A picture of hate: Celtic manager attacked by fan in latest disgrace for Scottish football

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Flashpoint: Neil Lennon (centre) is approached as first-team coach Alan Thompson attempts to stop the assailant


Two arrests made in connection with parcel bombs sent to Neil Lennon earlier in the season


The ugly side of Scottish football reared its vile head once again last night.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon was the victim of a brainless pitchside assault as he watched his side in action against Hearts last night.

It was new low in a season marred by sectarian violence, in which Lennon has been sent two parcel bombs and received a death threat.

But last night was the closest he has come to a physical attack and it was only the quick actions of his assistant manager Alan Thompson that saved him from harm.


Attack: The assailant launches himself at Lennon


The man clambered from the Hearts section of the main stand at Tynecastle stadium and charged towards the Celtic boss who was on the touchline.

Fortunately Thompson stuck an arm out as the man launched himself at Lennon. The attacker almost grabbed Lennon, but was knocked to the ground.

And as he was pinned down by Thompson and stewards a furious Lennon tried to confront the man.

The incident happened after Celtic player Gary Hooper put the visitors two goals ahead.


Off balance: The assailant slips as Thompson pulls him away from Lennon


Celtic won the game 3-0 to keep themselves one point behind bitter rivals Rangers in the title race with one game to go.

And last night Lennon preferred to focus on the football, writing on his Twitter page: 'Don't let what happened to me tonight take the shine off a wonderful team performance... I don't walk alone.'

A reference to the song You'll Never Walk Alone, which Celtic fans have adopted as their terrace anthem.

The Hearts supporter was taken away by police after the fracas at the Edinburgh stadium.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond branded the thug's actions 'unacceptable'.
Afterwards trouble flared in the Celtic section of the stadium with fans appearing to fight with police and stewards.


Put your hands up: The supporter is arrested by police, left, and Neil Lennon thanks fans for their support after the game


Lothian and Borders Police said that the man has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal and would appear in court.

The incident is the latest to disgrace Scottish football. In March it emerged that Lennon and other high-profile Celtic supporters were sent parcel bombs.

Celtic confirmed he was under 24-hour security surveillance.

Meanwhile, a police operation was launched this morning in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, and two arrests were made in connection with an investigation into the parcel bombs.

The men, aged 41 and 43, were detained under the Explosives Substances Act 1883 after officers raided a number of properties in Kilwinning, Ayrshire.

Officers are still looking for whoever was responsible for sending two bombs to Lennon and one each to lawyer Paul McBride QC and former MSP Trish Godman.


Brought to earth: Bodies rush in to halt the attack


Restrained: Lennon watches as the intruder is grounded



Fury: Lennon is livid after being attacked

Neil Lennon attacked by Hearts fan



source :dailymail

Tributes pour in for Seve Ballesteros after golfing legend dies from brain tumour at age of 54

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Tributes: The world of sport is mourning the passing of Spanish Golf Legend Seve Ballesteros, who died today aged 54


Tributes have been pouring in from the world of sport following the news that golfer Seve Ballesteros has died.

World No1 golfer Lee Westwood tweeted: ‘It's a sad day. Lost an inspiration, genius, role model, hero and friend. Seve made European golf what it is today. RIP Seve.’

Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, said: ‘RIP Ballesteros. One of golf’s greats.’

Ballesteros had suffered a 'severe deterioration' as he battled a brain tumour, his family said.


Ballesteros and his wife Carmen in 2004 at Spanish Crown Prince Felipe of Bourbon's wedding


The five-time major winning Spaniard was recovering from surgeries performed in 2008 to remove a malignant tumor from his brain.

Other sports stars who have been paying tribute include Spanish tennis star Rafa Nadal, who said: 'Seve is one of this country's great sportsmen. I've been lucky enough to meet him and play golf with him.’

In a statement on Ballesteros' website today, the family said the 54-year-old golfer passed away at 2:10 am local time at his home at Pedrena, in northern Spain, where he has mostly been since undergoing four operations in late 2008.



Family man: Ballesteros with his former wife Carmen and their son Baldomero after winning the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth in 1991


In a statement, the Ballesteros family says it 'is very grateful for all the support and gestures of love that have been received since Seve was diagnosed with a brain tumour on 5th October 2008'.

