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      Euro 2024 terror warning to England fans after ISIS Moscow attack and kamikaze drones raise ‘dangers to new level’

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      ENGLAND fans have been warned of a new terror threat for Euro 2024.The Islamist attack in Moscow has raised “dangers to a new level”, said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, just 75 days before kick-off.England fans travelling to Germany to watch Gareth Southgate’s team have been warned of a new terror threat for Euro 2024Credit: GettyThe warning comes just 75 days before kick-offCredit: AdidasThe Islamist attack in Moscow has raised ‘dangers to a new level’, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser saidCredit: APMs Faeser added: “We are pooling the forces of the security authorities even more strongly for the Euros and are preparing for all possible dangers.“This is necessary to protect this major international event in the best possible way.“The security of the tournament is paramount.”Her chilling alert came just days after the ISIS-K terrorist atrocity at a concert hall in Moscow killed 143.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAmong the drastic steps taken to protect Three Lions fans at the tournament in June will be a plan to temporarily close borders and ramp up frontier checks. British police will also be in Germany.A ring of steel will be thrown around every team base, including the home for Gareth Southgate’s England stars, such as skipper Harry Kane and young sensation Jude Bellingham.They will stay at the swish five-star Weimarer Land Golf Resort and Spa in Blankenhain – with Wags and families also protected.Most read in FootballIt comes amid fears of a menacing reaction from Russia after they were banned from taking part in the Euros – and enemy nation Ukraine qualified last week.Author and terrorism expert Neil Doyle said: “Euro 2024 represents a major target for groups looking to mount mass casualty attacks for revenge and global headlines.Inside England’s stunning Euro 2024 hotel with golf course, spa and robot “The use of drones will be a major concern as they have become a new feature of modern warfare, as seen in Ukraine.“Germany as a location in itself is also attractive as it has backed Ukraine with arms and equipment.”Security expert Colonel Richard Kemp, who has worked for the Joint Intelligence Committee and national crisis group Cobra, said: “Russia would like to disrupt this event in some way, such as a cyber attack, and they would hope to embarrass the German government.”As more than half a million UK nationals prepare to be in Germany for the tournament starting in 75 days, Ms Faeser said: “One thing can be said for sure – the dangers have reached a new level.”She added: “The state is arming itself even more strongly against all current threats.“This ranges from protection against Islamists and other ­potential violent criminals to the security of our networks against cyber attacks.”The state is arming itself even more strongly against all current threatsGerman Interior Minister Nancy FaeserAleksander Ceferin, president of tournament organisers Uefa, has spoken of the “world going crazy” and warned: “The biggest concern is security.” Germany will host 23 other nations – including England and Scotland – during the month-long 51-game football showpiece kicking off on June 14.Experts warn both the Russians and Islamists have access to high-tech kamikaze dronesCredit: AFPVladimir Putin runs an army of web warriorsCredit: GettyFar-right Alternative for ­Germany (AfD) is also gaining popularityCredit: RexAfD politician Rene SpringerCredit: Getty’Vital to be safe’Last night, fans were urged to be on high alert for the dangers, with British police being deployed to Germany.A UK government spokesman said: “Football fans all over the country will be looking forward to a summer of football. “We are working with the German police to support a safe and trouble-free tournament. “A UK police delegation will be deployed to Germany during the event and we will also be offering support and advice on how to engage with fans attending from the UK.”Caroline Dinenage, Tory MP and chairwoman of the sports select committee, said:  “Given the safety concerns, it’s vital to be safe, follow the rules, stay vigilant and most of all, have fun.”Referring to Ms Faeser’s warning, Damian Green, Tory MP and former deputy PM, who sits on the sports select committee, said: “This is a disturbing and sobering ­comment for all of us who love ­visiting Germany. “It is always important to listen to local advice about how to stay safe.”Tim Loughton, Tory MP and a member of the Home Affairs select committee, said: “With terrorist threat levels heightened across the world it is a sad reality of modern life that popular international sporting occasions have routinely become targets for attacks by ­fanatical groups who would undermine everything we stand for.”Safety fears centre on gun-carrying Islamists sneaking into Germany among migrants from the Middle East, and Russian agents entering among Ukrainians fleeing the war.Given the safety concerns, it’s vital to be safe, follow the rules, stay vigilant and most of all, have funCaroline Dinenage, Tory MP and chairwoman of the sports select committeeGerman intelligence experts say the biggest threat is an attack from the same ISIS-K group’s gun gangs which slaughtered 143 rock fans in Moscow last weekend.Both the Russians and Islamists have access to high-tech kamikaze drones which could cause mayhem if smuggled into Germany.Unmanned flying drones have added a new dimension to the ­terrorist threat after being used by both sides in the Ukraine war and Islamists of Gaza, Yemen, Iran, Syria and Lebanon.  ‘Danger increases’One of the greatest fears at Euro 2024 is a potentially devastating drone attack on a stadium or large gathering of fans.Drone expert Professor Nicolas Stockhammer warned: “Isis in particular has repeatedly used drones in attacks over the past ten years.“But technology is more readily available today for both kamikaze drones and as drones equipped with explosive charges.“And the danger increases if the attackers succeed in capturing modern military drones such as those being used in the current war zones.”Authorities suspect Russia’s army of cyber hackers are gearing up to cause computer chaos with attacks on stadium lights, transport, ticketing and security systems.The Kremlin’s industrial scale hacking operations look certain to ramp up as Vladimir Putin seethes over Russia’s exclusion from the tournament.Ms Faeser also spoke of her ­concern about the threat posed by far-right groups feared to be graduating from hate crime to terrorism.Neo-Nazi thugs have fired up ­bigotry since Germany absorbed more than two million migrants followed by a million refugees from the war in neighbouring Ukraine.Ms Faeser said: “We thwarted right-wing extremist acts and uncovered a large terrorist network of German citizens.”Far-right Alternative for ­Germany (AfD) is gaining popularity, with politicians such as Rene Springer sitting in the German parliament.Yesterday, the FA said security was a matter for the Foreign Office.We approached Uefa for comment.German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser says: ‘The state is arming itself even more strongly against all current threats’Credit: GettyA ring of steel will be thrown around every team base, including the home for Gareth Southgate’s England stars, such as Jude BellinghamCredit: Alamy More

