FOOTIE ARREST | FORMER ARSENAL & MAN CITY STAR SAMIR NASRI 'ARRESTED AS PART OF MONEY LAUNDERING PROBE INTO DRUG TRAFFICKER "WILD BOAR"

FORMER Arsenal and Manchester City star Samir Nasri has reportedly been arrested as part of a money laundering probe linked to the drug trafficking kingpin “Wild Boar”.

The former Premier League footballer was caught up in a sprawling police investigation surrounding alleged links to the criminal network of the jailed Marseille trafficker.

Ex-Manchester City star Samir Nasri has reportedly been arrested as part of a money laundering probe connected to drug traffickingCredit: PA:Press Association

The former Premier League footballer was caught up in a sprawling investigationCredit: Getty

Nasri, who now works as a pundit for French TV channel Canal Plus, was grilled for around ten hours on Thursday by cops, Le Parisien reports.

Questioning formed part of a major investigation into suspected drug importation, criminal conspiracy and organised money laundering of drug trafficking proceeds.

The football star, 39, was released Thursday evening without charge and no legal proceedings have been launched against him.

Investigators are probing alleged links between Nasri and a criminal network surrounding Hakim Berrebouh nicknamed “Wild Boar,” a drug trafficker who has been imprisoned since 2021.

The explosive case also names Olivier Sabbah, known as “Paulo”, who is presented as one of the alleged pillars of a money laundering network connected to Berrebouh’s criminal activities.

Police are reportedly examining Nasri’s alleged involvement in the “organised money laundering” aspect of the case through XS nightclub in Ivry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne.

Nasri became a shareholder in the venue around 2016 after reportedly investing a few hundred thousand euros while he was earning millions at Manchester City.

The ex-France midfielder later became co-owner of the nightclub alongside Bilele Z., described as one of his loyal clients, who was also placed in police custody on Thursday.

Nasri was grilled for around ten hours by copsCredit: Graham Hughes – The Times

Nasri now works as a pundit for French TV channel Canal PlusCredit: Getty

The shocking investigation has focused on the years between 2021 and 2023, with detectives examining claims that large amounts of cash were taken from the venue.

According to evidence gathered during the preliminary investigation, Berrebouh’s wife allegedly visited the nightclub several times to withdraw large sums of money while her husband was behind bars.

Nasri’s alleged connection to the Berrebouh family stretches back to his childhood in Marseille, where he was reportedly close to Karim’s older brother.

The former France international, who earned 41 caps between 2007 and 2013, is said to have reconnected with Berrebouh in Dubai during the first lockdown in 2020.

Investigators claim Berrebouh later suggested that Nasri take a financial stake in XS, but the agreement allegedly remained verbal and was never formally recorded.

During his police custody, Nasri reportedly maintained that he believed he had sold all his shares in the nightclub to Berrebouh.

The latest police grilling came after Nasri was already questioned in Marseille in late June as part of the same sweeping investigation.

The former Les Bleus star could face further questioning over a potential formal indictment, despite currently facing no charges.

His lawyer, Saïd Harir, declined to comment when approached.

- Jeylin Mehmet

POLICE LAUNCH INVESTIGATION AFTER MANAGER IS SUBJECT TO DEATH THREATS AFTER WORLD CUP EXIT

After missing out on a place in the round of 32 on goal difference, South Korea are heading home from the World Cup.

Everything looked like it was going to plan for the Taegeuk Warriors, after a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their opening match, but two successive defeats, to co-hosts Mexico and then to South Africa, have cost them dearly.

As with many nations who have high hopes of their side making a big push at the tournament, it sparked national outrage when it was confirmed they’d play no further part at the World Cup, but one post online has gone way too far, targeting the manager and former captain of the national side, Hong Myung-bo.

South Korea Boss Subjected to Death Threats Online

In the wake of their exit, South Korean police have now launched an investigation after a violent death threat was posted online targeting Hong, one of Korea's best players of all time. The post, made by someone who is supposedly a 41-year-old American citizen, threatened to kill Hong at Incheon International Airport upon his return home.

Authorities are now considering intimidation charges and working to track down the suspect's identity, as public anger over the team's tournament exit continues to brew.

The threat represents a serious escalation of frustration that has already manifested in several other forms. A doctored image circulated online appeared to suggest Hong ordered players to scatter upon his arrival at the airport, while "Hong Myung-bo banned" notices have reportedly been posted at restaurants and cafes across Gyeonggi Province.

The anger largely stems from Korea's 0-1 defeat to South Africa in their final Group A match, which they were heavily backed to win and progress into the knockout rounds. Police have confirmed they are monitoring Incheon Airport and other potential locations closely to ensure Hong's safety upon his return.

Hong Myung-bo's Future

Kim Soo-Hyeon via Reuters

The situation reignited questions surrounding Hong's controversial reappointment as head coach back in 2024, a decision that drew criticism over the transparency of the Korea Football Association's selection process at the time.

A petition calling for his immediate dismissal had already gathered enough support to trigger an initial review by the National Assembly, and the president of South Korea was even involved, though Hong has since resigned from his position.

Even so, the emergence of direct threats against his safety has shifted attention away from those administrative matters entirely, with authorities now focused on protecting him and holding whoever issued the threat accountable.

- Joshua Waite

LIONS CB TERRION ARNOLD EXPECTED TO FACE SERIOUS NFL PUNISHMENT AFTER ARREST

AI Lions/Maakaron

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold is facing the prospect of life in prison after being arrested on a series of felony charges, and the former first-round pick could also face harsh discipline from the NFL in the meantime.

Arnold surrendered to authorities in Florida after facing an arrest warrant connected to an alleged robbery and kidnapping in Tampa. The Florida state attorney’s office said in a statement that Arnold faces “multiple felony charges which carry a potential sentence of up to life in prison” for allegedly orchestrating a kidnapping in retaliation for an alleged theft at a property he owned.

