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I partied with Rodri & Man Utd’s Alejandro Garnacho at Ballon D’or – Harry Kane let slip plans for Prem League return

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I partied with Rodri & Man Utd's Alejandro Garnacho at Ballon D'or - Harry Kane let slip plans for Prem League return

IT was a glitzy night with football’s biggest stars – and I was one of the lucky few invited to attend.

More than 500 bottles of Champagne were cracked open before the creme de la creme watched Manchester City’s Rodri and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati receive the Ballon d’Or.

Ellie Henman with her Tottenham hero Harry Kane in Paris

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Ellie Henman with her Tottenham hero Harry Kane in ParisCredit: Supplied
Ellie with Man Utd’s Alejandro Garnacho

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Ellie with Man Utd’s Alejandro GarnachoCredit: Supplied
Man City’s Rodri picked up the men’s Ballon d’Or

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Man City’s Rodri picked up the men’s Ballon d’OrCredit: Reuters
He was helped on stage by former Manchester City player George Weah in the closing segment of the evening

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He was helped on stage by former Manchester City player George Weah in the closing segment of the eveningCredit: Supplied

But the caterers scored an own goal when they ran out of platters to serve their nibbles — forcing the chefs to send out waiters holding metal colanders full of macaroni cheese balls.

That flash of chaos did not affect the presentation of the only two balls that really mattered — the rotund golden trophies that were carefully wheeled on to the stage in Paris.

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There was even more fanfare to the moment than I’ve seen at the Oscars and the Baftas.

The gongs came in custom-made Louis Vuitton cases, which each took three people to open, while fireworks threatened to set off the fire alarm as the crowd watched in bewilderment.

Some hours before then, my evening began by navigating four road closures and more than 200 confused French coppers to get to the Theatre du Chatelet in the French capital on a windy Monday night.

Rabid selfie-takers

Once inside, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with football heavyweights including French legend Marcel Desailly and Barcelona president Joan Laporta — who was flanked by heavies to bat off rabid selfie-takers, myself included.

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My first port of call was tracking down Harry Kane, the former captain of my beloved Tottenham Hotspur, who on the night picked up the Gerd Muller trophy with Kylian Mbappe as they had both scored the most goals in Europe this season.

Grabbing Harry for a chat before he was celebrated for his 44 goals in 45 matches, he admitted he was loving his new life at Bayern Munich.

“I’m really enjoying it,” Harry told me with a grin on his face, although he went on to admit his German could still do with a bit of work.

“I am learning and doing two lessons a week,” he added. “I have a good teacher at Bayern.

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Harry Kane scores incredibly rare German hat-trick in Bayern Munich’s 4-0 win over Stuttgart

“For me it is difficult but hopefully I will be there for many years and at some stage will be able to talk a bit of German.”

But what about coming back to Spurs I plead, given we desperately miss our golden boy.

“Maybe one day,” Harry tells me with a somewhat sympathetic smile. Although I suspect, deep down, I may be left wanting.

The reception waiters are bringing out posh canapes in great haste but I spy Marcel Desailly waving away cubes of raw cod — which, given they were room temperature, was a wise decision.

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After I introduced myself, the Chelsea legend gossiped about Real Madrid’s decision to snub the big night after learning star forward Vinicius Junior would not be awarded the top prize.

Lamine Yamal with mum Sheila and brother Keyne

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Lamine Yamal with mum Sheila and brother KeyneCredit: Rex
Spanish footballer Jennifer Hermoso got the first standing ovation of the night as she won the Socrates award

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Spanish footballer Jennifer Hermoso got the first standing ovation of the night as she won the Socrates awardCredit: Reuters
Ellie hanging out with Marcel Desailly at the bash

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Ellie hanging out with Marcel Desailly at the bashCredit: Supplied

Insiders at the glitzy bash told me the club’s decision to not send a single delegate caused a big headache and a hurried last-minute switch to the seating plan on the theatre floor.

Elsewhere in the bash, Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho was tucked away in a corner of the champagne reception furiously tapping away on his mobile phone as his glamorous female companion stared blankly into space.

I am learning and doing two lessons a week

Harry Kane

It wasn’t surprising the striker only had eyes for his iPhone, given just six hours before he arrived his gaffer Erik ten Hag was handed his P45.

I chose to not mention the chaos when I started up a conversation but it was clear Garnacho was so deep in the club WhatsApp group gossip that time for a chinwag with me was not on the cards.

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He sat with schoolboy-like stoicism on the front row next to Harry as the awards began.

By this point, more than 500 bottles of Taittinger had been cracked open and the players, Uefa bigwigs and everyone in between were certainly well-oiled.

As the players started to take their seats I went down on to the floor and spotted Barcelona’s teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal — who won the best young player trophy at the ceremony — carrying his toddler brother Keyne around to meet his peers.

The tot won hearts when Lamine carried him out on to the pitch after Spain won the Euros this summer and he was the centre of attention at the ceremony.

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As Keyne was passed from player to player, Lamine looked on proudly as they cooed over him.

