By Chris Wheeler for MailOnline

Published: 08:30 EDT, 22 September 2023 | Updated: 09:41 EDT, 22 September 2023

USA women spark controversy AGAIN as six players stay SILENT during national anthem before their last 16 World Cup exit against Sweden

• Members of USWNT chose not to sing the national anthem before Sweden loss
• But several members of the team did sing along prior to their round of 16 fixture
• Players’ decisions to remain silent in previous games had attracted controversy 

By Adrian Bishop For Mailonline

Updated: 08:22 EDT, 6 August 2023

Colts cut Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry after the pair, plus free agent Demetrius Taylor, were banned for the ENTIRE 2023 season for betting on league games in 2022

• It follows the NFL’s revelation of six ‘key rules’ relating to its gambling policy
• There has been several players already suspended for violations in 2023 
• DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

By Patrick Djordjevic For Dailymail.Com

Published: 12:38 EDT, 29 June 2023 | Updated: 15:51 EDT, 29 June 2023

Inter Milan supporters give their players a hero’s welcome back from training as some rowdy fans sneak into their Istanbul hotel to greet them ahead of Champions League final

• Inter fans are building an atmosphere ahead of the Champions League final
• Raucous supporters welcomed the team back from training on Friday afternoon
• Some even got into the team hotel as they waited for players and staff to return 

By Ryan Walker For Mailonline

Published: 20:04 EDT, 9 June 2023 | Updated: 20:38 EDT, 9 June 2023

West Ham United players danced in the streets last night as they returned to their hotel in the centre of Prague and received a hero’s welcome, joining jubilant West Ham fans celebrating their historic win in Prague. 

Last night supporters were in delirium after Jarrod Bowen’s 90th-minute winner saw them become Europa Conference League champions with a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina.

Thousands of fans who flocked to the Eden Arena in Prague partied late into the night in the Czech capital, while supporters back home gathered for jubilant celebrations outside the London Stadium.

As the team got off the bus at their hotel goalkeeper Alphonse Areola produced a portable music player and even manager David Moyes joined in the impromptu bop in front of two dozen happy fans after 2am early today.

And goalscorer Bowen was all smiles, laughing as his teammates danced to a song which affectionately celebrates his relationship with Dani Dyer, with whom he has recently had twins.

Despite the early hour, the players looked in no mood to end their celebrations as they walked in the street, hugged and signed autographs for fans.

Because of the time, first choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski tried to quieten fans down in order not to wake other hotel guests up.

But his teammates wanted to get the party rocking and the fans joined in, along with manager Moyes.

Captain Declan Rice, who will on Thursday evening lead an open top bus celebration of the trophy win, was all smiles as he emerged from the team bus to their hotel.

He was followed by his predecessor as club captain, West Ham legend Mark Noble.

As soon as the goalkeeper played the song the players broke into a dance again.

They were soon joined by fans as well, and Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta signed one supporter’s West Ham shirt. Earlier, Paqueta had shown off his dance moves in the dressing room, in a clip posted on the team’s Twitter account.

One fan said: ‘I couldn’t get a ticket for the game, and I was just walking back to my hotel when I saw the coach.

‘I saw Said Banrahama through a coach window and he smiled at me, and then all the players emerged from nowhere.

‘That was like actually being at the match. What a great bunch of lads they are.’  

West Ham manager Moyes, 60, delighted supporters who had travelled more than 600 miles to cheer the Irons on as he strutted his stuff, celebrating the result both on and off the pitch.

In the run up to the big game the former Manchester United boss promised fans he would bring out his ‘dad dancing’ if they were victorious – and he didn’t disappoint as he joined crowds in the Czech capital.

But shocking scenes also saw supporters appearing to clash with police in the city. 

One video showed Prague officers in riot gear storming through a crowd leaving fans sprawling as they raced towards what appeared to be a West Ham fan wielding a glowing red pyrotechnic.

The chaos left fans shocked – with one showing off a bloody elbow following the carnage. 

It came hours after supporters were blasted for throwing plastic pint glasses onto the pitch – with a vape pen thought to be thrown by an Irons supporter gashing the head of Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi.

Crowds were seen dancing on the concourse of the old Olympic stadium, while packed-out bars rocked with joyous supporters. 

Ex-West Ham and England ace Trevor Sinclair was among those who took to the town – posting a raucous video of fans packed into a London venue last night. 

With fans screaming and dancing on tables, the pundit, 50, grinned at the camera as chaos unrolled behind him.  