While Arnold has maintained his innocence and the team issued a statement avoiding comment on the specifics, recent cases indicate that he could face a long suspension from the league.

Terrion Arnold Could Be Away From Lions Indefinitely

Several other NFL players who faced felony charges have been handed long suspensions by the NFL, including six games for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice after he pleaded guilty to charges related to a street-racing incident. Running back Kareem Hunt was suspended for eight games for an assault that was recorded on video.

While the NFL often waits until the conclusion of criminal proceedings to issue punishment, Arnold could face more immediate action. The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office said in a statement that it had filed a pretrial motion to keep him in jail without bond until trial, with no court date in sight.

“Our office will file a pretrial detention motion to argue that Arnold remain behind bars until trial,” the statement read. “The date for that hearing has not yet been scheduled. Arnold’s codefendants are all currently behind bars in connection with the crime.”

That could prompt the NFL to put him on the commissioner’s exempt list, essentially putting him on paid leave until the trial takes place.

The Lions did not indicate if he faced any action from the team, releasing a statement with few details.

“We are aware of the legal situation regarding Terrion Arnold,” a spokesperson for the team said, via USA Today. “We will not comment at this time out of respect for the ongoing legal process.”

Arnold’s name had first surfaced in court documents earlier this year, when the alleged co-conspirators were arrested, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell said at the annual league meeting that the cornerback was not involved.

“We got all the information that says he wasn’t involved. That’s what we know, that’s all we know, and that’s really all I can say,” Campbell said, via NBC Sports. “As far as I know it’s not a big deal. It seems like he still wasn’t involved with this.”

Terrion Arnold Faces Serious Allegations

As USA Today reported, the charges against Arnold stem from an alleged theft from an Airbnb that he owned.

“Arnold allegedly began orchestrating his retaliation with others within hours of giving his theft report to the police, according to an investigation cited in the press release from the state attorney’s office,” the report noted.

Police claim that Arnold orchestrated the kidnapping and robbery in retaliation for the alleged theft.

“Arnold is accused of coordinating and directing … codefendants to lure three men to an apartment where the victims were robbed, beaten, and held at gunpoint,” the release from the state attorney’s office said.

- Nathan Dougherty

FORMER NHL STAR CLAUDE LEMIEUX DIED BY SUICIDE, POLICE SAY

Claude Lemieux, who won the Stanley Cup four times during a memorable NHL career, has died, the NHL Alumni Association announced Thursday. He was 60.

Lemieux died by suicide, according to authorities.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said that deputies responded just after 3 a.m. to the scene of an apparent suicide at a furniture store showroom in Lake Park, Florida. The sheriff's office said the victim was believed to be Lemieux and said he was found in a rear warehouse by one of his sons.

Just three days before, Lemieux was the Montreal Canadiens' torch bearer before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final at Bell Centre.

"Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community," Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said. "A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day."

Born in Buckingham, Quebec, Lemieux was selected by the Canadiens in the second round of the 1983 NHL draft. He played 1,215 games in the NHL, scoring 786 points (379 goals, 407 assists). Lemieux played primarily with the Canadiens (seven years), New Jersey Devils (six years, in two different stints) and Colorado Avalanche (five years) before making stops with Phoenix, Dallas and San Jose near the end of his career.

President Donald Trump, in a post on social media, called Lemieux a "true Legend of the Game and one of the fiercest competitors Hockey has ever seen."

Lemieux was known for elevating his game in the playoffs, with 0.68 career points per game in 234 postseason games. He won the Stanley Cup four times in his career with the Canadiens (1986), Devils (1995 and 2000) and Avalanche (1996). He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1995 with a playoff-best 13 goals in 20 games.

He played one game for the Sharks in the 2008-09 season, having last played in the 2002-03 season with Dallas. In between, Lemieux was featured on the Spike TV show "Pros Vs. Joes" and the CBC reality competition figure skating show "Battle of the Blades."

Lemieux was one of the NHL's most antagonistic players, known for getting under the skin of other teams' star players. His play would frequently cross the line of legality, as Lemieux earned 1,777 penalty minutes in his career as well as the ire of opposing fans.

There was never more heat on Lemieux than in 1996 with the Avalanche, when he checked Detroit Red Wings forward Kris Draper from behind in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. Draper suffered a concussion and needed reconstructive surgery on his face. Lemieux was suspended for two playoff games. This led to an epic line brawl between the teams on March 26, 1997. This would eventually be covered in ESPN's series "Unrivaled" in 2022.

After his retirement, Lemieux became an NHLPA-certified agent, representing players such as Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider and Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen.

Lemieux appeared before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals at Bell Centre, carrying the Canadiens' pregame torch to "light up" the arena before their game against Carolina.

"He was loved by his wife and four children, and on behalf of the Lemieux family, we kindly ask that everyone respect their privacy during this difficult time. Memorial service details to follow," wrote the NHL Alumni Association.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

- Greg Wyshynski

CELTIC VS. HEARTS FALL-OUT: PLAYER VREAKS SILENCE, SPFL STATEMENT AND FINAL WHISTLE CLARIFICATION

Reaction from chaotic and ugly scenes in title decider

Police Scotland have vowed to take “robust and swift action” against anybody found to have committed criminality as the Scottish Professional Football League condemned Celtic supporters’ “wholly unacceptable” pitch invasion at the end of their team’s Premiership title decider against Hearts.

Hundreds of Celtic fans streamed on to the playing surface when Callum Osmand netted in the eighth minute of stoppage-time to put the Hoops 3-1 ahead and effectively seal the championship.

Several ran towards Hearts players and the Edinburgh club noted “deeply disturbing reports of serious physical and verbal abuse towards our players and staff, both on the pitch and elsewhere” in a statement released on Saturday evening.

