Eight members of the medical team that tended to all-time <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/soccer">soccer</a> great Diego Maradona before his death two years ago have been charged with homicide in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/argentina">Argentina</a>.
The legendary superstar was 60 when he died of cardiac arrest on November 25, 2020. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was plagued throughout his career by drug and alcohol addiction. In a 236-page court ruling <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/argentina-arg/story/4689778/diego-maradona-death-eight-doctorsnurses-to-be-tried-for-homicide-in-argentina">reviewed by Reuters</a>, the judge pointed the finger at doctors, nurses, and a psychologist who treated him in his final days.
&#8220;As soon as I saw the cause, I said it was homicide,” Mario Baudry, a lawyer for one of Maradona&#8217;s sons, told Reuters. “I fought for a long time and here we are, with this stage completed.”
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Maradona: Medical staff to be tried for football legend&#39;s death <a href="https://t.co/74B1QTfah6">https://t.co/74B1QTfah6</a>
&mdash; BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/1539761963760336903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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A medical panel charged with investigating Maradona&#8217;s death determined last year that the medical team acted in an &#8220;inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner.&#8221; In the Wednesday ruling, the judge raised the possibility that &#8220;the behaviors &#8212; active or by omission &#8212; of each of the accused which led to and contributed to the realization of the harmful result.&#8221;
The defendants charged with homicide included Maradona&#8217;s personal doctor, Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Diaz, nurses Gisella Madrid and Ricardo Almiron, their supervisor Mariano Perroni, and doctors Pedro Di Spagna and Nancy Forlini.
They each could face from eight to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Vadim Mischanchuk, an attorney for Cosachov, vowed to appeal the decision, and insisted his client&#8217;s treatment had no relation with Maradona&#8217;s cause of death.
&#8220;A guilty party is being sought at all costs and objectivity is being lost,&#8221; the lawyer told Reuters.
Named along with fellow legend Pelé as the joint FIFA Players of the 20th Century, Maradona was known for his spectacular passing and dribbling skills. But he was addicted to cocaine for decades, even as he was an international superstar playing for pro teams in Barcelona and Napoli.
After his career, Maradona was a coach for over a decade. He battled weight gain, and reportedly weighed nearly 300 pounds — at just 5-feet, 5-inches tall — before undergoing gastric bypass surgery in 2005.
Weeks before his death, Maradona was admitted to a psychiatric facility, and then underwent an emergency brain surgery. He was released on November 12 and was in the care of his medical team at his Buenos Aires home until his death. He was so popular that after his death, his body lay in state in Argentina’s presidential palace as a huge succession of mourners passed by to pay their respects.

Diego Maradona

Maradona’s Medical Team Charged With Homicide In Soccer Legend’s Death

Maradona's Medical Team Charged With Homicide In Soccer Legend's Death

Argentina

Crime

Soccer

South America

Sports

Former University of Kansas soccer star Regan Noelle Gibbs is dead at the age of 25, and her husband Chad Joseph Marek, 26, has been charged with murder.
According to <a href="https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/17/lawrence-man-arrested-murder-suspect/">local news source</a> WIBW, officers from the Lawrence Police Department responded to a call from a north Lawrence home around 7:30 pm on Monday. Upon arrival, they found a woman with fatal injuries who was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene.
The woman was <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article261555902.html">later identified</a> as Regan Gibbs, who was a goalkeeper at KU from 2015-2018. Marek was with her when authorities arrived, and he was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. According to a report from the Kansas City Star, authorities believe that domestic violence played a role in the former soccer star&#8217;s death.
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We are heartbroken about the loss of Regan Gibbs 💔
We share our deepest condolences to Regan’s family, friends and teammates.
More information → <a href="https://t.co/9reH5e2hry">https://t.co/9reH5e2hry</a> <a href="https://t.co/1id7golZHE">pic.twitter.com/1id7golZHE</a>
&mdash; Kansas Soccer (@KUWSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUWSoccer/status/1526732399622729730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Marek was initially held at the Douglas County jail on $1 million bond — the prosecutor argued that a high bail amount was warranted due to the &#8220;excessive brutality&#8221; of the murder, and &#8220;because the defendant was adamant that what he did was justified.&#8221;
Officials stated that Marek was the one who placed the 911 call, and that he informed law enforcement that God had instructed him to kill his wife.
&#8220;Police have not released the cause of Gibbs’ death pending the results of an autopsy,&#8221; The Lawrence Times reported. &#8220;But Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart said there was blunt force trauma involved. Marek called 911 Monday night and told dispatchers that God told him to kill his wife, Lockhart said.&#8221;
Marek made his <a href="https://lawrencekstimes.com/2022/05/17/lpd-murder-update-dv/">first court appearance</a> on Monday, when he was formally charged with his wife&#8217;s murder — and when asked if he would like to have an attorney provided to represent him, he replied simply: &#8220;Jesus Christ is my attorney.&#8221;
KU soccer coach Mark Francis issued a <a href="https://kuathletics.com/kansas-soccer-mourns-loss-of-former-student-athlete-regan-gibbs/">statement</a> upon learning of Gibbs&#8217; passing, saying, &#8220;Our soccer program is heartbroken to hear about the tragic loss of Regan. She was a tremendous teammate and young woman, and touched so many during her time at Kansas. Regan will always be remembered for the impact she had both on and off the field. We share our condolences to her family, friends and teammates during this difficult time.&#8221;
&#8220;Our KU family sends our love, support and prayers to Regan’s family, friends and former teammates as we all mourn her loss,&#8221; KU Athletic Director Travis Goff added.
Gibbs, according to a GoFundMe page set up by her cousin Hannah Lewis, is survived by her mother and four sisters. &#8220;Regan was only 25, a beautiful, kindhearted girl who loved Jesus and people. She had a big heart for the homeless an hoped to go back to school to become a Physicians Assistant to do mission work.&#8221;