And later that evening, at just past 11pm, he was among the last to leave as proud Lamine carried the tuxedo-wearing tot down the red-carpeted stars and off to bed. Spanish footballer Jennifer Hermoso got the first standing ovation of the night as she won the Socrates award.

Jennifer — the woman at the centre of the storm last July when she was kissed without consent by Fifa’s ex- vice-president Luis Rubiales — was the first woman to be handed the gong and used her time on stage to push for equality.

‘Make a better world’

She said: “This award is not just mine, but belongs to all my teammates, with whom I share a space where equality is not always a given.

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“That’s why we all work day by day with the hope and desire to leave women’s football in a better place for the new generations.”

She added: “I’d like to tell all women to keep being courageous. Work together in order to make a better world possible.”

Two hours in, and the ceremony came to a close with the unveiling of the top award, the Ballon d’Or.

Barcelona’s Aitana won the women’s gong for a second year in a row and was handed the accolade by Hollywood actress Natalie Portman.

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The Black Swan star, who part-owns LA-based football team Angel City FC, told me she was a regular at Paris Saint-Germain games with her teenage son — who worked the theatre floor like a pro and took selfies with everyone from Harry to Rodri.

I’d like to tell all women to keep being courageous

Jennifer Hermoso

Collecting her prize, Aitana paid tribute to her teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo who were left in second and third place respectively.

The pair did not seem too impressed with her sentiments, though, and struggled to raise a smile as Aitana spoke about them.

Afterwards, when the Champagne started to flow again, they made a beeline for the dessert table and I stood and watched as they despondently ate miniature cream cakes and poached pears as Aitana swerved the after-party.

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Man City’s Rodri, who picked up the men’s Ballon d’Or, was helped on stage by former Manchester City player George Weah in the closing segment of the evening.

The midfielder is on crutches after undergoing surgery following a nasty injury last month, but refused to pose with his sticks and handed them to a flunky as he stood on stage clutching his prize.

“I am feeling much better,” he reassured the crowd. “This is a big injury for me. Football has a lot of risks and this is the first time in my career to have something like this.

“I am trying to rest and recuperate and come back stronger.”

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He was joined by his parents, who were seated towards the back — and when I saw him leaving the theatre, his mother had to fight through a crowd of 20 heavies to reach her boy to give him a kiss.

It just goes to show, you are never too old, or too successful, to get a smacker from Mum.

Back inside the bash, there was uproar at the decision to shut the bar at 11pm — two hours before the official closing time.

With all the stars gone, though, and the warm, raw cod starting to repeat on the most prestigious of guests, it was best to call it a night.

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Until next year, Paris.

Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati receive the Ballon d’Or

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Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati receive the Ballon d’OrCredit: Reuters
Waiter and colander full of nibbles after platters ran out

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Waiter and colander full of nibbles after platters ran outCredit: supplied
Natalie Portman, who presented an award

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Natalie Portman, who presented an awardCredit: Getty
Ellie at the awards in Paris

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Ellie at the awards in ParisCredit: Supplied

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Rangers agree further borrowing as Tierney nears return – Scottish gossip

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Rangers agree further borrowing as Tierney nears return - Scottish gossip


Rangers will borrow a further £4m from investors and have agreed to receive another £9m in loans. (Record), external

The amount paid by Rangers to settle a dispute with Elite was recorded as £3.8m in their annual accounts. (Herald – subscription), external

Former Hearts sporting director Joe Savage regrets not signing Nicky Devlin before the Scotland right-back joined Aberdeen from Livingston. (Record), external

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tried to sign Yan Dhanda, James Penrice and Blair Spittal before all three moved to Hearts during the summer. (Herald – subscription), external

Scotland defender Kieran Tierney is nearing a return to fitness at Arsenal. (Record), external

Former Celtic general manager Jock Brown has become chairman of Hamilton Academical. (Sun), external



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Shannon Ruth: Brighton Under-21 boss who believes English coaches should learn abroad

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Shannon Ruth: Brighton Under-21 boss who believes English coaches should learn abroad

Midfielder Hinshelwood has benefited from Ruth’s guidance at Brighton and the 19-year-old has featured heavily under De Zerbi and Hurzeler.

Hinshelwood’s direct journey to first-team football was unlike the path of Caicedo, who had to go out on loan and play for Ruth’s under-21s before he was ready for the seniors and ultimately a £115m move to Chelsea.

“Since I took the role when Roberto first came in, not a day has passed when an academy player hasn’t trained with our first team,” Ruth said.

“Passing players back and forth is really normal here. We believe it helps their development and believe it helps in making them get closer to impacting our first team.”

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Ruth would like to become a head coach at some point, but he explained that coaches should not be in a “hurry” to secure the senior positions.

“As a 21s head coach, it is a great education. You are almost a filtered-down version of a senior coach,” Ruth said.

“The bits and pieces and the challenges that might land on my desk are nowhere near what might land on Fabian’s.”

The outlook appears bright for both Brighton Under-21s and their coach.

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Ruth’s team sit second in the Premier League 2 table behind Manchester City, having lost just one game.

Players are seizing the chance to impress, knowing a first-team career is achievable.

“In the last four seasons we have had more players go on to play professionally than we have released,” Ruth said.

