DURBAN, South Africa (AP)—Three Greece players at the World Cup have had money stolen from their hotel rooms, police say.
Lt. Colonel Leon Engelbrecht said Thursday the unidentified players reported $1,921 had been stolen from their rooms on Tuesday night at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the resort of Umhlanga, just north of Durban.
Engelbrecht said the Greek squad has told police it doesn’t want a case opened over the theft.
The theft happened only hours before three foreign World Cup journalists were robbed, one at gunpoint, at a hotel in Magaliesburg, in the northwest of the country. The journalists lost money, camera equipment, laptop computers and mobile phones.
Dutch squad banned from using Twitter due to slur
AMSTERDAM (AP)—Netherlands defender Gregory van der Wiel says his squad is banned from using Twitter during the World Cup, one day after a teammate used a Dutch term insulting to Moroccans on a live streaming video.
Eljero Elia appeared to make the remark Tuesday in response to a jesting insult made by a Moroccan friend on a chat forum connected with the video.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that Elia apologized and won’t be punished after saying he used the term without any racist intent.
Van der Wiel wrote Wednesday on his Twitter page: “We are not allowed to tweet anymore. So I end it now, speak to you after the world cup, sorry.”
The English and Spanish squads are also banned from using Twitter by their coaches.
Referees learning English swear words
RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AP)—The Brazilian referee and his assistants who will take charge of the England-United States match at the World Cup have been studying English-language obscenities the players might use.
Carlos Simon will referee Saturday’s match in Rustenburg, assisted by Roberto Braatz and Altemir Hausmann, and wants to ensure players can’t get away with abuse.
“We have to learn what kind of words the players say,” Hausmann told Brazilian broadcaster Globo Sport. “All players swear and we know we will hear a few.”
Braatz says they aren’t learning them in “11 different languages but at least we have to know the swear words in English.”
FIFA denied reports that match officials have been given lists of swear words to listen out for, but did say proficiency in English was a requirement for referees and assistants working at the World Cup.
In addition, refereeing officials had briefed all teams in the lead-up to the event about the rules, including the potential for players to be cautioned or sent off for abusive language or gestures.
“There should not be any surprises to any members of the teams,” FIFA spokesman Alex Stone said.
Stone said there was no requirement for referees to know obscenities in languages other than English.
Wayne Rooney was booked during England’s warm-up match against South African side Platinum Stars on Monday for swearing at the referee.
