A football club turned the away end of their stadium into a “concentration camp” by penning fans behind a fence, an opposition team has angrily claimed.
In a volatile match on Sunday, Persha Liga side Kryvbas kept fans of visitors Metalist behind bars when they traveled to the city of Kryvyi Rih to watch their side’s 5-0 win.
Flares were let off and a pitch invasion reportedly took place at one point, with footage appearing to show large groups of supporters carrying banners outside before the emphatic victory for the league leaders.
Former UEFA Cup entrants Metalist shared photos of their players celebrating with fans afterwards and issued a statement saying they felt the “deepest regret and disappointment” over the “decision to lock the fans of our team in a cage”.
“[It] demonstrated disregard not only for the Kharkiv fans, but for the whole of the football community.
“In the modern world, such a step has long been considered a violation of ethics, morality and the rights of free citizens. Turning a guest rostrum into a concentration camp is low and ugly.
“We ask the [governing bodies] UAF, PFL and colleagues in the development of Ukrainian football to pay attention to this outrageous episode, to give a legal assessment of the actions of Kryvbas and to consider not to repeat such outrageous incidents in the future.”
The scenes follow an investigation into a mass brawl which marred a game at Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kiev last week.
Євген Підлепенець: «Шкода, що наших уболівальників закрили за парканом. Присвячуємо цю перемогу їм»
After emotionally claiming that she did not know when she would play again earlier this month, Naomi Osaka has declared that she has “that itch” and could return soon.
The despondent four-time major winner broke down in tears after being knocked out by then-world number 73 Leylah Fernandez at the US Open, losing in the third round a year after winning the title.
After a difficult season in which she hit the headlines for withdrawing from the French Open on mental health grounds after boycotting press duties, Osaka has now starred on a US TV show, HBO’s ‘The Shop’, which is produced by NBA legend LeBron James.
“It was a bit weird because after I won the US Open that first time [in 2018], I had to immediately play another tournament, so I didn’t really have to face the business stuff until the end of the year,” Osaka said of her whirlwind 12 months, appearing on the program alongside actress Wanda Sykes, rapper Jadakiss and James’ ex-teammate and fellow All-Star Kevin Love.
“And by then, I was just so happy to be getting deals and stuff. I also felt like I didn’t compromise my integrity that much at all – although I would say it’s a bit wild when you feel like people start knowing who you are overnight over one event. It’s honestly taken me two years to adjust from that.”
Those business deals made the Japanese hero the highest-earning female athlete in a year of all time, raking in an estimated $60 million to 2021 as part of a period when Osaka says she felt “overwhelmed” at times.
“I want to feel like I’m playing for myself,” she said of her plans for her future now. “And I started to feel like that power was being taken away from me in the way that I felt like I wasn’t playing to make myself happy and I was more concerned about if I won or lost, what would people say about me.
“I just used to love like the competition and just being competitive. You know, I’ve been playing tennis since I was three years old; for sure, I love the sport.
“I know I’m going to play again. Probably soon, because I kind of have that itch again, but it wouldn’t really matter to me if I won or lost.
“I’d just have the joy of being back on the court, just to… know that I’m doing it for myself.”
Currently the world number eight, Osaka said she is grateful for the influence late NBA icon Kobe Bryant had on her, as well as voicing her admiration for 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams.
“I always feel like if there was a younger player that ever needed any advice from me, I would love to give it,” she hoped.
“I would want people to remember me like how I acted toward people and how I interacted. For example, Serena? Her legacy is more than being Serena.
“I started playing because of her – I’m sure there’s so many girls that started playing because of her. She literally built champions. And I think passing it down is how the new generation gets inspired.”
Osaka enjoys using social media – including an Instagram account with almost three million followers – to broadcast her taste for fashion, including an eye-catching outfit for the recent Met Gala at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The darker side of the platforms, she warned, has “given people the chance to say things that they would never say to you in person.”
“I feel like it just gives people access to you in a way that, I feel like, a couple of years ago, people would have to come up to you to affect you that way,” the 23-year-old added.
A woman and her toddler son died on Saturday after falling six storeys from a concourse before a baseball game in San Diego, with horrified fans watching on and police treating their deaths as suspicious.
The pair were pronounced dead at exactly 4.11pm after they fell from the concourse of the San Diego Padres’ stadium, according to reports.
Lt Andra Brown, of the local police department, said that officers are yet to determine whether the fall was intentional or accidental, the San Diego Union-Tribune said.
The victims hailed from the same Californian city, and the child’s father had been at the stadium when the accident occurred, the force explained.
Reports say a 40-year old woman may have jumped off the 300 level at Petco Park while holding her 2 year old kid. Woman and child did not survive. pic.twitter.com/YWesglZaDw
“We are speaking to the father of the child. They are not married but we have the father of the child here and we are speaking with him,” Brown clarified via CBS 8 San Diego.
The names of the victims of the tragedy have not been released and witnesses are being encouraged to come forward with any information which could potentially “give the family some peace”.
“Our hearts obviously go out to the family, but also to the people who here could potentially be traumatized who saw this,” added Lt Brown.
OMG, just learning of the tragic death of a mom and her son at Petco Park tonight. Horrible story, just horrible. Thinking of all those impacted and sending strength their way – family, friends, witnesses, first responders, etc. Heartbreaking, just heartbreaking.
“It’s a horrible, horrible thing. That’s why we’re giving it a very serious look.”
Several onlookers were approached by the local newspaper but were said to be too shaken up to pass comment.
