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In the movieĀ Scarface,Ā Al Pacinoās character, Tony Montana, at one point mentions that money leads to power which leads to women. Montana was a fictional character and no modern-day footballer ā thankfully. Nevertheless, his character is, in many ways, far more representative than many think. The pursuit of money, power, fame and women has destroyed more than one reputation, family or individual, whether it be in Hollywood, the world of politics or on the field of sport. In the realm of soccer, fame can come quickly and with it, a big paycheck and many admiring fans. Cocaine and guns aside, Montanaās statement about money, power and women seems appropriate when discussing Premier League players. If we wanted to be more accurate, however, it could be said that in modern soccer, money and fame leads to women which leads to bad judgment and scandal.
Recently, the issue of sex scandals in the Premier League has become popular again thanks to the recent antics of Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud. The French striker was recently caught in the company of model Celia Kay, FHM and Maxim model, the night before Arsenal played Crystal Palace on February 2nd, 2014. Giroud took toĀ twitterĀ to apologize to his team and wife for the fiasco. While both Kay and Giroud denied anything happened during the three hour hotel room visit, aĀ pictureĀ taken by Kay that night shows the Arsenal man walking around in some very form fitting underwear. Whether he cheated or not, Giroud only supports the notion that, at least in the world of soccer, fame and money lead to women which, in turn, leads to bad judgment and scandal. PerhapsĀ ScarfaceĀ is not available in France?
Of course, Giroudās scandal is not the first to have graced the ranks of Premier League players. In fact, the Arsenal strikerās story pales in comparison with some of the biggest player sex scandals of the past.Ā Ā From the bizarre to the back-stabbing to British Parliament, here are 5 of the biggest sex scandals involving Premier league players, in no particular order:
5. Dwight Yorke and Mark Bosnich
In todayās world of celebrity fame and fortune, the sex tape has been used as a tool to get one noticed. Nothing is left to the imagination, as seeing is believing. Unfortunately, sometimes there are things you wish you could āunseeā. This was the case with Manchester Unitedās Dwight Yorke and Aston Villaās Mark Bosnich. In 1998, the two players rigged up a hidden camera in a house to tape themselves with four women. This in itself was enough to create a sensation in the British press, yet there was more. In addition to a number of compromising positions, the film showed the two footballers dressing in womensā clothing. At one point, Bosnich was filmed being spanked while wearing a skirt. The press would have never got their hands on this story had Yorke destroyed the tape. Instead, he threw it in the trash where it was discovered by a reporter and the rest is history.
The scandal didnāt necessarily ruin either player. Yorke went on to play several more years where the Old Trafford faithful showered him with songs of his sexual exploits and alleged addiction to pornography. Bosnich played for a few more years before cocaine ruined his finances and playing career.
4. John Terry
John TerryĀ is another divisive figure in the EPL; fans either love him or hate him. AĀ scandalĀ involving the ex-girlfriend of former Chelsea teammateĀ Wayne BridgeĀ reinforced this. The four-month affair allegedly occurred soon after Bridge and his girlfriend, model Vanessa Perroncel, parted ways in 2009. Terry, married since 2007, pressed the British High Court for a super-injunction in 2010 in order to block any mention of the episode in the press. When the injunction was eventually lifted, the British press wrote on the matter in great detail. Perroncel maintained the affair never happened and at least two papers published apologies to her for writing the story. Whether true or false, a rift developed between Terry and Bridge. Bridge retired from the International team citing his position in the team as āuntenable.ā Terry was temporarily stripped of the England captaincy as well.
In a live post-match interview between Chelsea and Manchester City,Ā Craig BellamyĀ was asked about the Wayne Bridge saga and what he thought about John Terry. Bellamy responded by saying that everyone knew what kind of player Terry was off the field, but that on-field he was a great player and leader. Without saying much, Bellamy had said it all concerning the Chelsea captain and his affair with a team-mateās girlfriend.
