There was no bite: Suarez
RIO DE JANEIRO: Shamed Uruguayan star luis Suarez (in pic) insisted he lost his balance and did not bite Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, according to a FIFA report on the assault which led to him being expelled from the World Cup. But the FIFA disciplinary commission which banned 27-year-old Suarez from all football for four months said in a report that he had acted “intentionally and without provocation.” Suarez’s statement to the commission, which was included in their report, said: “I lost my balance and ended up falling on my opponent (Chiellini)”. “At that moment, my face hit the player (Chiellini) leaving a small bruise and sharp pain in the teeth.” He added: “In no case what has been described as a bite or attempting to bite happened.”
FIFA lenient on offenders
RIO DE JANEIRO: Despite bringing the might of FIFA discipline down on luis Suarez for biting an opponent, football’s governing body has let plenty of other incidents go unpunished at the World Cup. Apparent offenses on and off the pitch — from elbowing an opponent’s face to fans displaying far-right banners — have prompted no action from the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. The panel decided not to charge France defender Mamadou Sakho for his raised left elbow which struck Ecuador’s Oswaldo Minda, though it had the same type of video evidence used to ban Suarez for nine Uruguay matches and four months. Intent — was it clear the player intended to injure the victimIJ — is crucial in these decisions. Despite FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s pledge of a World Cup which would not tolerate discrimination, fans have chanted gay slurs, worn blackface make-up and brought recognized neo-Nazi symbols into stadiums. No disciplinary cases are currently open for those reported incidents, FIFA said on Saturday.
Forlan not ready to leave
RIO DE JANEIRO: Diego Forlan (in pic) isn’t ready to announce his retirement from international football, even though he knows that at his age the clock is certainly ticking. The 35-year-old Forlan, who was voted the top player of the 2010 World Cup, played sparingly this time for Uruguay — each time as a substitute for luis Suarez. He played an hour in a 3-1 loss to Costa Rica in a group game when Suarez was still recovering from knee surgery, and 53 minutes in Saturday’s 2-0 second-round loss to Colombia, when Suarez was out suspended for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. The loss to Colombia knocked the 2010 semifinalists out in the round of 16 in Brazil. “I want to play football. I still love to be on the field. I know there’s going to be a generational change. That’s to be expected. But I’m always willing to help and be around.” Forlan, who signed an 18-month contract earlier this year with Japanese club Cerezo Osaka and is expected to fulfil it, said.
Fan stabbed at Fest in Rio
RIO DE JANEIRO: A World Cup soccer fan watching a match at the FIFA Fan Fest viewing area on Copacabana beach has been stabbed in the leg during an attempted robbery. The O Globo newspaper reports that Claudia Costa was attacked on Saturday by a group that has carried out such assaults of Cup fans. She tells the newspaper that a group of boys tried to take her purse. She screamed for help and one of the boys stabbed her with a box-cutter. Costa was taken to a hospital and received nine stitches. Police say they have no report of the case — and that police don’t patrol inside the Fan Fest organized by the city government. Mayor’s office didn’t immediately reply to an email requesting information.
Even dogs wear support
SAO PAUlO: With Sao Paulo gripped in World Cup fever, all sorts of people are adorned in yellow and green Brazil team gear. But dogsIJ At Parque Trainon, dog owners appear to have imposed their loyalties on their four-legged friends. Dogs of all shapes and sizes have been spotted with Brazilian flags around their collars, capes over the shoulders, even hats wrapped around their floppy ears. One canine, 4-year-old Nino, had a blue Brazil outfit wrapped around his small body. His owner said it was to protect against a rash. But she had no medical excuse for the baseball cap over his head.
Stray bullet kills woman
Bogota (Columbia): A 25-year-old woman died on Sunday after she was struck by a stray bullet fired in celebration at Colombia’s World Cup win over Uruguay. Authorities said that after Colombia beat Uruguay 2-0 to set up a World Cup quarter-final against hosts Brazil, someone celebrated by firing into the air, which killed the young woman and injured another person in Bosa, in the south of Bogota. “We’ve to be more cautious,” acting Bogota mayor Ricardo Bonilla told reporters, still wearing his yellow jersey. Taking to Twitter, police chief Rodolfo Palominos agreed: “let’s not have the joy of this victory turn into tears. let’s celebrate with caution.” When Colombia beat Greece in the earlier round, celebrations left nine people dead.
SHHH... NO CHEERING
BERlIN: A Berlin court has upheld a woman’s right to peace and quiet after 10 PM and ordered her neighbors to keep their doors and windows closed when they watch late Germany matches. The court in the German capital’s Neukoelln district ruled this week that there must be no “noise, particularly in the form of collective singing, bawling and loud shouting” from the neighbors or visitors on their balcony after 10 PM when Germany plays. A repeat offense could incur a fine of up to 250,000 euros ($340,000).