LONDON: A man has been arrested after England Test captain Ben Stokes’ home was burgled while he was on tour in Pakistan, police said Friday.
Stokes said his wife and two children were at home in County Durham, in northeast England, during the break-in by “masked” burglars on the evening of October 17, when valuables were taken.
Durham Police said a 32-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of burglary. He has since been bailed.
Stokes was in Pakistan for a Test series when the incident occurred.
He said items stolen included a medal he received after he was recognized in the 2020 New Year Honours list, for helping England win the World Cup the year before.
Describing the break-in on his personal X account, Stokes posted images of the items taken from his home including a Christian Dior handbag, a gold ring with England cricket insignia and bracelets.
“By far the worst thing about this crime is that it was carried out whilst my wife and two young children were in the house,” the 33-year-old wrote.
“Thankfully, none of my family came to any physical harm. Understandably, however, the experience has had an impact on their emotional and mental state.
“All we can think about is how much worse this situation could have been.”
England lost their Test series in Pakistan 2-1.
Man arrested after Ben Stokes’ home raided by masked gang
https://arab.news/c8mq7
Man arrested after Ben Stokes’ home raided by masked gang
- England captain was in Pakistan for a Test series when the incident occurred
- Stolen items include a medal received after England won the 2019 World Cup
US drops bid to preserve FIFA bribery convictions
- Prosecutors told the Supreme Court on Tuesday they wanted to end their fight
- The case was one of several to emerge from a sweeping 2015 corruption probe by DOJ
NEW YORK: The US government has moved to drop its case against a former Fox broadcasting executive involved in the FIFA corruption scandal that plunged the world’s footballing body into crisis.
Prosecutors told the Supreme Court on Tuesday they wanted to end their fight to preserve the convictions of Hernan Lopez and Argentine sports marketing firm Full Play.
Both were found guilty in March 2023 of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies related to bribes to secure lucrative television rights to international football officials. The convictions were overturned on appeal months later, before being reinstated this July.
The case was one of several to emerge from a sweeping 2015 corruption probe by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), which ultimately led to the downfall of then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
In a filing to the Supreme Court, which Lopez had asked to review his conviction, prosecutors said that dismissal of the case is “in the interests of justice,” without giving further details.
They asked the case be returned to a lower court for its formal dismissal.
“I’m grateful the truth prevailed, and I’m also confident more of that truth will come out,” Lopez, a US and Argentine citizen, wrote on X late Tuesday.
While there was no indication of Donald Trump’s involvement, the US president has issued a string of pardons including for corruption related offenses.
In February, he ordered the DOJ to pause enforcement of a long-established law that prohibits American companies from bribing officials of foreign governments to gain business.
Lopez was facing up to 40 years in prison and millions of dollars in penalties after his conviction for money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy.
During the trial, a US court heard that the main beneficiaries of the kickback scheme were six of the most powerful men in South American football.
They included former CONMEBOL president Nicolas Leoz, who died in 2019, former Argentine football executive Julio Grondona, who died in 2014, and former Brazilian football chief Ricardo Teixeira.
The United States will host the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico next year.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has cozied up with Trump ahead of the sporting event, this month awarding him the governing body’s inaugural “peace prize.”
