Christian Petracca has slammed the racial targeting of Melbourne teammate Kysaiah Pickett on social media as “disgusting” as the AFL community rallies around him.
Third-year forward Pickett, known as ‘Kozzy’, kicked the match-winning goal in thrilling fashion for the Demons with 11 seconds left to pinch victory from Carlton on Saturday night.
The brilliant goal sparked wild celebrations from Melbourne and left a series of stony-faced Blues defenders to rue a wasted opportunity to lock in their finals berth.
But Pickett’s exhilarating moment was soured when an Instagram user racially vilified him, marking the second time in as many seasons the young Demon has been abused on social media.
Coach Simon Goodwin revealed in August last year that Pickett was “visibly distressed” after the previous occasion, with retired AFL champion Eddie Betts calling for clubs to unite to stamp out racism.
Melbourne is working with the AFL’s integrity department to try to identify the social media user responsible for the comments.
Petracca said people believed there were no consequences for their social media actions and could “hide behind their phone and write what they want”.
“It is absolutely disgusting,” the 2021 Norm Smith medalist told KIIS 101.1’s Jase and Lauren on Monday.
“It is just so unfair for a player who is an absolute freak. He is 21 years old, he is an Indigenous player.
“Indigenous players bring so much to the game – so much entertainment, flair, excitement and passion and they put bums on seats.
“To do that (racially vilify him) is just really frustrating, because … as much as clubs can put these statements out, it is so hard to control, because these days they are just keyboard warriors.”
Petracca said the long-term solution to this behavior was greater education.
“The AFL and all the clubs are really quick to respond to all that stuff – it’s just Instagram, and people make fake accounts,” he said.
“They are just trolls, it’s really disgusting and they don’t understand the human side of it.
“(We saw what happened) last year with the Eddie Betts stuff, and it’s all about education around footy clubs and showing us the history of Indigenous lands and what they’ve gone through.”
The Demons issued a statement on Sunday morning condemning the social media comments.
“Last night a Melbourne player was again subjected to racism on social media,” the statement read.
“This sort of behavior is abhorrent and needs to stop. It is saddening, angering and unacceptable that this behavior continues to occur.
“It is important that we, as a football community, call this behavior out and hold these individuals to account.”
Alpine is reportedly set for a legal showdown with Oscar Piastri amid reports the Australian driver will join McLaren next season.
The 21-year-old was announced last week as Fernando Alonso’s replacement at Alpine only for Piastri to take to social media to declare he would not be driving for the team.
It came amid reports that McLaren had told Daniel Ricciardo he would not have a seat in 2023.
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Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer said they could seek compensation, expected to be in the millions.
“Going to the High Court is over 90 per cent certain that’s what we’ll do,” he told Reuters.
“If the [board] says ‘your license is only valid at Alpine’ and then he [Piastri] says ‘that’s great but I’m never driving for them, I’ll just sit out a year,’ then you’ve got to go to the High Court for compensation.”
Szafnauer said Alpine would assess how much money they have invested in Piastri’s development.
This figure would include the costs associated with independent tests as well as thousands of kilometers in the team’s 2021 car.
According to Reuters, one power unit costs as much as $2.55 million (AUD)
“We haven’t sat down with the accountants to figure out everything we’ve spent,” said Szafnauer.
“We will have to do that if we go to the High Court.”
According to TheRace.com, the fact Alpine believe the matter will head to the court implies that the team is resigned to losing Piastri to McLaren with their focus now on compensation rather than holding onto its rising star.
Oscar Piastri has said he will not drive for Alpine in 2023.Source: Getty Images
HAMILTON’S REVEALS BIG HOLLYWOOD BLOW
Lewis Hamilton has sensationally revealed he had to turn down a role as a fighter pilot in Top Gun: Maverick, describing it as “the most upsetting call” he’s ever made.
The seven-time world champion counts himself as a good friend of actor Tom Cruise, who played the lead role in the 1986 original and the recent Hollywood blockbuster that has grossed a whopping $AUD1.8 billion.
Hamilton recalls being invited to the set of one of Cruise’s movies as the starting point of their friendship.
