Forced to fight to the death

• Dogfights organised in northern China to celebrate end of Spring Festival
• Outraged animal rights activists call for new laws to protect dogs
• But organisers defend brutal bloodsport as simple 'entertainment' 
• WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT 
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Gathered in their hundreds, spectators crowd round to watch as two dogs are forced to fight to the death in barbaric cages.

These shocking scenes from northern China drew outrage from animal rights activists in the country, who have called for a change in the law to protect the canines.

But the local villagers who organised the event have defended the dogfights as necessary 'entertainment' in an isolated part of the country.

Barbaric: These shocking scenes from northern China drew outrage from animal rights activists in the country

Bloody: The competition was open to anyone who brought a dog along and the winner of each bout was rewarded with a pack of cigarettes and a china mug

Spectacle: Hundreds of people turn up to watch the dogfights in northern China, which are held to mark the finale of the Spring Festival celebrations in the region

The dogfights, which lasted over several days, were organised by six villagers in Sanjiao village in Jishan county in northern China's Shanxi province to mark the finale of the Spring Festival celebrations. 

The competition was open to anyone who brought a dog along, and the winner of each bout was rewarded with a pack of cigarettes and a china mug.

One of the organisers, Shi Pan, 45, protested that because the village was in a poor rural area, the locals had to resort to creating their own entertainment.

He said: 'People in the city criticise our dogfights but they have all sorts of money to pay for entertainments which we don't have access to. We have to organise things to entertain ourselves.'

While banned in some countries, dogfights are a common attraction in northern China which hosts more than 100 festivals each year attracting visitors from neighboring provinces and tourists alike.

Police have said the event did not breach any laws and that there have been no official complaints.

They added that some of the people who who turned up had allegedly grabbed stray dogs off the street, and claimed they were their pets. 

Attraction: While banned in some countries, dog fights are a common attraction in northern China

Violent: Despite the vicious scenes sparking outrage, organisers have insisted that the dogfights are part of the traditional 'entertainment' in the area

Brutal: The dogs are forced to fight to the death in cages, leading to calls from animal rights activists for new cruelty laws

Rural: Organiser Shi Pan declared the dogfights as a 'great success' and added: 'We plan to do the same thing next year'

China has no animal cruelty laws, and a person who damages a dog or another animal can only be prosecuted for damaging property if the animal belongs to somebody. 

Dogfighting is illegal, but only if it involves bets. Simply allowing the animals to fight purely for entertainment comes into a grey area where it is difficult to prosecute anyone involved.

Chung Lu, an animal rights activist in the country said, said: 'Events like these are exactly why we need a functioning animal cruelty law in China, because people do that they want and get away with it unless they know the law can stop them.' 

But a defiant Shi Pan said: 'It was a great success, we plan to do the same thing again next year. And we don't care what the people in the city say.'

Jose Mourinho hints Chelsea captain John Terry could stay at the club until 2017

• Jose Mourinho reveals John Terry could stay at the club until 2017
• The Chelsea captain's contract runs out at the end of the season
• However Mourinho confirmed he wouldn't stand in Petr Cech's way if he wanted to leave the club to find first team football elsewhere
• 
  

Jose Mourinho has hinted that captain John Terry will remain a Chelsea player until at least 2017. Terry’s contract expires in the summer and the centre back said this week he was unsure if he would be offered a new deal and that he was fighting for his family’s financial security.

But Chelsea boss Mourinho tried to end any uncertainty by insisting the 34-year-old ex-England captain was guaranteed another year at Stamford Bridge — and probably a further 12-month deal in the summer of 2016.

Chelsea’s policy is to offer players over 30 only one-year deals, and Mourinho said: ‘We decided at a certain age to provoke, to stimulate the players, to make them feel the past doesn’t play a role and it’s all about the present and tomorrow — so they get one year of contract.

Jose Mourinho has hinted Chelsea captain John Terry will be staying at the club until 2017  

Cesar Azpilicueta and Terry celebrate with the trophy after the Capital One Cup win against Tottenham

‘If they don’t accept, they are not ready for the challenge, we wouldn’t want them. John accepted that challenge last year. That is a guarantee the fire is there. If the fire is there, this contract will not be the last he signs.’

Mourinho added: ‘I expect his new contract to be signed before the end of the season for sure. He will be a Chelsea player next season. I can guarantee that.

‘To guarantee that, it’s because I know what my board tell me and what the player tells me. No doubts he is going to get his contract, no doubts.’

Mourinho wants to see Terry leading his side again next season and has guaranteed that his skipper will stay

Mourinho's words come after Terry spoke out about his bid to earn a new deal at Stamford Bridge

Terry has a word with Mourinho as they embrace on the Wembley pitch after winning the Capital One Cup

However, Petr Cech’s future is less certain. The veteran goalkeeper has been forced to play second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois for most of the season but many clubs across Europe will be interested should 32-year-old Cech decide to leave this summer.

Mourinho said he would not stand in the Czech’s way if he wants to leave but warned his suitors that they will have to pay a high price for his services.

Asked if he would persuade Cech to stay, Mourinho said: ‘I don’t think Petr is a guy to be persuaded. He doesn’t let anyone persuade him.

The Chelsea boss has revealed he would be willing to let Petr Cech go elsewhere for first-team football

‘He will make his decision. He is very mature, making what he feels is the best decision for him and his future.

‘I will just wait, wishing his decision is to stay. I would like him very, very much to stay but I don’t waste my time trying to persuade him because it’s just his decision. If he tells me he wants to leave I will tell him my opinion, that he is one of the three best goalkeepers in the world... so huge money.’

Before looking too far ahead, Mourinho still has plenty to do this season, starting with the Barclays Premier League trip to West Ham on Wednesday.

The visit of the league leaders will be the third of four successive London derbies for West Ham and manager Sam Allardyce has warned his defenders not to provoke fiery Chelsea striker Diego Costa.

The 17-goal Spain international seems to relish a physical battle and Allardyce said: ‘Trying to wind Costa up only makes him better, so it’s a silly thing to do. He will take a bit of shackling but I’ve told our central defenders not to get involved. He seems to get motivated on the physical and niggle aspect of it all. I’ve told them simply to focus on him in the final third.’

Although the match comes just three days after Chelsea beat Tottenham to win the Capital One Cup, Allardyce does not expect any complacency from the visitors.

‘Jose’s sides rarely slip up,’ he said. ‘That’s why they are so good. They rarely make mistakes.’ 

Sam Allardyce (left) has warned his players not to wind up Chelsea's Diego Costa as he relishes the battle

10 Individu Terkaya 2015