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Police are investigating allegations a Birmingham City player was racially abused by a fan during Saturday’s derby against West Brom.

The home club has confirmed it is supporting West Midlands Police after Juninho Bacuna reported the matter to the referee during the second half of the Sky Bet Championship encounter at The Hawthorns.

It was one of two such incidents on the same day in the English Football League as AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson revealed his player Omar Bugiel had reported being racially abused at Bradford.

A statement from West Brom read: “West Bromwich Albion can confirm Birmingham City player Juninho Bacuna reported an incident of racism to referee David Webb during the second half of today’s game.

“Albion will offer its full support to West Midlands Police in their criminal investigation of this matter. The club will also remain in contact with Birmingham City to ensure Juninho Bacuna receives the support he requires at this time.

“The club takes a strong stance against all forms of discrimination and will do all it can to ensure anyone found guilty of racism faces the toughest available legal punishment, in addition to a lifetime ban from The Hawthorns.”

Birmingham City's Juninho Bacuna talks with the referee David Webb after he was racially abused by a West Brom fan. Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

The incident comes a week after West Brom’s FA Cup tie against another local rival in Wolves was marred by crowd violence.

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Birmingham said in a statement Bacuna’s complaint will be “included in the official’s match report and the club will assist the FA, the EFL and the authorities accordingly”.

“Birmingham City thanks the West Brom stewards, security and executive team who acted immediately and the issue is now with West Midlands Police.”

Play was briefly held up late in Wimbledon’s League Two meeting with Bradford at Valley Parade as Lebanon striker Bugiel reported being the victim of alleged racist abuse from someone in the crowd.

AFC Wimbledon's Omar Bugiel. Pic: PA
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AFC Wimbledon’s Omar Bugiel also alleged racist abuse during a League Two match against Bradford. Pic: PA

Jackson said: “I think there was some racist abuse towards Omar Bugiel. He’s gone in with the referee to report it.”

It comes just weeks after Coventry City’s Kasey Palmer and AC Milan’s Mike Maignan reporting racism during Championship and Serie A games on 21 January.

Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi recently told Sky News that he would confront racist fans face to face.

And FIFA president Gianni Infantino called for clubs whose fans committed racial abuse to forfeit games as punishment.

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Ireland pledging emergency legislation to send asylum seekers back to UK in wake of Rwanda bill being passed

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Ireland pledging emergency legislation to send asylum seekers back to UK in wake of Rwanda bill being passed

Ireland is pledging emergency legislation enabling it to send asylum seekers back to the UK.

More than 80% of recent arrivals in the republic came via the land border with Northern Ireland, Irish justice minister Helen McEntee told a parliamentary committee last week.

Rishi Sunak told Sky News it showed the UK’s Rwanda scheme was already working as a deterrent after it finally became law last week.

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Ireland plans to return migrants to UK

Read more: Anti-immigrant camp in Dublin ‘not about racism’, residents say

Ireland’s deputy prime minister has said the threat of deportation to Rwanda is causing migrants to head for Ireland instead of the UK.

Micheal Martin said the policy was already affecting Ireland because people are “fearful” of staying in the UK.

The former taoiseach told The Daily Telegraph: “Maybe that’s the impact it was designed to have.”

Protesters at an 'Ireland Says No' anti-refugee gathering in Dublin. File pic: Niall Carson/PA
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Protesters in Dublin. Pic: PA

Simon Harris, Ireland’s latest leader, has asked Ms McEntee to “bring proposals to cabinet to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe ‘third countries’ and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK”, a spokesman said.

Ms McEntee said she will be meeting UK Home Secretary James Cleverly in London on Monday.

“There are many reasons why we have seen an increase in migration towards Ireland,” she told RTE.

“My focus as minister for justice is making sure that we have an effective immigration structure and system.

“That’s why I’m introducing fast processing, that’s why I’ll have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK, and that’s why I’ll be meeting with the home secretary to raise these issues on Monday.”

People are now “worried” about coming to the UK, Rishi Sunak has said.

He told Sky News: “If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won’t be able to stay here, they are much less likely to come, and that’s why the Rwanda scheme is so important.”

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Are migrants fleeing from UK to Ireland?

Mr Sunak said the comments from Irish politicians show that “illegal migration is a global challenge”.

“[That] is why you’re seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe [they] will follow where the UK has led,” he said.

Shadow minister Wes Streeting said it was unlikely a Labour government would bring people back from Rwanda if some are sent there.

“Once people are settled in Rwanda, they’re settled in Rwanda,” he told Sky News, adding it was doubtful that Labour would “unpick that situation”.

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Regarding illegal migration in general, he said it required “putting the money that’s gone to Rwanda into the National Crime Agency so we can have proper cross-border policing to tackle the criminal gangs, speeding up the processing of decision-making, making sure we’ve got serious returns agreements with other countries”.

He added: “Those are solutions that can work.”

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Prince Harry returning to UK for first time since visiting King Charles following his cancer diagnosis

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Prince Harry returning to UK for first time since visiting King Charles following his cancer diagnosis

Prince Harry is returning to the UK next month for the first time since his rushed visit to see the King after his cancer diagnosis. 

The Duke of Sussex will attend a ceremony on 8 May marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

The service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral is the first major event he has attended in Britain for some time.

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It is not known if any other royals will be in attendance at the service, or if the Duchess of Sussex or the couple’s children will be in the UK.

Harry made a brief trip to the UK in February, spending about 45 minutes with his father, who had just started treatment for cancer.

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The duke is expected to provide a reading at the event, which marks a decade since the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014.

The games were founded as a sporting event for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.

Actor Damian Lewis is set to recite the Invictus poem during the service.

Representatives from across the Invictus Games participating nations, including members of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veteran community, will also be in attendance.

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Man dies after parachuting incident in County Durham

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Man dies after parachuting incident in County Durham

A man has died following a parachute incident at an industrial estate in County Durham.

Police were called to South West industrial estate in Shotton near Peterlee at 12.30pm on Saturday.

A man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are appealing for anyone who has dash cam footage of the moments leading up to the fatal incident.

They said they are treating the death as unexpected and inquiries are ongoing.

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Fire and ambulance services also attended, Durham Constabulary said.

Detective Chief Inspector Mel Sutherland, who is leading the investigation, said: “Officers are keen to speak to anyone who was travelling on the A19 at around 12.20pm to 12.30pm who may have mobile phone or dashcam footage which captures the moments leading up to the incident.

“Our thoughts remain with the man’s family at this time.”

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