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sports Diaranson 28 october 2020

1-year sentence for angry fan who made football game threat

(AP) — A California Marbley said. his January arrest.
man's threats to harm Rippy's mental health issues
college football players What Rippy "epitizmies is coupled with "some totally
because they beat his fa- fandom spiraled out of con- unrelated frustrations" led
vored team epitomized trol," Marbley said. The him to lash out the day he
"fandom spiraled out of judge added: "We have to take made the threats, said his at-
control," something that this seriously because it hap- torney, federal public defend-
can't be ignored in the age pens." er Soumyajit Dutta.
of mass shootings, a fed-
eral judge said Tuesday as The 29-year-old Rippy, be- What Rippy needs most are
he handed down sentence ing held in jail in Columbus, "resources for both mental
of one year and a day over apologized several times, health treatment and for an
the 2018 threats. saying he'd been having "a ability for him to get back on
bad day" when he made his feet," Dutta said before
Daniel Rippy, of Livermore, the threats and promised it sentencing.
California, a Michigan native would never happen again.
and University of Michigan As part of an argument for a An indictment unsealed late
fan, used Facebook Messen- lesser sentence, Rippy and his last year in federal court in family members and the head teams went beyond the usual
ger to threaten a shooting at lawyer emphasized that once Columbus accused Rippy of coach," the document said. shouting at the television as
Ohio State University dur- he's out of prison, he has a "electronic communication" the clock ticks down the fi-
ing its annual game against placement at a transitional threat from California during Rippy made similar threats nal seconds that many of us
Michigan, and vowed to hurt housing center in California the game between Ohio State against Gonzaga University experience," Jessica Knight,
players on the football team for men recently released and the University of Michi- on its Facebook page three an assistant U.S. attorney, ar-
and then-head coach Urban from incarceration. gan on Nov. 24, 2018. The days before the football game, gued in a court filing.
Meyer, authorities said. game was played in Colum- after the Gonzaga men's bas-
"I really didn't mean for any bus that year, and Ohio State ketball team defeated Duke Instead, Rippy's threat during
Federal Judge Algenon Mar- of this. I feel really bad about won 62-39. University on Nov. 21, 2018, the Ohio State game sent au-
bley had harsh words for it. I would never, ever do any the government revealed for thorities into a panic as they
Rippy during Tuesday's sen- act like this," Rippy said. Rippy threatened a shoot- the first time in an Oct. 7 tried to figure out where he
tencing done via video con- ing at the school, saying in court filing. Rippy is a Duke was and whether he posed an
ference because of the coro- Prosecutors asked for a a Facebook message to the fan, the government said. imminent threat to a stadium
navirus pandemic. Marbley 15-month sentence, on the university, "I'm seriously go- filled with 100,000 people,
referenced the mass shoot- lower end of sentencing ing to hurt the students and "Yeah and when I get my Knight said.
ings at Columbine High guidelines. But in the end all of the players from the hands on the players from the
School in 1999 and Sandy Marbley went even lower, football team," according to basketball team there going Rippy, a Michigan fan who
Hook Elementary School in noting that, "Some type of a statement of facts filed with to die one by one," that post- grew up in Grand Rapids,
2012 as he lectured Rippy on psychological or psychic im- Rippy's July plea agreement. ing said, according to federal Michigan, moved at age 27 to
the seriousness of the threats balance may have animated prosecutors. Rippy later apol- California, where he worked
against college athletes just this kind of behavior." Rippy In separate messages, Rippy ogized to the school. in fast food but couldn't
playing a game. "It's college will receive credit for the 10 also threatened "to injure "Rippy's anger and frustra- maintain a residence, the
competition. That's all it is," months he's spent in jail since or kill specific players, their tion at the loss of his sports government said.

English soccer recruitment code aims to increase diversity

(AP) — English soccer's efforts mixed-heritage coaches. England, Scotland and Italy, includ-
to increase gender and ethnic ing at Chelsea, Aston Villa, Celtic and Clubs abiding by the code should
diversity in coaching and senior Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolverhamp- Pisa. include at least one male and one fe-
leadership positions intensified ton is currently the only Black man- male Black, Asian or mixed-heritage
Tuesday with targets set for re- ager across the 20 Premier League The code was in part inspired by candidates on shortlists if they meet
cruitment. teams. Manchester City and England for- the specifications required.
ward Raheem Sterling in June calling
The Football Leadership Diversity Away from the field, 15% of the se- for more Black, Asian and minority "It's about creating clear processes
Code is voluntary but every Premier nior leadership of team operation ap- ethnic leaders or coaches in the game. and transparency that people can ap-
League club apart from Southampton pointments should be Black, Asian or The lack of opportunities for Black ply for jobs and so there is equal op-
has already signed up to it. mixed-heritage executives and 30% coaches was also highlighted by for- portunity for all," said Edleen John,
women. mer England striker Jermain Defoe co-partner for equality, diversity and
When men's professional clubs are as the sport grappled with inequali- inclusion at the FA. "I think it's fair
hiring new coaches, the English "If you look at all the positive action ties in society highlighted by the to say that there are many industries
Football Association wants a quarter programs out there, there isn't a struc- Black Lives Matter movement which that have really struggled with actual-
of the positions to be filled by Black, ture that holds clubs to account," Paul intensified after the police killing of ly people being hired because of their
Asian or mixed-heritage candidates Elliott, the chair of the FA's inclusion George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. own personal networks or because of
and at least 10% of senior roles. In advisory board, told The Associated people they know. And I don't think
the professional women's game, the Press. "This is just the start. It's a real "Many discussions were about sys- that football is any different to other
code envisages half of new hires be- solid foundation to build on ... for a temic, structural, institutional rac- industries that have struggled with
ing female and 15% Black, Asian or diverse and inclusive workforce. ism," Elliot said. "Raheem Sterling that challenge.
resonated, I thought, when he said
"So I think it's important also from publicly when he looks up, he doesn't "This code really helps us to move
a coaching perspective, when you see people that look like him. That forward ... this is a really pivotal mo-
speak to the three generations of was a very, very compelling statement ment for the world of football. I think
players that we've lost and the current and, thereafter, when Jermain De- it's a code that brings about change
generation that we want one thing — foe said he's not sure if he's going to that will be delivered through action
it's called equal opportunity and to get qualifications because he doesn't and also accountability."
have a role based on meritocracy, not think he's going to get any opportu-
tokenism." nity to get a coaching job. Now, for Southampton said it hasn't signed up
me, they're big defining moments to the code because it is waiting for
Elliott has risen to positions of power when people with such influence are the Premier League to update its own
in football after a playing career in making those statements." equality standard.