“The stat of young players falling out of football is big, we know. We’re really proud that that’s not the case [at Brighton] and we’re trying hard to defy that stat.”

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VIDEO | Reliving Matthew Wade’s epic innings against Pakistan in 2021 T20 World Cup semifinal

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VIDEO | Reliving Matthew Wade's epic innings against Pakistan in 2021 T20 World Cup semifinal

Australian T20 World Cup winner and wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade, on Tuesday, retired from international cricket. He last appeared in Aussie colours at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

The 36-year-old will now join Australia’s coaching staff under Andre Borovec for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, and the ODI series starting in Melbourne from November 4.

Wade played 36 Tests, 97 ODIs and 92 T20Is over 13 years, scoring 1,613 runs, 1,867 and 1,202 respectively. He started off as a junior footballer, but switched to cricket owing to his height. A testicular cancer survivor, Wade remained in wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine’s shadow. Despite the setbacks, Wade went back to domestic cricket and made a strong case for himself with stellar performances for Tasmania.

He was picked for the England series in 2019, and then made his way into the white-ball teams. He made his mark in T20 cricket, with Hobart Hurricanes in BBL, and soon became Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in 2020-21.

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2021 T20 World Cup, Australia vs Pakistan semifinal, Dubai

The defining moment of his career came in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he was the vice-captain and was assigned the role of a finisher. In the semifinal against Pakistan in Dubai, he smashed a 17-ball 41 not out in an epic finish, to take Australia into the final.

Wade came out to bat at no.7 in the 13th over, after the dismissal of Glenn Maxwell (7). Australia needed 81 runs off 46 balls then, with Marcus Stoinis batting at the other end on four. The wicketkeeper-batter started off slowly, making eight runs off his first nine balls, while Stoinis was hitting the lusty blows.

Wade tees off in style

In the 18th over bowled by Hasan Ali, Wade hit a six and a four to get going. Australia needed 22 runs now in two overs. Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had given only 13 runs in his three overs till then, came on to bowl the 19th over, with Stoinis on strike.

The first was a dot ball. The Aussies managed to sneak in a leg-bye off the second ball, as Pakistan reviewed an LBW decision unsuccessfully. With Wade on strike, Afridi bowled a wide. The next ball would have been Wade’s last, but his mistimed shot was floored by Ali. What was worse, the Aussies managed to scamper back for two runs. The equation was down to 18 off nine balls.

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Wade vs Shaheen Shah Afridi: 6, 6, 6

What followed was absolute carnage by Wade. He moved across his stumps and scooped an almost yorker to short fine leg for a six. The next ball was a cutter, but Wade cleared his front leg and mowed it down midwicket for yet another six. Pakistan’s hopes of taking the match into the final over were done and dusted, as Wade finished off the match in style, with yet another audacious scooped six off the last ball of Afridi’s over.

He was adudged the player of the match for his stellar innings. Australia went on to win their maiden T20 World Cup title, beating New Zealand by eight wickets in the final.

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Charvarius Ward’s one-year-old daughter Amani Joy tragically dies as 49ers NFL star releases heartbreaking statement

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Charvarius Ward's one-year-old daughter Amani Joy tragically dies as 49ers NFL star releases heartbreaking statement

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS star Charvarius Ward has tragically revealed his one-year-old daughter has passed away.

Ward, 28, confirmed on social media the heartbreaking news that Amani Joy had died on Monday morning.

Charvarius Ward confirmed his daughter Amani Joy died on Monday morning

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Charvarius Ward confirmed his daughter Amani Joy died on Monday morningCredit: Getty
Ward shared an emotional statement alongside a picture of Amani Joy

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Ward shared an emotional statement alongside a picture of Amani JoyCredit: Instagram @itslilmooney

Alongside a picture of his daughter, the cornerback shared a loving message.

He said: “We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning.

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear.

“She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery.

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“She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.

“Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better.

“She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl.

“We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

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The 49ers also released a statement which read: “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.

“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.

“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

Ward and partner Monique welcomed Amani Joy into the world in November 2022.

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In March, on World Down Syndrome Day, the NFL star shared a post opening up about his daughter’s condition.

He said: “I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realise it is just a gift from God.

“Being Amani’s dad has taught me patience & how to surrender & let things be.”

Ward featured for the 49ers in Sunday’s 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

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It is not yet known whether he will feature against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his team’s next game on November 10.

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Yankees come ALIVE in Game 4, Anthony Volpe GRAND SLAM: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez & David Ortiz

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Yankees come ALIVE in Game 4, Anthony Volpe GRAND SLAM: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez & David Ortiz




The “MLB on FOX” crew react to the New York Yankees’ Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series and preview Game 5.



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NFL: Jayden Daniels throws Hail Mary pass in stunning last-gasp win

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NFL: Jayden Daniels throws Hail Mary pass in stunning last-gasp win

Watch as Jayden Daniels throwqs a stunning last-gasp “once in a lifetime” Hail Mary pass as the Washington Commanders defeat the Chicago Bears in week eight of the NFL.

READ MORE: Daniels’ Hail Mary heroics, Browns stun Ravens & Chiefs stay perfect

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