Chalk Outline at Police Crime Scene

Former Kansas Soccer Star Dead At 25, Husband Arrested On $1 Million Bond

Former Kansas Soccer Goalie Star Dead At 25, Husband Arrested On $1 Million Bond

Domestic Violence

Kansas

Violent Crime

Professional United Kingdom footballer Jake Daniels has become the first active player in the league to &#8220;come out&#8221; as gay and admitted he&#8217;s been &#8220;hiding the real me&#8221; for his whole life.
The Blackpool Football Club&#8217;s forward posted a lengthy message on the <a href="https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2022/may/16/a-message-from-jake-daniels/">team&#8217;s website</a> revealing that he&#8217;s known his &#8220;whole life&#8221; that he&#8217;s gay and said he&#8217;s finally ready to &#8220;come out and be myself&#8221; as he shares that he&#8217;s &#8220;been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it,&#8221; <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12614531/jake-daniels-blackpool-forward-becomes-uks-first-active-male-professional-footballer-to-come-out-publicly-as-gay">reported</a> SkySports.com.
&#8220;This season has been a fantastic one for me on the pitch,&#8221; Daniels wrote. &#8220;I&#8217;ve made my first-team debut, scored 30 goals for the youth team, signed my first professional contract and shared success with my team-mates, going on a great run in the FA Youth Cup and lifting the Lancashire FA Pro-Youth Cup.&#8221;
&#8220;But off the pitch I&#8217;ve been hiding the real me and who I really am,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I&#8217;ve known my whole life that I&#8217;m gay, and I now feel that I&#8217;m ready to come out and be myself. It&#8217;s a step into the unknown being one of the first footballers in this country to reveal my sexuality, but I&#8217;ve been inspired by Josh Cavallo, Matt Morton and athletes from other sports, like Tom Daley, to have the courage and determination to drive change.&#8221;
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A message from Jake Daniels. <a href="https://t.co/R2wEsniXKV">https://t.co/R2wEsniXKV</a> <a href="https://t.co/dcznYKtSaD">pic.twitter.com/dcznYKtSaD</a>
&mdash; Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlackpoolFC/status/1526232455002345473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;In reaching this point, I&#8217;ve had some of the best support and advice from my family, my Club, my agent and Stonewall, who have all been incredibly pro-active in putting my interests and welfare first,&#8221; Daniels continued. &#8220;I have also confided in my team-mates in the youth team here at Blackpool, and they too have embraced the news and supported my decision to open up and tell people. I&#8217;ve hated lying my whole life and feeling the need to change to fit in. I want to be a role model myself by doing this.&#8221;
The professional soccer player closed out his post by sharing how he knows there are &#8220;people out there in the same space&#8221; like him and may not yet feel &#8220;comfortable revealing their sexuality.&#8221; He said he just wanted them to know that they &#8220;don’t have to change&#8221; who they are to fit in, and to be you and be happy is what &#8220;matters most.&#8221;
The outlet noted that Jake is the first professional footballer in the country to come out as gay in the last 30 years. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-54617759">Justin Fashanu</a> shared his sexuality in 1990, later on in his career.

Blackpool-2

Professional U.K. Footballer Says He’s ‘Been Hiding The Real Me,’ Becomes League’s First Active Player To ‘Come Out’ As Gay

Professional UK Footballer Says He’s ‘Been Hiding The Real Me,’ Becomes League's First Active Player To ‘Come Out’ As Gay