After Benrahma’s second half penalty was cancelled out by Giacomo Bonaventura, Bowen – who had twins with girlfriend Dani Dyer just two weeks ago – latched onto Paqueta’s perfectly weighted through ball and calmly slotted beyond the reach of the Fiorentina goalkeeper.

West Ham were made to desperately hold on for eight gruelling minutes of stoppage time, but defended stoutly to secure their first European trophy since 1965. 

But as the full-time whistle finally arrived, David Moyes and his players rushed to their travelling fans to share the historic moment with their travelling fans.

It sparked euphoric celebrations both inside the stadium, where players danced on the pitch to music before and after Declan Rice lifted the trophy, as well as a giant party atmosphere in the East End.

Fans immediately began belting out their iconic I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles anthem and hailed Bowen’s name as the winger wrote his name into the club’s folklore.

Speaking to BT Sport, Bowen said: ‘I obviously dreamed of scoring but to score the winner in the last minute – it’s what you always say. 

‘And to do it in front of these fans – I thought I was going to cry.

‘I’m just happy. I can’t put it into words. We’ve had a dream – we haven’t had the best season, myself included.

‘But to do what we’ve done tonight for these fans – to give them this moment, I’m over the moon.’

After 58 years of hurt the team lifted their first European cup since before England won the World Cup.

Fans sang Queen’s We Are The Champions as Declan Rice held the cup. 

And manager David Moyes was seen dancing in celebration as his team finally secured the silverware.

The 60-year-old later said it was the best moment in his career.

Combative midfielder Rice, who covered every blade of grass in the pulsating final, said: ‘Honestly it means absolutely everything. The lads have been so on it. We’ve had a real belief. I’m not just happy for us, for the manager, but for the fans.

‘I’m also happy for (the backroom staff).’

On Bowen’s goal, he added: ‘I said when he ran through on goal, “this is your time”. As soon as you see it hit the back of the net, you don’t know what to do – I’m still in shock!

‘I absolutely love this club. They’ve made me one of their own. I’m just so, so happy.

And addressing comparisons to club greats like Sir Bobby Moore, he said: ‘Do you know what? To be even in that conversation is crazy. 

‘I’ve given the last six years playing my heart out for this club, and it’s not been easy.’

Joe Cole, working as a pundit on BT Sport, heaped praise on the West Ham captain following his performance.

He said: ‘Declan Rice is a special player, an absolutely special player. A special character. And he stands on the shoulders now with Billy Bonds and Bobby Moore. I can say that. I know how good a player he is.

‘I’ve watched him as a young kid when they kindly let me train with the youth team. I saw this young, spotty herbert in midfield running rings around me, and I was 36. I thought “It’s time for me to hang them up, Colely!” I knew when I spoke to him.

‘Forget the playing ability and what he can do on the pitch, his personality, I knew he would become a leader. He’s been here for four, five years ago now and he’s written his name down in the history of this football club. Like I said, he stands next to the great Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds. Fair play to him, I’m so pleased for him.’

Among the crowds, West Ham hero Knollsy – the ‘Angel of Alkmaar’ who bravely defended the team’s supporters from Dutch thugs last month – was seen belting out Bubbles from the middle of packed crowds.

Chris Knoll, 58, became an international sensation last month after he fought off brutes who had intended to attack West Ham supporters, including the wives and girlfriends of the team at AK Alkmaar.

He arrived in Prague on Tuesday to cheers after he was given tickets to the final against  after MailOnline contacted West Ham United executives.

As the father of four disembarked from a train at Prague’s main railway station, he said: ‘I am actually here, and it feels incredible.

‘I just got mobbed by West Ham fans as I came off the train, and that means more to me than anything. I have to say it again, but I only did what would’ve been expected.

‘There were women and children and they could’ve been attacked. I acted instinctively, although I had a feeling there was something bad in the air before.’

Earlier in the match, Fiorentina’s captain suffered a gash to his head after he was hit by a vape pen apparently thrown by a West Ham fan – in shameful scenes just hours after a group of partying Irons supporters were violently ambushed and attacked. 

Italian ultras came at the Londoners with flares, chains, bottles and batons this afternoon, before the Europa Conference League final kicked off.

Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi was treated for blood dripping down his neck after he was apparently hit by a vape pen while taking a corner in front of the Irons supporters.

Plastic pint glasses could be seen raining down on the 30-year-old, who was later wrapped in a matching purple bandage – as the London team were told to have a word with their fans.

The celebratory mood soured in central Prague soon after 3pm when Hammers fans drinking in a bar were attacked by the Italians clad in black clothing and masks.

