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Australia Stands Firm on Integrity: Convicted Rapist Not Welcome on Olympic Team

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Australia Stands Firm on Integrity: Convicted Rapist Not Welcome on Olympic Team

Australia’s Olympic team chief, Anna Meares, has firmly stated that a convicted rapist would not be selected for their Olympic squad, following the controversial inclusion of Steven van de Velde in the Netherlands team for Paris 2024.

Van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old British girl. Despite serving just 12 months of his sentence, he resumed his volleyball career and was recently named to the Dutch Olympic team.

Meares emphasized Australia’s strict stance on safeguarding and integrity within their team. “If an athlete or staff member had that conviction, they would not be allowed to be a member of our team,” she said. “We have stringent policies on safeguarding within our team.”

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The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) defended their selection, stating that Van de Velde had sought professional counselling and demonstrated self-insight and reflection post-release. They noted that his return to the sport followed the Dutch Volleyball Federation’s “Guidelines Integrity Record,” which sets out conditions for athletes to resume competing after a conviction.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains that the selection of athletes for the Games is the responsibility of individual national committees. Despite his inclusion, Van de Velde will not stay in the athletes’ village but will be provided with alternative accommodation in Paris.

Van de Velde’s selection has faced criticism from women’s safety groups, highlighting the ongoing debate about the balance between rehabilitation and safeguarding in sports.

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Manchester United’s Harry Maguire Sidelined for ‘A Few Weeks’ with Injury

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Manchester United’s Harry Maguire Sidelined for ‘A Few Weeks’ with Injury

Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire has confirmed he will be out of action for several weeks due to an injury sustained during United’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday. Maguire, 31, was forced to leave the match at half-time after getting injured in the first half and was later seen leaving Villa Park in a protective boot.

In a social media post, Maguire expressed his frustration, saying, “Frustrated to pick up an injury at the weekend, will be a few weeks on the sideline for me but I’ll come back stronger.”

The injury means Maguire will miss England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Greece and Finland, after being left out of Lee Carsley’s squad. Maguire has made nine appearances for Manchester United this season, with his most recent goal coming in the 3-3 Europa League match against Porto on October 3.

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This is another setback for the centre-back, who also missed Euro 2024 due to a calf problem.

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Chelsea and Nottingham Forest Charged for Failing to Control Players in Premier League Clash

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Chelsea and Nottingham Forest Charged for Failing to Control Players in Premier League Clash

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have been charged by the Football Association (FA) for failing to control their players after a heated confrontation during their 1-1 Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The clash occurred toward the end of the game and involved multiple players from both sides, resulting in a mass altercation.

Despite the intense nature of the incident, no action will be taken against Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, who appeared to slap Forest’s Morato during the fracas. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the altercation but decided against further punishment for Jackson.

The confrontation began when Forest’s Neco Williams seemingly pushed Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella off the pitch, igniting tensions between the teams. Following this, players from both sides were involved in the clash, which saw three yellow cards issued—Williams for Forest, and Cucurella and Levi Colwill for Chelsea.

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In a statement, the FA said, “It’s alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players didn’t behave in an improper and/or provocative way around the 88th minute.” Both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have until Thursday to respond to the charges.

In addition to the altercation, Chelsea faces a separate £50,000 fine for receiving six or more bookings during the match, a threshold they have reached for the second time this season.

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Marco Curto Receives 10-Match Ban for Racist Abuse of Hwang Hee-chan

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Marco Curto Receives 10-Match Ban for Racist Abuse of Hwang Hee-chan

Como defender Marco Curto has been handed a 10-match suspension, with five matches suspended, by FIFA for racially abusing Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan during a pre-season friendly in July. The incident took place in Marbella during the second half of the match, with tensions escalating after Wolves’ Daniel Podence was sent off for a retaliatory punch.

Wolves initially reported the incident to the Italian Football Association and UEFA, but UEFA stated they could not intervene as it was not a UEFA-organized match. However, the Korean Football Association, with Hwang being a South Korean international, brought the issue to FIFA, which led to the disciplinary action.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed, “The player Marco Curto was found responsible for discriminatory behaviour and sanctioned with a 10-match suspension. Half of those matches are suspended for a probation period of two years, and the player is ordered to complete community service and undergo training and education with an organisation approved by FIFA.”

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Wolves’ director of football operations, Matt Wild, expressed gratitude for the support from the Football Association, emphasizing the importance of the decision. “The suspension sends a clear message that racism and discriminatory behaviour will not be tolerated in football or society,” Wild stated, reaffirming Wolves’ commitment to fighting against all forms of discrimination.

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