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Paul Scholes, the former Manchester United footballer, has been banned from driving for six months after racking up two driving convictions in the space of two days.

The former midfielder, 51, was caught speeding in a Range Rover in March while on a late-night drive through Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Police brought a prosecution in connection with the incident, as Scholes’s car had been clocked at 37mph on a 30mph stretch of residential road.

The former Man United and England star was also taken to task by Greater Manchester Police after a Mercedes registered in his name was caught driving at 49mph in a 30mph zone in November last year.

Scholes was then prosecuted for failing to respond to two police letters asking for confirmation that he had been the speeding driver.

The two criminal cases culminated in hearings on two days last week, when Scholes was handed a six-month driving ban and ordered to pay fines, costs, and court fees totalling £1,472.

A court official said Scholes, who was prosecuted in private hearings under the Single Justice Procedure, did not enter pleas to either of the charges he faced and was convicted in his absence.

Scholes played 499 times for Manchester United and won 66 England caps in a trophy-laden career which included 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cup wins, and two Champions League triumphs.

Court documents show Scholes’s Range Rover was caught speeding at just after 11.30pm on March 3 on the A649 Halifax Road near Cleckheaton.

Police said the former footballer replied to a notice of intended prosecution, confirming he had been the driver.

The court papers noted that Scholes could not be offered the chance of an out-of-court settlement with a speed awareness course as he was a “totter” – meaning he already had penalty points on his licence and was now in line for an automatic ban.

In the second case, Scholes’s Mercedes broke the speed limit on the A670 Mossley Road near Ashton-under-Lyne at 11.10am on Nov 14 last year. Police said two letters were sent to his home and “no reply has been received”.

At court, the force dropped the speeding allegation but continued to prosecute Scholes for failing to reply to the letters.

On Aug 12 at Bradford magistrates’ court, he was handed a six-month driving ban for the speeding offence, along with a £220 fine, £120 costs, and an £88 victim surcharge.

The next day at Manchester magistrates’ court, Scholes was sentenced to a £660 fine, with six penalty points on his licence, £120 costs, and a £264 victim surcharge.

The JPMorgan Chase banker who was one of the secret figures behind the Fifa sell-off plan is also under pressure for her links to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Mary Erdoes, 58, the head of the asset and wealth management division, led the bank’s efforts to find investors prepared to take part of the 20 per cent stake in Fifa which its president Gianni Infantino sought to sell.

Erdoes has also come under scrutiny for her previous longstanding connection to Epstein, who died in 2019. Documents released by the US authorities indicate that Erdoes only ended JPMorgan’s relationship with Epstein in 2013, five years after he was convicted in Florida of procuring a minor for prostitution.

Emails exchanged between the pair, first reported by The Banker financial news site, suggest that they were in contact regarding banking. Erdoes emailed Epstein birthday greetings from her JPMorgan account in 2012. The pair were in indirect contact via staff over the banking arrangements for another associate of Epstein, the former Goldman Sachs executive, Kathy Ruemmler.

Erdoes is, according to the New York Times, understood to be one of the few individuals who knew about Infantino’s plans as they were formulated. Those involved selling a 20 per cent stake in Fifa at a value of $4.2bn (£3.1m) to investors led by Joshua Kushner – the brother of US president Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – and others. Infantino did not reveal the plan to his closest staff until days before the World Cup final.

Joshua Kushner’s investment vehicle, Thrive Eternal, and Fifa planned to use JPMorgan to find fellow investors for the putative sale, which was subsequently abandoned by Infantino. The Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) project caused uproar in world football and has left Infantino fighting for his future as Fifa president. The European governing body, Uefa, as well as counterparts in Asia and North and Central America have threatened a breakaway.

Erdoes, the bank’s second-highest earner last year on $32m (£24m), has not commented on her links to Infantino. The connection between the pair is not clear although Infantino has been on stage with Erdoes when he spoke at a staff meeting at the bank.

Previously JPMorgan apologised for its role in financing the 2021 European Super League. It is yet to make any comment on its role in FFE, or the relationship between Erdoes, the bank and Infantino.

In terms of Erdoes’s dealings with Epstein, JPMorgan told The Banker: “We regret any association we had with the man [Epstein], but did not help him commit his heinous crimes.

“The firm filed multiple Suspicious Activity Reports beginning in 2002 but heard nothing back from the government.

