LONDON — A member of the Japan Under-23 soccer team that reached the semifinals of the London Olympics caused ?80,000 (?10 million) worth of damage to a Scottish hotel after a kickaround set off a sprinkler and caused flooding, according to a report published Wednesday in the online edition of Scotland's Daily Record.Japan played in Glasgow when it stunned Spain in their opening match of the group stage.The unnamed player kicked the ball at a sprinkler and set off the system, flooding rooms. The rooms had to be evacuated and renovated, racking up a bill that is still unsettled, the report said.The Marriott Hotel in Glasgow has been in talks with London Olympics and the Japanese soccer authorities after a row broke out over who was liable for the damage, according to the report, which quoted an insider as saying, "It was an accident but it caused chaos. One sprinkler being activated set off the whole floor and the results were catastrophic."Afterwards the hotel was looking to be paid for the damage and LOCOG were in dispute with the Japanese squad about who should pay. They still haven't sorted it out."However, a source at the Japan Football Association said, "It is true that rooms were flooded but there is no way that a player would be kicking a ball around in his room. There is no clear reason why the sprinkler was set off."
Showing posts with label Report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Report. Show all posts
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Hillsborough report confirms truth
LONDON — It is like blaming the passengers for an aircraft crash or the audience if a theater's ceiling collapsed.
Twenty-three years after 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives during the F.A. Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest, a report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel confirmed what we have known for two-plus decades: the disaster was a result of the failings of the South Yorkshire Police (SYP) and the emergency services, not so-called drunken fans or hooligans who were responsible for the loss of lives.Human error is one thing but to amend or remove 116 of the 164 statements given to the SYP is another. South Yorkshire Ambulance Service documents were subjected to a similar process.It is a throwback to the dark days of the Soviet Union when those in charge never did anything wrong. The lengths the SYP went to in order to deflect the blame from themselves is both staggering and illegal. Perverting the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.The independent panel did not so much reveal new evidence, rather it was existing evidence that has been concealed or manipulated. On the findings available two years after the disaster, pathologists decided on a verdict of accidental death. In fact, 41 of those who died could have survived with prompt medical care.The SYP sought to deflect blame by pointing the finger at drunken or ticketless supporters. The panel found no evidence to back this up. Even a 10-year-old boy who died was tested for alcohol. The police also carried out background checks on the deceased, as if a conviction for stealing a bike would somehow justify death.Why it has taken 23 years for the truth to be told is because of a failure, until three years ago when the panel was set up, of successive governments to believe there were sufficient grounds for previously secret official documents related to the tragedy to be released.It is unthinkable that Prime Minister David Cameron will not pressurize the attorney general to instigate a new review and that belatedly those responsible for the disaster and resulting smear campaign will be named, shamed and brought to justice. It is naive to think that Operation Coverup was not known at the highest level in parliament.Every police officer and those involved in the emergency service who were on duty that fateful day — 195 of the officers still work for SYP — must, under oath, be asked their role at the match, if their evidence was altered and if so, by whom. To date, there has not been a single prosecution.The man in charge on April 15, 1989, was Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield who was the subject of a private prosecution 12 years ago. Duckenfield gave the order for the gates at the Leppings Lane end to be opened so that hundreds of fans could be herded on to the already crowded terraces at the stadium.Prosecutor Alun Jones QC stated that minutes after the disaster, Duckenfield "deceitfully and dishonestly" told senior Football Association officials that the supporters had forced the gate open themselves. Duckenfield admitted that he had lied about certain statements regarding the cause of the disaster but the jury was unable to reach a verdict and the judge refused an application for a retrial. Duckenfield was retired on a full police pension.The force's current chief constable, David Crompton, said if statements have been falsified (IF!) against the law, prosecutions should be brought. In fact, the SYP is considering self-referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which would require SYP to identify which individual officers should be investigated. Given what has happened — rather, not happened — over the past 23 years, only a completely independent inquiry would have any credibility with the public, not the police investigating the police.* * *THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie and Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, joined the government in apologizing for events of the past. Their words cut no ice with the families of the bereaved.Days after the disaster, The Sun ran a story headlined "The Truth," alleging, among other things, Liverpool fans urinated on corpses and stole from the dead. The story was supplied by White's, a Sheffield-based news agency, based on police briefings.Against the wishes of senior staff, MacKenzie used the story without his own reporters double-checking. "I published it in good faith and I am sorry it was so wrong," he said. He should have added he was thinking only of sensationalism rather than presenting the facts.Johnson wrote an editorial in the Spectator magazine which he edited in 2004. It read: "Liverpudlians see themselves whenever possible as victims, and resent their victim status; yet at the same time they wallow in it."Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, who lost her son James, 18, in the tragedy, was critical of his comments.She said: "What he has got to understand is that we were speaking the truth for 23 years and apologies have only started to come today from them because of yesterday. It's too little, too late."Christopher Davies was a longtime Premier League correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph.