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      Football-loving Evan Gershkovich is ‘thrilled’ by Arsenal tribute as family plead with Putin to free him from hellhole

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      BY rights, Arsenal fan Evan Gershkovich should be savouring the Gunners’ end-of-season title race from a comfy seat at the Emirates Stadium.Instead, he still languishes in Moscow’s grim Lefortovo Prison where Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin once caged his enemies.Journalist Evan Gershkovich is languishing in Moscow’s grim Lefortovo PrisonCredit: APA banner is displayed in support of Evan prior to the Premier League match of his favourite team ArsenalCredit: GettyElla Milman, Danielle and Mikhail Gershkovich, mother, sister and father have put out an emotional plea, a year one from his captureCredit: AFPIt’s now a year since the brilliant young American reporter was held on trumped-up spying charges by Vladimir Putin’s regime — yet the Arsenal faithful have not forgotten one of their own.Twice this season fans have raised banners in the North Bank stand bearing his image and demanding #freeevan.His friend and fellow London-based Wall Street Journal reporter Eliot Brown told The Sun that the gesture by Gunners fans had left Evan “thrilled”.Although he is locked up with a cell mate for 23 hours a day, news of the placards filtered through via letters he is permitted to receive.READ MORE ON RUSSIAFellow Arsenal supporter Andrew Allen — who helped to organise the demonstrations — said: “The banners are a small gesture but Evan was just doing his job and he’s now living through hell.“As fellow Arsenal fans we thought we’d do our bit to keep his story in the spotlight.”Now the North Bank is planning more #freeevan protests after the innocent reporter was told by a Russian court on Tuesday that his pre-trial detention was being extended by a further three months.’Strong & resilient’Afterwards in the News UK offices in London — which the Journal’s UK bureau shares with The Sun — hundreds of sombre staff held up #istandwithEVAN posters.Most read in FootballThe 32-year-old reporter is the first US journalist to be charged with spying by Russia since the Cold War, and faces a possible 20-year prison sentence if convicted.America’s ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, said he remained “strong and resilient” and added that it was “a tragedy that he is awaiting trial for a crime he did not commit”.Falsely jailed reporter Evan Gershkovich must be freed NOW after one year in Russian prisonThe bitter irony is that Evan loves Russia.He was born in Princeton, New Jersey, after his Jewish parents Mikhail and Ella had fled rising anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union.He and his elder sister Danielle grew up speaking Russian at home.At five Evan began playing football, which soon became “all-encompassing”, and Danielle said: “I remember him coming home from school and practising against the back of the garage.Bilingual skills “He would be out there and you would hear it — kick, kick, kick. I remember him being obsessed with Pele, his first big soccer idol.“Later he was into Thierry Henry, which led him to Arsenal.”Thatcher Foster, a teammate of Evan’s at youth team Princeton Spartak, said: “Football was such a big part of Evan’s identity.“Each year he would get around five different Arsenal kits.”After leaving school he became a journalist, using his bilingual skills to secure a reporter’s job on the online Moscow Times in Russia.There he bonded with colleague Pjotr Sauer over their love of Arsenal.The banners are a small gesture but Evan was just doing his job and he’s now living through hellFellow Arsenal supporter Andrew Allen Pjotr, who writes to Evan in prison to update him on their team’s fortunes, said: “Evan knew everything about Arsenal. I wasn’t expecting to meet a fellow Gunner who was an American guy.”After six years of working in Russia Evan moved to the globally-renowned Wall Street Journal in January 2022, a month before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The journalist divided his time between London and reporting stints in Russia as the war ragedCredit: APAccredited by the Kremlin as a reporter, he divided his time between London and reporting stints in Russia as the war raged.Eliot, his colleague at the Journal’s London office, said: “We’d go out for beers and just talk about journalism and current events.