Celtic defeated Hearts 3-1 to win the Premiership title on Saturday. | SNS Group

Christian Borchgrevink, an unused substitute for the Jambos, told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang in a telephone interview that: “People got worried. I was on the bench and we ran out to shield the others.

“Everyone eventually made it back in unharmed, but with a little blood here and there.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said on Sunday morning that police investigations are ongoing. “We spoke to Hearts yesterday,” he told the Press Association. “We’re following that up to understand if any player was assaulted.

“If any player, or indeed any member of the public, has been assaulted on that pitch, and there is criminality, we will take robust and swift action.

“The club (Celtic) are responsible for safety and security and the planning of the stadium. Police provide a supporting role in that to look at any criminality, any policing response that is required, and we are continuing to do that.

“So, if there is any criminality, whether that be the allegations of assault against Hearts players or anything else, then our post investigation will pick that up, and we will take the most robust action possible.”

Asked if there had been any arrests relating to the pitch invasion, ACC Sutherland said: “Not as yet. And that remains ongoing as we work through with partners today.”

The SPFL released a statement on Sunday afternoon saying: “We utterly condemn the scenes which saw a number of Celtic supporters encroach onto the field of play.

“We await the report of our match delegate regarding any specific incidents that took place but, regardless, supporters entering the field of play in any circumstances is wholly unacceptable and puts those participating and working at a match at risk.

“We urge anyone with information about any alleged criminal activity to contact Police Scotland.”

The match did not restart despite having around 30 seconds left of the allotted stoppage-time when Osmand scored. “The pitch invasion caused a chaotic end and nobody seemed to know whether or not the match had been brought to a finish,” Hearts’ statement added.

“We await the report of our match delegate regarding any specific incidents that took place but, regardless, supporters entering the field of play in any circumstances is wholly unacceptable and puts those participating and working at a match at risk.

“We urge anyone with information about any alleged criminal activity to contact Police Scotland.”

The match did not restart despite having around 30 seconds left of the allotted stoppage-time when Osmand scored. “The pitch invasion caused a chaotic end and nobody seemed to know whether or not the match had been brought to a finish,” Hearts’ statement added.

The SPFL wrote: “We would also like to thank the referee and his excellent team of match officials for their cool heads on such a dramatic day. Given the speculation about the conclusion of the game, we would like to make clear that, prior to awarding the trophy, we were informed by the match referee that the match had ended and had not been abandoned.”

Hearts players quickly left Celtic Park without getting changed due to what the Edinburgh club described as a “menacing and threatening atmosphere inside the stadium”.

Hearts condemned the “shameful scenes”, saying they had “embarrassed Scottish football”.

“We expect the strongest action possible to be taken by the footballing authorities in the interests of protecting the safety of players and supporters, and the integrity of our game,” they added.

- Ross McLeish

THE MAFIA HAS MADE PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS 'WORTH MORE THAN COCAINE'

Credit: The World Anti-Doping Agency

On a quiet street in Poland, a group of camouflaged police officers have gathered. They carry machine guns, apart from the man at the front, who is driving a handheld battering ram into an unmarked door.

The lock quickly snaps and the police pour inside. They have entered a laboratory, akin to the underground facility in Breaking Bad where the rogue schoolteacher Walter White cooked up his crystal meth. Yet the powders they are seizing are not recreational drugs, but performance-enhancing ones.

The raid captured on our video was the result of a two-year collaboration between the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and Europol – the European equivalent of Interpol – and it represents a new front in the war against PEDs.

Wada and Polish police raid an organised crime lab making PEDs in Poland

When we think of dopers procuring illicit steroids like boldenone, nandrolone or stanozolol, we usually imagine them sourcing the drugs from a dodgy doctor with a backstreet office: a one-man cottage industry.

Increasingly, though, such substances are being produced in high volume by organised crime gangs: the same sort of clans that might also be involved in gun-running, people-smuggling or money-laundering.

“These groups are very quick in adapting to gaps in the system,” said Günter Younger, a German former policeman who used to be Interpol’s head of drugs, and is now Wada’s director of intelligence and information (I&I).

“What they want is big profit, low sentence and low chance of detection. Which is why PEDs fit perfectly into their portfolio. The profit is the same as dealing in cocaine, or sometimes even bigger. Law enforcement usually is not very interested in doping, so it’s easier to stay out of trouble. And even if you do get caught, you’re likely to get away with a slap on the wrist.”

Günter Younger, using his expertise as Interpol’s former head of drugs, has transformed Wada into a force to be reckoned with - Reuters/Denis Balibouse

As so often in the field of anti-doping, the robbers got off to a flier, leaving the cops flat-footed on the start line. Wada’s research suggests that dozens of steroid labs have sprung up across Europe over the past decade, with Poland, Slovenia and Serbia among the preferred locations. As Younger puts it: “If you have a warehouse with several tons [of PEDs], you look for a country that has a lower legal framework to follow up on this.”

Paradoxically, though, success can be counter-productive in the world of organised crime. The more money the gangs derive from an activity, the more it attracts attention. In this instance, the wheel of detection has started to turn.

Over the past two years, Wada has collaborated with European law enforcement teams to raid 35 labs and confiscate 40 tons of PEDs – a figure which equates to around 800 million individual doses. Warsaw has been at the centre of several operations, as it seems to be a laboratory hotspot, but significant seizures have also been made in Portugal, Greece, Germany and North Macedonia. Thus far, Great Britain has only been tangentially involved.

Wada’s European project was only the first step in a three-phase plan which will move on to Asia and Oceania in 2026, with the final stage planned for Africa and the Americas after that.

The whole process is being steered by Younger: a tall and imposing 58-year-old with a shaved cueball head, whose police career covered a variety of fields from drugs to counterfeit currencies, cyber crime and terrorism. In 2016, he accepted a move from the Bavarian police force to Wada, having previously collaborated with them on the Lance Armstrong case among other scandals. But in his early days in his new office, he found himself hamstrung by his lack of executive power.