Football

Gay Rights

United Kingdom

Professional soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez shared the heartbreaking news Monday that their newborn son, one of the couple&#8217;s twins, had died.
In joint statements shared on <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano/status/1516120150533095432?s=20&amp;t=iF2ekqafT0FW0kPBlX0hvw">social media</a>, the 37-year-old player for the Premier League club Manchester United revealed the &#8220;devastating&#8221; news that the couple&#8217;s &#8220;baby boy&#8221; and their &#8220;angel&#8221; had passed away.
&#8220;It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away,&#8221; the joint statement read. &#8220;It is the greatest pain that any parent can feel. Only the birth of our baby girl gives us strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness.&#8221;
&#8220;We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for all their expert care and support,&#8221; the statement added. &#8220;We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly as for privacy at this very difficult time. Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.&#8221;
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<a href="https://t.co/vRNVCoegOW">pic.twitter.com/vRNVCoegOW</a>
&mdash; Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano/status/1516120150533095432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Almost Six months ago &#8211; in October of 2021 &#8211; Rodriguez had announced the exciting news that the two were expecting not one, but two little bundles of joy: twins.
&#8220;Delighted to announce we are expecting twins,&#8221; Georgina shared at the time in a post on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVk29cSI-2E/">Instagram</a>. &#8220;Our hearts are full of love-we can&#8217;t wait to meet you #blessed.&#8221;
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The post included several pictures. The first was of the happy couple holding up black-and-white sonogram photos announcing their news. The other shot showed the professional Portuguese professional soccer player in a jacuzzi with the rest of his other children.
Following the tragic news, Ronaldo&#8217;s soccer club, Manchester United, released a statement sending their support.
&#8220;Your pain is our pain,&#8221; the club <a href="https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/1516127485007581185?s=20&amp;t=d7dbLc_Ht63XIaawWK1EEg">shared.</a> &#8220;Sending love and strength to you and the family at this time.&#8221;
Former TV host of &#8220;Good Morning Britain&#8221; Piers Morgan also reacted to the sad news on <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1516118719839313927?s=20&amp;t=d7dbLc_Ht63XIaawWK1EEg">social media</a>.
&#8220;Desperately sad news,&#8221; Morgan&#8217;s tweet read.
Ronaldo shares son Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. with a women who has remained anonymous, <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1327679/cristiano-ronaldo-and-georgina-rodriguez-share-their-newborn-son-has-died?cmpid=social_instagram_bio%26source%3Dinstagram-enews%26medium%3Dlink-post">reported</a> E! News.
&#8220;With the agreement of the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous,&#8221; the professional soccer player announced on social media at the time. &#8220;I will have exclusive custody of my son.&#8221;
He also shares a twin son and daughter, Eva Maria Dos Santos and Mateo Ronaldo with another woman who has not been identified, the outlet noted.
And in 2017, Cristiano confirmed Georgina was pregnant. In November that year she gave birth to their first child together, a daughter named Alana Martina dos Santos Aveiro.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chrissy-teigen-says-shell-never-be-pregnant-again-after-miscarriage">Chrissy Teigen Says She&#8217;ll &#8216;Never&#8217; Be Pregnant Again After Miscarriage</a>

