainian soldiersCredit: PAAnd it took the government to convince the heavyweight hero to continue boxing – beating both Anthony Joshua and Fury in the process. His May victory over Fury saw Usyk become the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed champion. Ahead of their December 21 rematch, Usyk rocked up to the pre-fight press conference dressed as Agent 47 from the Hitman video game. And he carried a mysterious brief case – later revealing a picture of himself landing a brutal punch on Fury was inside it. READ MORE IN BOXINGUsyk, 37, then asked Fury, 36, to sign the photo. But he later revealed plans to sell the picture to raise funds for the brave soldiers fighting on the frontline back home. He told DAZN: “I sell this picture and help my Ukrainian soldiers.” Fury looks to avenge the only defeat of his career as an underdog for the first time since his 2020 rematch with Deontay Wilder. Most read in BoxingThat ended in a knockout win for Fury – something he is looking to replicate against Usyk. He said: “It’s actually been about four and a half years. Last time was the Wilder II fight when I was the underdog. Usyk Vs Fury 2 Launch Event entrances”What’s going through my mind? I’m just looking forward to a fantastic fight. Last time in May it was a fantastic fight. “Oleksandr won the fight fair and square. [I’m] just looking to put on a great fight again. It was very close last time; he got it by a point. “A little bit more focus, a little bit more lack of complacency and I should do the job I need to do. “Nothing drastic has to change. A bit more of the same. A bit more focus, like I say, and I will be victorious.“I believe it will be my time next time and I believe all things that happen, negative or positive, are lessons. “We must learn from the things we go through in our lives, and we can only do the best we can do as human beings and as boxers and as fathers and as husbands. “We can only do the best we can do as men. And what we know how to do best is go in there and knock fuck out of each other in a fight and put on a show for the paying customer.”Usyk shows off the signed pictureCredit: AFP More

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      James McAtee pays tribute to tragic pal George Baldock as Man City star scores dramatic late double in England U21s win

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      JAMES McATEE paid tribute to George Baldock after firing a late double to seal an epic comeback over Ukraine.McAtee lifted his shirt up twice to reveal the name of his old Sheffield United team-mate, who was found dead in a swimming pool in Greece on Wednesday.James McAtee marked his two goals for England U21s with another tribute to George Baldock, who he played with at Sheffield UnitedCredit: GettyMcAtee shot home twice from the 88th minute to clinch victoryCredit: GettyMcAtee remembered Baldock before the match and during itCredit: GettyThe Manchester City starlet played alongside the former Greek defender in loan spells at Bramall Lane over the past two seasons.And after both his fine finishes for the Young Lions, McAtee peeled his shirt up to show a white top with the words “GB 2 REST EASY BROTHER X”.Ahead of kick-off, the 21-year-old had posted: “I love you to bits brother, thank you for looking after me and also thank you for the memories that we shared together.”Thoughts go out to your amazing family. Special player, special teammate, special person.”READ MORE TOP STORIESOn the pitch it looked like the Young Lions would endure the same fate as the senior side the previous night as Dynamo Kyiv defender Taras Mykhavko put Ukraine ahead on 70 minutes at a sold-out Vitality Stadium.But McAtee, who has made just one Premier League appearance for City this season, saved the day with a ferocious strike into the top corner on 88 minutes.He then wrapped things up by firing in a fierce, low drive for the winner two minutes later to give Pep Guardiola some food for thought following his first-ever City goal against Slovan Bratislava a week ago.The defending champions are now two points behind Group F leaders Ukraine with one match to play against Azerbaijan next Tuesday, while the table-toppers will take on Serbia.Most read in FootballEngland were in the driving seat for most of the game with Ipswich’s Omari Hutchinson being teed up by Aston Villa’s Jaden Philogene, but blazing over the bar.The best chance of the first-half came 23 minutes in when McAtee stung the hands of an onrushing Ruslan Neshcheret with a rasping, close-range shot.Winger McAtee turned the game around after Ukraine led 1-0Credit: GettyTragic George Baldock is shown waving to Blades’ fansCredit: GettyAfter the break, the Young Lions had a fire lit in their bellies with Neshcheret tipping a rocket strike from Liam Delap over the bar before McAtee fired one agonisingly wide moments later.England were wasteful in front of goal though and scuppered another peach of a chance as Philogene broke free in front of goal but fired straight at Neshcheret.Greece star’s classy gesture to tragic footballer George Baldock caught on live TV after shock win over England The hosts shirked their defensive duties and Kostiantyn Vivcharenko nearly poked one home before Jack Hinshelwood cleared the danger.England should have seen the warning signs as Mykhavko headed home after an inch-perfect corner from Oleh Ocheretko with half-an-hour to go.The hosts were handed a golden chance to get back in it when Maksym clattered into McAtee on the edge of the box before the winger equalised and hit the winner.The Young Lions are now two points behind group leaders Ukraine More

