West Ham defender Hawa Cissoko has reflected on the racist abuse she suffered last year and called for social media companies to offer more security online. Cissoko received a torrent of racism after she was sent off following an altercation with Aston Villa’s Sarah Mayling during a 2-1 defeat in the Women’s Super League on October 15. It was subsequently reported to the police, but Cissoko believes racist people will “find every opportunity” to be so. “Yes I was surprised to be honest,” Cissoko admitted of the racism she faced. “It’s not that I thought the men were lying or that it wasn’t happening to them, but it never happened in women’s football or maybe if it did then the women were quiet. I didn’t expect it would happen to me, especially when the people that did it don’t even watch our games. “If it was from people who follow the league I would understand a little bit more, but when it was from not even French or English people I was like, ‘you should focus on your own business’. “I realised, okay some people are just racist and they just find every opportunity to be racist and say whatever they want. “When I understood this, it was easier to deal with because at the beginning you take things personally, you think they don’t like you when they see you every week, they hate me, but when I realised it was outside of WSL fans, I thought, ‘I don’t care’. “I know that some people, they send messages because they know that nothing is going to happen even if you tell them you’re going to the police. They know nothing will happen. We need more security and more. I don’t know how they can do it.” The Government did last week sign off an Online Safety Bill, which is designed to make the internet in Britain safer. I realised, okay some people are just racist and they just find every opportunity to be racist and say whatever they want. West Ham's Hawa Cissoko However, Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham received racist abuse earlier this month to further highlight the fight to rid the sport of discrimination still has a long way to go. Cissoko conceded the best way she found to deal with the racism was to turn off her phone. She added: “Yeah it’s hard (to receive abuse), but it depends on who you have around you. If you have nice team-mates and your manager supports you and shows you love, respect and the support you need, then it is easier. Obviously I have my family as well. “On social media I just ignore people because it is not real. Those people, they can say a lot of things on social media but if they met me they would never say this because they would see I am actually a human with a heart and feelings. “If I turn off my phone, they don’t exist. The most important thing is the relationships I have with my team-mates, my coach and my family.” Paris-born Cissoko will begin her fourth season with West Ham this weekend and remains eager to change the perception around her. The France international was sent off twice in the 2021-22 campaign before her notable red card last October. “I think some people have made a picture around me as a player that I am aggressive and stuff like that, but if you look, I think I do less fouls than any other defender,” Cissoko pointed out. “I’m really quite chill and calm. When I go to the referees, I try to be respectful, I speak with a low voice all the time. I have had the same with male and female refs. “Once I was tackled and I felt like it was a foul and he didn’t and I said, ‘hey, ref, this is a foul!’ And he said, ‘no, just calm down’. This is not the moment to say, ‘calm down’ just ignore me and I will calm down! “I think it’s just the misunderstanding between players and referees. I think we just need to speak to them. I will understand them more if I speak to and they will understand more. “I am going to tell you a secret. As players, everyone wants to be a journalist or a coach, but I think after my career I would like to become a referee. “Maybe I need to start learning with the under 15’s and go to their game and referee, maybe it will change my mind. No top level player in the men’s or women’s game has become a referee. Maybe I can be the first one.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Maro Itoje keen to reach ‘another level’ after England secure quarter-final spot Europe complete Ryder Cup foursomes clean sweep to take 4-0 lead over USA Luke Crosbie appreciates his journey from public schoolboy to World Cup starter

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Amanda Nunes will defend her bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 289 this weekend, fighting an in-form and inspired Irene Aldana. Brazilian Nunes, who also holds featherweight gold, regained the bantamweight title from Julianna Pena last year, outpointing the American to avenge a shock submission loss from 2021. Meanwhile, Aldana is pursuing a third straight victory and aiming to join Brandon Moreno, Alexa Grasso and Yair Rodriguez as the fourth incumbent UFC champion from Mexico. Prior to those ongoing reigns, no Mexican fighter had won a UFC title, but Aldana may feel that destiny is on her side this weekend. The 35-year-old does, however, face a tough test against Nunes, also 35, who is widely deemed the greatest women’s fighter in MMA history. In the co-main event, former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira faces Beneil Dariush, who is seeking his first shot at the division’s title. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? UFC 289 will take place on Saturday 10 June, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. The early prelims are set to begin at 11pm BST (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET), with the prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday 11 June (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET). The main card is then due to begin at 3am BST (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET). How can I watch it? In the US, the event will air live on ESPN+. In the UK, BT Sport will broadcast the fights. BT Sport subscribers can watch the event live on TV, as well as on the broadcaster’s website and app. Odds Nunes – 2/7 Aldana – 13/5 Full odds via Betway. Full card (subject to change) Main card Amanda Nunes (C) vs Irene Aldana (women’s bantamweight title) Charles Oliveira vs Beneil Dariush (lightweight) Nassourdine Imavov vs Chris Curtis (middleweight) Dan Ige vs Nate Landwehr (featherweight) Khalil Rountree Jr vs Chris Daukaus (light-heavyweight) Prelims Mike Malott vs Adam Fugitt (welterweight) Marc-Andre Barriault vs Eryk Anders (middleweight) Matt Schnell vs David Dvorak (flyweight) Hakeem Dawodu vs Lucas Almeida (featherweight) Early prelims Aiemann Zahabi vs Aoriqileng (bantamweight) Kyle Nelson vs Blake Bilder (featherweight) Diane Belbita vs Maria Oliveira (women’s strawweight) Miranda Maverick vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight) Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More McGregor Forever: The problem with the new Conor McGregor documentary UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year How to watch The Ultimate Fighter 31 in the UK How to watch The Ultimate Fighter in the UK What time does UFC 289 start in UK and US this weekend? How to watch UFC 289 online and on TV this weekend

