soccer
Part of World Cup venue collapses, killing two workers
SAO PAULO – Part of the stadium that will host the 2014 World Cup opener collapsed Wednesday, killing two workers and aggravating already urgent concerns Brazil won’t be ready for soccer’s signature tournament.
The accident at the Arena Corinthians, known locally as the Itaquerao, could hardly have come at a worse time – just a week ahead of the draw that will determine the tournament’s schedule and with the top names in soccer all descending on Brazil.
Preparations have been plagued by setbacks including cost overruns, stadium delays, accidents, labor strife and huge street protests in the run-up to the June tournament, once envisioned as a coming-out party for South America’s largest nation, which is also scheduled to host the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Already, public prosecutors and a workers union in Sao Paulo were demanding an investigation into conditions at the venue, saying work shouldn’t resume until authorities deem the stadium safe.
Ricardo Trade, CEO of the local World Cup organizing committee, said authorities would determine if there is a need to suspend construction.
The accident could lead to recriminations between local organizers and world soccer’s organization FIFA, which has set a December deadline for all 12 World Cup stadiums to be ready. The tournament will open June 12.
The stadium was nearly finished before the collapse, which occurred when a construction crane crashed into a 500-ton metal structure. That structure then cut through the outer walls of the venue, destroying part of the outside of the building and slamming into a giant LED panel that runs across the stadium’s façade.
Qatar releases Belounis amid outside pressure
PARIS – The brother of a French-Algerian football player trapped in Qatar says the country has granted Zahir Belounis an exit visa.
The case of Belounis became a cause célébre for Qatar’s critics and a mounting embarrassment for the 2022 World Cup host country.
Belounis was effectively trapped in Qatar by being denied an exit visa because he was suing Qatari side Al-Jaish for unpaid wages.
His brother, Mahdi Belounis, tweeted Wednesday “(hash)zahir has his exit visa.” He then told The Associated Press that his brother gave him the news.
FIFPro, the international union for soccer players, and others lobbied for Belounis to be allowed to leave. FIFPro had planned to send a delegation to Qatar this week.
college football
Police chief defends handling of Winston case
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A police chief defended the handling of sexual assault allegations against Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, saying a timeline shows the investigation into the Heisman candidate was handled professionally.
Interim Tallahassee Police Chief Tom Coe issued a news release laying out the timeline Wednesday, saying the investigation began when officers took the alleged victim to the hospital Dec. 7. She was interviewed, and DNA and other evidence was collected.
Winston was not identified by the victim as a suspect until more than a month later, Jan. 10, according to the police timeline. The next day, the woman’s attorney canceled a planned meeting with investigators, police said.
Later that month, Winston refused to be interviewed, Coe said.
Coe said investigators contacted the victim’s attorney again and gave her toxicology reports in February and March. He said the attorney, Patricia Carroll, told investigators she would review the findings and contact them if the victim wanted to pursue the case.
Police did not hand over information about the alleged sexual assault to prosecutors until earlier this month. Coe has said the case was placed on inactive status after police were told the alleged victim no longer wanted to prosecute the case. An attorney representing the accuser has said her client never wanted to drop the charges.
Associated Press