Others took to social media to share their feelings.
Thoughts and prayers go out to family involved in the tragedy at Petco Park. Meanwhile, the rest of the stadium is completely oblivious. The @Padres organization needs a reality check.
I'm just sitting in my seat crying. Wtf even matters right now on the field knowing what went down here. If anyone is at Petco and needs a hug I'm down. This is beyond devastating.
The vice president of South America’s smallest independent country has been banned by FIFA’s continental governing body in the region for three years over bizarre video footage that went viral.
Two months into his tenure as the deputy head of state, 60-year-old Ronnie Brunswijk was seen becoming the oldest player to feature in an international club competition when he played for the club he owns, Inter Moengotapoe, last week.
The politician’s son, Damian Brunswijk, partnered him in attack, playing for less than half an hour while his father stayed on the pitch for 54 minutes.
Brunswijk Snr’s time participating in games run by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), though, looks to have drawn to an abrupt end as a result of the heavily-viewed scenes at the Franklin Essed Stadium in the Surinamese capital of Paramaribo.
As well as his unlikely match appearance, Brunswijk was said to have been the shirtless man shown handing out what appeared to be cash in the locker room afterwards.
Even more curiously, the readies are said to have been dished out to members of the opposition Olimpia team, who hail from Honduras and beat Inter 6-0 in the league match.
“Having assessed the actions evidenced in the video and considered written statements provided by both clubs, the Committee has determined that serious breaches of integrity rules occurred after the match,” CONCACAF responded in a statement.
The Vice President of Suriname, Ronnie Brunswijk, captained his side in a CONCACAF League fixture against Olimpia last night
At the age of 60, he played up front alongside his own son Damian… unfortunately they lost 6-0 pic.twitter.com/dBg0cnLTEU
Sick of these insinuations Ronnie Brunswijk wasn’t picked on merit just because he’s 60 years old, owns the team and the stadium is named after him. You can’t argue with 14 passes completed from 17 attempts. https://t.co/77aFrTI7bnpic.twitter.com/BBSYwIkFaL
“As a consequence of these rule breaches, both clubs have been disqualified and removed from this year’s CONCACAF League with immediate effect.
“Additionally, the Committee has ruled that Mr Ronnie Brunswijk is banned for three years from participating in any capacity in CONCACAF competitions.”
Sports-loving Brunswijk, who wished Surinamese UFC fighter Jairzinho Rozenstruik good luck ahead of his defeat to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 266 on Saturday, said Olimpia had played “great football”.
Video was streamed tonight from Olimpia's locker room that appears to show Ronnie Brunswijk giving people in the locker room cash. He also leaves with an Olimpia shirt.pic.twitter.com/eQ1Vk928Bl
“I’ve been a football fan from an early age,” he wrote on Facebook after the match. “Soccer is my hobby.
“As long as I still feel fit, I will continue to play soccer for Inter Moengotapoe. Olimpia played a [good] game and rightly won 6-0.
“After good consultation with the manager, I rewarded the Honduran team. I have only given the reward out of gratitude to the players. I will continue to work for top sport.”
Olimpia are said to have returned the compliment by gifting Brunswijk a shirt.
Heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder told opponent Tyson Fury that his “life depends” on training hard for their fight next month – only for his video threat to be volleyed back in hilarious style by the giant Brit prankster.
Deluded Wilder has repeatedly warned Fury about the threat he poses in their trilogy fight – despite the fact that the ‘Gypsy King’ has far more to brag about after hammering him in a brutal seven-round victory when they met in February 2020.
The American is desperate to regain his title from the unbeaten Mancunian, and his macabre messages to unbeaten Fury have increasingly appeared to be an exercise in convincing himself that he is the more dangerous fighter.
“I’m going to be short, sweet and simple,” the ‘Bronze Bomber’ said in his latest announcement, sitting down to address the camera ahead of the bout on October 9.
Warning: video contains swearing
@Tyson_Fury HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH you absolute legend HAHAHAHA watched this back about 9 times and creased hahahahahahha pic.twitter.com/xmKPRut1dl
“This fight right here, you’d better be preparing for. You’d better train your butt off as if your life depends on it – because your life depends on it.”
Fury provided a head-on message to the camera of his own as he sat by the ropes on a boxing ring.
“I’m going to smash your f*cking face in, you pr*ck,” he solemnly declared, looking irritated rather than remotely alarmed by Wilder’s warning. “How about that for a f*cking message?”
Observers making a case for huge underdog Wilder to win believe that Fury’s greatest enemy could be complacency after a comprehensive victory in the previous fight in which he knocked his rival down seemingly at will and even appeared to lick blood from his battered torso at one point.
Wilder has produced a series of entertaining excuses for his bruising defeat, including a claim that his ringwalk costume was too heavy and accusations of glove-tampering and various other acts of skullduggery.
“You absolute legend,” one fan told Fury, laughing hysterically as they watched the video messages run one after the other. “Watched this back about nine times and creased.”
Notorious former Premier League hardman and Wales international Vinnie Jones told Fury: “Now that is a proper message. Well said, geezer.”
The man Fury had been due to face in one of the most lucrative fights of all time – fellow Brit Anthony Joshua – lost on points to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday, dealing a further blow to the prospects of their scrap materializing after Wilder enforced a contract clause to ensure that Fury faced him first.
A 5/2 long shot for the third fight, Wilder knocked Fury down in their first encounter, which ended in a draw in December 2018.