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      Tyson Fury hits back at Oleksandr Usyk’s team after being compared to Vladimir Putin as feud hots up ahead of rematch

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      TYSON FURY has hit back at Oleksandr Usyk’s team after being compared to Vladimir Putin – as the feud hots up ahead of their rematch. Usyk became the first four-belt undisputed champion in heavyweight history after taking Fury’s WBC title and unbeaten record in May. Tyson Fury has hit back at Oleksandr Usyk’s team after being compared to Vladimir PutinCredit: Queensberry Promotions It has set the scene for a huge rematch back in Riyadh on December 21.In a social media post, Fury issued a rallying cry and hit out at Usyk, his promoter Alex Krassyuk and manager Egis Klimas. He wrote: “You had your shot but couldn’t finish the job! Mistake!”Now your about to feel the wrath of a menace! F*** Usyk. F*** Egis Klimas. F*** Alex Krassyuk and if you’re down with Usyk then f*** you too.READ MORE IN BOXING”Gypsy King 2024 for coming for you. December 21 is mine. Me against the world. Incoming 3x heavyweight champion.”But Klimas responded: “Sounds like Putin, if you are not with me f*** you, and it means you against me. You pal, f*** you back!!!” Fury caught wind of being compared to Russia’s president, who ordered the invasion of Usyk’s homeland of Ukraine. And he responded: “I know his team are a little bit upset, they’ve even compared me to Vladimir Putin today. I’m not sure why. Most read in Boxing”Because I’ve been rapping Tupac. And Egis – f*** you, f*** your team, f*** Usyk. “F*** Alex and if you’re down with Usyk, then f*** you too, just like Tupac said.”I’m in there to smash a motherf***er’s face in. And whatever I’ve got to, I’ll do it. It’s him or me.” Tyson Fury teases trilogy with Oleksandr Usyk More

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      Police detain SIXTY armed fans with knives and other weapons after trying to avoid escort to Europa League clash

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      GERMAN police have detained armed Lazio fans ahead of the Europa League clash with Dynamo Kyiv in Hamburg.About 60 away fans were stopped by the authorities after attempting to avoid a police escort.German police have arrested about 60 armed Lazio fans before the game with Dynamo KievCredit: GettyCops claim the supporters were found to be carrying knives, clubs and other weapons.Those fans were checked late Tuesday and detained until Wednesday.Lazio released a statement which confirmed the fans held overnight have been banned from attending the game at the Volksparkstadion.However, the Serie A giants also announced that there were no arrests.Read More on FootballUkrainian giants Dynamo are playing their home games in Hamburg this season because of the war in their homeland after Russia’s illegal invasion back in 2022.Lazio have been hit with numerous sanctions both in Serie A and Europe because of fan trouble throughout the years.Last March, a Lazio fan was arrested and fined for giving a Nazi salute inside the beer hall where Hitler founded the party before a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.A year earlier, a fan wearing a shirt with a reference to Hitler was slapped with a lifetime ban from attending Lazio matches by the Roman club. Most read in Europa LeagueAuthorities reviewed security camera footage from inside the Olimpico of the fan wearing a Lazio shirt that read “Hitlerson” and the No88, which is a numerical code for “Heil Hitler”.Football hooligans started the SPFL season with a brawl in Paisley as St Mirren met Hibs Two seasons ago, the Laziali were ordered to play a Serie A game with part of their home ground closed to spectators after fans directed racist chants at opposing players. More