“One of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” Hamilton told Vanity Fair.
“He invited me to his set years ago when he was doing Edge of Tomorrow, and then we just built a friendship over time.”
Once Hamilton caught wind a Top Gun sequel was in the works, he was desperate to be involved given his love of the film as a child.
“So when I heard the second one was coming out, I was like, ‘Oh my god, I have to ask him,’” Hamilton said.
Tom Cruise bumps fists with Lewis Hamilton before the British GP at Silverstone. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
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“I said, ‘I don’t care what role it is. I’ll even sweep something, be a cleaner in the back.’”
Cruise obliged, but he wasn’t going to give Hamilton a cameo appearance.
Instead, the megastar wanted the Mercedes driver to be one of the fighter pilots.
There was just one catch: filming was set to take place during the back-end of the 2021 F1 season when Hamilton was locked in a tense battle with Max Verstappen for the world championship.
Knowing he had to turn down the chance of a lifetime, Hamilton was devastated when he made the call.
“I’m a perfectionist,” Hamilton said.
“The most upsetting call that I think I’ve ever had.”
F1 TRACK SET TO MAKE APPEARANCE IN … CALL OF DUTY?
Christmas has come early for the cross section of F1 and Call of Duty fans.
Infinity Ward, the developers of the video game, released a trailer that confirmed the Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore will be a playable map in the latest edition of the famous franchise.
In an official statement, Infinity Ward confirmed the map would be playable in the Modern Warfare II Beta for fans to get a taste of what’s to come.
“The Modern Warfare II Beta is set to feature a robust multiplayer experience going beyond the Core 6v6 experience with a variety of meticulously designed maps of various sizes, and an equally impressive set of Modes, Progression experiences, and other aspects that will be more thoroughly revealed at Call of Duty: Next,” the statement read.
“In addition, we revealed a fly-through of Marina Bay Grand Prix, where combat occurs within the main infield of an urban race circuit, one of the 6v6 Multiplayer maps confirmed for the Beta.”
The pit lane in Singapore will look a little different in this year’s Call of Duty. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
There does not look to be any official F1 branding or names of the drivers, suggesting it is not an official partnership between them and Call of Duty.
Funnily enough, the worlds of F1 and Call of Duty have intertwined previously, as Lewis Hamilton was a non-playable character in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, released in 2016.
LONG LIVE VEGAS! F1’S FIRST DATE IN SIN CITY LEAKED
What happens in Vegas might very well have great implications in the title race as the date for the Las Vegas GP has been leaked.
A Letter of Intent for the race between Liberty Media and the Convention Bureau was posted on Twitter and eagle-eyed fans noted the date.
The Las Vegas GP is slated to take place on November 18 and it would remain on that date until 2027 when the contract expires.
Based on the current F1 calendar, it would mean the race in Sin City would be the penultimate race of the season as the Abu Dhabi GP will take place on November 20 this year.
Olivia Newton-John once said she was “looking forward to” death because of previous interactions with “spirits”.
The comments came in a resurfaced 2021 podcast interview where she also said she had made a pact with God to save her daughter Chloe Lattanzi before she was born after the grease star suffered complications during her pregnancy.
The entertainment legend died on Monday at her ranch in California following an extraordinary three-decade-long battle with breast cancer which had seen her repeatedly triumphing over the disease only for it to later reappear once more.
In February last year, Newton-John appeared on Sarah Grynberg’s A Life of Greatness podcast.
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The Xanadu actor explained that she did not fear passing on during her 30-year cancer battle because she believed there was something beyond the world of the living, reported the new york post.
“We all know we’re going to die, but I think we spend our lives in denial. It’s extremely personal, so it’s hard to put into words.
“I feel that we are all one thing, and I’ve had experiences with spirits and spirit life. I believe there is something that happens.”
She added: “I hope the energies of the people you love will be there. … I think all the love will be there. I’m sort of looking forward to that—not now, but when it happens.
“It’s almost like we are parts of the same computer and we go back to the main battery.”