Cristiano Ronaldo-2

Cristiano Ronaldo Shares The Heartbreaking News His Newborn Son Has Died

Manchester

Piers Morgan

Pregnant

Tuesday night, Northern Ireland’s women’s soccer team lost to England 5-0, a wide margin in soccer. According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/apr/12/northern-ireland-england-womens-world-cup-2023-qualifier-match-report">The Guardian</a>, Northern Ireland gave up four goals in the second half during a 27-minute stretch. 
While the loss was certainly deflating, it was the comments by Northern Ireland manager Kenny Shiels which made headlines. 
Shiels insinuated that women are more likely to give up multiple goals in quick succession because &#8220;girls and women are more emotional than men.&#8221;
“I thought we outwitted them for long periods until it was 2-0,” Shiels <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/apr/13/kenny-shiels-talk-of-emotional-women-is-unacceptable-football-deserves-better">said</a> after the loss. “We knew exactly what they were going to do before they did it. We spoke about it. I felt they were struggling a wee bit at times to open us up until the psychology of going 2-0 up in the women’s game.”
“I’m sure you will have noticed if you go through the patterns – when a team concedes a goal, they concede a second one in a very, very short space of time, right through the whole spectrum of the women’s game, because girls and women are more emotional than men,” Shiels continued. “So, they take a goal going in not very well. When we went 1-0 down we tried to slow it down to give them time to get that emotional imbalance out of their heads. That’s an issue we have. Not just in Northern Ireland but all of the countries in the world. I shouldn’t have told you that.”
Shiels comments immediately drew condemnation, including from former Arsenal soccer player Ian Wright. 
“Kenny Shiels talking foolishness!” Wright posted to Twitter. “Talking about emotional women! Didn’t that man see how many times I was crying on the PITCH! Kmt.” 
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Kenny Shiels talking foolishness! Talking about emotional women ! Didn’t that man see how many times I was crying on the PITCH! kmt <a href="https://t.co/gTKIpd3fV3">pic.twitter.com/gTKIpd3fV3</a>
&mdash; Ian Wright (@IanWright0) <a href="https://twitter.com/IanWright0/status/1514159498323243009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Hearing a man talking about women being too emotional in this day and age, I just felt like I&#8217;d gone back 30 years, to be perfectly honest with you,&#8221; Chief Executive of Women in Football Yvonne Harrison <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/13/football/kenny-shiels-womens-football-comments-apology-spt-intl/index.html">said</a>. 
On Wednesday, Shiels apologized for his comments, saying he’s an “advocate for the women’s game.”
“I wish to apologise for my comments made in the post-match press conference last night. I am sorry for the offence that they have caused,” <a href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/northern-ireland-women-manager-kenny-shiels-apologises-for-post-match-comments-after-england-defeat-41550217.html">said</a> Shiels.
“Last night was a special occasion for the women’s game in Northern Ireland and I am proud to manage a group of players who are role models for so many girls, and boys, across the country,” Shiels continued. “I am an advocate for the women&#8217;s game and passionate about developing opportunities for women and girls to flourish.”
It’s the second time in as many days that a sports figure has found himself in trouble after making comments about women. 
On Monday, video of free-agent NFL quarterback Cam Newton on the “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgT2GU9ZiPo">Million Dollaz Worth of Game</a>” podcast circled the internet, and Newton quickly found himself in hot water over his comments. 
“I had a perfect, perfect example of what a man was by my father,” Newton <a href="https://twitter.com/Mediaite/status/1513556750657589254?s=20&amp;t=-v6IiJw2wQK6ImTzxnSCdw">said</a>. “My parents have been together for 36, 37 years now, and it’s a beautiful thing. I grew up in a three-parent household — my mom, my father and my grandmother. And I knew what a woman was. Not a bad b****. A woman.” 
Newton explained that a “bad b****” is a woman who “looks the part” but doesn’t “act the part.”
“And it’s a lot of women who are bad b******, and I say ‘b******’ in a way not to degrade a woman but just to go off the aesthetic of what they deem as a ‘boss chick,’” Newton continued. “A woman for me is handling your own but knowing how to cater to a man’s needs,” Newton continued. “I think a lot of times when you get that aesthetic of like ‘I’m a boss b****, I’m a this, I’m a that,’ no baby. But you can’t cook. You don’t know when to be quiet. You don’t know how to allow a man to lead.”
As expected, social media jumped all over Newton’s comments, though Newton did go on to explain that he feels that it’s time for “men to start being men.” 
“I’m also going to start telling the men to start being men,” Newton <a href="https://youtu.be/PgT2GU9ZiPo?t=493">added</a>. “That sucka s*** should not be rewarded.”
“When a person carries himself social media wise, and it’s a fraud in real life,” Newton elaborated. “Every person that has money, every person that’s rich, isn’t a real one. And I think that gets kind of misconstrued in this society now, because a lot of people have money, but they’re not genuine people.”
Newton has yet to discuss his comments.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

Northern Ireland v England – FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Qualifier

‘Girls And Women Are More Emotional Than Men’: Northern Ireland Manager Apologizes For Comments Following 5-0 Loss

Ireland

Women's Soccer

The first ever Major League Soccer game in Charlotte will always be remembered for the record-setting crowd, after 74,479 fans filled Bank of America Stadium for Charlotte FC’s home opener against the LA Galaxy on Saturday night.
And even though Charlotte fell to the Galaxy 1-0, the nearly 75,000 fans in attendance gave everyone a memorable moment.
During the singing of the national anthem, the microphone cut out, so the fans took it upon themselves to make America proud.
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The microphone went out for the National Anthem ahead of Charlotte FC’s home opener &amp; this happened. Wow. Chills. This crowd is amazing.<a href="https://twitter.com/wcnc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wcnc</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForTheCrown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForTheCrown</a> <a href="https://t.co/KIDqBGJuZL">pic.twitter.com/KIDqBGJuZL</a>
&mdash; Ashley Stroehlein (@ashstro) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashstro/status/1500277324545236995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The 74,479 fans beat out the previous MLS attendance record, when 73,019 attended the 2018 MLS Cup in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Can you believe this?” Carolina Panther owner David Tepper <a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article258690188.html">said</a> before the game. “This is the second-largest soccer crowd in the world this year!”
Over the past year, there have been multiple examples of sports crowds singing the national anthem as one.
Prior to the AFC Championship Game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, national anthem singer Ashanti had issues with her microphone, giving Chiefs fans an opportunity to pick up the slack.
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I’d like to believe we started a movement. Don’t forget that. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nationalanthem?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nationalanthem</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nfl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nfl</a> <a href="https://t.co/eG3YVMDOq9">pic.twitter.com/eG3YVMDOq9</a>
&mdash; Nicole Raviv (@thenicoleraviv) <a href="https://twitter.com/thenicoleraviv/status/1487942865460289548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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A similar situation unfolded during the 2021 NHL Playoffs, when New York Islanders fans went viral for their rendition of the national anthem.
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The Coliseum comes together for the anthem. 🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Isles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Isles</a> <a href="https://t.co/7HCVMjM2To">pic.twitter.com/7HCVMjM2To</a>
&mdash; Olympic Hockey on NBC (@NBCSportsHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsHockey/status/1402773091672068098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Nicole Raviv, the singer responsible for the viral moment, spoke with The Daily Wire in June about the inspiration behind involving the crowd.
“Game four started with my microphone off,” Raviv <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-anthem-belongs-to-everyone-viral-national-anthem-singer-relishes-moment-of-unity">told</a> The Daily Wire. “They couldn’t hear me at first when I was singing but I continued to sing of course, because it’s the national anthem. You don’t really stop that. So I kept singing and I knew someone would fix it eventually, but within 10, 15 seconds of the song, the entire Coliseum just started singing.”
“Kind of to make up for the fact that my sound wasn’t there and to help me out and to bring it all together,” Raviv continued. “And then I got a new microphone and basically continued from where I left off. Everyone started cheering once the sound came back on and we just finished the song together, as a strong collective crowd. It was a blessing in disguise.”
The assistance from the game four crowd gave Raviv and her team an idea — hand the mic to the fans.
“Once we saw the results of that [game four] — and we won that night — it was just such great energy in the building,” Raviv continued. “The atmosphere was really electric and everyone felt a part of it. Then the next game — which was game six — my team and I thought about ways to incorporate them [the fans] again. And that’s just what happened. So, I sang in the beginning, and then just gave them the microphone so they could really be heard this time and for it to be intentional.”
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