“One of my first cases that I had here involved the IBU, the International Biathlon Union, where we got an informant telling us that the former president had been corrupted by the Russians. It was then that I realised that, as a sport organisation, I can only do voluntary interviews. If I speak to you, and you say ‘I’m not comfortable anymore’, I can’t stop you from leaving.

“So my next idea was to reach out to law enforcement from Austria and from Norway, because Mr [Anders] Besseberg [the former IBU president who has since earned a prison sentence for accepting gifts such as watches, hunting trips and the services of prostitutes] is Norwegian. We met at Interpol and this is where my idea of collaboration started from.”

Since Younger’s arrival, Wada’s I&I department has expanded to reach its present figure of 15 employees, around half of whom have backgrounds in law enforcement. For context, Wada’s entire staff approaches 190 people, who are mostly devoted to the testing side of the operation. The organisation’s budget also skews heavily in that direction, with recent surveys suggesting that more than £200m was spent on global testing in 2019, the most up-to-date figures available.

But I&I could be the next potential growth area for the anti-doping industry. While testing is a useful deterrent, it also has its limitations, with fewer than one per cent of samples coming back positive – a ratio which fails to approach most experts’ estimates of actual wrongdoing. The system mostly picks up the less sophisticated cheats, or those who have genuinely fallen foul of accidental contamination – and it is almost impossible to tell one group from the other.

The really big scandals usually emerge via a tip-off, a raid, or an intervention from law enforcement, as we see in the cases of Armstrong, Balco, or the massive Sochi doping operation that was exposed by Russian dissident Grigory Rodchenkov.

Large-scale PED raids can be inefficient in a different way. If you take down a lab, and you gain access to their client list, you might hope to find professional athletes on the spreadsheet. However, Wada has yet to reveal how many anti-doping rule violations have resulted from the 11,500 names it gathered through its European raids. Perhaps it is too early: the process often takes years to finalise. Or maybe we are talking about a different sort of client: weekend warriors searching for an extra edge.

“Personally, I’m not so interested in who the athlete is,” Younger replied, when questioned on this point. “I’m interested in the coach and the doctor who gets the money out of the athletes’ health. Sometimes we learn that – as in Russia – when you want to be in the national team, you have to do what the coach says. If you don’t, then you’re out. So, for me, the bigger criminals are those that exploit the athletes’ health. Also, we find that today’s amateurs are tomorrow’s elite.”

Whether Wada’s operations are picking up Olympic prospects or not, there are other benefits to the process. For one thing, these chemicals are invariably injurious to health. For another, the trade in PEDs is funding some of the most anti-social criminal groups in Europe. And the volume of product being sold is startling.

The trade in PEDs is funding some of the most anti-social criminal groups in Europe

“It’s so easy for organised crime to sell PEDs,” said Younger, “because they can use the clearnet [a technical term for the freely available part of the internet]. You don’t even need to go to the dark web, which is what you have to do to buy a weapon or normal, recreational drugs. Go online and search for PEDs and you’ll see how many websites you get. Because of the size of the industry, we can shut down a guy producing a ton every month, and the market doesn’t even notice.”

In all probability, the 40 tons of PEDs collected by Wada to date represent no more than the tip of the doping iceberg. But as Younger and his team turn their attention to Asia – thus coming into contact with countries like China and India which produce vast quantities of steroids for the medical market – there is a sense of growing momentum behind their work.

“In 2016 especially, we had meetings where law enforcement said, ‘Wada, who is that?’” Younger explained. “Now they’re coming to us. They say, ‘Can you work with us on this case?’ Or ‘Can you identify whether this is a steroid lab?’ We are building a reputation, and we have so many operations going on that we can only focus on the high-level ones. If you have the right people around the table, you can achieve quite a lot.”

- Simon Briggs

DRIVER CLAIMS SELF-DEFENCE IN STABBING OF EX-QB, CURRENT ANALYST MARK SANCHEZ

Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans former quarterback Mark Sanchez attends the Pac-12 Champonship game at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

A 69-year-old delivery driver alleged to have stabbed former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez said he feared that "this guy is trying to kill me" so he acted in self-defense, according to court records filed on Sunday.

The altercation early Saturday morning in an alley in downtown Indianapolis led to Sanchez, 38, going to a hospital for stabs wound to his upper right torso as well as being charged by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police with misdemeanor counts of battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication.

Sanchez, who was in Indianapolis as a Fox Sports analyst for the host Colts game against the Las Vegas Raiders, remained in a hospital early Sunday. He was replaced on the broadcast by another former quarterback, Brady Quinn, in the Colts' 40-6 victory Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium.

"This incident should never have happened," Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement on Sunday. "What began as a disagreement between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man should not have escalated into violence or left anyone seriously injured. As with any case, we will follow the facts and the law wherever they lead."

According to court documents, Sanchez and the other man, identified by his initials "PT," got into a dispute near Loughmiller's Pub & Eatery. The driver's truck was parked at a loading dock to collect used cooking oil, and Sanchez opened the driver's door to talk to him, per surveillance video.

The driver wasn't wearing his hearing aids and struggled to hear him. When he leaned in, he thought Sanchez smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred, he told police later in an affidavit.

Indianapolis police wrote in an affidavit that Sanchez ran after the driver, grabbed him and threw him toward the wall of a hotel, leading to a brawl.

After Sanchez threw him to the ground, according to the police investigation's report, the driver "realized things had escalated, and he was now in physical danger," he told police per the court documents.

The driver used pepper spray on Sanchez, who kept advancing, so he pulled out his knife in self-defense and struck him two or three times, he told police.

The driver, who sustained a laceration to his left cheek, per court documents, said Sanchez looked shocked and ran out of the alley. The driver was treated and released from Methodist Hospital, according to The Indianapolis Star.

