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    Incredible video shows how Ballon d’Or is made and it’s blowing fans’ minds as they ask ‘why does it feel so weird?’

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    AN incredible video has shown how the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy is beautifully handcrafted.The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on Monday at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. Fans were in awe after spotting how the Ballon d’Or trophy is madeTwo brass plates are soldered together by a distinguished French jewellerThe ball is then immersed in gold and engravedThe Ballon d’Or trophy – which, as its French name suggests, takes the form of a golden ball – is worth somewhere in the region of £2,400.It is made with two brass plates which are soldered together to create the shape of a football, before lined markings are drawn on the outside.Afterwards it’s dipped in gold and engraved with the “Ballon d’Or” logo.The final touch is a layer of pyrite crystals – which gives the trophy a stunning rock like appearance.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSIncluding its pyrite base, the award measures 31 cm in height and 23 cm in diameter and weighs just over 7 kg. The coveted prize, awarded to the world’s best footballer, is handmade by a team at French Jewellery House Mellerio dits Meller.It is a meticulous process that takes more than 100 hours to complete – which amounts to about four days.And fans were blown away by it’s simple, yet careful, design.Most read in FootballIt takes more than 100 hours to finishThe final touch is a layer of crystals on a pyrite baseFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOne social media user wrote: “Why does it feel so weird? It’s something so prestigious, and it’s made just like that.”While another said: “Wow amazing!”Karim Benzema shows off incredible Ballon d’Or watch after responding to Ronaldo snub as he’s tipped for career changeA third added: “This is crazy seeing how it’s actually made.”One more replied: “I never realised it’s hollow inside, but it makes perfect sense.”What is the Ballon d’Or?The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by French magazine France Football since 1956.This prestigious trophy is awarded to the world’s best footballer of the year and is a true work of art – just like the players who earn it.This year, Uefa — European football’s governing body — will help organise the award for the first time.Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or trophies won – eightWho are the favourites?Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Manchester City’s Rodri are favourites to lift this year’s prize on Monday. Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal have also been nominated.Lionel Messi leads the way with eight Ballon d’Or wins between 2009 and 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo has five. The pair have dominated the men’s award in recent history but, for the first time in 21 years, neither has been nominated.Who decides the Ballon d’Or winners?The Ballon d’Or is decided by 100 journalists, one from each of FIFA’s 100 top-ranked member nations (top 50 for the women’s award). Each journalist makes their top 10 pick from the 30-player shortlist and there are different point values for each.READ MORE SUN STORIESFirst: 15 pointsSecond: 12 pointsThird: 10 pointsFourth: Eight pointsFifth: Seven pointsSixth: Five pointsSeventh: Four pointsEighth: Three pointsNinth: Two pointsTenth: One pointEarning the most points wins you the Ballon d’Or. In the unlikely event of a tie, the winner would be decided by first-place votes. More

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      Women’s FA Cup clash abandoned as goalkeeper rushed to hospital after medical emergency

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      A WOMEN’S FA Cup tie was abandoned due to a goalkeeper’s medical emergency.Salford’s Grace Pomfret went down off the ball in “very visible distress” at Wythenshawe FC and was rushed to hospital after treatment. The Women’s FA Cup second qualifying round tie was ended early due to a ‘distressing’ medical problem for Salford stopper Grace PomfretCredit: GettyHer club released a statement, explaining it was “too upsetting to continue” the match following the worrying incident in the 34th minute.Salford later said Pomfret was in a “stable condition” in hospital.Fans shared their relief on social media and posted get-well wishes to the stopper, who has been with home-town team Salford since 2020.The club said in a statement: “The game was stopped after goalkeeper Grace Pomfret went down off the ball in very visible distress.READ MORE FOOTBALL”Salford medical staff were quick to respond and call for emergency assistance, and we are thankful to all involved for their hasty and attentive response.”Due to the distressing scenes, it was decided that it was not possible to continue playing the game.”At Salford, we know that ‘The welfare of the people is the highest law’ and as a family of players and staff it was noted the environment was too upsetting to continue.”Grace was in a conscious state and was applauded off the pitch as paramedics took her to hospital, and we all wish her well for a full recovery.”Most read in FootballThe specific problem suffered by Pomfret during the second qualifying round game has not been disclosed.But fans were just encouraged to hear she was “stable”.One posted: “I was at the game and saw her go down, really upset me to see that, hope she makes a speedy recovery god bless Grace and her poor mum x”Another wrote: “Glad she’s doing better, I hope she recovers well .”Many others sent their good wishes.Meanwhile, with Pomfret’s condition rightly the priority, Salford explained that “a further update about the tie will be provided in due course”. More