Charlotte FC vs Los Angeles Galaxy: Major League

Mic Drop: Record-Setting MLS Crowd Sings National Anthem As One

National Anthem

Last week, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced the removal of the upcoming Champions League final from St. Petersburg, Russia, choosing Paris as the replacement option.  
On Monday, UEFA, along with soccer’s governing body, FIFA, took it a step further, announcing the suspension of Russian national teams and clubs from all competitions. 
“Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice,” UEFA and FIFA <a href="https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/media-releases/fifa-uefa-suspend-russian-clubs-and-national-teams-from-all-competitions">said</a> in a statement. 
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine,” the statement <a href="https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/media-releases/fifa-uefa-suspend-russian-clubs-and-national-teams-from-all-competitions">continued</a>. “Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”
Also on Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that “International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions.”
The IOC also withdrew the Olympic Order — given to individuals who have “rendered outstanding services to the Olympic cause through their contribution to the development of sport” — from Vladimir Putin. The Russian President was awarded the Olympic Order in 2001. 
The sports world has taken a hard stance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, removing multiple future sports events from Russia. 
On Friday, Formula One announced it has canceled the Russian Grand Prix scheduled for September.  
“We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation,” F1 <a href="https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/33367628/russian-grand-prix-cancelled-ukraine-invasion">said</a> in a statement. “On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances.”
Additionally, soccer federations for Sweden, Poland, and the Czech Republic said their teams will not travel to Russia for World Cup qualifiers. 
“Based on the current alarming development in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the security situation, the Football Associations of Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic express their firm position that the playoff matches to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scheduled for 24 and 29 March 2022, should not be played in the territory of the Russian Federation,” the federations <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sweden-poland-czech-republic-say-not-play-world-cup-qualifiers-russia">said</a> in a joint statement according to Fox News. 
On Friday, Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev wrote “No War Please” on the television camera following his win over Hubert Hurkacz at the Dubai Duty Tennis Championships. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev writes &quot;No war please&quot; on the camera following his advancement to the final in Dubai. <a href="https://t.co/GQe8d01rTd">pic.twitter.com/GQe8d01rTd</a>
&mdash; TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1497234776905842688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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“In these moments you realize that my match is not important. It’s not about my match, how it affects me. Because what’s happening is much more terrible,” Rublev <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/25/world/ukraine-daniil-medvedev-andrey-rublev-tennis-russia-cec-spt/index.html">said</a> the day before. “You realize how important it is to have peace in the world and to respect each other no matter what and to be united…. We should take care of our earth and of each other. This is the most important thing.”
The world’s number one tennis player, Daniil Medvedev of Russia, also called for peace. 
“In this moment, you understand that tennis sometimes is not that important,” Medvedev <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/25/world/ukraine-daniil-medvedev-andrey-rublev-tennis-russia-cec-spt/index.html">said</a>.
“By being a tennis player, I want to promote peace all over the world,” he continued. “We play in so many different countries. I’ve been in so many countries as a junior and as a pro. It’s just not easy to hear all this news.”
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