Several West Ham fans suffered cuts and bruises as the missiles flew. Police in the Czech capital said three West Ham fans and one police officer were injured in the incident.

Thirty Italians were arrested after the attacks, a few hours before the game kicked off. 

One video showed the thuggish fans of the Florence club throwing chairs at the West Ham supports sitting under the arches outside the bar ahead of the Premier League Club’s biggest European match in nearly half a century. Another clip showed the Ultras running down a Prague street carrying make-shift weapons.

As the police moved in to quell the violence, two stun grenades were launched into the Tekila Tekila bar in the city centre, causing loud bangs. Broken glass and a burnt-out chair littered the ground outside the bar after the attack.

Around 300 West Ham fans had been drinking happily, singing without causing any fear to police or locals when they were set upon by the Italian ultras.

As word went round the wider area that their fellow fans were being assaulted, Hammers fans moved towards the bar – and a group of riot police moved in to arrest the Fiorentina football fans causing chaos.

One West Ham fan who witnessed the scenes said: ‘They targeted a group and attacked them quite violently then ran off before anyone could react. It was completely unprovoked. They were all ultras dressed in black. It was pretty grim.’ 

Another eyewitness, retired plumber John Brownlie from Cambridge, said: ‘From nowhere about 100 men with chains, belts, bottles, and flares came round the street corner, and almost pushed over a lady and her baby in a pushchair.

‘The woman quickly was quickly rushed inside to the bar, with her child, but two stun grenades were thrown in there, and caused some fire damage,’ he added.

‘This caused a lot of us to come out of the bar to find out what was going on, and then they started attacking us, punching and kicking us. When they ran, which would’ve been probably a minute later, we ran after them but the police blocked us.

‘They were just cowards. West Ham fans didn’t do anything wrong. This was an ambush,’ Brownlie added.

Another West Ham fan, who did not want to be named, said ‘a large group’ of Italian fans attacked the bar.

‘About eight Italians walked past, swinging bands and chains,’ he said. ‘Five minutes later there was a big group that come down the road and attacked us.’

The man said five West Ham fans were injured ahead of the game kicking off.

He said: ‘Three of our mates (were injured), out of all of this lot there were five. Three of them were our mates. They’ve gone to hospital.’ He said that one of his friends was ‘quite badly’ injured with a ‘massive cut’ on his head.

A 17-year-old witness to the attack on West Ham fans said that Fiorentina fans came around the corner ‘trying to give it large’.

‘We were all standing here, just having a glass,’ he said. ‘And they all come around the corner, trying to give it large. We done nothing wrong.’ 

He said that the Italian fans had ‘chains and belt buckles’. 

‘They were throwing flares and firecrackers,’ he said. 

‘They had chains and belt buckles and everything. They come here, try giving it, and then they ran down the road.’

Around 100 West Ham fans attempted to run towards the bar where their fellow fans were said to have been attacked but were kept at bay by around 50 police officers, some armed with automatic rifles and batons.

The ultras attempted to escape the police and ran through a busy paved shopping area. Some ran through the outside tables of a café where many people were dining, causing crockery, glasses and bottles to smash as tables were overturned.

Despite their efforts, they were rounded up and hemmed in outside a massage parlour. Women working within were seen peering through windows and taking pictures with their phones of the thugs.

MailOnline witnessed a group of suspected thugs being handcuffed and arrested before being led off through the crowds.

Police using tannoys, speaking in Italian, warned the remaining Florentina fans and ultras who were gathering to leave the area immediately.

In a statement on Twitter, along with a photograph of a number of Italian fans in handcuffs on the floor of a shoeshop, Prague’s police forces confirmed that West Ham fans were attacked where in a bar by Fiorentina’s fans.

‘Italy fans attacked West Ham fans in a bar in Rytířská Street, injuring three. One policeman was also attacked,’ the statement said.

‘We have restricted the personal freedom of 16 people and we are currently investigating the whole incident. #policiepha’.

An investigation was ongoing and no more details were immediately provided.

It comes after similarly-cald hooligan supporters of AZ Alkmaar tried to get at West Ham players’ families in chaotic scenes at the end of the semi-final in Holland.

Riot police have been on standby in the hours ahead of tonight’s kick-off.

Earlier, one fan was detained by police for letting off an orange flair in the square, but later released after a ticking-off.

More than 10,000 West Ham fans were gathering in the fan zone to watch the match on a giant screen.

Supporters of their Italian rival without tickets were led to a separate fan zone.