Sanchez was found by responding officers in a bar next to the alley and was rushed to Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition and later upgraded to stable condition. He has been released from the hospital, TMZ Sports reported on Sunday evening.

Police wrote in an affidavit that Sanchez told them in the hospital that he didn't remember what happened.

Fox Sports acknowledged Sanchez's stabbing and arrest during its national pregame shows and during game coverage. Both Charissa Thompson, host of "Fox NFL Kickoff" on Sunday morning and "Fox NFL Sunday" host Curt Menefee said the Fox Sports team was "still trying to wrap our heads around" what happened and their "thoughts and prayers are with Mark Sanchez, his family and all of those involved."

Sanchez was selected by the New York Jets with the fifth overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft and guided the club to two straight AFC Championship Game appearances. He posted a 37-36 record and threw for 15,357 yards with 86 touchdowns and 89 interceptions with the Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and the Washington franchise.

In college, Sanchez was a big star for Southern California in 2008, when he passed for 3,207 yards, 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Trojans went 12-1 and finished the campaign as the No. 3 team in the country.

-- Field Level Media

ARMED POLICE ARREST SON OF FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLER OUTSIDE MCDONALD'S FOR DRINK-DRIVING

Tom Huckerby (right, playing for local club Wroxham FC), 25, of Norwich, Norfolk, found himself in cuffs at a branch of the fast food restaurant chain in his hometown on July 18

Armed police have arrested the son of a former Premier League footballer outside McDonald's for drink driving. 

Tom Huckerby, 25, of Norwich, Norfolk, found himself in cuffs at a branch of the fast food restaurant chain in his hometown on July 18. 

His father is Norwich City star Darren Huckerby, 49, a forward who also played for Newcastle United and Manchester City, among others, before retiring in 2009. 

Huckerby - who passed his test just six months ago - was behind the wheel of his first car, a VW Polo, at the Drive Thru on Barrett Road with a friend as his passenger. 

Officers discovered he was nearly double the drink-drive limit, at some 63 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - when the limit is 35. 

The amateur footballer pleaded guilty to drink driving on Friday at Norwich Magistrates' Court and was slapped with a 15-month driving ban and £730 fine. 

Speaking outside court, he explained the police were armed because his vehicle was suspected of being linked to a firearms offence connected to a previous owner. 

Huckerby added McDonald's staff were the ones to call the police suspecting the pair had been drinking, after his pal leaned over to loudly hold down his car horn.

But he said he was shocked to find himself arrested.

Huckerby, like his father, is also a keen footballer, as a centre-back for local club Harleston Town, after previously playing for Wroxham FC.     

It comes after his younger brother Benjamin Huckerby, then 18, was in 2020 locked up for three years in a young offender's institution. 

Huckerby, along with Levi Licorish and Lucas Philpott, staged a spate of robberies in Norwich city centre, near the Vue cinema. 

With their faces covered, they approached members of the public and threatened them with a hammer to force them to hand over their belongings. 

One teen had a necklace taken and another had an Apple watch stolen in two robberies committed within mere minutes of each other. 

The trio of violent thieves also tried to rob a third youngster but did not succeed. 

After his youngest son was sentenced, Norwich City star Mr Huckerby said he was 'incredibly disappointed' by the lad's actions. 

He said in a statement issued through solicitor Chris Brown: 'We made our home in Norwich because we fell in love with the city, county and people when we arrived in 2003.

'I have always tried to pay back some of the welcome by trying to hold the highest standards on and off the pitch, helping the local community when I can and through things like the charitable trust we set up.

'So as a family we are incredibly disappointed and hurt by Ben's actions, which go against everything we stand for.'

Mr Huckerby played 203 times for the Canaries between 2003 and 2008, scoring 48 goals. 

- The Daily Mail

BREAKING NEWS: LSU STAR JT LINDSEY SURRENDERS TO POLICE AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF ALLOWING MURDER SUSPECTS

LSU star JT Lindsey surrendered himself to police on Friday over allegations that he allowed two murder suspects to stay in his campus dorm.

Lindsey's attorney, Kris Perret, acknowledged that the suspects - Shemell Jacobs, 17, and Keldrick Jordan, 18 - stayed with his client, but said Lindsey had no idea that they were wanted for any crimes when he allowed them to stay with him beginning on July 24.

"At this time, we're cooperating with LSU PD. My client maintains that he's fully innocent of all charges and no wrongdoing,' Perret told reporters Friday. 'We hope to get this matter straightened out pretty quick, so that's about all we have to say at this point. We'll have more information for you later.'

The suspects had been wanted by the Alexandria (Louisiana) Police Department since mid-May in connection with the shooting death of Corey Brooks, 17, per multiple reports. 

They were arrested by US Marshals on Monday in Lindsey's room.

"Alexandria, where the fatal shooting occurred, is Lindsey's hometown, and Lindsey went to high school with the two suspects.

Authorities allege that the extensive media coverage surrounding the murder and manhunt makes it 'highly unlikely that (Lindsey) would not have been aware of these media reports,' an affidavit obtained by Nola.com said.

The affidavit also stated that Lindsey was seen entering and exiting his dorm multiple times with the two men. They were also seen using his LSU ID card to enter the building on their own.

Lindsey was released on $5,000 bail on Friday, though he has been suspended from LSU's football team.

- JAKE NISSE, US SPORTS WRITER

 

ARSENAL BOSS DEFENDS HANDLING OF PARTEY DEPARTURE AFTER ARREST

Thomas Partey was charged by British police with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault between 2021 and 2022

SINGAPORE — Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Monday defended the club’s handling of Thomas Partey’s departure after the Ghana international midfielder was arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault.

Arsenal did not offer the 32-year-old a new contract at the end of last season and days later he was charged by British police with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault between 2021 and 2022.

