Luna plina
2 years ago
Saturday
Friday
Melwood training
Here are some great pictures from Melwood as the Reds prepare for Bolton.
Photos by Andrew Powell
Tickets for the Liverpool v Napoli game are now available for general sale at our Ticket Office windows or on our booking line 0843 170 5555, restrictions may apply. Season Ticket holders, ALLRED Members and Fan Card holders can continue to apply online by clicking here>>
Please note that tickets will NOT be available to purchase on the day of the game and anyone wishing to purchase tickets for this game must do so before close of business on Wednesday, November 3.
Wednesday
CIA paid Liverpool buyout tycoon millions...to use his jet for 'torture' flights
By SHARON CHURCHER and CHRIS HASTINGS
A jet owned by a senior executive in the US firm which has bought Liverpool Football Club was chartered by the CIA and used in flights allegedly linked to the rendition of terror suspects.
The plane is owned by Phillip Morse, 69, the vice-chairman of New England Sports Ventures, which bought the club on Friday for £300million.
An investigation has established that between 2002 and 2005 the CIA chartered the plane from Mr Morse for millions of pounds and made extensive use of it.
Paid by the CIA: Philip Morse, above right, with ex-U.S. president George Bush Snr
Inquiries by the European Parliament and human rights groups have linked the plane to alleged extraordinary rendition operations which took place during the same period.
A European Parliament report linked the jet directly to the abduction of Abu Omar, an Islamic preacher, who was snatched from a Milan street by the CIA in 2003 before being taken to Cairo.
Extraordinary rendition entails the abduction and transfer of a terrorist suspect from one country to another. People have been taken to states such as Egypt, Syria, Morocco and Uzbekistan which are suspected of practising torture in violation of a United Nations Convention.
The disclosure that such a senior figure in New England Sports Ventures (NESV) has been paid millions by the CIA is likely to alarm football fans already concerned that one of the country’s most prestigious clubs is still in American hands.
Snatched: Abu Omar was apprehended by the CIA while in Italy
Mr Omar was snatched by the CIA in 2003 despite having been granted political asylum by the Italian government. He was moved to an American air force base at Aviano near Venice before being transported to a NATO base in Ramstein in Germany. He was then flown from Germany to Cairo.
The European Parliament report reproduced flight documents for Mr Morse’s jet, which carries the logo of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, also owned by NESV, on its tail fin. The 19-seater Gulfstream IV, with the registration N85VM, flew from Washington to Ramstein on February 4, 2003.
On February 17, the day of Mr Omar’s abduction and rendition, the plane left Ramstein at 6.52pm and arrived in Cairo at 10.30pm. The following day the plane made the return journey to Washington via Shannon in Ireland.
MEPs and European rights campaigners believe the plane may have been used in other rendition operations. They point out that its travel destinations, which are detailed in flight logs, are totally at odds with those expected of a normal private charter jet.
During the same period it was on loan to the CIA the jet flew to Kabul in Afghanistan, Rabat in Morocco, Tripoli in Libya and Baku in Azerbaijan. The jet, which changed its registrations details in December 2004 to N227SV, also made at least 51 trips to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Amnesty International, which produced a report on rendition flights in 2006, believes the aircraft may have notched up 114 separate take offs and landings at the facility.
In a report released exclusively to The Mail on Sunday last week, human rights group Reprieve raises concerns that the plane was used in at least two more rendition flights.
It links a flight from Guantanamo Bay to Morocco on March 27 2004 and a journey from Guantanamo to Romania and Morocco on April 12 2004 to the abduction of al Qaeda operatives Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri, Abu Zubaydah, Ramzi bin al-Shibh and Mustafa al-Hawsawi.
Abduction link: Mr Morse's jet with the Red Sox logo on its tail fin
All four men were reportedly transferred from Guantanamo to foreign prisons in March and April 2004. The CIA subsequently admitted that it has video footage of al-Shibh under interrogation in a Morocco black prison.
The plane’s flight records show it also made a series of visits to RAF Leuchars in Scotland and also landed at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Luton airports.
Located by The Mail on Sunday at his home in Florida on Friday night, Mr Morse confirmed the arrangement with the CIA. He said: ‘Yeah, that’s true.’
But he insisted he had stopped renting the plane to the agency after he became aware of the rendition of Mr Omar.
He said: ‘The plane is still chartered. It’s just not chartered to the CIA.’
He said he became aware of the investigation into Mr Omar’s abduction in early 2005 and at that point he stopped hiring the jet to the CIA.
