Two charged after England World Cup team gear stolen on trip to Kansas City, prosecutor says

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Two people are facing felony charges after property connected to England’s national team was stolen while the team traveled to Kansas City.

The Jackson County Prosecutor said Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal are each charged with receiving stolen property, a Class D felony in Missouri. If convicted, the charge carries a possible sentence of one to seven years in prison.

A judge set bond for both defendants at $75,000.

Team officials confirmed to KCTV5 on Friday that vehicles transporting team gear were stolen at some point during the trip from Florida to Kansas City.

The charges come after England’s trip to Kansas City was disrupted by what Mayor Quinton Lucas called a “heist.”

Prosecutors said the stolen property is valued at about $18,000 and was tied to England’s team while it was in Jackson County.

The BBC reported footwear was among the stolen items, but nothing essential for games was taken. The outlet also reported most of the team’s training equipment has been recovered.

The squad touched down at Wheeler Downtown Airport around 12:20 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, arriving on a flight that departed Palm Beach International Airport at approximately 10:45 a.m.

The team then began training at Swope Soccer Village later in the day.

England arrived in the United States on June 1, landing in West Palm Beach from Birmingham, U.K., where they had been conducting their pre-tournament training camp ahead of the World Cup.