FIFA, UEFA And Russia Photo Illustrations

UEFA, FIFA Suspend Russian National Soccer Teams And Clubs From Competition

Russia

Ukraine

Following the news that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, UEFA is expected to move the Champions League final out of St. Petersburg, Russia, according to multiple reports. 
“UEFA shares the international community&#8217;s significant concern for the security situation developing in Europe and strongly condemns the ongoing Russian military invasion in Ukraine,” UEFA <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/champions-league-final-to-be-moved-away-from-russia-after-ukraine-invasion/nSMmSNmdAJvD/">said</a> in a statement Thursday night.
&#8220;As the governing body of European football, UEFA is working tirelessly to develop and promote football according to common European values such as peace and respect for human rights, in the spirit of the Olympic Charter,&#8221; UEFA continued. &#8220;We remain resolute in our solidarity with the football community in Ukraine and stand ready to extend our hand to the Ukrainian people. We are dealing with this situation with the utmost seriousness and urgency. Decisions will be taken by the UEFA Executive Committee and announced tomorrow.&#8221;
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has announced a meeting of the Executive Committee, expected for Friday morning, where they are expected to confirm moving the Champions League final. The game was originally scheduled to be played on May 28 at Gazprom Stadium in St. Petersburg. 
German soccer club Schalke also announced that they will be removing their sponsor Gazprom — a Russian state-owned energy company — from the front of its jerseys. 
​​“In view of the events, development and escalation of the past few days, FC Schalke 04 has decided to remove the lettering of its main sponsor — ‘GAZPROM’ — from the jerseys,” Schalke <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/schalke-to-remove-gazprom-logo-from-shirts-after-russian-escalation-in-ukraine/rvZxEG55Y2C3/">said</a> in a statement. 
“This step follows discussions with GAZPROM Germany,” the statement continued. “Instead, ‘Schalke 04’ will be on the chest of the Royal Blues.”
On Thursday, members of the European parliament called on UEFA to sever their relationship with Gazprom, which is also a sponsor of the Champions League. 
“We call on you to stop considering Saint Petersburg and other Russian cities as venues for international football competitions and to choose as a first and very urgent step an alternative venue for the Champions League final on May 28, 2022,” the group of politicians <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/uefa-should-move-champions-league-final-and-end-gazprom-deal-eu-parliament/PzaiXWJF7pus/">said</a> in a letter. 
“In addition, we appeal to you to convene a special meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee, to terminate cooperation with Gazprom as UEFA sponsor and to consider sanctions against individual Russian officials who are complicit in the violation of international law,” they added. 
Thursday morning, Putin announced a “special military operation” into Ukraine, with the aim of “demilitarizing” and “denazifying” the country. 
President Biden condemned the invasion, saying that the “world will hold Russia accountable.”
“The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces,” Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/23/statement-by-president-biden-on-russias-unprovoked-and-unjustified-attack-on-ukraine/">said</a> in a statement. “President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.”
“I will be monitoring the situation from the White House this evening and will continue to get regular updates from my national security team,” Biden continued. “Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security.”
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

UEFA Champions League 2021/22 Round of 16 Draw

Report: UEFA Expected To Move Champions League Final Out Of Russia

An offer by the U.S. Soccer Federation of identical contract proposals for both the men’s and women&#8217;s soccer teams has been called a “PR stunt” by the United States Women’s National Team Players Association.
“USSF&#8217;s PR stunts and bargaining through the media will not bring us any closer to a fair agreement,&#8221; the USWNTPA posted to <a href="https://twitter.com/USWNTPlayers/status/1438171271573934083m">Twitter</a>. “In contrast, we are committed to bargaining in good faith to achieve equal pay and the safest working conditions possible. The proposal that USSF made recently to us does neither.” 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
USSF&#8217;s PR stunts and bargaining through the media will not bring us any closer to a fair agreement. In contrast, we are committed to bargaining in good faith to achieve equal pay and the safest working conditions possible. The proposal that USSF made recently to us does neither. <a href="https://t.co/lzchRa0hea">https://t.co/lzchRa0hea</a>
— USWNT Players (@USWNTPlayers) <a href="https://twitter.com/USWNTPlayers/status/1438171271573934083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
The offer by the USSF was announced Tuesday, focusing on a “single pay structure” for both teams.
“U.S. Soccer firmly believes that the best path forward for all involved, and for the future of the sport in the United States, is a single pay structure for both senior national teams,&#8221; the USSF said in a <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2021/09/us-soccer-federation-offers-identical-contract-proposals--to-womens-and-mens-national-team">statement</a> on their website. “This proposal will ensure that USWNT and USMNT players remain among the highest paid senior national team players in the world, while providing a revenue sharing structure that would allow all parties to begin anew and share collectively in the opportunity that combined investment in the future of the U.S. Soccer will deliver over the course of a new CBA.” 
The USSF also “called upon the players and both Players Associations to join the Federation in finding a way to equalize FIFA World Cup prize money between the USMNT and the USWNT.”
For the 2022 World Cup, FIFA has proposed $440 million in prize money to the men’s teams that participate, while offering $60 million to teams of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
In March 2019, USWNT players sued the USSF claiming gender discrimination and that they had not been paid equitably compared to what the men received.
On Friday, Cindy Parlow Cone — U.S. Soccer Federation President — wrote an open <a href="https://twitter.com/itsmeglinehan/status/1436361640048480263">letter</a> asking the two teams to negotiate &#8220;a solution that equalizes World Cup prize money between the USMNT and USWNT.&#8221;
“We see an opportunity to create change,” Parlow Cone <a href="https://apnews.com/article/soccer-womens-soccer-sports-international-soccer-fifa-womens-world-cup-113516399713b76165a416d4019139fe">wrote</a>. “We need our men’s and women’s national teams to come together and re-think how we’ve done things in the past. To that end, we have invited the players and both players’ associations to join U.S. Soccer in negotiating a solution together that equalizes World Cup prize money between the USMNT and USWNT.”
“Finding a framework that works for everyone will require open and thoughtful conversations and sincere commitment from USMNT and USWNT players to come together. Until FIFA equalizes the prize money that it awards to the men’s and women’s World Cup participants, it is incumbent upon us to collectively find a solution.”
The USWNT were expected to take home the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics but had to settle for the bronze medal after losing to Canada in the semi finals.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