“He has a million thoughts on everything. He is a fantastically talented young journalist.”But working in Moscow was becoming increasingly perilous.In July 2022, Evan tweeted: “Reporting on Russia is now a regular practice of watching people you know get locked away for years.”He assumed his phone was being tapped and he had been followed and filmed when on assignment.On March 29, 2023, Evan travelled to Yekaterinburg, nearly 900 miles east of Moscow, on a reporting trip.Constant brightnessHe was arrested at a steakhouse and led away with his head hooded.Conditions in Lefortovo prison are wretched.Evan is allowed out of his cell for just one hour a day.He usually spends it walking in one of the small courtyards on the prison roof, watched by armed guards.Cells are brightly lit, even at night.President Biden has pledged to do “whatever it takes” to bring him home, while Nato and the EU have also demanded his release.During several court appearances Evan has smiled for the cameras and looked remarkably relaxed.My brother is not a spy. He’s a journalistDanielle Gershkovich His mum Ella described one hearing in June: “We went and stood next to him, and immediately, Evan was talking and joking.“We were laughing. Russians don’t expect laughter in a court. Crying — that’s what they expect.”Evan spends his time keeping fit, reading Russian novels and answering letters from family and friends.The Arsenal results normally filter through to him two weeks late and he can watch limited match highlights on Russian TV.Pal Pjotr said: “He is very happy about how they are playing but obviously upset he can’t see for himself.”READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd sister Danielle has a heartfelt message for Putin: “My brother is not a spy. He’s a journalist.“Please, I just want him home.”Evan is allowed out of his cell for just one hour a dayCredit: AP More

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      Man Utd ‘send scouts to watch Ukraine Under-17s captain… but turn attention to team-mate after shining in defence’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED sent scouts to watch a Ukrainian wonderkid – but ended up liking the look of his team-mate.United are turning over a new leaf under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and are planning some major changes at the end of the season.Man Utd initially targeted Kyrylo Digtyar but now focus on Demyan TretyakCredit: GettyRatcliffe’s Ineos group is now responsible for all football matters and will be overseeing operations across all of the Red Devils’ teams, including the youth squad.According to Scouts in Attendance, the Manchester giants sent representatives to Greece for an Under-17 tournament.United were initially keen on Ukraine’s 16-year-old centre-back Kyrylo Digtyar, whose club is Metalist Kharkiv.According to Sport.UA, however, the scouts ended up preferring Digtyar’s national team-mate and fellow defender Demyan Tretyak, 16.Read More on Man UtdTretyak plays for Dynamo Kyiv and has become the representatives’ main focus.The centre-back captained Ukraine during Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Slovakia.United have started collecting information about the talented youngster and will continue to monitor him in his next few matches.Tretyak played in all three matches during the mini tournament in Europe.Most read in FootballCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL And he helped Ukraine’s Under-17s win all three matches in the elite round to qualify for the European Championship.United could be set for major changes in defence with Raphael Varane linked with a move away.Amad Diallo removes all reference to Man Utd on social media accountsJonny Evans’ deal also runs out in June while Harry Maguire has been unable to live up to expectations after his £85million arrival in 2019. More