Pact with God
On the same podcast she also talked about how she was so worried about her pregnancy with daughter Chloe, now 36, that she told God she would make a deal to keep her yet to be born baby safe.
“I was close to losing her,” she told Grynberg.
“I went to bed and asked God to save her and if he did, I would say the Lord’s Prayer every night for the rest of my life and so I have.”
In the family statement, her husband John Easterling said Newton-John “passed away peacefully” early on Monday morning US time surrounded by family and friends.
“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer, ”her statement she read.
John Travolta’s touching tribute
In a post to Instagram, John Travolta praised Newton-John.
“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much,” he wrote.
“We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
Good luck trying to name any national sporting team on the planet as red-hot as the Australian women’s cricket team right now
The Aussies did it again on Monday morning (AEST) in the Commonwealth Games final when they showed extreme class in the nail-biting final overs to defeat India by 17 runs.
The win gives Australia a never-before-seen trifecta as ODI world champions, T20 world champions and Commonwealth Games gold medalists.
The drama at the death was almost matched by the drama at the start of the day’s play as it was revealed following the toss of the coin that Aussie allrounder Tahlia McGrath had tested positive for Covid-19 the morning of the match. Despite the test, McGrath was allowed to play, with the full support of the ICC, the Australian Commonwealth Games team and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Best team in the world. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.Source: Getty ImagesJess Jonassen celebrates the wicket of Taniya Bhatia. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
There were also reports the Indian team was not told about McGrath’s test result until the toss of the coin – causing a delay of more than 10 minutes for the game to start. Reports in India claimed the Indian team wanted McGrath to be stood down.
Photos of McGrath embracing teammates as they celebrated on the podium during the medal presentations showed what a farce the whole situation was.
McGrath was seen isolated from her teammates and wearing a face mask as Australia batted in the first innings. She had removed the mask as she walked out to bat.
Her innings only lasted four balls, but the bizarreness of her place in the game was seen in the second innings when she took a catch and had to tell teammates to back away from her as they ran to celebrate the wicket with her.
Tahlia McGrath with her teammates on the podium.Source: SuppliedTahlia McGrath, Alana King, Jess Jonassen and Alyssa Healy of Team Australia. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Her batting cameo was a minor ripple as Australia reached 8/161 at the end of their 20 overs.
India’s run chase was looking good at 2/118 after 14 overs, however, that’s when Ash Gardner turned the contest with two crucial wickets as India lost 3/3 in two overs.
It left India needing 41 from the final four overs with five wickets in hand.
However, the wickets kept tumbling from there and India found themselves needing 16 runs from the final two overs.
India then lost four wickets in nine balls, crumbling at the finish line, bowled all out for 152 from 19.3 overs.
Earlier, McGrath presented with mild symptoms on the morning before the game and then returned a positive result after speaking to Aussie team officials.
The Australian Commonwealth Games team said comprehensive protocols have been put in place.
Tahlia McGrath isolated. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.Source: Getty ImagesTahlia McGrath isolated from teammates. Photo: Channel 7.Source: Channel 7
The Aussie Commonwealth Games team announced the decision to allow McGrath to play was made in consultation with the ICC and Australian medical staff.
“Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) can confirm that cricketer Tahlia McGrath has returned a positive test for Covid-19,” the CGA statement read.
“CGA clinical staff have consulted with the Commonwealth Games Federation RACEG (Results Analysis Clinical Expert Group) team and match officials, and McGrath is taking part in today’s final against India.
“McGrath presented to team management with mild symptoms on Sunday and subsequently returned the positive test. She was named in the starting XI at the toss and the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved her participation in the final.
Tahlia McGrath of Team Australia looks on whilst wearing a face mas. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.Source: Getty ImagesAustralia’s Tahlia McGrath walks back to the dressing room. Photo by Darren Staples / AFP.Source: AFP
“In consultation with the CGF and the ICC, CGA and Cricket Australia medical staff have implemented a range of comprehensive protocols which will be observed throughout the game and for post-match activity, to minimize the risk of transmission to all players and officials.
The CGA has maintained a comprehensive Covid-19 risk mitigation strategy for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with testing protocols over and above those required by the Birmingham 2022 Organizing Committee.”