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      Watch wild mid-game punch-up involving women’s football star who stuns fans with bikini photos on Instagram

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      A WOMEN’S college football match descended into chaos as two opponents started BRAWLING mid-game.During a match between Rutgers and UMass on Sunday, punches were thrown between two players after the game was briefly paused for a foul from Rutgers senior Gia Girman.A brawl broke out between two college football playersCredit: ESPNGia Girman and Ashley Lamond were involved in a shoving match after a foul by GirmanCredit: ESPNThe pair then went tumbling to the groundCredit: ESPNThe ref then sent both players offCredit: ESPNA foul was called against Girman in the 55th minute of the game when she brought down an opponent from behind.UMass senior Ashley Lamond then went to try and get the ball from under Girman, seemingly kicking it while it was still under her. The pair then engaged in a shoving match with one another before grabbing each other and tumbling to the floor.The referee rushed over to try and pull them apart, but punches were seen being thrown by both Girman and Lamond as they grappled on the floor.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLTeam-mates eventually also stepped in to separate them.The pair were then issued their marching orders with a red card each.The ugly scenes seemed to incense their teams too, with four more yellow cards being dished out in the final 35 minutes.UMass went on to win the game 1-0 thanks to a goal from Bella Recinos to hand them their first win of the season.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMeanwhile, the defeat consigned Rutgers to their first defeat of the campaign.The Scarlet Knights match report mentioned a “scrap” in the 55th minute but gave no further detail.Every Premier League club’s most famous and also most surprising fanGirman is studying Labour Studies at Rutgers and promotes her fledgling sporting career by posting on social media, including some stunning bikini snaps.The Women’s Super League in England kicks off on September 20.Girman is a senior at Rutgers collegeCredit: Instagram @gia.girmanShe is doing Labour StudiesCredit: Instagram @gia.girmanShe has more than 4,000 followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @gia.girman More

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      Piers Morgan leads complaints after Mary Earps is named BBC SPOTY despite ‘winning nothing’ – but fans hit back

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      PIERS Morgan led complaints on social media after Mary Earps won the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.The 30-year-old goalkeeper was a key part of the Lionesses side which reached the Women’s World Cup final in the summer.
      Piers Morgan led complaints on social media after Mary Earps won BBC SPOTYCredit: Rex Features
      Earps followed previous winners Emma Raducanu and teammate Beth MeadCredit: PA
      Credit: Twitter/@piersmorgan
      Morgan disagreed that the Lionesses star should have claimed the prizeCredit: Twitter/@piersmorgan
      The Manchester United shot stopper also won FIFA’s Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.
      She followed previous female SPOTY winners tennis superstar Emma Raducanu and England team-mate Beth Mead.
      But Morgan, 58, insisted that the Lionesses’ star should not have claimed the prize.
      On X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: “Trying to get my head around two of England’s women footballers winning BBC SPOTY in successive years… while male sporting superstars with great personalities like Rory McIlroy, Frankie Dettori & Ronnie O’Sullivan have never won it.”
      Read more Sports News
      Piers added: “No offence to Ms Earps, but shouldn’t it have been given to someone who actually won something in 2023?”
      Another user said: “Mary Earps wins SPOTY for helping England win nothing. Oh but she did save a penalty so guess that’s enough, such a political winner this year second and third weren’t much better either.”
      But others were supportive of Earps receiving the accolade.
      The Prince and Princess of Wales tweeted: “Hugely well deserved, Mary. Congratulations! W”.
      Most read in Football
      Cairon Lee said: “She thoroughly deserved to win it she played a critical role in helping England to the final and giving them a shot to win it she has done a massive amount for goalkeeping as well as woman’s sport so well deserved in my opinion.”
      Guillermo Ravelo wrote simply: “She deserves it.”
      Earps saved a penalty from Spain’s Jenni Hermoso in the final, but the Lionesses were unable to add to their 2022 European crown as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat in Sydney.
      At club level she kept 14 clean sheets as United finished second in the Women’s Super League.
      She hailed the part her teammates had played in her achieving this individual accolade.
      “I would not be here without my team-mates with the Lionesses and at Manchester United because we’ve achieved some incredible things over the last couple of years,” she said.

