Latest news with #Allan
New York Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
The night Botafogo put Paris Saint-Germain in the ‘cemetery of favourites'
The first thing you heard was the drums: the rat-tat-tat of the pandeiro, the bone-shaking thunder of the surdo. Later, after the rhythm section had moved from the concourse to the stands, they unfurled their banners, black and white, declarations of love draped over railings and barriers. They came in hope. Hope that their team, South America's champions, could bloody the nose of Europe's best. They knew it would be a tough task, knew that Paris Saint-Germain can biff you up in about 21 different ways, but knew, too, that they stood a puncher's chance. Advertisement 'Nothing is impossible,' central midfielder Allan had insisted on the eve of the game. His coach, Renato Paiva, had put it more pointedly: 'The cemetery of football is full of favourites.' Botafogo had beaten Seattle Sounders in their Club World Cup opener but only just, stumbling over the line, 2-1. 'Funereal,' Paiva had called the atmosphere in the changing room after that match. Here, in the California sunshine, they started as if they had a point to prove, if only to themselves. PSG dominated possession. That was to be expected. But they kept banging against the brick wall of the Botafogo defence, Alexander Barboza and 20-year-old Jair Cunha tremendous. The midfielders — Gregore, Marlon Freitas, Allan — snapped away, three little bear traps. 'They're going to cause us different problems than European teams,' PSG coach Luis Enrique had said on Wednesday. He was right. Botafogo sat deep, suffered, took the knocks that came and deserved their 1-0 win. They were only ever going to get a couple of chances. It turned out that only needed one. Playmaker Jefferson Savarino — 'Our magician,' in the words of left-back Alex Telles — pulled a rabbit out of the hat, releasing Igor Jesus with a pass that split the Parisian defence. The striker did the rest, firing home via a deflection and careening into the embrace of the first rows, beyond delirious. Hope slowly began to transmute into belief. Botafogo made it to half-time, then nearly scored again through Savarino just after the break. Luis Enrique sent on the cavalry, trying to shake his team into life, but the game retained the same pattern, PSG banging on the door, Botafogo telling them to do one. Some context here. Botafogo may be Brazilian and South American champions, but we are not talking about a giant club. The history books tell tales of Garrincha and Nilton Santos, but of decades of mediocrity. Some Brazilian giants — Palmeiras, Flamengo — look a lot like the top European operations in terms of finances and infrastructure; Botafogo are not close to being on that level. They are, by number of fans, only the 10th biggest club in Brazil. Advertisement Their success over the last 18 months has been an incredible story. Impetus has come from pugnacious American owner John Textor but also from the players themselves. This is by no means a squad of stars — the most recognisable names are Allan and Telles, both on the downslope after playing in Europe — but there is a remarkable feeling of unity pulsing through everything they do. Even managerial changes have done little to shake the foundations. Now, perhaps, you can better understand the jubilant scenes at the final whistle — why Igor Jesus sank to his knees, why Textor was whooping and hollering, why Barboza, a big granite plinth of a man, pointed skyward. This was not just a blow struck for the South American game, an anti-imperialist gesture. It was the latest chapter in a great underdog tale. 'Madness — we can't believe it,' Uruguayan forward Santiago Rodriguez, said, laughing. 'Historic,' Barboza called it. Winger Artur, a thorn in PSG's side all night, looked a lot like he needed a lie-down. 'This is an unforgettable night,' he said. 'We'll remember this for the rest of our lives.' Then there was Freitas, the captain, glassy-eyed, the emotion of it all cracking his voice. 'It's… supernatural,' he told Globo. 'We knew it would be hard. I believe Botafogo had a one per cent chance of winning this match today. But one per cent for us is a lot.' He spoke to a soundtrack that had been playing since before kick-off, that booming thudpocalype from the stands. Half an hour later, with every bemused PSG fan long gone, they were still there, the Botafogo fans, gripping their flags and their instruments, drumming and dreaming. You can sign up to DAZN to watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free.