Twenty-three years after 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives during the F.A. Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest, a report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel confirmed what we have known for two-plus decades: the disaster was a result of the failings of the South Yorkshire Police (SYP) and the emergency services, not so-called drunken fans or hooligans who were responsible for the loss of lives.Human error is one thing but to amend or remove 116 of the 164 statements given to the SYP is another. South Yorkshire Ambulance Service documents were subjected to a similar process.It is a throwback to the dark days of the Soviet Union when those in charge never did anything wrong. The lengths the SYP went to in order to deflect the blame from themselves is both staggering and illegal. Perverting the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.The independent panel did not so much reveal new evidence, rather it was existing evidence that has been concealed or manipulated. On the findings available two years after the disaster, pathologists decided on a verdict of accidental death. In fact, 41 of those who died could have survived with prompt medical care.The SYP sought to deflect blame by pointing the finger at drunken or ticketless supporters. The panel found no evidence to back this up. Even a 10-year-old boy who died was tested for alcohol. The police also carried out background checks on the deceased, as if a conviction for stealing a bike would somehow justify death.Why it has taken 23 years for the truth to be told is because of a failure, until three years ago when the panel was set up, of successive governments to believe there were sufficient grounds for previously secret official documents related to the tragedy to be released.It is unthinkable that Prime Minister David Cameron will not pressurize the attorney general to instigate a new review and that belatedly those responsible for the disaster and resulting smear campaign will be named, shamed and brought to justice. It is naive to think that Operation Coverup was not known at the highest level in parliament.Every police officer and those involved in the emergency service who were on duty that fateful day — 195 of the officers still work for SYP — must, under oath, be asked their role at the match, if their evidence was altered and if so, by whom. To date, there has not been a single prosecution.The man in charge on April 15, 1989, was Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield who was the subject of a private prosecution 12 years ago. Duckenfield gave the order for the gates at the Leppings Lane end to be opened so that hundreds of fans could be herded on to the already crowded terraces at the stadium.Prosecutor Alun Jones QC stated that minutes after the disaster, Duckenfield "deceitfully and dishonestly" told senior Football Association officials that the supporters had forced the gate open themselves. Duckenfield admitted that he had lied about certain statements regarding the cause of the disaster but the jury was unable to reach a verdict and the judge refused an application for a retrial. Duckenfield was retired on a full police pension.The force's current chief constable, David Crompton, said if statements have been falsified (IF!) against the law, prosecutions should be brought. In fact, the SYP is considering self-referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which would require SYP to identify which individual officers should be investigated. Given what has happened — rather, not happened — over the past 23 years, only a completely independent inquiry would have any credibility with the public, not the police investigating the police.* * *THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie and Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, joined the government in apologizing for events of the past. Their words cut no ice with the families of the bereaved.Days after the disaster, The Sun ran a story headlined "The Truth," alleging, among other things, Liverpool fans urinated on corpses and stole from the dead. The story was supplied by White's, a Sheffield-based news agency, based on police briefings.Against the wishes of senior staff, MacKenzie used the story without his own reporters double-checking. "I published it in good faith and I am sorry it was so wrong," he said. He should have added he was thinking only of sensationalism rather than presenting the facts.Johnson wrote an editorial in the Spectator magazine which he edited in 2004. It read: "Liverpudlians see themselves whenever possible as victims, and resent their victim status; yet at the same time they wallow in it."Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, who lost her son James, 18, in the tragedy, was critical of his comments.She said: "What he has got to understand is that we were speaking the truth for 23 years and apologies have only started to come today from them because of yesterday. It's too little, too late."Christopher Davies was a longtime Premier League correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph.Saturday, April 28, 2012
Manchester United offers Kagawa three-year deal: report
Cologne, Germany — Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa has been offered a three-year contract by Manchester United in the English Premier League, German newspaper Bild said in its Friday edition.According to Bild, Kagawa, whose Borussia Dortmund team has won back-to-back Bundesliga titles, is being offered a three-year deal worth about ?6 million and "only needs to sign the contract."Dortmund has apparently made an offer of about ?3 million, double Kagawa's current salary. "That will not be enough for Kagawa," the article said.In other news, Bild said that Cerezo Osaka midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake has signed a provisional contract with Nurnberg for a transfer this summer.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Report: Honda in talks with Lazio
London — CSKA Moscow is still in discussions with Italian club Lazio over the transfer of playmaker Keisuke Honda, British media reported Tuesday.The Sporting Life website quoted the Russian Premier League club's president, Yevgeny Giner, as telling Radio Mayak, "I can confirm that some Lazio officials came to Moscow to discuss a deal for Honda.""The negotiations are still ongoing as we have not reached an agreement. Currently our valuations are around €2-€3 million apart. I would not say the transfer will definitely happen, but let's see what will happen in the coming days," Giner said.Last week, Russian newspaper Sport-Express said the talks had broken down, while Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport said the negotiations had gone well.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Report says Hincapie told feds Armstrong used PEDs
NEW YORK — A report by "60 Minutes" says George Hincapie, a longtime member of Lance Armstrong's inner circle, has told federal authorities he saw the seven-time Tour de France winner use performance-enhancing drugs.
