A Spanish couple prevented earlier this month from leaving Singapore following a protest against Peter Lim, owner of their soccer team Valencia, have been given a “stern warning” and departed the city-state, police said yesterday.
Police had confiscated the passports of the couple — who were reportedly on their honeymoon — as they were investigated for taking part in a public assembly.
Spanish media identified them as Dani Cuesta and his wife, Mireia Saez, supporters of Spanish La Liga team Valencia.
Photo: screen grab from Dani Cuesta’s X account
Cuesta had posted photographs of himself on social media from several locations in Singapore holding a black and yellow banner that read “Lim go home,” including outside a building where the businessman is believed to live.
Both were stopped at the airport on Oct. 4 when they attempted to board a flight to Bali, Valencia Mayor Maria Jose Catala had told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
In a statement yesterday, police said they issued a “stern warning” to a 34-year-old man for “taking part in a public assembly without a permit ... and for affixing notices.”
A 30-year-old woman was also warned “for the offence of abetting the Spanish man’s participation in a public assembly.”
“The two Spanish nationals have since departed Singapore,” police said, without saying when.
Singapore has strict laws limiting critical speech and assembly, which includes protests by just one person.
Lim, one of Singapore’s richest men, bought debt-ridden Valencia in 2014, becoming the Spanish side’s first foreign owner.
While his arrival was initially enthusiastically received, he has failed to improve the club’s fortunes and many Valencia fans have turned against him.
Protests against Lim have become commonplace in Valencia, with banners saying “Lim go home” regularly displayed at La Liga games at the club’s stadium.
Valencia are currently 18th in La Liga.
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
RSS