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Sports

Wander Franco found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, but will not serve prison sentence

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, a judge in the Dominican Republic ruled Monday, but he will not serve a sentence. Franco was given a judicial pardon because he was both a defendant and a victim of extortion in the case.

Franco was convicted of sexual abuse in a Dominican court last June and received a two-year suspended sentence. An appeals court reversed the decision, which led to Franco standing trial in front of a new panel of judges. Full sentencing will take place June 16. Even though he was pardoned, the conviction and sentence will still appear on Franco’s record.

“When we have the full sentence in hand, we will give you more details,” Franco’s lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez, told the Associated Press. “He was exempted from punishment and we think that’s fine, but we need to have the sentence in hand.”

In January 2024, prosecutors delivered roughly 600 pages of evidence alleging that Franco had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl for four months. He was also accused of providing the girl’s mother with cash payments and a car in exchange for her consenting to the relationship. The girl’s mother received a 10-year prison sentence.

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Now that the criminal proceedings in the Dominican Republic are complete, Franco will be investigated by MLB and will face a suspension under the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Criminal charges or a conviction are not required for discipline under the domestic violence policy.

“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” MLB said in a statement.

The longest suspension under the league’s domestic violence policy is the 324-game ban given to Trevor Bauer in April 2022, after multiple women accused him of sexual abuse. Bauer’s suspension was later reduced to 194 games on appeal.

Franco last played a game for the Rays on Aug. 12, 2023. He was on administrative leave from that day through July 10, 2024, when charges were filed. At that point, he was placed on the restricted list. Franco has not been paid nor received service time while on the restricted list. This is Year 5 of the 11-year, $182 million contract extension he signed in November 2021.

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Now 25, Franco was once one of the brightest young stars in the game. He finished third in the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year voting despite playing only 70 games, and he was an All-Star in 2022.   

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Sports

I hope Liverpool regret not getting him

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Chelsea legend John Terry has made a prediction about Xabi Alonso’s upcoming tenure as the Blues’ boss. The Englishman said that he hopes Liverpool, who were also in the race for the Spanish tactician’s signature, ‘regret not getting him’.

After an invincible Bundesliga campaign with Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023-24 campaign, Alonso became the talk of the town among top European sides. His former side Liverpool, for whom he made 210 appearances between 2004 and 2009, were interested, but ended up signing Arne Slot from Feyenoord.

Another one of Alonso’s former sides, Real Madrid, eventually hired him as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement in the summer of 2025. With 236 games for Los Blancos, the most he played for any club during his playing career, he was expected to settle in easily and continue Real’s dominance.

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However, he endured a tough tenure at the Bernabeu, taking charge of just 34 games before parting ways with the club in January 2026. In May, Chelsea announced the signing of the Spaniard, bringing him in on a four-year contract starting in July.

During a virtual roundtable hosted by SuperSport, Terry responded to ESPN’s question about the Spaniard’s upcoming term at Stamford Bridge. The 45-year-old was confident that Alonso could put his allegiance with the Reds aside while in charge of the Blues.

He said (via ESPN):

“I don’t think he’ll struggle at all. I think he’ll come in the building on day one and have respect as a player and as a manager. To go on and do what he’s done in such a short career as a manager (has earned it for him)… I hope Liverpool regret not getting him, because that would mean Chelsea have then been successful.”

Despite entering the race to sign Alonso again last season, Liverpool did not make a move to sign the Spaniard. Just weeks after the Blues’ announcement, the Reds parted ways with Slot and named ex-Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola as his replacement.

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Liverpool beat four other clubs to sign Andoni Iraola, reason for Chelsea snub revealed – Reports

According to The Athletic (via This Is Anfield), Premier League giants Liverpool beat out four other clubs to sign Andoni Iraola from Bournemouth.

The Spanish tactician grabbed eyeballs around the footballing world with a stellar 2025-26 campaign with the Cherries. He led them to their best-ever Premier League finish (sixth) and their first-ever qualification to the Europa League.

On Thursday (June 4), five days after parting ways with Arne Slot, the Merseysiders announced the signing of Iraola on a two-year deal. The Athletic reports that they beat Chelsea, Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen to his signature.

The report further revealed that the Blues decided against signing the Spaniard due to concerns with his style of play. They believed that it would be a ‘radical departure’ from the methods implemented by previous managers Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.

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Iraola’s first game in charge of Liverpool will be a pre-season friendly against fellow Premier League side Sunderland on July 25.