Maradona ClEARS THE AIR
MOSCOW: Diego Maradona has given his version of an exchange with an Asian fan at a World Cup game in Moscow that witnesses perceived as racist. British television staff working in Spartak Stadium during Argentina's 1-1 draw with Iceland on Saturday reported seeing Maradona respond to South Korea fans calling his name. Maradona "obliged with a smile, kiss and wave. Then pulled his eyes to the side in a clearly racist gesture," broadcaster Jacqui Oatley posted on Twitter. A second British broadcaster wrote she also saw the incident. The Argentina great is an official FIFA ambassador and attended the game in a VIP section as part of a group of former players branded as "FIFA legends." On Maradona's Facebook account , a message was posted early Sunday in Spanish, English and Italian seeking to explain the incident, which seemed to break FIFA anti-discrimination rules. "I understand better than anyone that in the World Cup people are looking for news everywhere," Maradona wrote, adding that he saw "an Asian boy wearing an Argentina T-shirt." "I, from afar, tried to tell them how nice it seemed to me that even the Asians cheer for us. And that's all, guys, come on."
URUGUAYAN DEBUTANT THRIllED
NIZHNY NOVGOROD: Uruguay midfielder Carlos Sanchez said on Sunday that he was living the dream after making his FIFA World Cup debut against Egypt in their opening match in Russia on Friday. Sanchez made an assist from a free kick to his compatriot Jose Maria Gimenez to give Uruguay a late 1-0 win over Egypt on Friday. It was Uruguay's first victory in an opening match of the World Cup in 48 years. "It was a dream that came true after hard work and great effort to debut and help my teammates win Friday's game," the 33-year-old said at a press conference. The Uruguay international acknowledged he had rehearsed for the free kick during training sessions. Sanchez reiterated that he is happy to debut with a victory, boosting the level of confidence instilled in him by Uruguay's coaching staff.
DZAGOEV OUT FOR A WHIlE
MOSCOW: Russia's attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev has said that he wont have enough time to recover from a thigh injury and will have to miss the remaining FIFA World Cup Group A matches against Egypt and Uruguay. Dzagoev was injured in the 23rd minute of the opening match of the World Cup in which Russia crushed Saudi Arabia 5-0 on Thursday. Dzagoev boosted off for an offensive rush on the goal of the opponents, but fell down. Medics were called out onto the pitch. Dzagoev was diagnosed with muscle injury and undergoes medical treatment. "It is difficult to say how long it will take, medics will monitor the improvement," Dzagoev said. "Hope I still have a chance to play. I hope to God we will qualify for the knockouts, and I will be able to play. There is still some hope left," he said.
'Disrespectful' Nike
MOSCOW: Iran forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh has criticized American sports apparel brand Nike which, ahead of the FIFA World Cup, refused to continue supply of boots to his team owing to US-led sanctions against the Asian country. Two days before Iran's opening match against Morocco on Friday, Nike put out a statement, saying its reason of withdrawl was based on US President Donald Trump's call to withdraw from the joint agreement between Iran and the six world powers. Nike's statement caused frustration in the Iranian Football Federation as the firm had previously supplied the Iranian team with boots despite the sanctions, like at the 2014 World Cup. "To be honest, we didn't care actually. What they have done is a little bit disrespectful," Jahanbakhsh told Iranian media.
A SlEEPY ACCIDENT
MOSCOW: The suspect in a taxi crash near Red Square that injured two Mexican World Cup fans and other pedestrians told interrogators that he fell asleep at the wheel, Moscow police said Sunday. City police released a video Sunday of an interrogation session with a man identified as the Kyrgyz taxi driver, in which he says he briefly dozed off and accidentally hit the gas. It was unclear whether the man spoke under duress. The man says he hadn't slept in 20 hours and wasn't drunk, and ran away after the accident because he was afraid that angry bystanders would kill him. He was later detained. Videos circulating on Russian social media and some news websites after the incident showed the taxi veering onto the sidewalk Saturday and striking pedestrians. The accident took place on Ilinka Street, about 200 meters from Red Square.