Dublin Live
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
DCU's NuBar pays tribute to 'dear friend' bartender following death
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info DCU's NuBar has paid a heartfelt tribute to a beloved bartender following his death. Allan Stevenson was a well-known face around the northside student bar. In an emotional statement, the NuBar said on Instagram: "It is with a very heavy heart we tell you of the passing of our dear friend Allan, our colleague and, most importantly, our friend. "Fly high, Al. May you get the best bed in heaven." Friends, family, and former DCU students took to the comments to express their grief. One person said: "Sending lots of love to the NuBar family. Allan was an absolute gent." Another person said: "Only fond memories of Allan and the NBar team. Sorry to hear. He will be very missed." A third commentator added: "Allan, bro, you will be missed, pal. A genuine gentleman. May you rest easy now, buddy. So, so sad. Condolences to Allan's family." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Victoria Police making record arrests but almost half of all crimes are going unsolved, latest crime statistics reveal
Victoria's record crime rates have led to an explosion in unsolved crimes, new statistics have revealed. Crime statistics released on Thursday show that of the 627,268 criminal offences committed in Victoria in the year ending March 2025, more than 46 per cent remain unsolved. That means there are 290,871 offences where the perpetrator has not been brought to justice. While this number will undoubtedly go down as Victoria Police continues its work, it is currently 42 per cent higher than it was 12 months ago. The increase in unsolved crimes comes despite Victoria Police revealing it had carried out almost 76,000 arrests in the past year, which they believe could be an all time record. 'Police recorded the most arrests since electronic records began in 1993, and most likely, in Victoria Police's 172-year history,' Victoria Police said in a statement. In the ten years since Labor came to power, the number of unsolved crimes has soared by 66.7 per cent – leaving more victims without justice, and more offenders without consequences. According to the Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin, a former police officer, the surge in unsolved crimes shows the Allan government has lost control of law and order. 'This is what happens when a government loses control of crime – offenders know they won't be caught, and victims know they won't see justice,' Mr Battin said. 'Victoria Police are working night and day to keep our community safe – but they're being let down by a soft-on-crime government that refuses to give them the resources or laws they need.' Earlier on Thursday, Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines said while the crime rates were 'unacceptable' the unique offender rate was stable, meaning the same number of people were committing additional offences. Mr Carbines also pointed out that the statistics did not capture the impact of the Allan government's changes to bail laws – which took effect on March 28. 'The government has acted, (and there has been) more offenders remanded than ever before since these changes took effect. 'We've seen a 100 per cent increase in young offenders remanded. We've seen a 31 per cent increase in adult offenders remanded. 'We will start to see those people unable to commit further offending. So I think we'll start to see that change picked up in future quarters.' The Police Minister also flagged the introduction of a new round of bail reforms, as well as other tough-on-crime measures such as so-called post and boast laws, which impose tougher penalties for offenders who 'promote their misdeeds and their crimes' on social media. "We also have the second tranche of our bail reforms coming after the parliamentary winter ... which will be about high harm crimes, aggravated burglary, carjackings, home invasions," Mr Carbines said. "Where people commit those offences and repeat those offences, it'll be extremely difficult to get bail, extremely difficult. "We will also be bringing tougher measures, as you have seen, the crime statistics around retail crime, we cannot accept the growth in retail crime, that it's okay to continually, repeatedly steal from businesses."
Herald Sun
2 days ago
- Herald Sun
Jump in teens held behind bars due to Vic bail laws
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News. The number of violent teenagers accused of serious crimes who have been refused bail has almost doubled since the Allan government introduced its tough new bail laws. New data reveals that as of the start of this month, there were 92 young people on remand in Youth Justice in Victoria compared to the corresponding period last year when there were 46 – a massive 100 per cent increase. The figures – released by the Department of Justice and Community Safety – also show that the number of adults on remand from the start of June was also up, with 2589 refused bail – a jump from 1980 in the same period in 2024. The increase follows the Herald Sun's Suburbs Under Siege campaign which led to the Victorian government introducing the 'toughest bail laws in the country'. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the increase in people on remand proved the bail reforms were working. 'We have brought in tough new bail laws which are seeing an increase in serious alleged repeat offenders being remanded,' she said on Wednesday. 'These are the toughest bail laws in the country because we have listened to victims and the community.' Ms Kilkenny said there were also more changes ahead, with new bail legislation to be introduced to parliament later this year. The positive statistics come just days after the state government introduced new 'post and boast' laws. The new legislation will make it an offence for bragging about crimes online, resulting in offenders being kept in jail for longer. The spike in remands follows months of alarming crime rates in Victoria showing they had reached the highest on record, with police laying the blame for the growing crime wave on a group of hardcore teenage offenders. It's been previously revealed that a gang of about 100 youth offenders are responsible for at least 30 crimes each in the past year – carrying out a total of more than 3000 separate reported offences. The bail reforms passed in March made Victorian judges and magistrates put community safety first by beefing up sentences for repeat offenders who break bail. The changes also included the reintroduction of 'committing an indictable offence while on bail'. Another offence of 'breaching bail conditions' will also come into play. Both offences will add an extra three months of jail to any other sentence imposed for any crime committed. It can also be revealed that the state has begun rolling out its new electronic-monitoring program. Four youth offenders currently have monitors as part of two-year trial to ensure young people comply with their bail conditions.
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
'Disturbing': Allan government accused of 'cutting' oversight of government spending under guise of modernisation
The Victorian government has been accused of cutting financial integrity measures despite state debt being forecast to hit $194 billion in just four years' time. The Allan government has proposed a series of reforms to 'modernise' Victoria's financial management regulations, but the state opposition has accused the government of reducing oversight of government spending. "There has never been a more important time to scrutinise the overspending of the Victorian Government in this state's history... (yet) under the guise of improving financial integrity, the Labor Government is cutting it,' shadow treasurer James Newbury told A key measure in the bill is the removal of the requirement for a 'warrant' to be issued before any taxpayer funds can be released from consolidated revenue and spent by government departments – a process that requires the sign off of the state's Governor and the Auditor-General. Justifying the move in parliament, Finance Minister Danny Pearson said the warrants requirement was an 'antiquated cash accounting system'. 'Warrants originated in the days when public servants would seek to take cash from the vaults below Old Treasury Building to fund the activities of departments… once it was taken, there was no practical way to track it,' he said. 'We now have modern banking and IT systems, and strong requirements to provide annual reports demonstrating how funds are spent, making warrants redundant in the 21st Century.' But shadow treasurer James Newbury said the removal of warrants was 'disturbing'. 'Since our Parliament was formed, the Victorian Governor formally signed off on Government spending," he said. 'Labor wants a blank cheque and is attempting to change the law, so that the Governor no longer has oversight of Labor's profligate spending. 'These changes are disturbing and the Opposition strongly opposes them.' Responding to the claims, a Victorian government spokesperson said the Opposition's concerns were 'complete rubbish'. "Warrants are an inefficient and ineffective practice developed nearly two hundred years ago. This will bring Victoria in line with other Australian jurisdictions,' the government spokesperson told