Indian sport commentators were fuming about the ruling that has allowed McGrath to play.
Bloomberg News reporter Akshat Rathi described it as a “dereliction of duties”.
He posted on Twitter: “I don’t understand how the rules are allowing Tahlia McGrath on the field playing a cricket match after having tested positive for Covid-19. Dereliction of duty by authorities”.
Sports reporter Naveen Sharma said it was “shameless” by Australia.
“Australians always preach about right or wrong but they forget everything when it comes to them,” he posted on Twitter.
Other commentators said the ruling opens up Pandora’s Box.
The NRL has conceded the use of the captain’s challenge “needs to be reviewed,” however no action will be taken regarding the Wests Tigers’ controversial loss to the Cowboys in Round 19.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have confirmed they will not pursue the matter any further.
The Tigers lodged a formal complaint after the Cowboys received an escort penalty in the final seconds of the game, allowing Valentine Holmes to kick the matchwinning goal.
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While there were big question marks raised over the penalty itself, there was also confusion over how the Cowboys were able to trigger a captain’s challenge when it seemed like play was never stopped.
As a result the Tigers demanded answers and began looking at legal options to potentially get the result overturned.
NRL defends Bunker call | 00:43
The NRL acknowledged that the escort penalty was incorrect but stood by the Cowboys’ right to use their captain’s challenge.
Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe and chairman Lee Hagipantelis met with ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and NRL head of football Graham Annesley last week to discuss the matter.
The NRL released a statement on Monday afternoon to confirm that no action will be taken regarding the result other than a review of the captain’s challenge at the end of the season.
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“The Chairman and CEO of the Wests Tigers met with the Chairman of the ARLC, NRL CEO and NRL Head of Football last week,” an NRL statement read.
“The meeting was agreed to discuss various aspects of the rulings made in the final minutes of the Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys match on 24 July 2022, being the subject of a formal complaint lodged by Wests Tigers with the NRL.
“The NRL has acknowledged the concerns raised by the Wests Tigers and in response has put forward its interpretation of the rules which enabled the Captain’s Challenge to be made and the subsequent decision of the Bunker match official.
“The NRL has already acknowledged that the Bunker official decision of “escort” was incorrect, leading to the erroneous awarding of a penalty in favor of North Queensland Cowboys which ultimately decided the match.
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“On the matter of whether the Captain’s Challenge was permissible in terms of how the rules were drafted, the NRL and the Wests Tigers expressed differing views and interpretation.
“The NRL is comfortable with the interpretation that was applied but has acknowledged, in light of the concerns raised by the Wests Tigers, that the rule needs to be reviewed at the end of the season to provide more clarity so as to ensure that there is no future misunderstanding as to the intent and application of the rule. Wests Tigers will be consulted as part of the review, together with other interested Clubs and stakeholders.
“The NRL acknowledges the professional and respectful manner in which the representatives of the Wests Tigers have pursued their concerns on behalf of their Club’s members and fans.
“There will be no further consideration in relation to the match of 24 July 2022.”
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Following the NRL’s decision, the Tigers released a statement to confirm the club will not pursue legal action.
“Wests Tigers have decided not to pursue a course of legal action following the club’s loss to North Queensland Cowboys in Round 19 of the NRL Telstra Premiership,” the statement read.
“The club, through Chair Lee Hagipantelis and CEO Justin Pascoe, has been involved in lengthy discussions with the NRL over the past two weeks, and following the receipt of external legal advice, has decided against pursuing this matter any further.
“The NRL has acknowledged, in light of the concerns raised by the Wests Tigers, that the rules do need to be revised at the end of the season, so as to prevent similar incidents occurring again. Wests Tigers will be consulted as part of that review.
“Wests Tigers have been overwhelmed and humbled by the support the club has received from its members and fans.
“We have made our point to the NRL and made it forcibly. We did so on behalf of our members and fans and gave voice to their legitimate concerns that the outcome of the match was not just nor fair.
“We extracted a concession from the NRL that the obstruction penalty which was given was erroneous and therefore, by implication, Wests Tigers should have won that match.
