Two Texas men charged in England football gear theft

Two men have been charged with receiving stolen property after equipment belonging to England's national football team was stolen during its transit to a World Cup base in Kansas City. Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced the charges against Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal, both of San Antonio, Texas, late on Saturday, June 13. The pair each face a single felony count that carries a potential prison sentence of up to seven years.

The incident occurred as the team's gear was being transported from a warm-weather training camp in West Palm Beach, Florida, to the Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri. A detective recovered the stolen items, which officials estimated were worth approximately $18,000. The recovered property included multiple pairs of football boots and shoes, signed national team shirts, a World Cup ball, goalkeeper gloves, two stuffed lions, and a Lego set depicting a Nike Air shoe.

Prosecutor Johnson stated that her office would not tolerate criminal activity targeting World Cup visitors and thanked the Kansas City Police Department for its swift investigation. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas also praised the authorities for resolving a...