      “While individual accolades are great, they only come after team success. This is their trophy just as much as mine.”
      Former England cricketer Stuart Broad, who retired at the end of the fifth Ashes Test in the summer, was second in the BBC public vote and world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson was third. More

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      Jose Antonio Reyes’ wife discovers heartbreaking 11-word message from Arsenal legend four years after tragic death

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      ARSENAL legend Jose Antonio Reyes’ widow has discovered a heartbreaking letter four years on from his tragic death.Reyes, who was a part of Arsene Wenger’s Premier League Invincibles in 2003/04, passed away at the age of 35 following a car crash in 2019.
      Noelia Lopez found a lost note from Jose Antonio ReyesCredit: Getty – Contributor
      She shared an image of it on InstagramCredit: Instagram @noelopezv
      Noelia Lopez revealed that she found a love note from Reyes while organising.
      She shared the emotional discovery with her followers on social media.
      She posted a picture of the Valentine’s Day card and an accompanying message.
      Her message read: “I just received an order from Ikea that I had made to organise some things that I still had in boxes and I found this.”
      READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
      The note was from Reyes and said: “Happy Valentine’s Day. I won’t forget you even from a distance.”
      Reflecting on the note, Noelia admitted to feeling “stronger” whenever she finds anything from Reyes.
      Noelia added: “I feel a caress every time I come across a sign.
      “Today, certain words gain more strength.
      Most read in Football
      “Lately, I have had so many signs. One day I will tell you about them”.
      Reyes was killed alongside his cousin Juan Reyes in the road traffic accident.
      Reyes’ other cousin, Juan Manuel Calderon, survived the crash and spent eight weeks in hospital before being discharged.
      The Mercedes they were travelling in came off the road and burst into flames near his hometown.
      Noelia now lives near her own family with the two daughters she had with Reyes.
      Meanwhile, his son, Jose Antonio Reyes Junior, has since gone on to start his own footballing career.
      He signed his first professional contract with Real Madrid last month having impressed with the B team.
      He had been a part of the club’s academy since 2019.
      Reyes was part of Arsenal’s invincible teamCredit: Rex Features More

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      Laura Woods slams disgraced Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales and calls for his ‘social assassination’