“Mary Erdoes made the decision to close his accounts in 2013, six years before his arrest. Mary has always held herself and her colleagues to the highest standards of integrity and trust, is consistently recognised as one of the top executives in financial services and continues to be a critically important leader of our firm.”

Meanwhile, Fifa will face a further embarrassing episode on Wednesday when Omar Artan – the Somali referee refused entry to the United States for the World Cup – will take charge of Uefa’s curtain-raising Super Cup.

Artan has spoken about the “very tough period” he faced when denied entry to the US at Miami International Airport in June, ahead of what should have been the highlight of his career.

Tensions were already high between Fifa and Uefa before the start of the World Cup – which saw Infantino attract further scrutiny for his role in the decision to suspend the two-match ban given to United States striker Folarin Balogun – and in what was a thinly veiled move to humiliate the global governing body, Artan was named the match referee for Wednesday’s Super Cup in Salzburg between Aston Villa and Paris St-Germain.

Artan said on Monday: “It was a very tough period. A lot of people have sympathy for me, because when someone has been working a lot of years and is supposed to do something, and then can’t do it, it’s very challenging.

“I really appreciate the support I received throughout the world, though; I’m so grateful.”

Artan, 34, was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before he was denied entry to the US. Somalia is one of the 12 countries on America’s travel ban list, with Infantino later admitting publicly that he was powerless to overrule the Donald Trump administration’s ruling. The Fifa president told critics at a press conference ahead of the World Cup to “chill and relax” over the controversy, and added: “We work on everything, we try to resolve everything, [but] immediately screaming and shouting, that’s the opposite of finding a solution.”

Aleksandar Ceferin, the Uefa president, reacted by moving to appoint Artan for the Super Cup where he will become the first African official to take charge of the European season opener.

Artan added: “When we got this call it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment. There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria, and they are over the moon with me officiating a match like this.”

>They reveal the plan to try to kill Messi during the World Cup: "I'm going to blow up Messi with four bombs stuck to my body"

A US police report reveals security threats during the World Cup

>As police report has revealed the security threats how much he FBI as the IPCC (Center for International Police Cooperation) they were in charge of deactivating it during the soccer World Cup that Spain conquered. Among all of them, the threat of a suicide attack to kill Leo Messi, the player who more threats received throughout the tournament.

>Before the game between Argentina and Jordan from the group stage, a man called the Dallas airport and threatened to break into the stadium along with two other people carrying homemade bombs and an AR-15 rifle, expressly mentioning Messi to kill him.

>The threats were repeated before the Argentina-Egypt from the round of 16. "I'm going to enter Atlanta Stadium and I'm going to blow up Messi with four bombs stuck to my body", one of the suspects wrote on his social networks. In that same game, the police received another call claiming to the existence of three bombs inside several trash cans in the stands. Everything turned out to be one false alarm after searching the entire stadium with explosive detection dogs.

Security flaws with Cristiano Ronaldo

>Cristiano Ronaldo was also affected by a security problem at the concentration hotel in Portugal. According to the police report, FIFA reported the presence of "a suspicious man" to the FBI that requested "details" about Cristiano's accommodation. Two days later, houston police located and detained that same man inside the hotel where the Portuguese team was staying. Another individual was arrested in Toronto for a similar incident when trying to sneak into the elevator with Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming he just wanted a selfie with CR7.

6,000 hate messages

>The referees also suffered death threats. French referee François Letexier received more than 6,000 hate messages on his personal WhatsApp after refereeing the controversial Argentina-Egypt. The same thing happened with the VAR referee of that match, Willy Delajod. Due to threats, it was necessary strengthen the security of their homes and families in France.

>Barcelona got fully involved and is going all out for “Cuti” Romero

>When everything was agreed between Tottenham and Atlético Madrid for the Argentine center back, the departure of Ronald Araújo from the Catalans to Liverpool opened the doors for the Cordoban.

>Cristian Romero it remained at the center of one of the great movements in the European transfer market. The defender of the Argentine National Team informed Tottenham that he will not continue at the club after the 2026 World Cup and, since then, several of the most important teams on the continent began to move to keep one of the most sought-after defenders in European football.