Allegations mount: Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has been accused by former teammate George Hincapie (left) of using performance-enhancing drugs. AP PHOTOA segment of the report aired Friday night on the "CBS Evening News," one day after it broadcast an interview with another former member of Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team, Tyler Hamilton, who said he also used PEDs with Armstrong.Hincapie has often been depicted as one of Armstrong's most loyal teammates and was with him for all seven Tour victories. In an interview last year, Armstrong said Hincapie was "like a brother to me."Hincapie is among a number of former Armstrong teammates and employees who have appeared before a federal grand jury in Los Angeles investigating doping in cycling. Hamilton said he testified for six hours before the panel.Armstrong has never tested positive and has steadfastly denied doping.Using unidentified sources, "60 Minutes" reported that Hincapie testified that he and Armstrong supplied each other with the endurance-boosting substance EPO and discussed having used another banned substance, testosterone, to prepare for races. Citing the ongoing investigation, Hincapie declined to be interviewed by "60 Minutes," which will air its piece on the Armstrong investigation on Sunday night.Reached at the Tour of California in Solvang, Hincapie said he didn't want to talk about the "60 Minutes" report."It's just unfortunate that that's all people want to talk about now," he said. "I'm not going to partake in any cycling-bashing. I have done everything to be the best I can be. . . . I want the focus on the future of the sport, what it's done to clean itself up. I believe in cycling and want to support it."Later, Hincapie released a statement through his attorney: "I can confirm to you that I never spoke with 60 Minutes. I have no idea where they got their information. As I've said in the past, I continue to be disappointed that people are talking about the past in cycling instead of the future. As for the substance of anything in the 60 Minutes story, I cannot comment on anything relating to the ongoing investigation."Asked to comment on the newest 60 Minutes report, Armstrong spokesman Mark Fabiani said: "We have no way of knowing what happened in the grand jury and so can't comment on these anonymously sourced reports."The Hincapie and Hamilton revelations come a year after Floyd Landis, who had his 2006 Tour title stripped for using steroids, turned the focus of the feds' cycling investigation onto Armstrong, claiming he and Armstrong had both used drugs while on the U.S. Postal team.But while Hamilton and Landis have credibility problems that Armstrong has pointed out — both cyclists denied using drugs for years before changing their story and implicating Armstrong — there aren't nearly as many issues with Hincapie.The 37-year-old cyclist from New York has no known positive tests. He was on the Postal team even before Armstrong and, once Armstrong joined it, the two were frequent roommates on the road.
Allegations mount: Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has been accused by former teammate George Hincapie (left) of using performance-enhancing drugs. AP PHOTOA segment of the report aired Friday night on the "CBS Evening News," one day after it broadcast an interview with another former member of Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team, Tyler Hamilton, who said he also used PEDs with Armstrong.Hincapie has often been depicted as one of Armstrong's most loyal teammates and was with him for all seven Tour victories. In an interview last year, Armstrong said Hincapie was "like a brother to me."Hincapie is among a number of former Armstrong teammates and employees who have appeared before a federal grand jury in Los Angeles investigating doping in cycling. Hamilton said he testified for six hours before the panel.Armstrong has never tested positive and has steadfastly denied doping.Using unidentified sources, "60 Minutes" reported that Hincapie testified that he and Armstrong supplied each other with the endurance-boosting substance EPO and discussed having used another banned substance, testosterone, to prepare for races. Citing the ongoing investigation, Hincapie declined to be interviewed by "60 Minutes," which will air its piece on the Armstrong investigation on Sunday night.Reached at the Tour of California in Solvang, Hincapie said he didn't want to talk about the "60 Minutes" report."It's just unfortunate that that's all people want to talk about now," he said. "I'm not going to partake in any cycling-bashing. I have done everything to be the best I can be. . . . I want the focus on the future of the sport, what it's done to clean itself up. I believe in cycling and want to support it."Later, Hincapie released a statement through his attorney: "I can confirm to you that I never spoke with 60 Minutes. I have no idea where they got their information. As I've said in the past, I continue to be disappointed that people are talking about the past in cycling instead of the future. As for the substance of anything in the 60 Minutes story, I cannot comment on anything relating to the ongoing investigation."Asked to comment on the newest 60 Minutes report, Armstrong spokesman Mark Fabiani said: "We have no way of knowing what happened in the grand jury and so can't comment on these anonymously sourced reports."The Hincapie and Hamilton revelations come a year after Floyd Landis, who had his 2006 Tour title stripped for using steroids, turned the focus of the feds' cycling investigation onto Armstrong, claiming he and Armstrong had both used drugs while on the U.S. Postal team.But while Hamilton and Landis have credibility problems that Armstrong has pointed out — both cyclists denied using drugs for years before changing their story and implicating Armstrong — there aren't nearly as many issues with Hincapie.The 37-year-old cyclist from New York has no known positive tests. He was on the Postal team even before Armstrong and, once Armstrong joined it, the two were frequent roommates on the road.
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