England’s FIFA World Cup preparations received a major boost after two men were charged with the theft of equipment belonging to the Three Lions, with authorities recovering most of the missing items ahead of the team’s campaign in the United States.Prosecutors in Jackson County, Missouri, charged Mustafa Salik and Irfan Kamal, both of San Antonio, Texas, with one count each of receiving stolen property. The Class D felony carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, while bond for both men was set at $75,000.The theft happened as England’s luggage was being transported from the team’s pre-training base in Florida to their permanent World Cup camp in Kansas City.
Charges were filed as the investigation progressed quickly
Jackson County Prosecutor Melissa Johnson vowed to crack down on targeting crimes. FIFA World Cup visitors and participants.“Jackson County will not tolerate any criminal activity that targets World Cup visitors, including international teams that are here to compete,” Johnson said.Authorities estimated the value of the stolen property at about $18,000. Fortunately for England, none of the missing items were essential to the team’s preparations.According to the probable cause statement, investigators recovered several items from the suspects, including nine pairs of soccer balls, goalkeeper gloves, a World Cup ball, several sets of shirts and shorts, electronic devices, stuffed animals, signed England jerseys and even a $99 Nike Air Lego set, the AP reported.Kansas City Mayor Quentin Lucas praised the swift work of law enforcement agencies.“I am grateful for the quick work of the Kansas City Police Department and the prosecutor’s office that resolved the investigation in several states, helping crime victims recover stolen goods in transit,” Lucas said.
England is based in Kansas City.
Despite the scare off the field, England’s arrival in Kansas City went smoothly.The three Lions were greeted at their hotel in Prairie Village by the Kansas City Chiefs’ drum corps, cheerleaders and mascots before heading to an open training session at Soup Soccer Village.The session was attended by hundreds of supporters and members of the media as England flags flew over the complex, with a sign declaring it “England’s Home”.Although England will play its group stage matches in Dallas, Boston and New Jersey, it chose to base itself in Kansas City due to its central location.Thomas Tuchel’s side open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday and can now focus entirely on football after the embarrassing theft saga ended in a breakthrough for investigators.
