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This is an archive article published on June 14, 2010

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France defender Eric Abidal says players have to “make the right fouls” to avoid getting a yellow card early at the World Cup...

Abidal cries ‘foul’

France defender Eric Abidal says players have to “make the right fouls” to avoid getting a yellow card early at the World Cup because he thinks referees give them out more easily at that stage of the tournament. Abidal says “the referees will be more attentive to detail in the first matches” and “will put their hands in their pockets more easily” compared to later in a tournament.

Riots follow power cuts

Hundreds of angry football fans smashed vehicles in the Bangladeshi capital after power outages interrupted live TV broadcasts of a World Cup match,police said Sunday. The violence erupted late Saturday when the blackouts hit Dhaka’s southern Saidabad district just before the match between Argentina and Nigeria,said police official Mohammad Moniruzzaman.

Dunga’s iron curtain

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Brazil closed their practice for the second straight day on Sunday — an unusual move that surprised even some of the players. Brazil are usually one of the most open teams to fans and media,but coach Dunga has been trying to keep the team sealed off ahead of its opener against North Korea next Tuesday. “We just found out that it was going to be closed now,” Brazil right back Maicon said. “Maybe he wants to try some different things with the team.”

FIFA sees red over green

FIFA says it asked stadium security to intervene after a spectator targeted a laser beam at the field during Argentina’s World Cup match against Nigeria. The bright green light was aimed at players and Argentina coach Diego Maradona during Saturday’s match in Johannesburg. FIFA says it noticed the beam immediately and alerted security staff at Ellis Park. FIFA was concerned by fans using laser pens at qualifying matches. It fined the Greek football federation 25,000 Swiss francs ($21,800; euro18,000) after beams were directed at opposing Switzerland and Israel players.

Robbers break safe

A Uruguayan football association official has been robbed of money from a safe in his hotel room in Cape Town,and a pair of New Zealand television journalists had their equipment stolen from their hotel in Rustenburg. The robbery involving the Uruguayan occurred Friday morning at the Vineyard hotel,several hours before Uruguay’s match with France. Police and hotel management were notified,association president Sebastian Bauza said. The amount stolen was more than $4,000,according to the association. The hotel is about 10 minutes from the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town and the Uruguayan team stayed there only one night.

Bolt backing Argentina

The world’s fastest man Usain Bolt is hoping that Argentian go all way at South Africa. “When I was a kid everyone supported Brazil,” says Jamaican sprint star Bolt. But,perhaps ironically for a man who has left his rivals trailing in his wake in recent years,“I didn’t want to be on the side of the ones who always win. So I chose Argentina,who had a good team at the time and good players.”

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