“We know it, everyone knows it. Unfortunately, the history books will not record it that way.
Aussie star Tahlia McGrath is playing in the Commonwealth Games cricket final despite testing positive for Covid-19 just hours before the start of play.
McGrath presented with mild symptoms on the morning before the game and then returned a positive result after speaking to Aussie team officials.
The Australian Commonwealth Games team said comprehensive protocols have been put in place. McGrath was seen wearing a face mask and was isolated from the rest of her teammates as Australia batted in the first innings.
She had removed the mask as she walked out to bat.
Her innings only lasted four balls and she was dismissed for just two runs when Radha Yadav took a ripping catch.
However, she began to make an impact in India’s innings when she stood under a high ball and took a good catch — only for all her teammates to back away without being able to celebrate with her. McGrath’s catch left India 2/22 as Shafali Verma fell for 11 runs.
Australia managed to reach 8/161 at the end of their 20 overs, giving India a total of 162 to chase.
Reports in India claim the Indian team was only told about McGrath’s positive before the toss of the coin, resulting in a delay to the start of play of more than 10 minutes.
It has also been reported India wanted McGrath to be stood down for the game when they were first informed.
McGrath was absent from the lineups when the teams sang the national anthems, News Corp Australia reports.
The Aussie Commonwealth Games team announced the decision to allow McGrath to play was made in consultation with the ICC and Australian medical staff.
“Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) can confirm that cricketer Tahlia McGrath has returned a positive test for Covid-19,” the CGA statement read.
“CGA clinical staff have consulted with the Commonwealth Games Federation RACEG (Results Analysis Clinical Expert Group) team and match officials, and McGrath is taking part in today’s final against India.
“McGrath presented to team management with mild symptoms on Sunday and subsequently returned the positive test. She was named in the starting XI at the toss and the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved her participation in the final.
“In consultation with the CGF and the ICC, CGA and Cricket Australia medical staff have implemented a range of comprehensive protocols which will be observed throughout the game and for post-match activity, to minimize the risk of transmission to all players and officials.
The CGA has maintained a comprehensive Covid-19 risk mitigation strategy for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with testing protocols over and above those required by the Birmingham 2022 Organizing Committee.”
Indian sport commentators were fuming about the ruling that has allowed McGrath to play.
Bloomberg News reporter Akshat Rathi described it as a “dereliction of dutires”.
He posted on Twitter: “I don’t understand how the rules are allowing Tahlia McGrath on the field playing a cricket match after having tested positive for Covid-19. Dereliction of duty by authorities”.
Sports reporter Naveen Sharma said it was “shameless” by Australia.
“Australians always preach about right or wrong but they forget everything when it comes to them,” he posted on Twitter.
Other commentators said the ruling opens up Pandora’s Box.
It’s meant to astonish those who are lucky enough to witness it, yet what’s going on in this picture is creeping some people out.
Bikini-clad women lie sprawled on beach towels as they sun themselves, while men dressed in shorts relax and children build sandcastles.
But there’s a twist; these people are not at the beach. Instead, they’re inside a building, and there are fully dressed spectators watching from above and scrutinizing their every move.
The picture has some social media users puzzled, with comments that it looks like a scene from a bizarre prison movie.
“You’ve got people packed in, and some people watching them like they’re at the beach but they’re not at the beach, they’re in a building with sand in it,” one social media commenter said.
“Without a doubt this has to be the strangest footage I’ve seen in my whole life … It’s pretty crazy, pretty wild, pretty out there.”
Another commented it could be like a “prison for the super rich”, while a third said it looks like a “prison floor”.
It turns out that it’s actually the artwork/opera Sun&Seawhich has traveled to different art galleries around the world, each time looking a little different.
The “beachgoers” are opera singers, and they sing as nature around them crumbles.
Many who have seen the display have raved about it, calling it “extraordinary”.
“There is less a feeling of doom than an elegy of beautiful sadness,” one audience member wrote.
In 2019, the opera won the coveted Golden Lion at the 2019 Venice Biennale, while representing Lithuania.
