The hangover goes around the globe like a Mexican wave — a trail of destructive and sometimes deadly celebration is left after every win and the World Cup “sickie” has become an epidemic.
Bogota’s mayor ordered a ban on alcohol sales during Colombia’s World Cup matches after nine people died in fighting and car accidents sparked by the country’s 3-0 win over Greece.
“We want peaceful celebrations. We must reject violence,” Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro said.
About 3,000 street fights were reported to police after the win in the city of 8 million.
In France, migrant Algerian fans poured onto the streets of Paris and other big cities after their country beat South Korea 4-2 on Sunday.
At least 28 people were arrested by police, who fired flash balls to break up unruly crowds and in some cases were pelted with stones.
Dozens of cars were burned.
Alcohol is causing other World Cup tragedies.
A drunken Mexican fan jumped off a cruise ship deck to his death after his country drew with Brazil. The ship was taking 3,500 Mexicans between the Brazilian cities of Fortaleza and Recife.
Hardly a country has escaped the fallout from World Cup binge drinking.
Nepalese police have caught hundreds of soccer fans drinking and driving after staying up all night to watch World Cup matches.
Police in the Himalayan nation’s capital, Kathmandu, seized the licenses of more than 400 fans in one week, said Basanta Pant, spokesman for the Kathmandu Traffic Police Division. That is twice the weekly average.
Authorities have deployed 100 extra personnel to stand guard at main intersections until 4am, ready to stop beer-fueled fans.
World Cup absenteeism — what the British call “throwing a sickie” — is a widespread problem around the world.
In Britain, employment law specialists ELAS said that “‘World Cup fever,’ the mystery illness that strikes once every four years,” could cost the country’s economy up to ￡4 billion (US$6.8 billion).
Its survey of 1,500 workers revealed that 13 percent plan on “throwing a sickie” to watch matches and 43 percent would take planned or unauthorized time off.
In Paris, Arnaud Monthlery, owner of a small restaurant, said that five of his nine staff failed to turn up the day after France beat Switzerland 5-2 on Friday night.
“As a fan I’m happy that they won. As a businessman I’m worried that this good form will last,” he said.
Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev was the only athlete to “beat” a world record on Sunday at the Enhanced Games, winning the men’s 50m freestyle at the divisive competition where athletes were free to take performance-enhancing substances. His time of 20.81 seconds — which is not considered official — came in the final event of the night in Las Vegas, sparing the blushes of organizers who made claims that multiple world records would be surpassed due to a sophisticated doping regime. Gkolomeev, who was wearing a synthetic “supersuit” long banned at events such as the Olympics, outpaced Australia’s Cameron McEvoy’s 20.88 set in
Fred Kerley is competing unaugmented against drug-fuelled athletes at this weekend’s Enhanced Games and still hopes to race in the 2028 Olympics, the suspended former 100m world champion said on Friday. Arguably the biggest name at the divisive event in Las Vegas, where doping is permitted, the US sprinter said he had chosen not to take any of the banned substances including testosterone and steroids that his competitors have been using. “I don’t need it. God gave me fast feet for a reason. And I’m here to showcase my talent,” Kerley said. Kerley last September became the first US competitor and first track
VICTORY ABROAD: The team took home a fistful of medals and secured spots for the autumn’s Asian Games, scheduled for September in Nagoya Taiwan’s women’s team captured the overall title at the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Mongolia on Sunday, finishing with two golds, one silver and one bronze medal. The strong showing, led by gold medalists Wang Chieh-ling and Chang Jui-en secured the full quota of available spots for Taiwan at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. Wang opened Taiwan’s medal run by winning gold in the women’s under-46kg class on Thursday, the first day of competition. Liu Yu-yun later earned a silver in the under-49kg class. On the final day on Sunday, Chang won Taiwan’s second gold medal in the under-62kg event, and
The manager of the Yomiuri Giants, one of Japan’s most popular baseball teams, resigned yesterday after he was arrested for allegedly physically attacking his teenage daughter. Shinnosuke Abe allegedly grabbed the 18-year-old and forced her to the floor at their home in central Tokyo on Monday evening, reported national broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News, citing unnamed police sources. “Leaving like this really means I’m causing you a lot of trouble, and I feel truly sorry about that,” Abe told a hastily arranged news conference, his eyes red with tears. The former star catcher, who is among baseball-obsessed Japan’s most recognized sports figures,
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