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      in Boxing

      I’m an ex-boxing champ dubbed The Razor shooting Russians dead in Ukraine…I was more scared in the ring than I am of war

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      AN EX-WORLD champion boxer nicknamed “The Razor” has turned his skill-full hands to the war in Ukraine to fight against Putin’s troops.But for the former light middleweight king Serhiy Dzinziruk, shooting Russians dead is a much easier task than any fight he ever faced in the ring.
      Former champion Serhiy Dzinziruk has fought in the war since Putin invaded and says he was always more scared in the ring than on the frontlinesCredit: Champion
      Dzinziruk was the world champion during his career and had an impressive unbeaten record for over a decadeCredit: Getty
      Dzinziruk (second from left) now fights in Kyiv’s Territorial Defence unitCredit: Champion
      Dzinziruk bravely signed up to Kyiv’s Territorial Defence unit in Ukraine after seeing the horrors of war unfold on his doorstep.
      He was quickly appointed as a unit commander and a reserve officer – a role he thrived in as the fighting ramped up.
      The 47-year-old spoke about his daily wartime routine saying: “We have two machine guns, a searchlight, a night vision device.
      “When the siren starts, we take positions, wait for the shaheds [drones]. Our task is to destroy them. We shoot only our zone at 45 degrees.
      READ MORE IN BRAVE BOXERS
      “We were trained for about a month, we learned to shoot with various weapons. Guys returning from the front for treatment taught us all the basics of military art.”
      After becoming an integral part of his unit, the former world champion is still battling it out against Putin’s troops on the frontlines to this day.
      But his current situation inside cramped trenches sits miles apart from his old life inside the ropes.
      Dzinziruk made it clear that despite the idea of barbaric warfare being a far cry from his usual technically perfect boxing skills, he found one much scarier than the other.
      Most read in Boxing
      He said in an interview with UP-Sport: “I did not take the threat of a full-scale invasion seriously. I did not prepare for this but when I entered the ring, preparation for championship fights lasted two to three months. 
      “There is time to study the opponent, think about the scenario of the upcoming match and get a little excited. In our work, there is no time for that. So I was more worried in the ring.”
      Vitali Klitschko says Kyiv is ‘encircled’ by Russians trying to take capital as ex-boxing champ warns them to ‘go home’
      The best heavyweight of a generation Wladimir Klitschko previously dubbed Dzinziruk “one of the most technical boxers in the world”.
      This expert ability to hit and not get hit by his formidable opponents earned Dzinziruk an impressive 37 wins across his 40-fight career.
      He also earned the nickname of “The Razor” for his unique ability to leave almost all of his opponents with nasty cuts on their face from his lightening fast hands.
      From 1999 all the way through to 2010, Dzinziruk was unbeaten with a perfect 37-0 record.
      He managed to pick up the WBO Inter-Continental, European and then the light middleweight title in this incredible run.
      Dzinziruk even gave Putin a stern warning saying: “For his crimes against millions of Ukrainians, he should die slowly and painfully.”
      When asked which other Ukrainian fighters he would like to fight alongside in the war Dzinziruk listed an impressive five names of former world champions and one current in Oleksandr Usyk.
      His other four were Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko and Andrii Kotelnyk and Yura Nuzhnenko. 
      BOXERS ON THE FRONTLINE
      Oleksandr Usyk – the fearless unbeaten father-of three, followed in the footsteps of Dzinziruk and also enlisted with the Kyiv Territorial Defence when the war first broke out.
      The world champion says he lost friends, was separated from family and even saw people die through binoculars when he helped out.
      He explained: “Through binoculars, from 900 metres, I saw my enemies running, exploding tanks and broken houses. I saw people with no legs and arms.
      “I saw people walking but looking like they were dead.
      “When I was going in the car around the city, I realised it was a dead city. I saw children’s toys and playgrounds but everything looked dead, there was no energy in the city.”
      But perhaps the greatest ex-boxer to enlist for the fight in Ukraine is Wladimir Klitschko.
      Wladimir has refused a boxing comeback in recent years as he pledged to fight on the frontline.
      He enlisted in Ukraine’s reserve army in early February and has publicly pleaded with Russia to end the war.
      However his brother Vitali, has done the most for Ukraine since the Russian invasion two-years-ago.
      The former heavyweight ruler, 50, last fought in 2012 and retired a year later to focus on politics.
      The father-of-three who married wife Natalie in 1996, has been the mayor of Kyiv since 2014.
      And as a result, it left the ex-boxer ‘no choice’ but to take up arms.
      He told ITV: “I don’t have another choice. I have to do that. I will be fighting.”
      Masterful southpaw, Vasiliy Lomachenko, 34, is one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time, leaving the unpaid ranks with a record of 396-1 and two Olympic gold medals.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      But he also pledged his loyalty to his nation and decided to keep fighting on the Ukrainian front line instead of box.
      Oleksandr Onyshchenko – part of the country’s national team – died in combat near the besieged city of Bakhmut, last year.
      Dzinziruk says he hopes Putin has a ‘slow and painful death’Credit: Champion
      Dzinziruk with his daughter Nadja after one of his fightsCredit: Getty
      The Ukrainian boxer had the nickname ‘The Razor’Credit: Alamy More