After days of rain, the sun came out and lifted the spirits of the thousands of fans in Prague’s Old Town Square as of pints were downed and bars were packed to the hilt.

But as the final kicked off, many fans who travelled to Prague but were unable to get tickets would have been disappointed to see several hundred empty seats in the stadium. 

Sam Nicola, 32, a London black cab driver who was wearing a claret and blue curly wig, said: ‘I woke up this morning and my whole body went into this state of anxiety.

‘I couldn’t talk and I keep thinking about what might happen. It is far worse than normal butterflies, believe me.

‘We just have to win, and I promised all my mates that I will wear this wig in my cab for a week if we do.’

His brother Jay, 35, who also wore a similar wig and drives a black cab, added: ‘ we have waited so long for this. But there was a lot of nerves.

‘But I believe we can do it. We will bring that trophy home. We will win 2-1.’

London dentist Aditi Tanna, 28, who wore a West Ham hat and shirt said: ‘It is so amazing being here with all these great West Ham fans. We have made many new friends.

‘My boyfriend Ajay and I came into Prague on a train from Vienna this morning and for four more Euros we were put into first class and given a class of Prosecco so that was a great way to start the day.

‘I feel it is getting better and better all the way to winning the cup tonight.

‘We don’t have tickets, but it is much more fun being here than watching it on TV from the sofa. ‘

Keilan Schemeri, 31, from Gibraltar whose father Joe is from London and a Hammer’s fan said: ‘It will be 3-1 to West Ham. We are going all the way.’

Former West Ham striker, Tony Cottee join supporters in the old town Square as a sign his name.

Actor and comedian James Corden, a lifelong West Ham fan, also flew into the Czech Republic and posed happily with supporters for photographs.

Folk hero Knollsy, who was dubbed the ‘Angel of Alkmaar’ after fighting off thugs out to attack West Ham fans last month, was mobbed by well-wishers as he walked through the square wearing a black West Ham shirt.

The final is West Ham’s first in Europe since 1976, and they are bidding to win their first trophy since the FA Cup 43 years ago.

Greg Robson, 59, from Manor Park, east London, told the PA news agency he has been a season ticket holder for 43 years.

‘First game was 1969, with my dad, sadly no longer with us,’ he said. ‘And I’ve had a season ticket since the age of 16. This is about my 43rd year now going home and away, following them abroad. I just love West Ham United.’

He said it felt ‘unbelievable’ to be in a European final.

‘I was just one when we first won it, 11 in ’76,’ he said. ‘So really, for me, this is the first time to actually go to one.’ He said he booked his flight to Prague before West Ham had even made the knockout stages.

‘We actually booked the flights when we were in the group stages,’ he said. ‘So it’s a gamble that paid off.’ He added that he will ‘party all night’ if the Hammers win.

‘Just party, party all night,’ he said. ‘I’ve got an early flight in the morning, but I might be missing that.’

Andrew Hall, 54, from Surrey, said: ‘If we’re celebrating I could be here for another week.’ He added that he had spent ‘probably £1,000’ on his trip to Prague, adding: ‘But it’s worth every penny.’

Steve Wick, 60, from Hertfordshire, said he had travelled for hours to make it to the Czech capital. ‘We drove 13 hours,’ he said. ‘We got the shuttle over from Folkestone and then drove through. So 13 hours door to door.’

He said it had been ‘years and years’ since the team had had any major success.

‘If we win this tonight it will be mega for the fans,’ he added. ‘It has been years and years since we’ve had any glory. And I think this is going to be it.’

Dan Lee from Romford said he had spent more than £1,000 on his trip to the final.

‘All in, over £1,000, but it’s what you do for West Ham,’ he said.

He added that being in a European final meant ‘everything’ to him.

‘Never did you think that little old West Ham would get this far,’ he said.

‘They were the lifeblood’: Rio Ferdinand hammers Manchester United’s decision to let FIVE players leave after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and insists Jonny Evans should never have been sold

• Rio Ferdinand has slated Manchester United’s decision to sell certain players
• Ferdinand is unhappy that five stars were allowed to leave Old Trafford
• The former defender was shocked at the decision to move Jonny Evans on 

By Ryan Walker For Mailonline

Published: 19:26 EDT, 5 June 2023 | Updated: 19:51 EDT, 5 June 2023

Google has finally removed a controversial mobile game that allowed players to buy, sell and even inflict torture on black characters.

Called ‘Simulador de Escravidão’ (or ‘Slavery Simulator’), the Android game for ‘all ages’ was created by games developer MagnusGames. 

