Football rivalry gone too far: Argentine club Newell's sanctions 9-year-olds over rival player photo
FILE PHOTO: An-18-meter long Argentina shirt featuring soccer star Lionel Messi's surname is displayed at the Monumento a la Bandera (The National Flag Memorial), in Rosario, Argentina, December 16, 2022. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
Football rivalry gone too far: Argentine club Newell's sanctions 9-year-olds over rival player photo
A simple photo between kids and a professional footballer has spiralled into controversy in Argentina, after Newell's Old Boys sanctioned youth players for posing with Rosario Central's Ignacio Malcorra, a move seen as a shocking escalation of the city's fierce football rivalry.
Newell's, the Rosario club that once nurtured a young Lionel Messi, suspended the academy players from training and revoked their scholarships for three months after discovering their photo with Malcorra, who has played for bitter rivals Rosario Central during five seasons.
The decision, which club officials framed as a protective measure following reported fan threats, has drawn strong criticism from both the public and prominent figures, while Malcorra himself expressed his dismay at the row.
"I feel sad for them. Children are innocent and don't know much about what they're doing," Malcorra told reporters on Friday, recounting the chance encounter at a youth tournament three months ago.
"They just wanted to take a photo with a top flight player, like any child would."
As the photo went viral on social media only recently, club officials said earlier this week the matter had been dealt with internally, while some ultra-supporters had reportedly demanded the children to be expelled.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni also condemned the sanctions.
"If you dream of playing in the First Division one day, it doesn't matter who you play with," he told reporters before Thursday's match against Chile.
National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich on Friday called the sanctions "disgraceful" on social media, suggesting the club had bowed to pressure from hardline supporters.
The football rivalry, also known as the Rosario derby, reflects the deep footballing identity of the industrial port of Rosario - a city that produced eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi through Newell's and recently welcomed Argentina talisman Angel Di Maria back to Central.
Newell's said the affected children "continue to be members of the club" and that directors would meet with parents next week "to continue listening to them, supporting them, and taking appropriate action." REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Animal cruelty: Florida fisherman charged for stabbing shark multiple times
Charter fisherman Zane P. Garrett, 26, was arrested on June 5 and charged with animal cruelty. PHOTO: MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MIAMI – A charter fisherman in Florida was charged with animal cruelty after a video showed him stabbing a shark multiple times. The fisherman, Zane P. Garrett, 26, of Stock Island in the Florida Keys, was arrested by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on June 5 and charged with the felony count. Law enforcement officials received tips on May 23 about a man 'repeatedly stabbing a shark on a fishing line before cutting the line and releasing the animal', the agency said in a statement. It was unclear if the shark survived. A video, which has since been widely circulated, shows a man stabbing the shark with a knife and includes a caption that reads 'bud broke my rod'. Conservation agents located Garrett's boat in Key West and identified him as the charter captain on the day of the attack. He later admitted to the stabbing. It was not immediately clear what potential penalties Garrett might face. 'The careless cruelty displayed in this video is unacceptable,' said Major Alberto Maza, the South B regional commander of the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 'I'm proud of the public for reporting this senseless act and our officers' work in identifying the subject and holding him accountable.' According to WPLG Local 10 in Miami, an arrest warrant stated that Garrett attacked the shark because it had stolen his fish. Garrett declined to comment when reached by phone on June 6. According to his website, Garrett operates Second Nature Charters in Key West, with prices starting at US$900 (S$1,160) for four hours of tarpon fishing. The charter boat is an 11m Torres sport fishing vessel that can accommodate up to six passengers. 'With Captain Zane at the helm, every fishing excursion becomes an unforgettable journey filled with camaraderie, laughter and, most importantly, epic catches that will be cherished for a lifetime,' according to the site. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said sharks have been known to take fish off a line or bite boat motors, 'an unfortunate side effect of healthy and sustainable shark populations'. A screen grab shows a charter fisherman stabbing a shark. PHOTO: WPLG LOCAL 10 The commission's advice: Move to another area away from shark activity. In May, another Florida charter fisherman was sentenced to 30 days for shooting and poisoning dolphins from his boat, including doing so once in front of two school-aged children. The captain was frustrated with the dolphins for stealing his catch, investigators said at the time. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Three killed in Russian attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv; Ukrainian drones injure two near Moscow
