Euro 2024 draw ceremony
interrupted by ‘social media prank’
Hamburg, Dec 3: Unexplained moaning noises disrupted the draw ceremony for the European Championship in men’s football on Saturday and competed for attention with the team names being read out on stage. The interruption, which seemed to sound like sexual noises, was clearly heard for several minutes on the ceremony broadcast from a concert hall in Hamburg. A British prankster claimed credit on social media for the stunt and posted footage of himself making cell phone calls to activate a ring tone in the venue which has excellent acoustics. A later clip posted to the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, appeared to show the prankster inside the venue during a rehearsal for the hour-long Saturday evening event. It was the latest security lapse at a high-profile event of UEFA, which declined to comment. (AP)
Nantes supporter dies
before Ligue 1 game
Nantes, Nov 29: A supporter from Nantes died on Saturday following a fight that took place before the club’s 1-0 win over Nice in the latest outbreak of violence to mar French football this season. Nantes said in a statement overnight that the fan was “fatally injured” close to the club’s stadium. According to the L’Equipe newspaper, the fan was a member of the Brigade Loire, Nantes’ main group of diehard fans. “In circumstances which are the subject of an ongoing judicial investigation, the 31-year-old collapsed, hit in the back,” the club said. “Despite the intervention of emergency services, the fan could not be saved.” Nantes said the public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into voluntary manslaughter. Nantes public prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul said the incident took place shortly before 8 PM local time when several private hire vehicles carrying Nice fans on their way to the match were attacked by groups of Nantes supporters. “The very first forensic investigations show that the victim had a wound on his back, possibly caused by a bladed weapon,” the prosecutor said, quoted by French media. Local newspaper Ouest France said the suspected assailant initially fled the scene before turning himself in at a police station. (AP)
Retd Justice Khanwilkar to head Khel Ratna, Arjuna selection team
New Delhi, Dec 3: Retired Supreme Court judge Justice AM Khanwilkar will chair the 12-member Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya award selection committee, sports ministry announced on Sunday. The committee comprises of six eminent sports persons, including legendary former India hockey skipper Dhanraj Pillay, Olympian boxer Akhil Kumar, shooter Shuma Shirur, eight-time national champion paddler Kamlesh Mehta, who represents the Table Tennis Federation of India. Former Indian women’s cricket captain Anjum Chopra, shuttler Trupti Murugunde, who is a part of Mission Olympic Cell and Farman Basha of Power Lifting federation are also members of this panel. Danik Jagran’s sports editor Abhishek Tripathi is the media representative, while SAI DG Sandeep Pradhan, CEO Target Olympic Podium Scheme Pushpendra Garg and Joint Secretary (MYAS) Prem Kumar Jha are the government officials in the committee. (PTI)