It was released to Google’s Play Store on April 20 and downloaded more than 1,000 times before it was removed on Wednesday following uproar on social media. 

But it still remains available to people who have already downloaded it, according to Brazilian daily newspaper Folha de S Paulo. 

It follows claims that the hugely popular FIFA football video game perpetuates racist myths and stereotypes about black people. 

Brazil’s ministry for racial equality said it had contacted Magnus and Google and those behind Slavery Simulator will be held legally responsible, according to the Guardian.

It’s unclear whether the offensive game was created solely for the Brazilian market or if it was available in other countries too. 

Slavery Simulator lets players ‘accumulate wealth as they exchange, buy and sell slaves’ while keeping them from ‘running away or rebelling’ by hiring guards. 

According to CNN, players choose one of two objectives at the beginning of the game – the Path of the Tyrant or the Path of the Liberator.

As an alternative to becoming ‘a wealthy slave owner’, choosing the ‘Path of the Liberator’ lets them achieve the abolition of slavery’ the game’s description said. 

The Facebook page of Magnus Games still has a screenshot from the gameplay, showing a wealthy white slave owner and a black character behind bars. 

Brazilian figures took to social media to condemn the game and its creators, as well as Google for releasing it. 

In a tweet, Brazilian politician Renata Souza called it ‘blatant racism’, adding: ‘The image illustrating the game has a white man surrounded by black men. 

‘It is absurdly violent. Google and the developer must answer for this crime of hatred and racism.’ 

According to Souza, some of the comments on the app store about the game were ‘great to pass the time, lack more torture options’, and ‘I would like to do it in real life’.

Another comment said: ‘I have a black friend and it was cool to play co-op with him.’ 

Bruno Cândido, a black lawyer based in Rio de Janeiro, posted disturbing screenshots of the game to Twitter, one of which showed a black man in shackles.

Cândido said: ‘At any time your black child could come across a game in which they are reduced to enslavement, and if your child is white, they will be taught through recreational racism to become an enslaver in real life.’ 

Meanwhile, Quilombo Periférico, a collective mandate of black city councillors in São Paulo, said: ‘Racism is not entertainment, it’s a crime!’

Slavery Simulator had no age classification, so it’s possible that even children are still playing it after its removal. 

Brazil’s Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into why the game was made available on the Play Store, according to CNN.

Prosecutors requested ‘specific information about the game’ from Google, while highlighting the ‘great number of racist comments’ from users.

Regarding the issue, a Google spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘The mentioned apps have been removed from Play. 

‘Google Play has a robust set of policies aimed at keeping users safe and which all developers must follow. 

‘We don’t allow apps that promote violence or incite hatred against individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, or that depict or promote gratuitous violence or other dangerous activities. 

‘Anyone who believes they have found an app that violates our rules can report it to Google Play. When violations are found, we take appropriate action.’ 

MagnusGames is yet to respond to MailOnline’s request for comment. 

Racism remains a problem in Brazil, which abolished slavery in 1888, more than 20 years after the US. 

By then Brazil had imported an estimated 4,000,000 slaves from Africa – around 40 per cent of all slaves shipped to the Americas.

The controversy follows a report that found black stereotypes are still rife in the video game FIFA, developed by US company Electronic Arts (EA). 

It found top black players in the game are given greater physical attributes such as sprint speed and jumping, while white ones had higher scores in cognitive and technical areas. 

EA Sports, the division of EA that publishes FIFA, criticised the study, saying there is ‘no correlation between skin tone and skill in our game’. 

The company had to change the name of its successful game after the two-decade-long partnership with the global football governing body ended. 

One of the earlier racist video games was called ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ and was released by Microsoft in early 2002. 

In the first-person shooter, the player controlled a neo-Nazi skinhead and was tasked with killing stereotypical African-American, Latino, and Jewish enemies. 

• An earlier version of this article suggested that Malaysian games developer Magnus Games Studio created the controversial ‘Slavery Simulator’ when, in fact, the game was created by MagnusGames. Magnus Games Studios has no connection or affiliation with the ‘Slavery Simulator’. We are happy to make this clear. 

London Irish players told to prepare for the cash-strapped club’s suspension from the Premiership NEXT WEEK… which means they will have to seek employment elsewhere in latest blow to crisis club

• London Irish players have been told club could be suspended next week
• If London Irish are suspended players will have to seek employment elsewhere 
• Owner Mick Crossan didn’t attend a virtual meeting on Friday evening 

By Chris Foy For Mailonline

Published: 13:35 EDT, 26 May 2023 | Updated: 13:44 EDT, 26 May 2023