At the time, Guardian reported that visitors looked down at the display from a minstrel’s gallery inside an old naval warehouse in the Venice Arsenale.
More recently, the piece was featured at Iceland’s Reykjavik Art Museum in June this year for the city’s arts festival, featuring black sand from the volcanic country’s coastline.
Sun&Sea project curator Lucia Pietroiusti has an intriguing description of the display. “Imagine a beach. The burning sun, sunscreen and bright bathing suits and sweaty palms and legs,” she said.
“Tired limbs sprawled lazily across a mosaic of towels. Imagine the occasional squeal of children, laughter, the sound of an ice cream van in the distance.
“The musical rhythm of waves on the surf, a soothing sound. The crinkling of plastic bags whirling in the air, their silent floating, jellyfish-like, below the waterline. The rumble of a volcano, or of an airplane, or a speedboat.
“Then a chorus of songs – everyday songs, songs of worry and of boredom, songs of almost nothing. And below them, the slow creaking of an exhausted Earth, a gasp.”
The performance loops continuously, for four hours each day and the audience can come and go as they please.
Upcoming tour locations include Helsinki, Barcelona and Lisbon.
It’s meant to astonish those who are lucky enough to witness it, yet what’s going on in this picture is creeping some people out.
Bikini-clad women lie sprawled on beach towels as they sun themselves, while men dressed in shorts relax and children build sandcastles.
But there’s a twist; these people are not at the beach. Instead, they’re inside a building, and there are fully dressed spectators watching from above and scrutinizing their every move.
The picture has some social media users puzzled, with comments that it looks like a scene from a bizarre prison movie.
“You’ve got people packed in, and some people watching them like they’re at the beach but they’re not at the beach, they’re in a building with sand in it,” one social media commenter said.
“Without a doubt this has to be the strangest footage I’ve seen in my whole life … It’s pretty crazy, pretty wild, pretty out there.”
Another commented it could be like a “prison for the super rich”, while a third said it looks like a “prison floor”.
It turns out that it’s actually the artwork/opera Sun&Seawhich has traveled to different art galleries around the world, each time looking a little different.
The “beachgoers” are opera singers, and they sing as nature around them crumbles.
Many who have seen the display have raved about it, calling it “extraordinary”.
“There is less a feeling of doom than an elegy of beautiful sadness,” one audience member wrote.
In 2019, the opera won the coveted Golden Lion at the 2019 Venice Biennale, while representing Lithuania.
At the time, Guardian reported that visitors looked down at the display from a minstrel’s gallery inside an old naval warehouse in the Venice Arsenale.
More recently, the piece was featured at Iceland’s Reykjavik Art Museum in June this year for the city’s arts festival, featuring black sand from the volcanic country’s coastline.
Sun&Sea project curator Lucia Pietroiusti has an intriguing description of the display. “Imagine a beach. The burning sun, sunscreen and bright bathing suits and sweaty palms and legs,” she said.
“Tired limbs sprawled lazily across a mosaic of towels. Imagine the occasional squeal of children, laughter, the sound of an ice cream van in the distance.
“The musical rhythm of waves on the surf, a soothing sound. The crinkling of plastic bags whirling in the air, their silent floating, jellyfish-like, below the waterline. The rumble of a volcano, or of an airplane, or a speedboat.
“Then a chorus of songs – everyday songs, songs of worry and of boredom, songs of almost nothing. And below them, the slow creaking of an exhausted Earth, a gasp.”
The performance loops continuously, for four hours each day and the audience can come and go as they please.
Upcoming tour locations include Helsinki, Barcelona and Lisbon.
Sydney FC’s thrilling Australia Cup victory over the Central Coast Mariners has been marred by disturbing post-match footage of crowd troubles outside of Leichhardt Oval on Sunday night.
The Sky Blues beat the Mariners on penalties after the two sides were locked at 3-3 at the end of extra-time.
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But in an unfortunate turn of events, the result has been overshadowed by violence in the car park after the full time whistle had been blown.
Video of the incident was first posted online by veteran sports reporter Ray Gatt.
