BRAZIL
Fan dies of heart failure
A 69-year-old fan died of heart failure while watching his country’s World Cup penalty shootout win over Chile, media reported on Saturday. The man was watching the tense encounter, which the national team won on spot-kicks after the sides were locked 1-1 after extra-time, in a nearby bar when he complained of feeling unwell. The fan, who was diabetic, died shortly after being taken to hospital, Web news portal G1 and the Web site of the Estado de Minas newspaper reported. The paper added local health officials had to treat about 100 people during the game, including a 50-year-old woman for a heart problem during the penalties.
COLOMBIA
Woman murdered after win
Officials said a 25-year-old woman was murdered Saturday in Bogota following the country’s World Cup win over Uruguay in what they initially said was an accident caused by a stray bullet fired in celebration. After the game authorities said that someone celebrated by firing into the air, and that the bullet accidentally killed a woman in the Bogota neighborhood of Bosa. However, upon investigation, police determined that a gunman had targeted the woman, Acting Bogota Mayor Ricardo Bonilla said in a press conference. “A hitman on a motorcycle opened fire on three people,” Bonilla said, killing one of them. He described it as “the only deadly case” in the post-game celebrations. When the national team beat Greece on June 14 police reported nine people dead, 150 vehicle accidents, and 3,000 fights. This happened despite a ban on alcohol sales and increased policing during the matches.
ENGLAND
Fan’s ear bitten off
A fan had his ear bitten off by another during the side’s World Cup game against Uruguay in Brazil, police in Britain said on Saturday. The assault at the Group D game in Sao Paulo on 19 June left the man with half of his left ear ripped off and bloodied, they said. A fan has made a complaint to police and the name of a suspect has been given to police, although no arrests have been made, the Association of Chief Police Officers said. British police issued a statement after former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore tweeted that he had seen footage of the fan attack. Police went to England’s final match against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte in case the assailant travelled to the match, but did not find him there.
BRAZIL
Algeria dismiss laser ‘excuse’
Algeria midfielder Hassan Yebda said Russia coach Fabio Capello was just making “excuses” after he blamed a laser beam aimed at his goalkeeper following his team’s World Cup exit. Yebda said Capello was making too much of the incident after TV images showed a laser pen shining on Igor Akinfeev’s face seconds before Algeria’s equalizer. Thursday’s game finished 1-1, putting Algeria into the knock-out phase for the first time at Russia’s expense and prompting some sharp words from Capello. However, Yebda said he did not think the laser beam was an important factor. “I don’t think a laser can do something bad for the goalkeeper so I don’t think it’s a good excuse from him [Capello],” the midfielder told reporters. “He’s a big coach, he knows everything.” After the game, Capello said Akinfeev was “blinded” by the laser pen, apparently pointed from the crowd. Algeria’s Nabil Bentaleb also dismissed the comments from the Italian ex-England boss. “Maybe they can try to find excuses, but we drew the game and we scored. That’s what counts for me, I don’t even look at that,” Bentaleb said.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was