Ballesteros had earlier been blessed by a priest in a ceremony reserved for Catholics who are dangerously ill or close to death.

The golfing legend received the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, according to Spanish national newspaper El Mundo.


Battle: After a second course of chemotherapy in February 2009, Ballesteros said it was a 'miracle to be alive' at a press conference in Madrid Volvo World Match Play Championship just eight months later


During the ceremony a priest uses olive oil to bless a patient on the forehead and hands while reciting prayers.

The paper said the sportsman had received Extreme Unction, an older term for the sacrament, but gave no further details.

The Anointing of the Sick is one part of the Last Rites ritual in the Catholic Church.


Comedy moment: Seve Ballesteros's sense of humour will be sorely missed


Vintage: Ballesteros saw off defending champion Tom Watson in memorable fashion, winning the second of his three Open championships, at St Andrews in 1984


Seve was the last of his kind

There will never be another golfer quite like Seve Ballesteros. Perhaps no other sportsman quite like him either.

Put together the charisma of Arnold Palmer and the shot-making skills of Tiger Woods and you come close. Yet at his peak, hard though it might be to believe, his appeal was greater than the sum of those two giants of the game.

In the 1980s Europe became blessed with a ‘Big Five’ of Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam.


True great: Seve Ballesteros holds the Ryder Cup trophy in the rain in 1997 after Europe beat the United States



Legend: Seve Ballesteros reacting as he wins the British Open golf championship at Royal Lytham and St. Anne's in Lancashire


Severiano Ballesteros "The Matador"


Seve Ballesteros 13Th Fairway approach shot 1986 Masters


Amazing golf shot - Ballesteros on his knees



source: dailymail

Floored! The moment female 'sexism row' referee was flattened by football player...

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Full force: Assistant referee Sian Massey feels the power of Cardiff City player Kevin McNaughton's shoulder as she is hurled out of his way


This is the moment that the female linesman at the centre of a sexism row is violently knocked to the ground by a Cardiff City football player.

Defender Kevin McNaughton is seen running to keep the ball in play when he appears to drop his shoulder and steer himself into Sian Massey.

She is hit with such force that her head snaps back and she is flung across the pitch.

Ungentlemanly McNaughton simply gets up and walks away without even checking to see if she is injured, let alone help her up or apologise.


Kevin McNaughton stops the ball from going over the line, just where Sian Massey was standing


Some viewers have demanded that he should say sorry for his actions. However his agent has said he does not need to apologise for anything.

Massey was at the centre of a row over comments made by Andy Gray and Richard Keys who said that women 'don't know the offside rule', ultimately leading to them losing their jobs at Sky Sports.

Video footage from Monday's match between Cardiff City and Middlesbrough shows McNaughton running for the ball to try to keep it in play, but he was blocked by opposing player Rhys Williams.

He manages to stop the ball from going over the line but then continues running at full pelt, and looks like he swerves, hurtling into Miss Massey.


She is flung along the pitch a couple of metres by the force of the 'collision'


She takes the full brute force of his shoulder barge and is sent flying to the ground without an apology or offer of help back to her feet.

Fortunately, Miss Massey takes the event in good humour and is seen smiling as she gets back up off the ground.

The football crowd cheered as she falls to the ground but, keeping her composure and professionalism, she gets back up and even gives a goal kick before having a chuckle with referee Graham Scott.


Massey is flung to the ground but McNaughton runs off without as much as an apology


Some have speculated on YouTube that the actions appear to be deliberate. One user said: 'He changes direction. It's deliberate and disgusting. The fact that he just trots off makes it more obvious.'

Another said: 'He makes the challenge on the Boro player and then deliberately side steps and increases his speed into the path of Sian Massey before using his body weight to barge her over.

'She's lucky not to have any broken bones.'


She sees the funny side of the incident, however, and shares a chuckle with referee Graham Scott


A club spokesman said: 'Kevin didn't do it on purpose - he was trying to get the ball.'

John Viola, McNaughton's agent, said the allegations were 'absolute nonsense'.