3. Ashley Cole
Ashley ColeĀ was ahead of his time. Long beforeĀ Anthony WeinerĀ was sending provocative pictures of himself to others, Cole hadĀ allegedlyĀ mastered the art. The Chelsea defender and England International had a well publicized relationship with television personality, singer and modelĀ Cheryl Tweedy. They married in 2006 and were separated by 2010. During their marriage there were numerous allegations of infidelity on the part of Ashley. In 2008, a hairdresser claimed she had engaged in extra-marital sex with Cole. Immediately following the 2010 separation, the press began publishing accounts of adultery and lewd behavior. Stories in the Guardian and Sun reported that at least two women, one being model Sonia Wild, had received x-rated photos and rude texts from the Chelsea man. Another model gave an interview claiming she and Cole had been involved soon after the footballer and Cheryl had gone public with their relationship in 2004. In total, five different women haveĀ claimedĀ having relations with Cole during his time with Cheryl.
2. Ryan Giggs
A Manchester United legend,Ā Ryan GiggsĀ has collected dozens of trophies and awards and is one of the most successful player in British football history. For many fans, the player was one to admire and look up to; his image was nearly squeaky clean. This changed in May 2011, when accusations of adultery surfaced and his name wasĀ mentionedĀ in British parliament in respect to a media gag order. The British High Court had banned the press from publishing Giggsā name in respect to an alleged affair with model and former Miss Wales Imogen Thomas. Giggsā anonymity was blown only hours after the gag order when a member of British parliament named him as the individual who had sought the injunction. The alleged affair and attempted cover-up, while damaging, was soon eclipsed by allegations that Giggs had been having an eight year-long affair with his brotherās wife, Natasha. Claims went so far as to include a report inĀ the MirrorĀ that Giggs had supposedly paid for Natasha to have an abortion when she became pregnant with his child. The episode has left a mark on a player who is still held up as an icon of the Premier League
1. Wayne Rooney
Wayne RooneyĀ is no stranger to having his name linked to scandals. Before his move from Everton to Manchester United in 2004, the English forward admitted to frequenting massage parlors. He had been recorded on cctv and, on at least one occasion, other men inside a brothel texted friends about Rooneyās attendance, resulting in a crowd of fans outside chanting his name. The press seized upon theĀ storyĀ that one of Rooneyās encounters had been with a prostitute who was a grandmother. The England International moved quickly to apologize to his then fiancĆ©e, Coleen McLoughlin, saying it was in the past when he was very young and immature.
Fast forward several years and Rooney found himself, yet again, at the center of a scandal. Now, married and with a child on the way,Ā allegationsĀ were brought forward by two women who said they had participated in a three-some with the forward. Rooney supposedly paid $1,500 for the encounter. It was furtherĀ allegedĀ that Rooney had met with one of the prostitutes several times over a two month period, all while his wife was pregnant with their first child. The stress of the situation clearly weighed on Rooneyās mind as his form at Manchester United dipped noticeably.
Sex scandals in soccer, unfortunately, appear all too common. Itās unsurprising given that these players are in the prime of life, have a lot of money and fame, and often little life experience to keep them grounded. While most of these allegations are just that, allegations, fans are left sometimes wondering what the heck a player was thinking to get into such a mess. In the Premier League, first you get the fame and money. Then you get the women. Then you make bad judgments and cause a scandal. On second thought, perhapsScarfaceĀ is not the best movie to use in reference to soccer sex scandals. Although it would give a whole new meaning to the line āsay hello to my little friendā.
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Japan, two-year qualifying campaign saw they progress game-by-game under Alberto Zaccheroni, who took over in the wake of the team’s impressive run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africaā¢. The new-look Ā Japan were struggling to fit into the Italian’s strategy as they began their qualifying bid in lacklustre style, losing to Uzbekistan and Korea DPR before seeing their progression into the fourth round secured.
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