TOPSHOT-FOOTBALL-OLY-2020-2021-TOKYO-PODIUM

USWNT Players Association Calls Offer Of Identical Contracts A ‘PR Stunt’

The U.S. women&#8217;s soccer team took another upset on Monday morning, losing to Canada for the first time since 2001 and getting knocked from gold medal contention.
The women&#8217;s team, ranked number one in the world and expected to take home the gold, lost 1-0 in the semifinal contest.
The single goal was scored by Canada&#8217;s Jessie Fleming late in the second half, a penalty kick that sneaked by backup goalkeeper Adrianna Franch.
&#8220;Carli Lloyd — one of several legendary American players on the Olympic roster this year — crouched on the field, holding her head in her hands when the final whistle blew Monday,&#8221; The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/08/02/uswnt-canada-olympics-soccer-live-updates/">detailed</a>. Team USA now has no chance at gold, a feeling Lloyd no doubt was reflecting on.
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Canada defeats the USWNT for the first time since 2001 to reach the women&#39;s soccer gold medal game. <a href="https://t.co/EudG9Hz7Yb">pic.twitter.com/EudG9Hz7Yb</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1422136143299194885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Team USA got off to a rocky start at the Tokyo Olympics, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-womens-soccer-team-takes-stunning-loss-after-kneeling-for-blm-before-olympic-opener">losing</a> their opener to Sweden 3-0. Notably, before the game, all 22 players <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9809815/US-Team-GB-womens-football-teams-knee-opening-Olympic-Games-matches.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline">took a knee</a> in solidarity with the radical leftist group Black Lives Matter before the game, a major point of contention with U.S. fans.
As <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics-soccer-players-kneel-uswnt-090330888.html">noted</a> by Yahoo! Sports, athletes at the Tokyo Olympics were given space to protest before games and events. Team USA knelt before their kickoff, just as players on Sweden’s women’s team did:
<blockquote>The U.S. women’s national team and other soccer teams knelt before kickoff of their Olympic openers on Wednesday, the first demonstrations under slightly relaxed restrictions on protest at the Games. 
The demonstrations were pre-planned, as they have been before various international soccer matches for over a year now as collective statements against racism and other forms of discrimination. </blockquote>
Canada is rather “woke,” too. One of the team&#8217;s players identifies as transgender. A midfielder known only as Quinn, formerly Rebecca Quinn, is biologically female but identifies as male or non-binary.
The team’s official <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/soccer/news/canada-women-soccer-olympic-roster-2021-national-team-tokyo/16mmio4nqtf9q1bu8komthtl5w">roster</a> and the Canada Soccer website list the soccer player with the singular name, Quinn.
In the Tokyo Olympics, under certain guidance, transgender athletes are allowed to compete against athletes of the gender with which they identify, as opposed to their biological sex.
Quinn, a biological female who identifies as male or “non-binary,” has not tried to participate on the men’s team, however.