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      in Soccer

      Eerie Ukrainian drone footage shows abandoned Euro 2012 stadium which hosted England clash in war-torn Donetsk

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      EERIE drone footage has captured a rare glimpse inside a war-torn Euros stadium in Russian-held Ukrainian territory.The Donbass Arena was the new sparkling jewel of Eastern Europe before Vladimir Putin’s forces laid waste to the region over the last decade.
      A Ukrainian UAV soared high above the ruins of the long abandoned stadium
      It caught a rare glimpse inside after years of neglect and destruction
      The barely-holding stadium has been abandoned since 2014Credit: Twitter/FCShakhtar_eng
      It has suffered successive blasts from shelling as fighting rages in DonetskCredit: Twitter/Shakhtar_ua
      Opened in 2009, the £320million stadium in the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine was home to national giants and reigning champions Shakhtar Donetsk.
      The ghost ground once played host to Champions League games and five major matches in the Euros 2012, including two of England’s group stage fixtures and the semi-final between Portugal and eventual-winners Spain.
      It was one of eight venues used for UEFA championships, which was jointly hosted by Ukraine and Poland.
      With a capacity of 52,000, it was the third-largest stadium in the tournament.
      read more on ukraine war
      But since 2014, The Donbass Arena has been out of bounds since Russian forces invaded the region.
      The new Ukrainian drone footage reveals a stadium that has been ravaged by war – haunting, empty, and a shell of its former glory.
      The UAV soars high above the stadium just catching a peek inside, where ‘Donetsk’ is still spelt out in huge white letters.
      Mysterious white stuff covers the darkened, overgrown grass and the once bright red seats have turned into a faded grey.
      Most read in Football
      The arena was heavily damaged by artillery shelling in August 2014 as Putin’s troops and pro-Russian separatists battled Ukrainian forces in the area.
      By this point, the club had already moved out of its home, relocating more than 600 miles west to Lviv, far from the front line.
      In October 2014, further artillery shelling blasted holes right through the stadium from east to west.
      The fighting continued on and off for years, making it unsafe for Shakhtar to return.
      Then the long abandoned stadium suffered further destruction when it was caught in the crossfires in March 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
      Russian state TV shared footage of shell craters just metres from the stadium, as well as a number of shattered windows on its outside.
      In June 2022, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky commemorated a decade since the site hosted the 2012 football extravaganza.
      “Exactly 10 years ago this day marked the start of EURO 2012 which brought together all Ukrainians, Poles and the vast majority of Europeans,” he said.
      After a decade of war, it now lies in ruins – bomb-blitzed and abandoned – with smashed turnstiles and shattered glass exteriors.
      The floodlights have been out of power for years, the racks inside the club shop lie empty and the pitch has been destroyed.
      It seems unlikely the stadium will be used again, with Donetsk being illegally claimed as part of Russia by Putin in September.
      “It’s only been 10 years and it feels like being in another world,” Zelensky said.
      “10 years ago, our Donetsk was a strong, proud and developed city. And then Russia came. Now it’s a ghost town that has lost most people, thousands of lives, and absolutely all prospects.”
      He also railed against the rumours that illegally-appointed Russian authorities in Donbas were planning to create a separate football league and use the stadium for it.
      The teams were set to include players from the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic, annexed Crimea and Georgia.
      But for now, the abandoned venue remains a frightening reminder of the fragility of peace in Europe.
      Elsewhere in Ukraine, the Tsentralnyi football stadium in Mykolaiv has been abandoned since 2021 and a Russian missile blew a huge chunk out of it last year.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Another blast from the past is the Ukrainian 5,000-seater Avanhard Stadium in Chernobyl, which was abandoned after the power plant disaster in 1986.
      The ground is now covered in a forest of trees and is barely recognisable after more than 30 years of neglect – the site was seized again by Russian forces in 2022.
      The Donbass Arena in its heyday as it hosted five games in the Euros 2012Credit: PA:Press Association
      A Wayne Rooney goal helped England beat Ukraine in a Euro 2012 match at the stadium
      Years of neglect and the effects of war have turned this stadium into a football graveyardCredit: AFP
      A firefighter works at the site as the stadium got caught up in renewed shelling in DonetskCredit: Getty
      The damage caused by shelling in March 2022 More