Partey is due to appear before magistrates in London on August 5.

In a statement released on July 4, the day Partey was arrested, Arsenal said: “The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.”

Arteta was asked during Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Singapore whether the allegations against Partey were the deciding factor in him being released.

The Spaniard said he was “100 percent” convinced that Arsenal had followed the correct procedure, adding: “The club was very clear in its statement. There are a lot of legal matters that are very complicated so I cannot comment on any of that.”

Partey joined Arsenal for £45 million from Atletico Madrid in October 2020.

He appeared 35 times in the Premier League last season, scoring four goals, and 12 times in the Champions League.

- AFP

REAL MADRID FORWARD INDIRECTLY CAUGHT IN LEGAL PROBE OVER WORLD CUP BONUS DONATIONS

Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images

According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has found himself indirectly involved in a legal issue stemming from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The matter, however, does not appear to be his fault.

Almost three years after scoring a historic hat-trick in the World Cup final against Argentina, Mbappe is now at the centre of an investigation in France. 

The issue? A generous gesture he made to members of the French police force who were part of the team’s security during the tournament has sparked a probe by French tax authorities.

Police under investigation 

As reported by the outlet, five police officers are under investigation for receiving part of Mbappe’s World Cup bonus. 

The payments were meant as a personal thank-you from the star striker. In principle, this type of gesture is not unusual, especially considering the role the police played in ensuring the French squad’s safety in Qatar.

According to the report, four officers each received a cheque for €30,000, while a fifth, believed to be their superior, received a cheque for €60,300. In total, Mbappe handed over €180,300 of his World Cup earnings in this donation.

The problem arose when the police officers declared the money to the French Treasury. Authorities are now investigating whether the funds were properly reported and if the correct procedures were followed for such sizeable gifts.

Mbappe himself has a signed statement on record confirming that he voluntarily decided to donate this money, not only to these officers but also to various associations. 

This document could help clear his name of any legal responsibility. Nevertheless, French prosecutors are continuing their investigation to ensure all financial and legal aspects of the transactions were above board.

At this point, it appears that Mbappe is simply caught in the crossfire of a case focusing on the police officers involved, rather than being accused of any wrongdoing himself.

- Swapnil

JOTA'S CAR WAS PROBABLY SPEEDING BEFORE FATAL CRASH, SPANISH POLICE SAY

GETTY IMAGES

All the evidence so far suggests Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota was driving when his car crashed on a Spanish motorway, and he was probably speeding, say police.

The 28-year-old Liverpool player was killed with his brother André Silva, 25, when their Lamborghini car had a suspected tyre blowout in northwestern Zamora province early last Thursday.

Spain's Guardia Civil police force said at the time the car had apparently been overtaking on the A52 motorway near Palacios de Sanabria when it left the road and burst into flames.

"Everything also points to a possible excessive speed beyond the speed limit of the road [highway]," said Zamora's local traffic police.

EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK
Image caption,Tyre marks were analysed some distance from where the Lamborghini's tyre blew out

Police said they had studied the marks left by one of the Lamborghini's tyres and that "all the tests carried out so far indicate that the driver of the crashed vehicle was Diogo Jota".

The expert report is being prepared for the courts on the accident, and their investigation is understood to have been made more complex by the intensity of the fire that almost completely destroyed the car.

The accident happened 11 days after Jota had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in Portugal. The couple had three children.

The brothers had been heading to the Spanish port of Santander so Jota could return to Liverpool for pre-season training.

Their funeral took place in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto at the weekend.

Tyre marks were reportedly visible about 100m (330ft) from the moment of impact.

Although there had been suggestions that the asphalt on the road was uneven where the crash took place, police told Spanish media it was not an accident "black spot" and the road should have been driveable beyond the speed limit of 120km/h (75mph).

- Paul Kirby

STOLEN TOUR DE fRANCE BIKES FOUND NEAR BELGIUM

All 11 of Cofidis's bikes have now been recovered

Eleven bikes stolen from team Cofidis at the Tour de France have all now been found.

In the night following Saturday’s opening stage, the door of the team’s equipment truck was forced open and 11 Look bikes – valued at around €13,000 (£11,200) each – were taken.

According to the team, some of their staff combed the area near their hotel on Sunday, and were able to find five of the stolen bikes, “which had been thrown away by the criminals in undergrowth”.

The remaining bikes were found by the police on Monday afternoon near the border with Belgium.

“The police have told [Tour de France organisers] ASO and team Cofidis that the bikes were recovered in the town of Halluin, near the Belgian border. The police officers got in touch with Cofidis in order to return them to the team staff during the evening,” the team wrote in a press statement.

“The team wants to thank everyone – members of law enforcement, ASO, the staff and sponsors of Cofidis – who have rallied together since yesterday morning.”

Among the stolen bikes was a special one prepared for stage one’s King of the Mountains leader, Benjamin Thomas.

Cofidis's squad were able to start stage two on Sunday using their spare bikes, of which all riders have at least two.

The team's bike supplier, Look, opened its factory on Sunday to prepare bikes with an identical paintjob to those used by the squad at the Tour de France. One brand employee drove the new frames 470km on Monday morning to Cofidis’s hotel at the Tour. The team also ordered new Campagnolo groupsets from Italy.

Commenting on the return of the stolen bikes, Cofidis manager Cédric Vasseur said: “I’d like to warmly congratulate the Tour de France organisers and the police who did everything possible to find them. A huge amount of investigative work has been carried out, which will enable us to continue the Tour de France with peace of mind.”

At last year's Tour, another French squad also fell victim to an overnight bike theft. TotalEnergies had 11 Enve bikes stolen from their team hotel in the middle of the race, but were able to start the following stage.