He said: ‘I didn’t know anything at the time. I don’t know that it’s ever been verified.’
Mr Morse, a partner in NESV, made his fortune from a company he founded which makes tubes used in heart surgery.
In 2002 he bought a ten per cent stake in NESV, which experts believe was valued at £26million at the time.
Mr Morse bought the white Gulfstream IV in 1995.
Clara Gutteridge of Reprieve said: ‘Questions have now been raised about the involvement of Mr Morse’s plane N85VM in three illegal rendition operations, and Reprieve is actively investigating its involvement in a number of further “transfers to torture”.
‘In light of these revelations, I hope very much that Mr Morse’s moral fibre is of the same high calibre as his bank balance.
‘I therefore look forward to Mr Morse’s full co-operation with our investigations into the clandestine activities of this executive jet. If Mr Morse fails to assist in investigations, this would raise serious questions as to his fitness to own Liverpool Football Club.’
Overseas tycoons now own nine of the 20 Premier League clubs. A NESV UK spokesman said: ‘Phillip is a passive investor in NESV and is not involved in our work here in the UK. Phillip addressed these questions publicly back in 2005, and any further inquiries about the use of his private plane are really a matter for Phillip.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1321244/CIA-paid-Liverpool-buyout-tycoons-millions--use-jet-torture-flights.html#ixzz12w0Mcnzp
Iron Maiden star flies Reds
Liverpool will set off for their Europa League clash with Napoli later this morning with the lead singer of one of the world's biggest rock bands flying their plane.
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson will captain the aircraft that is set to depart John Lennon airport for Italy at 11am.The heavy metal legend has been flying for over 20 years - in between performing at sold-out arenas across the globe of course.
"I started flying about 20-odd years ago just to see what it was like," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"I've been interested in flying since I was a kid but I was always busy with music so I never had time to do anything.
"When I did get a bit of time, I just got completely hooked and one thing has led to another - but I'm not quite sure how I've ended up as the captain of an airliner!
"I don't know what (career) gives me the bigger thrill as they're both big rushes for me. I am never going to give up singing because it's been my life and there are so many Iron Maiden fans out there who would come and lynch me if I did.
"We actually took one of these airlines around the world badged up with Iron Maiden logos and with all our equipment, roadies and the band. That was very exciting and combined both things."
While Dickinson admits football is not his preferred sport, the prestige of flying Liverpool Football Club on their latest European adventure has not been lost on him.
He added: "Liverpool are an amazing club. They are more than a club, they are an institution and represent such a body of people here in the city. I hope they do well - it would been good see them with their tails up."
Sunday
Saturday
Friday
Liverpool FC sold to NESV
New England Sports Ventures (NESV) today announces that it has completed the purchase of Liverpool Football Club.
NESV wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to the Board of Liverpool FC for their diligence and their efforts on behalf of the Club and its supporters.
The transaction values the Club at £300m and eliminates all of the acquisition debt placed on LFC by its previous owners, reducing the Club's debt servicing obligations from £25m-£30m a year to £2m-£3m.
New England Sports Ventures is committed to winning and currently owns a portfolio of companies, including the Boston Red Sox, New England Sports Network, Fenway Sports Group and Roush Fenway Racing.
NESV Principal Owner John Henry said:
"On behalf of the entire NESV partnership, I want to express how incredibly proud and humbled we are to be confirmed as the new owners of Liverpool FC. We regard our role as that of stewards for the Club with a primary focus on returning the Club to greatness on and off the field for the long-term. We are committed first and foremost to winning. We have a history of winning, and today we want LFC supporters to know that this approach is what we intend to bring to this great Club."
Liverpool FC Chairman Martin Broughton said:
"I am delighted that we have been able to successfully conclude the sale process which has been thorough and extensive. The Board decided to accept NESV's offer on the basis that it best met the criteria we set out originally for a new owner. NESV is buying Liverpool in order to put it on an excellent financial footing and continue to develop it internationally. This is a good deal which comprehensively resolves the pressing issue of the Club's debt and should give staff, players and fans great confidence regarding the future of Liverpool FC."
NESV Chairman Thomas Werner said:
"We recognize that Liverpool Football Club is an historic institution ultimately grounded in the community and the fans. Our first step as new owners will be to listen. We want to hear from the manager and the players and those who are part of the daily operation of the Club. We will be visible at Anfield and will embrace and listen to those who have stood by this Club and who are the rock on which its future success will be built. We want to hear from the fans, local leaders and the local community. We want to hear from those who know LFC best, who have made it the best and share our desire to return to a culture of winning.