Two sets of hooded individuals were seen hurling projectiles such as rocks, barriers and flares at one another as spectators, some with young families, were forced to return back into the stadium for their own safety.
In an official statement, the Mariners confirmed that none of their own fans were involved in the incident at any stage and condemned the behaviors and actions of those who were.
“We would like to applaud and thank all of our traveling supporters and how they conduct themselves,” the statement read.
“The club does not condone such behaviour. There is no place for it in football and this incident had nothing to do with the match.”
According to Sydney FC CEO Adam Santo, the participating parties did not even attend the match itself.
“I would rather celebrate the exciting finish to our match tonight however we are assisting police with the incident that occurred outside the ground,” Santo posted on Twitter.
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“Reports at the scene appear those responsible were not in attendance at our match.
“Fortunately it appears no-one was injured.”
An official Sydney FC statement corroborated Santo’s account in terms of no attending fans having any hand in the post-match scenes.
“Sydney FC were disappointed to see the incident that took place outside Leichhardt Oval at the conclusion of the Australia Cup match,” the statement read.
“As far as we are aware, the parties involved had not attended the match, and we are grateful to stadium security and NSW police who cleared the area within minutes.
“Football is the most inclusive, safe and welcoming sport and those involved do not represent our game.”
Sydney FC star striker Adam Le Fondre shared that his family was unfortunately caught up in the “disgraceful scenes.”
“Awful stuff to see,” Le Fondre wrote on Twitter.
“My mrs was caught with our 3 girls in the car park trying to leave whilst this was happening!! Disgraceful scenes.”
An eyewitness account from an individual named Stefan detailed the frightening situation that was unfolding in front of him, his wife and his two-year-old daughter.
“It was probably about 15 minutes after the game finished when we heard all this ruckus while walking to the car park,” Stefan told The Daily Telegraph.
“We saw a barrier being thrown and while I was holding my two-year-old daughter, a flare flew overhead and landed only a couple meters away from us.
“There was a lot of screaming and shouting, objects were flying around overhead and rocks were going past us.”
NSW Police confirmed the incident is under investigation.
Just one week out from the fight, Jake Paul’s scheduled bout against Hasim Rahman Jr. has been canceled due to Rahman Jr. having serious issues with his weight cut.
The New York State Athletic Commission forced Rahman Jr., who normally fights at heavyweight, to submit regular weight checks to ensure he was cutting weight safely after the 31-year-old was given just one month to prepare.
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But according to Rahman Jr.’s promoter Greg Cohen, he was struggling badly with the weight cut and was sitting at 214 pounds just one week out from the bout.
It forced a complete cancellation of the event and prompted a strongly-worded statement from Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
“On Friday, Rahman submitted a weight check to the NYSAC that demonstrated he had lost less than 1 pound since originally signing to take the fight 24 days prior,” the statement read.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 12: Jake Paul and Hasim Rahman face-off during a press conference at Madison Square Garden on July 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
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“This prompted the commission to declare that it would not sanction the fight at less than 205 lbs. Still, Jake Paul was prepared to move forward with the fight at this new weight and a new contract was sent to Rahman’s promoter reflecting a 205 lbs. limit, impose strict penalties should he fail to make weight.
“Upon receiving this new contract Saturday morning, Rahman’s camp indicated for the very first time that he planned to weigh 215 lbs. at the official weigh-in and would not agree to weigh-in at 205 pounds and informing Most Valuable Promotions that they are pulling out of the fight unless the fight was agreed to at 215 pounds.
“MVP and Jake Paul will not reward someone that has conducted themselves in such a deceiving and calculated manner. Therefore, MVP is left with no choice but to cancel the August 6th event.
“This forced outcome impacts Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano and every other fighter on this card who have trained endlessly over the past few months for this event. The boxing community must hold Hasim Rahman Jr. liable for his lack of professionalism.”
Rahman Jr. stepped in on one month’s notice as Paul’s fight against Tommy Fury collapsed for the second time.
Fury, the younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, first withdrew due to broken ribs and a chest infection in December last year and then pulled out in July because of visa issues trying to get into the US.