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      LAURA WOODS has slammed Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales for refusing to resign amid his ongoing kiss scandal.Rubiales, 46, grabbed and kissed Spain forward Jenni Hermoso, 33, on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 World Cup final win over England on Sunday.
      Woods has criticised Rubiales for kissing HermosoCredit: Rex
      Rubiales kissed the forward after the Women’s World Cup finalCredit: BBC
      Hermoso has since admitted she did not consent to the kiss, despite Rubiales claiming that she did.
      The RFEF – Royal Spanish Football Federation – president has received widespread criticism as a result, with 81 Spain stars now refusing to play for the women’s team until he is dismissed.
      Rubiales rejected the chance to resign from his position during an emergency press conference on Friday and blamed “false feminism” for his “social assassination”.
      And the Spanish Football Federation are now defending him by threatening legal action against Hermoso and her international teammates.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Several players and pundits have since shown their support for the forward, including ITV and TNT Sports presenter Woods.
      The 36-year-old heavily criticised the RFEF in a passionate rant on Friday afternoon.
      In a social media thread, Woods tweeted: “Luis Rubiales letting his mask slip while The World was watching SHOULD be the final warning in a long & exhausted list of warnings that have been ignored.
      “A microscopic look into The Spanish FA’s behaviour towards & treatment of The Women’s National Team & its failure to listen to the 15 that protested against their coach Jorge Vilda is embarrassingly overdue.
      Most read in Football
      The presenter has called for an investigation into the Spanish FACredit: Getty
      He refused to resign from his position on Friday after addressing the issueCredit: Reuters
      “On Rubiales, he either didn’t know his behaviour (and previous) was wrong, OR…he did, and did it anyway. For someone in his position, one reason is surely as dangerous as the other.
      “Best case – Rubiales should not hold that much power with so little self awareness.
      “This actually isn’t trial by social media…it’s a pattern of behaviour being called out in a way that can’t be ignored any longer.
      “And if some sort of justice is served, perhaps a ‘social assassination’ as Rubiales calls it, is exactly what was needed.”
      World Cup runners-up England have also expressed support for the national team.
      The Lionesses released a joint statement on Friday evening which read: “Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation.
      “Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth.
      “The behaviour of those who think they are invincible must not be tolerated and people shouldn’t need convincing to take action against any form of harassment.
      “We all stand with you, Jenni Hermoso and all players of the Spanish team.”
      Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias became the first men’s player to take action against the RFEF this week when he announced that he will go on strike from international football until the issue is resolved.
      He tweeted: “I am sad and disappointed.
      “As a footballer and as a person I don’t feel represented by what happened today in the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas. I find it unfortunate that they continue to press and focus on a colleague.
      “Wearing the Spanish national team shirt is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my career.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I don’t know if at some point I will be an option again, but I have made the decision not to return to the national team until things change and this type of act does not go unpunished.
      “For a fairer, more humane and decent football.” More

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      I was mistaken for an Aston Villa star and hounded for autographs by ‘hundreds’ of fans – I signed them anyway

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      A FOOTBALL fan was mistaken for a Premier League star — and went along with it as he posed for pictures and signed autographs.Amando Boakye, 23, was mobbed as he attended Aston Villa’s pre-season match with Valencia.
      Football fan Amando Boakye, 23, was mistaken for a Premier League star — and went along with it as he posed for pictures and signed autographs.Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      Amando, above, think fans mistook him for Villa midfielder Jacob RamseyCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      Amando with Tyrone MingsCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      The Ghanian believes fans mistook him for Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey — and he was happy to play along.
      He had arrived at the Mestalla Stadium last Saturday wearing a Villa training top — and suddenly was in demand.
      He said: “I drew a crowd of more than 200. People wanted autographs and pictures and I did them for an hour before the game. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
      “They were eager to take the pictures with me so I felt I had to do it to make them happy.
      READ MORE ON ASTON VILLA
      “I was relaxed and did it for them like a professional. It felt like I was a player and I was ­living my dream of playing for Aston Villa.”
      In a video, viewed more than 600,000 times, he said: “I’m Jacob Ramsey. Can’t believe my eyes. I’m living the best of my life.”
      It has proved an online hit. One user said: “F****** priceless. A young fella’s dream come true.” Another said: “I have no idea what is happening in this footage. I don’t think our man does either.”
      Charity worker Amando, from Juaben, runs Villa fan club Ghana Lions, with more than 28,500 Twitter followers.
      Most read in Football
      It was the first time he had seen the Midlands club play live in person, having travelled from Luxembourg, where he was staying with a mate.
      And after the match he got a picture with the club’s England defender Tyrone Mings by the team bus.
      Amando being mobbed by fans after his autograph – which he was happy to giveCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      HE’S A VILLA FAN, NOT A CRIMINAL
      THE word Villan has been used to describe fans of Aston Villa since 1879.
      Some wrongly assume it’s a misspelling of “villain” — the bad guy in fiction or slang for a crook.
      Club programme editor Jack Urry is credited with coming up with the term, while The Villa Villan character was designed by cartoonist Tom Webster in 1905. More