Pacino stars as shamed American football coach

Al Pacino is being lined up for a movie about shamed American football coach Joe Paterno – based on a story that rocked the US last year.

Paterno was considered the most successful coach in the history of US college football for his work at Pennsylvania State University.

But he was fired last year after it emerged his former assistant Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a string of young sportsmen.

In January, just two months after he was sacked for failing to stop the abuse, Paterno died of lung cancer aged 85, with his reputation in tatters.

But the man known as JoePa remains a hero for many at Penn State, with his supporters insisting he cannot be blamed for Sandusky’s sick crimes.

Now a movie about the turbulent final two years of the coach’s life is in the pipeline – with Pacino lined up to star.

But the news has been met with outrage across the country, with big hitters from the worlds of movies and college football pledging to fight to stop it being made.

by Helena Bryanlith
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