Man United and England soccer great Bobby Charlton has died at the age of 86

It feels like there have been staggering science stories emerging every other day recently, all of which have blown our tiny little minds. First, there was the discovery of a terrifying black hole pointing right at us, then there was a huge hole found in the sun and a missing continent found after going missing for 375 years. Now, people are only just realising that there’s a massive ocean hidden under the Earth’s crust. It turns out there’s a huge supply of water 400 miles underground stored in rock known as 'ringwoodite'. Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter Scientists previously discovered that water is stored inside mantle rock in a sponge-like state, which isn’t a liquid, solid or a gas, but instead a fourth state. The scientific paper titled ‘Dehydration melting at the top of the lower mantle’ was published in 2014 and laid out the findings. "The ringwoodite is like a sponge, soaking up water, there is something very special about the crystal structure of ringwoodite that allows it to attract hydrogen and trap water," said geophysicist Steve Jacobsen at the time. "This mineral can contain a lot of water under conditions of the deep mantle,” added Jacobsen, who was part of the team behind the discovery. He added: "I think we are finally seeing evidence for a whole-Earth water cycle, which may help explain the vast amount of liquid water on the surface of our habitable planet. Scientists have been looking for this missing deep water for decades." Scientists made the findings at the time after studying earthquakes and discovering that seismometers were picking up shockwaves under the surface of the Earth. From that, they were able to establish that the water was being held in the rock known as ringwoodite. If the rock contained just 1 per cent water, it would mean that there is three times more water under the surface of the Earth than there is in the oceans on the surface. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Jennifer Lawrence will be playing an Uber driver in her next flick 'No Hard Feelings'

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have said there's is not a conventional marriage. Now Pinkett Smith has gone public with the revelation that she and Smith, who married in 1997, have been living "completely separate lives" since 2016. Here's some of what they have said about marriage over the years.

Atlanta United player ratings from their 1-1 (5-4) defeat against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.

Former NFL player Sergio Brown appeared to post on social media two days after his mother’s body was found in a creek behind her home in Illinois. The Maywood Police Department said an investigation is underway into the death of 73-year-old Myrtle Brown after it was determined that she was murdered. Authorities have yet to locate Mr Brown, who was reported missing along with his slain mother after they failed to answer calls from family members. On Tuesday evening, an account linked to Mr Brown made a second post on Instagram stories referencing the movie Finding Nemo. Mr Brown is seen rambling and laughing on the post. He also appears to be mocking reports that he is “missing.” “Just keep swimming. Missing? What the f*** is going on?” he is heard saying. The former NFL star had previously posted another story showing erratic behaviour and claiming he had been kidnapped by law enforcement. “I thought my f****** mama was on vacation in Sinaloa. That’s f****** fake news,” he said. “Get the f*** out of my goddamn face. She’s retired, and you want to come to me? The FBI had to do it. They have some power to do some s*** like that. What the f*** is going on? That’s fake news.” Relatives of Mr Brown and his mother contacted authorities on Saturday after they couldn’t get in touch with them for over 72 hours. Myrtle’s sister Sheila Simmons told WGN-TV that she had last spoken with her on 14 September and neither she nor Mr Brown were answering calls. The Maywood Police Department then launched a missing persons investigation. Later on Sunday, family members and authorities found Myrtle’s dead body in the Addison Creek Reservoir, less than 100 yards from her home. The Cook County Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Myrtle’s death was a homicide. According to records obtained by WGTV, she died from multiple unspecified assault injuries. “We’re going to find out what happened because it’s not normal for my sister to not answer her phone, not to respond to text messages,” Ms Simmons told the outlet about her sister’s death. “People have been reaching out to her since Friday. No one was able to reach her. Now, I got the call this morning saying that she’s missing, so immediately I came out here and find out my sister is dead.” Carlos Cortez, a neighbour of Myrtle Brown’s, told WBBM that family members had told him Mr Brown had not been acting like himself lately but did not elaborate on what type of behaviour had given that impression. “They said he wasn’t himself the last few months. He was out of his mind,” Mr Cortez told the outlet. Mr Cortex also said that he had given authorities Ring doorbell video, in which Mr Brown is reportedly seen burning his mother’s clothes. The Maywood Police Department declined to comment on the allegations when reached out by The Independent. Anyone with information regarding Myrtle Brown’s murder or Sergio Brown’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Maywood Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at 708-450-1787. Read More Missing ex-NFL player Sergio Brown ‘posts video rant’ on Instagram after mother found dead: Latest updates Missing ex-NFL star posts bizarre Instagram about police and FBI after mother found dead in creek Ex-NFL star Sergio Brown and his mother went missing. Police say she was murdered and he has yet to be found

HONG KONG China's largest private property developer, Country Garden, faces a deadline for making interest payments on two