Residents walk in front of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine June 7, 2025. REUTERS/Vitalii Hnidyi Rescuers assist an injured resident after she was released from debris of a building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine June 7, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova Servicemen of the unmanned aircraft systems unit 'Fenix' of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service prepare a Vampire heavy combat drone before its flight over positions of Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the frontline town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, Ukraine June 6, 2025. REUTERS/Anatolii Stepanov Firefighters work at the site of a building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine June 7, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Firefighters work inside an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine June 7, 2025. REUTERS/Vitalii Hnidyi Three killed in Russian attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv; Ukrainian drones injure two near Moscow LONDON - Overnight missile and bomb strikes by Russia on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv left three people dead and 22 hurt, while a Ukrainian drone attack in the Moscow region wounded two people, officials from both countries said separately on Saturday. Russian forces used high-precision long-range weapons and drones to hit designated military targets in Ukraine overnight, hitting all of them, according to Russia's Defence Ministry. Separately, Ukraine has indefinitely postponed accepting the bodies of its killed soldiers and the exchange of prisoners of war, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said. This was counter to an agreement between the two countries at a second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, where they said they would swap more prisoners and return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. The northeastern city of Kharkiv, one of Ukraine's largest, is just a few dozen kilometres (miles) from the Russian border and has been under frequent Russian shelling during more than three years of war triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion. "Kharkiv is currently experiencing the most powerful attack since the start of the full-scale war," Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a post on Telegram earlier on Saturday. Residential buildings, educational and infrastructure facilities were attacked, he said, and photos showed buildings burnt and reduced partially to rubble, as rescuers carried the wounded away for treatment. Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said there could still be people buried under the rubble after one civilian industrial facility was hit by 40 drones and several bombs. In the Moscow region, two people were injured after a drone attack by Ukraine overnight and on Friday, Governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram, with nine drones shot down. Russia's aviation watchdog said operations had resumed at the Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky airports in the Moscow region after being suspended temporarily for flight safety reasons. The Defence Ministry said that since midnight, air defence units had intercepted and destroyed 36 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, including the Moscow region. Ukraine's air forces also shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet on Saturday morning, its military said without providing further details. Russian forces have not yet commented on the matter while Reuters could not independently verify the report. A Ukrainian drone attack deep inside Russian territory last weekend likely damaged around 10% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet and hit some of the aircraft as they were being prepared for strikes on Ukraine, a senior German military official said in a YouTube podcast set for broadcast later on Saturday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Italy already fear missing yet another World Cup after Norway nightmare
Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group I - Norway v Italy - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - June 6, 2025 Norway's Sander Berge hits the post as Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma looks on Lise Aserud/NTB via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NORWAY OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN NORWAY. Italy's World Cup qualification campaign has barely begun and already the country is worried about the shocking possibility of failing to reach the final tournament for a third consecutive time after a humiliating defeat by Norway. Norway already had two wins under their belt in Group I before Friday's match in Oslo, while Italy had yet to play, having been involved in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, losing out to Germany. A 2-1 defeat at the San Siro in the first leg left Italy chasing the tie in Germany and they found themselves 3-0 down at the break before staging a second-half comeback to salvage a draw, and some pride. It was the same story on Friday for Italy at the Ullevaal Stadium, at least as far as the opening act went. Norway roared into a 3-0 lead in the first half but this time there was no Italian fightback in a goalless second half. "Enough!" screamed the Gazzetta dello Sport front page on Saturday, after Italy suffered their third loss in a four-game winless run, with the newspaper adding that for Italy the "World Cup is already at risk". Next year's World Cup takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico but in the two decades since Italy won the tournament for the fourth time, they have struggled to perform or, more recently, to even get there. Berlin 2006 seems a lifetime ago now, with Zinedine Zidane sent off for his head butt to Marco Materazzi's chest and Italy lifting the trophy after a penalty shootout win over France. The next two World Cups saw Italy exit at the group stage, and while they triumphed at Euro 2020, on either side of that success they missed out on the World Cup after playoff defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia. With Italy now playing catch-up and only the group winners qualifying automatically, La Repubblica's front-page headline "Azzurri humiliated in Oslo, the playoff nightmare returns" hints at the frightening possibilities ahead. Italy's loss came less than a week after Inter Milan's 5-0 mauling at the hands of Paris St Germain in the Champions League final and on both occasions the tired-looking losers were outclassed by a hungrier, more creative side. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti was spared following last year's dismal Euros but is now under real pressure and nothing but a convincing win at home to Moldova on Monday will do, with media and fans increasingly calling for a change of leadership. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