>At first, Inter Milan he had made progress in negotiations with Tottenham to incorporate the Cordoban. However, Romero decided to wait due to the interest of different Spanish clubs, a possibility that appears especially attractive for the footballer who emerged from the Villa Esquiú Premises. That decision ended up changing the scenario and opened the door for that Atlético de Madrid take the initiative.

>With Diego Simeone as one of its main promoters, Atlético de Madrid presented a proposal for 30 million fixed dollars plus another 10 million in variables by the defender. The offer was accepted by Tottenham and, with the footballer's contract practically resolved, everything seemed to indicate that Cuti had his arrival at the Madrid team on track.

>However, when the transfer seemed to be close to being finalized, Barcelona appeared. The exit of Ronald Araujo heading to Liverpool, on loan for one season, he left an important space in the defense and the Catalan team identified Romero as one of its main alternatives to occupy that place.

>Hansi Flick, coach of the Catalans, he especially values his leadership, personality and physical presence, characteristics that make him an ideal profile to reinforce the last line.

>The emergence of Barcelona could once again modify the future of the Argentine defender and, at the same time, generate a direct confrontation with Atlético de Madrid. The Catalan team not only intends to stay with Romero, but is also negotiating with the Madrid club for Julian Alvarez, another footballer who appears as a priority to reinforce his squad. In this way, Barcelona could try to keep two fundamental pieces of Simeone's team during the same market.

>Julián's situation also has its own novel. The Argentine striker would have expressed his desire to wear the Blaugrana shirt and fulfill one of his great sporting dreams, although Atlético de Madrid is working to retain him. Barcelona, meanwhile, he seeks to advance in parallel for the attacker and Romero, in an operation that could considerably alter the Colchonero team's plans for next season.

>But Barcelona's strategy does not end there. The Catalan club is also holding talks about Rodri, Spanish midfielder who appears as one of his great objectives. Interest in the footballer could generate another strong crossover in the market, this time with Real Madrid, which also has the European champion among its main priorities to strengthen its midfield.

>Thus, Barcelona is at the center of a particularly aggressive market: it aims to Cuti Romero, while negotiating for Julian Alvarez and seek to move forward Rodri. If these movements are made, it could directly hit the plans of Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid, two of their great rivals in Spain. For Romero, meanwhile, the final decision could come after the World Cup, with Tottenham willing to negotiate and three European giants attentive to their future.

>Mourinho arrived, observed, analyzed... and changed. He understood that the ecosystem of Madrid, of Valdebebas, needed control, new rules, its seal. And acted. The players had everything to shape their daily lives as they pleased, all the facilities. And precisely in that, in not making everyday life so easy, is where the Portuguese has put the scalpel. Much more control, and not only in training, but in everything that surrounds the player's life, everything that can affect him. Nutrition, recovery from injuries and even punctuality when going to Valdebebas. With all of you, Mou's rules.

>Some that do not have to be applied with a heavy hand, but with firmness and conviction. Because for Mou, forming a group is also essential. See that image shared by the club, where the entire squad and coaching staff were seen eating together in Valdebebas. Something that was not common, until now. A routine that the Portuguese considers vital, team bulding. He did it at Benfica and has brought that new habit with him to Madrid. “He wants to foster the group, unity, and he is being quite exciting”, comes out from within. “The atmosphere is very, very good”, swipe another font. Some messages that, after that end of the course full of tension, are highly valued internally.

Nutrition

>Even more so because of the firmness that accompanies that left hand. Starting with the kitchen. For the food, more specifically. The figure of the nutritionist is no longer consultative, but rather sets the menus, both for breakfast and snack, in a closed and scheduled manner. All designed for performance, moving away from whim. Whereas before there was more gastronomic freedom, now that is over. And for the moment there has been no schism in the squad. On the contrary.

What if you're late?

>It hasn't fit with long faces either the new ‘fines’ policy. Discipline, or lack thereof, is not punished by looking at your pocket, but with a mandatory gym and alone, far from group training. The obligation is to be in Valdebebas one hour before the bugle call. Whoever is not, punishment. Without distinctions, without hierarchies.

And finally, the injuries.

>Recovery, in Valdebebas. Even if you work with personal trainers, morning and afternoon in the sports city. No external treatments and everything (something that was also the case) in line with the club and its team of coaches. Recovery is not an individual thing, but is now more collective and supervised than ever. New habits to combat the old ones, which he didn't like. The demand begins long before the ball starts rolling. And with José Mourinho, more.