- Tom Davidson

THOMAS PARTEY'S LAWYER RELEASES STATEMENT AFTER EX-ARSENAL STAR CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS OF RAPE

Thomas Partey's lawyer has released a statement after the former Arsenal star was charged with five counts of rape

Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Thomas Partey's lawyer has insisted the former Arsenal midfielder “denies all the charges against him" after he was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by the Metropolitan Police.

The 32-year-old allegedly carried out the offences between 2021 and 2022, the Met Police said. Partey has been charged with two counts of rape of one woman, three counts of rape to a second woman and one count of sexual assault of a third woman.

In a statement, Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire said her client "fully co-operated with the police and CPS" during the three-year investigation. "Thomas Partey denies all the charges against him," she said. "He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation.

"He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name. Given that there are now ongoing legal proceedings, my client is unable to comment further."

Partey signed for Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for a fee of £45million. He went on to make 167 appearances for the club before leaving following the expiration of his contract on June 30.

Partey, of Hertfordshire, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 5. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, said: “Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward.

“We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team. You can contact detectives about this investigation by emailing CIT@met.police.uk.”

- Sam Truelove

FOOTBALLER THOMAS PARTTEY CHARGED WITH RAPE

Arsenal FC via Getty

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The offences are reported to have taken place between 2021-2022, the Metropolitan Police said.

The charges involve three women with two counts of rape relating to one woman, three counts of rape in connection to a second woman and one count of sexual assault linked to a third woman.

The 32-year-old's contract with Arsenal ended on Monday after playing with the team since 2020. BBC News has contacted the team for comment.

The charges follow an investigation by detectives, which started in February 2022 after police first received a report of rape.

Det Supt Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward.

"We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team. You can contact detectives about this investigation by emailing CIT@met.police.uk"

Mr Partey, of Hertfordshire, is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 5 August.

He joined Arsenal for £45.3m from Atletico Madrid in October 2020, made 35 top-flight appearances last season and scored four goals as the London club finished second in the Premier League.

He also played 12 times in the Champions League as the Gunners reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by eventual winners Paris St-Germain.

Overall, he made 130 Premier League appearances for Mikel Arteta's side, scoring nine goals.

Mr Partey has also made appearances for Ghana's national team.

- Hannah Price

LIONEL MESSI AND HEAVY SECURITY PRESENCE WERE ON SHOW AS THE REVAMPED CLUB WORLD CUP GOT UNDERWAY IN THE UNITED STATES ON SATURDAY

Lionel Messi and a heavy security presence were on show as the revamped Club World Cup got under way in the United States on Saturday.

Host city side Inter Miami, led by Argentine legend Messi, played out an entertaining goalless again Egyptian giants Al Ahly to kick off the tournament.

Miami were thankful to goalkeeper and man of the match Oscar Ustari for making a string of saves, including one from the penalty spot, to preserve a clean sheet.

Messi came close to opening the scoring in the second period with a free-kick and almost won it late on with an incredible, long-range strike but saw his effort acrobatically tipped onto the crossbar by Mohamed el Shenawy.

This event, which has been much maligned in some parts, may have started without a goal but finally the talk can be about the football - or can it?

Police presence felt in Miami

Matchday was the first time since arriving in Miami earlier this week that it felt like a significant tournament was about to get under way.

Around the South Beach area, travelling Al Ahly supporters were enjoying lunch and drinks before the big game.

The Egyptian side had qualified as winners of the African Champions League and have serious pedigree, winning more league championships (45) and more titles on the continent (12) than any other club, but they could not translate that on to the global stage.

Along the Route 95 highway towards the stadium, advertising boards were showcasing the fixture, declaring it's "showtime" in true American fashion.

The last major game to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium took place 11 months ago when "a party almost became a tragedy" as ticketless fans forced their way in to the ground for the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia, delaying kick-off by 80 minutes.

Authorities learned a tough lesson and were taking no chances, making sure there was no repeat this time as police cars with flashing sirens lined the boulevards outside the stadium.

With that match and recent unrest in Los Angeles in mind, police officers with 'counter terrorism' logos patrolled the exterior of the venue and numerous security checks and bag searches were made before entry was granted.

Supporters needed extra time to make their way inside as they were forced to have further checks at a second perimeter point.

It remains to be seen whether the same approach will be taken in Sunday's fixtures, which take place in LA, Cincinnati, New York/New Jersey and Seattle.

Fireworks, razzmatazz and almost some Messi magic

Once through the extensive screening process, it was the first time supporters bearing 'Messi 10' shirts were spotted in the city - and the glaring pink and black shirts were out in their numbers.

"Messi, Messi, Messi" was the chant of choice from his adoring fans, just like it had been at Argentina's glorious run to winning the World Cup in Qatar three years ago.

The former Barcelona forward sent an effort narrowly over and had another bending strike saved by El Shenawy, before curling a delightful free-kick into the side netting which many of the crowd thought had gone in.

The week leading up to the opening game featured apparent ticketing issues but Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he expected "a full stadium" with an "incredible atmosphere".

He positioned himself in the stands at the centre of a front three, flanked by footballing icons Ronaldo of Brazil and Italian legend Roberto Baggio.

What Infantino wanted and what he got were two different things.

Casting a glance around, thousands of empty green seats were clearly evident in the 65,326-capacity stadium and a crowd of 60,927 was announced in the second half.

But the presence of Messi, the sizeable travelling Egyptian contingent - who chanted and waved flags throughout - and an action-packed game made for a watchable contest.

As with all American sporting events, it began with a rendition of the national anthem, with the singer accompanied by a large stars-and-stripes flag.

Students from the local Miami Dade College then carried out large badges of the 32 competing clubs before place them on to each letter of a vast 'Fifa' sign atop a podium in the centre of the pitch, leaving no doubt about whom this competition belonged to.

Moroccan-American rapper French Montana produced a hit in the pre-match build-up, there were fireworks aplenty and, to add further razzmatazz, each player was announced on to the pitch individually before kick-off.