USA v Canada: Women’s Football Semifinal – Olympics: Day 10

Upset: U.S. Women’s Soccer Loses To Canada, Ending Shot At Gold 

Olympics

Tokyo Olympics

Just a few days after three England soccer players were subjected to racist abuse online — including monkey emojis, slurs and taunts — British police have arrested at least four people for “hate crimes” in connection with the online messages. 
On Sunday, England lost in penalty kicks to Italy in the Euro 2020 final. England was hoping for its first major international championship since the 1966 World Cup, but once again fell short. 
After extra time, Italy and England were tied 1-1, but Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukaya Saka — who are black — missed their penalty kicks for England. 
According to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/uk-police-arrest-four-over-racist-abuse-england-soccer-players-2021-07-15/">Reuters</a>, the three black players were “targeted with racist abuse on social media sites Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.” 
The online abuse was quickly condemned by the English soccer team and England’s soccer governing body, the FA. 
“The FA strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and is appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media,” the FA statement <a href="https://twitter.com/FAspokesperson/status/1414388159769714690">said</a>. “We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.” 
“We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore governemnt to act quickly and bring the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real life consequences. Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse.” 
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also weighed in, condemning those responsible for the racist posts. 
“This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter. “Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media.
Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.
&mdash; Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1414465103374729220?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
The U.K. Football Policing Unit, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/united-kingdom-football-policing-unit-ukfpu">which</a> &#8220;strives to reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and disorder at football events involving UK football teams,&#8221; is leading a hate crime investigation. 
&#8220;We are working very closely with social media platforms, who are providing data we need to progress enquiries,&#8221; <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/uk-police-arrest-four-over-racist-abuse-england-soccer-players-2021-07-15/">said</a> Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the officer responsible for leading Britain&#8217;s policing response on soccer issues.
&#8220;If we identify that you are behind this crime, we will track you down and you will face the serious consequences of your shameful actions.&#8221;
According to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/england-soccer-team-racist-abuse-players-police-arrest-suspects/">CBS News</a>, “897 football-related incidents were recorded and 264 arrests were made in the 24-hour period surrounding the game.” Four of those arrests were for “hate crimes.”
Hate speech laws in the United Kingdom make it an offense for a person to use “threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour that causes, or is likely to cause, another person harassment, alarm or distress.”
“Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 makes it illegal to send a message via a public electronic communications network that is considered grossly offensive, or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character,” per <a href="https://www.theweek.co.uk/97552/hate-speech-vs-free-speech-the-uk-laws">The Week</a>.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

Euro 2020

Police Make Arrests Over Online Racist Abuse Aimed At England’s Black Soccer Players

Free Speech

Hate Speech

Following the England soccer team’s penalty shootout loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday, the three black players who missed their penalty kicks were reportedly subjected to disgusting racial abuse online, including monkey emojis, slurs, and taunts.
Following a goalless period of extra time, England and Italy were tied 1-1. During the penalty shootout, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, and Arsenal’s Bukaya Saka missed their penalty kicks for England, with Italy emerging victorious as a result. Rashford hit the post with his penalty kick, while Sancho and Saka had their attempts saved by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The racial abuse hurled at these players was — correctly — rejected by footballing organizations and public figures in England. The country’s <a href="https://twitter.com/FAspokesperson/status/1414388159769714690">Football Association</a> strongly condemned “all forms of discrimination,” saying they were “appalled by the online racism.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1414465103374729220">said</a> that “This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media,” and that “Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.”
However, the reaction of one England player to a statement by another politician — Priti Patel — raised an important point regarding the difference between opposing instances of racism and the unquestioning rejection of so-called &#8220;systemic racism.&#8221;
On Twitter, Priti Patel — the United Kingdom’s Home Secretary — said that she was “disgusted that England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media.”
“It has no place in our country,” she added, “and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.”
Tyrone Mings, a member of England’s squad for the competition, rejected Patel’s condemnation.
“You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labeling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ &amp; then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens,” he tweeted in response.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ &amp; then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens. <a href="https://t.co/fdTKHsxTB2">https://t.co/fdTKHsxTB2</a>
&mdash; Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialTM_3/status/1414655312074784785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Mings was referring to Patel’s description of the English team’s decision to “take the knee” prior to every game as “gesture politics,” and her refusal to criticize fans who booed the team for doing so.
In other words, Mings is arguing that Patel is responsible for instances of racism because she held an opposing view regarding the England team&#8217;s choice of &#8220;anti-racism&#8221; protest.
What we must realize here is that two things can be true at once. First, you can be critical of broad signals of adherence to an ideology with arguable links to “fighting racism.” Second, you can be critical of individual instances of racism. These two positions are mutually exclusive, and it’s both lazy and dangerous to argue otherwise.
“Taking the knee” has vast implications. For some, it’s a simple expression of “racism is bad.” For others, it’s a symbol demonstrative of a left-wing ideology that aims to destroy unrelated elements of western culture, while making the argument that racism is systemic in nature.
Patel — who is of Ugandan and Indian heritage — should not be forced from the platform of debate when it comes to systemic racism because she — like so many others — disagrees with the “take the knee” action or narrative. Moreover, one’s position on “taking the knee” should in no way imply that you endorse racism, or are responsible for any instances of racism that followed.
If you disagree with the broader argument that “taking the knee” is nothing but a statement that “racism is bad,” that doesn’t make you pro-racism. Mings is stunningly ignorant for claiming otherwise.
Ian Haworth is an Editor and Writer for The Daily Wire. Follow him on Twitter at<a href="https://twitter.com/ighaworth"> @ighaworth</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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