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      Billionaire ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich LOSES bid to overturn sanctions slapped on him ‘for funding Putin’s war’

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      RUSSIAN oligarch Roman Abramovich has lost an appeal against the EU’s decision to freeze his funds over links to tyrant Vladimir Putin.The ex-Chelsea FC owner, 57, has been slapped with sanctions from the UK and the EU but has previously denied any financial relationship with despot Putin.
      Russian oligarch and ex-Chelsea owner Roman AbramovichCredit: Getty
      The billionaire is a pal of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin (pictured together)Credit: Alamy
      Abramovich sold Chelsea football club in 2022 as a result of UK sanctions against Russian assets in the countryCredit: Alamy
      Abramovich is one of the richest people in Russia and is one of many powerful players in the country to be sanctioned since Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.
      The EU also rejected his plea for compensation over damage to his reputation for £865,000 in a double blow for the oligarch.
      The ruling said on Wednesday that Abramovich is a majority shareholder in major steel and mining company Evraz, which gives “a substantial source of revenue to the Russian Government”.
      He has, as a result, benefited from decisions made by those in power who are responsible for the brutal conflict in Ukraine.
      READ MORE ON ABRAMOVICH
      Almost 1,800 individuals and entities such as companies or organisations have been slapped with sanctions since Russia invaded Ukraine – beginning with Crimea in 2014.
      Abramovich was appealing against the inclusion of his name in the group of those sanctioned for their activities that finance the Russian government.
      The EU court said today that his inclusion was correct and it does not result in an “unjustified and disproportionate infringement of his fundamental rights”.
      They have targeted banks, companies, markets and the energy sector.
      Most read in Football
      Over 1,000 Russian officials have been subject to asset freezing and travel bans alongside the former Chelsea owner.
      The oligarch, who was accused of supplying steel for Russian tanks, has repeatedly downplayed his relationship with Putin.
      He has challenged suggestions of a close financial relationship or that he has acted on behalf of the Russian president.
      When he sold Chelsea FC in 2022, he said: “I would like to address the speculation in media over the past few days in relation to my ownership of Chelsea FC.
      “As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart.
      “In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the Club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the Club, the fans, the employees, as well as the Club’s sponsors and partners.
      “The sale of the Club will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process. I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid. This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and Club.”
      The Russian said at the time that his team would set up a charitable foundation, with all proceeds of the sale donated.
      He said: “All money raised will benefit all victims of the war in Ukraine.
      “This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery.”
      Read more on The Sun
      Just days ago the Wall Street Journal reported that the billions of pounds pledged to victims of Putin’s war remain frozen in a UK bank account.
      Abravomich also holds Portuguese and Israeli citizenship and Forbes puts his net worth at an estimate of £7.2 billion. More

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      in Soccer

      Russia could be allowed to play international football again as Fifa ‘considers lifting blanket ban’

