East Germany’s WC captain Bernd Bransch passes away
HALLE (GERMANY), June 12: Bernd Bransch, who captained East Germany at its only World Cup appearance in a symbolic Cold War win over West Germany, has died. He was 77. Bransch’s former club Hallescher FC said in a statement Sunday that he had died on Saturday following “a long, severe illness.” Bransch was East Germany’s equivalent of West German star Franz Beckenbauer. Both men captained their national teams. When they met at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, it was Bransch’s team that won, beating West Germany 1-0 with a goal from Jürgen Sparwasser. Bransch’s biggest career success came two years later when he won the Olympic gold medal with East Germany’s 3-1 win over Poland in the final. (AP)
Stuttgart player arrested in Ibiza after rape allegations
MADRID, June 12: Bundesliga club Stuttgart said Saturday that midfielder Atakan Karazor has been arrested in Ibiza after an 18-year-old woman reported to police that she was raped by two German men on the Spanish island. The team did not specify what Karazor was arrested for but that he denied the allegations. Spanish police did not publicly identify the men and would only confirm that two 25-year-old Germans were arrested on an accusation of rape. Karazor is 25 years old and of German nationality. Spain’s Civil Guard said that the Spanish woman was allegedly raped early Wednesday morning in a home in the town of Sant Josep on Ibiza. (AP)
Ronaldo’s rape lawsuit in Vegas dismissed by US judge
LAS VEGAS, June 12: A Nevada woman has lost her bid in a U.S. court to force international football star Cristiano Ronaldo to pay millions of dollars more than the $375,000 in hush money she received after claiming he raped her in Las Vegas in 2009. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey in Las Vegas kicked the case out of court on Friday to punish the woman’s attorney, Leslie Mark Stovall, for “bad-faith conduct” and the use of leaked and stolen documents detailing attorney-client discussions between Ronaldo and his lawyers. Dorsey said that tainted the case beyond redemption. Dorsey said in her 42-page order that dismissing a case outright with no option to file it again is a severe sanction, but said Ronaldo had been harmed by Stovall’s conduct. (AP)
Cavani’s brace helps Uruguay rout Panama 5-0 in friendly
MONTEVIDEO (URUGUAY), June 12: Edinson Cavani scored twice as Uruguay cruised to a 5-0 win over Panama in their international friendly here on Saturday. The outgoing Manchester United striker opened the scoring in the 39th minute at the Centenario stadium with a low finish after Giorgian Arrascaeta’s assist. Cavani doubled the lead just after half-time by converting a penalty after he was brought down by Alex Rodriguez. Nicolas de la Cruz, Maxi Gomez and Diego Rossi added second-half goals as Uruguay gave their fans a reason to celebrate in the team’s last home match before the World Cup. (IANS)