Gold diggers lose as jury clears former Man City leftback Benjamin Mendy of rape, attempted rape

Gold diggers lose as jury clears former Man City leftback Benjamin Mendy of rape, attempted rape

Eleanor Laws KC, defending, told the jury that Mendy wasn’t a sexual predator and “moral judgments” about his lifestyle, which involved partying and casual sex with lots of different women, should be put to one side.

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Johannesburg hosts 19th African edition of NBA and FIBA’s Basketball Without Borders camp

Johannesburg hosts 19th African edition of NBA and FIBA’s Basketball Without Borders camp

BWB Africa 2023 will bring together 40 boys and 40 girls from more than 25 African countries to learn directly from current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches and compete alongside their peers from across the continent. The campers and coaches, who will be announced prior to the camp, will also take part in life skills and leadership development, and NBA Cares programming.

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Arsenal manager reveals how he rescued Gunners’ lost soul, kicked off a revolution at Emirates

Arsenal manager reveals how he rescued Gunners’ lost soul, kicked off a revolution at Emirates

Nevertheless, there is huge optimism growing at the Emirates after a season that they can look back on with a lot of pride. Arteta has top, young and hungry players putting on some breathtaking football. And the Spaniard has revealed how he helped change the culture at Arsenal after arriving in 2019.

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Manchester City releases wingback Benjamin Mendy as he faces retrial for sexual assault

Manchester City releases wingback Benjamin Mendy as he faces retrial for sexual assault

Jurors could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape against two other alleged victims after 67 hours and 17 minutes of deliberations.

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Mr Perfect and Mr 32 Minutes are Guardiola’s nicknames earned for meticulousness but his dad, Valenti, jokes son can’t even change a bulb

Mr Perfect and Mr 32 Minutes are Guardiola’s nicknames earned for meticulousness but his dad, Valenti, jokes son can’t even change a bulb

Now 92, his father, who lives in the impressive, orange-brick villa he built, told me this week that the long journey to Istanbul was beyond him, although he had managed to be in Manchester to see City lift the Premier League trophy.

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Champions League: In the footsteps of Josep Guardiola’s pilgrimage from sleepy Santpedor town to the peppy grandmaster of Man City

Champions League: In the footsteps of Josep Guardiola’s pilgrimage from sleepy Santpedor town to the peppy grandmaster of Man City

Jose Mourinho might think he’s the Special One, but Guardiola, who not only wins more, but wins more aesthetically, is the real deal. Watching his teams, with their ever-evolving tactics, their supremacy is such that they often appear to have an extra player on the field. Away from the training pitch, however, he is no less fascinating.

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‘If my body is healthy, anything is possible,’ Kenya’s affable Faith Kipyegon promises as she breaks 5000m World Record in Paris

‘If my body is healthy, anything is possible,’ Kenya’s affable Faith Kipyegon promises as she breaks 5000m World Record in Paris

Kipyegon took the lead with about 600 metres to go, but Gidey kept close contact. They were about six seconds outside of world record pace, but Gidey also knew what Kipyegon is capable of. The world 10,000m champion knew that Kipyegon had the finishing speed to break Gidey’s world record.

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Messi on why he snubbed Saudi petrodollars: I wanted to leave Europe, get out of spotlight and think more about my family

Messi on why he snubbed Saudi petrodollars: I wanted to leave Europe, get out of spotlight and think more about my family

Lionel Messi had wanted to go to a club where he could eventually have an ownership stake, a source with knowledge of the negotiations revealed this week, and his contract is expected to pave the way for him to do so after he retires.

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Football’s big stars’ scramble for petrodollar in ME is part of Saudi Arabia’s soft power tactic to control world opinion – expert

Football’s big stars’ scramble for petrodollar in ME is part of Saudi Arabia’s soft power tactic to control world opinion – expert

PIF is Saudi Arabia’s version, worth some $620 billion (£514 billion), making it the seventh largest such fund in the world. It holds stakes in some of the western world’s best-known companies, including Disney, Uber and Boeing.

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With 60 per cent of its citizens overweight, obese or diabetic Saudi Arabia now taps into football icons to fight menace  

With 60 per cent of its citizens overweight, obese or diabetic Saudi Arabia now taps into football icons to fight menace  

There is undoubtedly a public health benefit. Seventy per cent of the population are aged under 35, with the government keen to improve the statistic that some 60 per cent of the population are overweight or obese. One aim, given by Al-Misehal, is to increase the number of registered male players from 21,000 to over 200,000. He did not mention a target for female players.

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