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      FIFA could end its total ban on Russian teams this AFTERNOON.But the new position, bringing world chiefs in line with Uefa’s controversial move last week, will ONLY apply to Under-17 sides.
      Russia could return to international footballCredit: Getty
      They have been banned since Valdimir Putin the invaded UkraineCredit: Reuters
      Fifa and Uefa reacted to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by booting Russia out of the World Cup play-offs.
      The nation were banned from entering the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign and all club sides also prevented from playing in official competitions.
      But last week an acrimonious meeting of Uefa’s ruling executive committee voted to allow Under-17 sides to compete, with the condition that no national flags or kit were used and the matches played outside Russian territory.
      The FA led a fierce backlash, with other countries including Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania backing Ukraine’s stance that there should be no leeway for Russia, even for “children”.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      It subsequently emerged that the Swedish and Danish representatives on Uefa had SUPPORTED the move, despite the stance of the national federations they represent.
      And now Fifa is poised to take the same step at this afternoon’s meeting of its ruling Council.
      The Fifa decision would allow Under-17 Russian sides to play in the Fifa junior World Cup if they qualify through the Uefa tournaments.
      However, the finals of next year’s women’s version is due to be played in Sweden and the Swedish FA has reiterated its stance that Russia will not be allowed to compete.
      Most read in Football
      Today’s likely vote represents a dilemma for FA chair Debbie Hewitt, elected as the Home Nations vice-president.
      As a representative of European football, she will be expected to back Uefa’s position but that is diametrically opposed to that of the FA.
      Russia have still been permitted to play friendly matches since being slapped with the ban.
      It was once reported that they were considering switching to the Asian confederation to escape Uefa’s sanctions. More

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      in Soccer

      Chelsea legend Shevchenko made advisor to Ukraine war leader Zelensky – while Putin cosies up to ex club boss Abramovich

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      CHELSEA legend Andriy Shevchenko has been promoted to an aide to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, while his former Chelsea boss Roman Abramovich gets closer to warmonger Vladimir Putin.The Ukrainian footballer previously said the relationship with his former Chelsea boss would “never be the same again” following Russia’s invasion into his home country.
      The Ukrainian footy legend has been supporting his home country since February 24Credit: Rex
      Abramovich has been by Putin’s side since the war beganCredit: Getty
      Shevchenko is one of many famous Ukrainians now acting in an official capacityCredit: Instagram @u24.gov.ua
      In a written decree, Zelensky’s office said: “Andriy Shevchenko is appointed advisor to the President of Ukraine (out of state).”
      No details have emerged about the nature of his role, but Shevchenko has been outspoken in support for his homeland as it continues to battle off the Russian invasion.
      In May 2022, the Ukrainian footy legend was named an ambassador for Ukraine’s UNITED25 fundraising platform, which has raised millions to aide in the rebuilding of Ukraine.
      Since the invasion began, Shevchenko has focused on carrying out his patriotic duties as he looks for peace and helps his compatriots flee war-torn Ukraine.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      Abramovich, on the other hand, has been slapped with sanctions by the UK government due to his alleged ties with Putin.
      Shevchenko and former boss Abramovich had a “long relationship” in the football world before the conflict between their home countries tore them apart.
      Shevchenko formerly said: “I said from the beginning, I did not believe that this (war) could happen.
      “Abramovich and I had a long relationship and I don’t think it will ever be the same. But I also know there are a lot of Russian people who want to stop the war.
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      Only days ago, Russian State Media was banned from criticising billionaire Abramovich, who had taken part in “negotiations” bwteen Russia and Ukraine early in the war.
      Independent media The Moscow Times indicated that Abramovich would not normally be beyond criticism from Russia’s anti-Western state media. 
      They said: “A year ago, he participated in negotiations that ended unsuccessfully for Russia.”
      Abramovich is known to maintain solid relations with Putin despite obtaining Israeli citizenship and living mainly outside his homeland.
      Soviet-born Abramovich is one of Russia’s richest men, and earlier served as a Putin-loyal governor for the far-flung Chukotka region. 
      The reason for the diktat on Abramovich are unknown, but the former footy boss has continued to live a lavish life even while under sanctions.
      Other sports stars have become involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict: Arsenal star Oleg Luzhny returned to Ukraine to fight on the frontline.
      Boxers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko also enlisted to help the heroic defensive effort by Ukraine.
      Recently retired tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky, who beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2013, has also enlisted aged 36.
      Abramovich has been close with Putin for decadesCredit: AFP More