Spain will reportedly receive the most money out of all 32 World Cup teams if they win the World Cup, and several Spanish political parties are unhappy at the figure with the country facing an economic crisis.
The Spanish media said each player could earn euro 600,000 ($734,000) for winning the title, and collect euro 120,000 ($144,000) just for reaching the July 11 final. Political party Izquierda Unida asked how such an amount could be paid “in the context of a general crisis where pensions are being frozen and salaries are dropping.”
***
SA has big plans to control crime
Johannesburg: South Africa is to throw a ring of steel around Johannesburg’s sparkling new Soccer City stadium to prevent terrorists, hooligans or petty criminals from spoiling Friday’s World Cup kick-off.
With around 50 murders a day, South Africa has a reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous countries and the build-up to the tournament has been dogged by talk of terror plots and hooligan fears.
Around 40 heads of state and a host of VIPs will attend the opening ceremony and inaugural tie between the hosts and Mexico at the 95,000-seat stadium. With the eyes of the world on South Africa, police are leaving nothing to chance. — AFP
***
Oz goalie out as son has leukaemia
Johannesburg: Eugene Galekovic is expected to replace Brad Jones after the
backup Australian goalkeeper was forced out of the World Cup after a serious illness to his young son.
Jones, the Middlesbrough goalkeeper, left just days before the Socceroos’ opening match with Germany after learning that his four-year-old son, Luca, was reportedly suffering from leukaemia.
Galevovic was among five players cut last week for the final squad, but has remained in South Africa training with the Australians in case of an unexpected late injury.
Jones left over the weekend to be with his family in France. — AFP