He added: 'He is not that type of guy, he is the nicest player you would ever meet in your life so anyone suggesting he did it on purpose is crazy.'

When asked why he didn't stop to help her back to her feet or apologise he said: 'He was concentrating on the game. He is a focused footballer.

'I don't know (if he will be contacting her to apologise), I'm abroad at the moment and I haven't spoken to him about that.'


Knockdown: Cardiff City player Kevin McNaughton has been accused by some fans of running into assistant referee Sian Massey on purpose



The referee was brought to the nation's attention after sexist remarks by Andy Gray, left, and Richard Keys - leading to them losing their jobs at Sky Sports


Cardiff city player knocks over female linesman!!



source: dailymail

Shakira and boyfriend's PDA as they cheer his team to victory

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Affectionate: Shakira and Gerard Pique share a passionate kiss in Barcelona, Spain, today where his Barcelona thrashed Osasuna 2-0


Shakira and her footballer boyfriend share a series of passionate kisses as they watched his team steam to victory today.

The very affectionate couple were spotted putting on a touchy feely show in the stands in Spain, where Gerard Pique's Barcelona teammates thrashed Osasuna 2-0.


Pique was not playing today, but a short bench at Camp Nou Stadium meant he had to sit in the spectator area.


Eyes not quite on the ball: Gerard enjoys being showered with affection by his pop star girlfriend while keeping a tentative eye on the match


Not that he was complaining.

The 24-year-old sportsman could barely wipe the grin off his face as his Columbian girlfriend, 34, showered him with affection.

Just days ago she was seen consoling Pique following Barcelona's defeat against bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey Cup Final.


Happy couple: The Columbian singer only revealed she was dating the sportsman last month


Cheers: Shakira applauds after Barcelona's Lionel Messi's goal against Osasuna


Joy: Barcelona's players celebrate David Villa's goal


But thanks to goals from his teammates Lionel Messi and David Villa, things went much better for Barcelona today for the La Liga match.

Columbian singer Shakira only revealed she was dating the soccer ace last month, but they have proved how close they are on a number of occasions since then.

She confirmed her relationship with Pique last month when she posted a picture of the two of them on her Twitter account with the caption, 'I present to you my sunshine'.

source: dailymail

Don't be sad, you have ME! Shakira comforts footballer boyfriend Gerard Pique

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Look of love: Shakira looked heartbroken as her Barcelona footballer boyfriend Gerard Pique headed to the stands to see her after his defeat against Real Madrid last night


As a professional footballer, there's nothing more crushing than losing a cup final.

And if you play for Barcelona, defeat at the hands of your bitterest rivals Real Madrid only heightens the disappointment.

Luckily, for one player, there was a fine consolation prize waiting in the stands at Madrid.

Gerard Pique, 24 , was the lucky man in question, and his commiseration came at the hands of his stunning girlfriend Shakira, 34, who also just happens to be a pop superstar.


Fit of Pique: Gerard rushes straight to Shakira's arms after his team lost the game in a 1-0 defeat


Pique was dejected after Barcelona were narrowly beaten to the Copa Del Rey, the King's Cup, in last night's game, which was played in Valencia.

It was a tight match, with Christian Ronaldo's extra-time goal being enough to separate the two rivals.

Downcast faces peered over the famous burgundy and blue strip as the result started to sink in, but lucky Pique headed to the stands.

There he climbed through fans and headed straight towards the pop sensation, who looked devastated for her boyfriend.


Comfort: It was some consolation for Pique to have his girlfriend on hand


They shared a look of understanding and sympathy, before Shakira stretched her arms towards her toy-boy.

She the clasped him to her, holding his neck as she stroked his face.
They didn't care who was watching, but the crowd looked on fondly.


Columbian singer Shakira only revealed she was dating the soccer ace last month, but they have proved how close they are on a number of occasions since then.

She confirmed her relationship with Pique last month when she posted a picture of the two of them on her Twitter account with the caption, 'I present to you my sunshine'.


Loser: Pique in action against Madrid's Sami Khedira in the game that Real won in extra time


Real Madrid's goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas celebrates with the trophy after winning the Spanish Cup final against fierce rivals Barcelona

source: dailymail