"NESV is committed to creating a long-term, financially strong foundation for the Club and dedicated to ensuring the Club has the financial resources to be successful again and attract the best players. To that end, the transaction has been structured in such a way as to eliminate all of the acquisition debt on the Club.
"In the coming days and months, NESV will work closely with the LFC executive team to listen and learn about every facet of the organisation. During this time, the new owners will begin to look at areas for greatest opportunity to increase the appeal of the Club nationally and internationally. NESV wants to once again create a culture and environment to allow people to excel at the Club on every front. During this period, NESV will also begin to examine opportunities to enhance the matchday experience in the short-term, while also carefully studying the various long-term options that may be possible."
Mr Henry and Mr Werner added:
"We are eager to commence with our plan, spend time with the organisation, its leadership, its supporters, and the local communities. We will take these steps alongside the Club's executives with a shared objective of stabilising the Club and ultimately returning Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successful and competing for trophies."
Liverpool takeover: Premier League give New England Sports Ventures green light
The Premier League have given the go-ahead to New England Sports Ventures (NESV)'s takeover of Liverpool.
The green light to the takeover by the American company, owners of the Boston Red Sox, means that only the High Court action by current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett stands in the way of the £300 million deal going through.
The league said in a statement: "The Premier League has met with the owners and directors of New England Sports Ventures (NESV) regarding their proposed takeover of Liverpool FC and has received details, in accordance with Premier League rules, of the proposed company and ownership structure as well as the make-up of the new board."The Premier League is satisfied, with the information provided, that the individuals NESV intend to put in place in the event they complete their takeover ofLiverpool FC meet the criteria set out in our owners' and directors' test.
"The board of the Premier League will continue working with Liverpool FC in regard to this process, however, we are aware that the formal completion of this takeover is yet to be resolved and it is therefore inappropriate for us to offer any further comment at this time."
If the takeover is not completed by next Friday then the Royal Bank of Scotland could put Kop Holdings, the company owned by Hicks and Gillett, into administration over their unpaid £280m debt.
If that happens, Liverpool would be at risk of a nine-point deduction.
Initially it had been thought the Premier League would not penalise the club for Kop Holdings becoming insolvent, but now the threat of a points deduction has become a serious one.
Under Premier League rules, the fact that the holding company is solely concerned with the ownership of Liverpool and football-related matters could trigger the nine-point penalty.
West Ham had been used as an example of why Liverpool might escape a deduction if administration goes ahead when it was owned by Icelandic bank Straumur.
West Ham, however, were a solvent part of a whole portfolio of different companies while Kop Holdings is solely concerned with Liverpool.
Wednesday
Letter from a Texas Rangers fan – This Is Anfield (Liverpool FC)
Letter from a Texas Rangers fan – This Is Anfield (Liverpool FC)
The following is an email we received from a Texas Rangers fan yesterday. Hopefully the news of the potential sale of the club this morning means Liverpool fans will soon be feeling as liberated as this Rangers fan…
I am from Texas and am a lifelong Texas Rangers fan. I am also a huge Liverpool fan because my family is from there.
I just wanted to send some encouragement to all Liverpool fans and say that there is life after Tom Hicks. Since he has sold the Rangers, the entire culture of the club has changed. Prices have gone down at the Ballpark, the club has become more fan-centered, and even the players talk about the involvement of the new owners in contrast to Hicks’ style. Hicks tried to scratch as much out of his sale of the Rangers as he could, but the court systems caught him every step of the way. It won’t be easy getting rid of him, but it is an incredibly liberating feeling once he is gone.
Hicks didn’t run Liverpool into the ground because he doesn’t understand soccer or because he doesn’t understand Liverpool’s history. He ran it into the ground because he doesn’t understand people. He only thinks in terms of money, but what he failed to realize is that owning a sports franchise isn’t a profitable business. He tried his hand at many different sports and has failed at them all. It isn’t because he is an American owning an English club, its because he’s a greedy businessman trying to turn sports franchises into profitable entities. He failed to realize that not everyone thinks like him.
I am not saying that Liverpool fans should stop calling him a Yank and a Cowboy, (side note: Those are two polar opposite things here in America. Similar to calling someone a Scouser and a Cockney.) I am really just letting you know that people in America hate Hicks too. We have been able to rid ourselves of him, and I am certainly hoping Liverpool can too.
Scott
Tuesday
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