Unlike their illustrious opponents, Miami had supposedly qualified through the back door, achieving the place after claiming the Supporters' Shield - coming top of the MLS in the regular season - before being beaten in the play-offs.

Critics feel MLS Cup winners LA Galaxy would have been a better choice on merit, but that would have meant a Club World Cup without Miami and their main man Messi.

The club's co-owner and newly knighted Sir David Beckham was given a rousing ovation from supporters as he entered the stadium and there were even louder cheers as Messi's smiling face flashed up on the big screen.

Although he came close, the little magician could not provide a moment of inspiration for the expectant crowd in attendance.

Miami failed to win potentially their easiest group game and come up against Portuguese side Porto on Thursday.

"Clearly, when we find Leo in positions and get the ball to him in the best way, that's where we have the most options," said Miama manager Javier Mascherano.

"We take it game by game. We know that the level will clearly rise in the next game because they're a European opponent, but we have to stay with the feeling that it's 11 against 11.

"Anything can happen in football."

Veteran Ustari takes plaudits

The lengthy pre-match activity meant the match began six minutes later than the scheduled 8pm local kick-off time.

Al Ahly should have been 2-0 up in the opening eight minutes, but goalkeeper Oscar Ustari stood big to keep out efforts from Wessam Abou Ali and Emam Ashour.

Former Argentina international Ustari was being kept busy, tipping Abou Ali's free-kick over the bar and making a sharp instinctive save to deny Achraf Dari's towering header.

The best of the lot came two minutes before half-time as the inspired Ustari dived the right way to keep out Mahmoud Trezeguet's penalty after the ex-Aston Villa player was bundled over in the box by Maximiliano Falcon.

At half-time some entertainment was added to proceedings for the crowd as YouTuber iShowSpeed, who seems to be everywhere, Sergio Aguero, Pepe, Kaka, Alessandro del Piero and Youri Djorkaeff took part in a crossbar challenge.

Neither team could find a breakthrough in the second period, with Messi coming inches away, but it was 38-year-old former Sunderland man Ustari who took the plaudits.

"It was a great performance," he told DAZN. "We knew it would be difficult, so many of us are enjoying this experience for the very first time, including me at my age.

"I think we did really well."

- Shamoon Hafez, BBC Sport football news reporter at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

LIVERPOOL PARADE CAR CRASH VIDEO | VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

 

'SHOCKED AND DEVASTATED' JÜRGEN KLOPP RELEASES STATEMENT ON LIVERPOOL PARADE CAR CRASH

Ex-Liverpool manager Klopp was back on Merseyside to attend his former club’s Premier League title coronation and has sent well wishes to the people injured in the horrific crash

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has released a statement about the car crash that marred the Reds’s trophy parade, saying he is “shocked and devastated” by the news.

Fans were out on the streets of Liverpool on Bank Holiday Monday, celebrating the Premier League title, when a car ploughed into the crowds, leaving 47 people hurt, including four seriously injured. Footage circulating online appeared to show a vehicle speed up as it veered into pedestrians on both sides of the crowded street.

Four children were among the 27 people rushed to hospital following the incident on Water Street on Monday evening, while 20 others were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Police confirmed one child and an adult were seriously injured, while Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram told BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday morning that four people are still “very, very ill in hospital”

Klopp, who departed Anfield after nine years as Liverpool manager last summer, was back on Merseyside to attend his former club’s title coronation and posted pictures of the celebrations on his social media account throughout the day.

He has now posted about the appalling incident on Instagram, writing: “My family and I are shocked and devastated. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are injured and affected. You'll never walk alone.”

A 53-year-old man, who police described as white, British and from the Merseyside area, was arrested at the scene of the incident at 6pm on Monday, with Merseyside Police saying they believe him to be the driver.

Police and emergency personnel were rushed to the scene on Water Street (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

The force is not treating the incident as terrorism-related, while prime minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the incident, calling the scenes “appalling” as he sent a message of unity, saying the city “stands together”.

Klopp cemented his place in Liverpool folklore during his time as boss, delivering a first Premier League title to the club in the Covid-hit 2019-20 season, 30 years after their most recent top-flight crown. He also won a Champions League, an FA Cup, two League Cups and a Club World Cup while at Anfield.

He developed a special bond with fans of the club and urged supporters to back his successor Arne Slot, who has subsequently gone on to win the league in his first season at the helm.

Following the final game of the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday, when Liverpool received the Premier League trophy, Klopp posted a picture of him and Slot celebrating together, with the caption: “Congratulations Champions!! What a team, what a club, what a season! YNWA”

- Luke Baker

BREAKING NEWS: POLICE RESPONDING TO INCIDENT AT LIVERPOOL FC PARADE AFTER REPORTS OF CAR COLLISION WITH PEDESTRIANS

Ambulance vehicles are at the scene in Liverpool

Police are responding to an incident near the Liverpool Football Club parade after reports of a car collision with a number of pedestrians.

The incident happened as thousands of fans lined the streets of the city to celebrate Liverpool's Premier League title victory.

A police spokesperson said: "We are currently dealing with reports of a road traffic collision in Liverpool city centre.

"We were contacted at just after 6pm today, Monday 26 May, following reports a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street.

"The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained.

"Emergency services are currently on the scene. We will issue more updates as we have them."

Eyewitness Natasha Rinaldi said she was watching the parade from her friend's living room window when "we heard some screams".

"It was so loud. People sounded desperate. And then we looked at the window and we saw the car run over people," she told Sky News.

She added: "People started rushing (in) to try to go after the driver and they tried to break the car. Then police tried everything to block and push people away."

North West Ambulance Service said in a statement that it was "currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services".

"Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible," the statement added.

Fans lined the streets with plumes of red smoke greeting the players along the way.

- Sky News 

MASSIVE VEHICULAR ATTACK ON DALE STREET SPARKS CHAOS AT LIVERPOOL PARADE