One day to go

Photographer held at gunpoint

A WORLD Cup photographer was held at gunpoint yesterday during a pre-dawn burglary at a lodge used by journalists covering Portugal and Spain, raising concerns about security in the host country.

The two robbers brandishing at least one handgun made their way undetected through two rooms where journalists were sleeping before rousing a Portuguese photographer in a third room, police and victims said.

Antonio Simoes, the photographer, was awakened by the burglars and held at gunpoint for a few minutes while they made off with his camera, cash and credit cards.

The thieves, still at large, also made off with laptops, mobile phones, and cash from the other victims.

Several photographers covering the World Cup have also reported equipment being stolen from their baggage upon arrival at OR Tambo Airport, the main gateway to Johannesburg.

African nations given reprieve

PLAYERS sent off in the African Nations Cup earlier this year will not be banned from playing in the World Cup after an amnesty from their confederation, endorsed by world governing body Fifa.

Emmanuel Eboue of the Ivory Coast, Faouzi Chaouchi and Nadir Belhadj of Algeria and Aurelien Chedjou of Cameroon were among those red carded in the tournament and faced the prospect of missing matches in the World Cup.

A Fifa spokesman explained the amnesty was approved by Fifa as CAF, the African confederation, was the only one to stage a competitive tournament after the end of the World Cup qualifiers last November.

“It would not have been fair to punish players from CAF as no other confederation has played competitive games since the end of the qualifiers,” he said.

The only players suspended at the start of the World Cup are New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss, who is banned from the All Whites first two Group F games against Slovakia and Italy, and North Korean midfielder Kim Yong-jun, who is suspended for their opening Group G match against Brazil. They were both sent off in the qualifiers.

Police catching up with hooligans SOUTH African police caught another Argentine soccer hooligan trying to sneak into country yesterday, bringing to 11 the number of known Argentine agitators on a no-entry blacklist to be deported.

The man was refused entry after arriving on a flight from Sao Paulo.

On Sunday, police arrested 10 known members of the “Barrabravas” gang who were on the blacklist for the tournament.

Injury watch . . .

MIDFIELDER Andres Iniesta is a doubt for Spain’s opener next Wednesday against Switzerland after a scan on his right thigh . . . United States striker Jozy Altidore (ankle) has won his battle to be fit to face England in Saturday’s Group C encounter in Rustenburg . . . There was good news for Australia, with midfielder Tim Cahill expected to be over a neck strain for their Group D game on Sunday against Germany . . . Manager Dunga is confident goalkeeper Julio Cesar will be fit in time for Brazil’s World Cup opener with North Korea, he sustained a lumbar strain during last Wednesday’s warm-up triumph over Zimbabwe . . . New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen sat out the warm-up against Chile yesterday, which they lost 2-0, with an ear infection but was expected to be ready for their first Group F game against Slovakia on Tuesday. Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is anxiously awaiting news from his medical staff on the condition of Alexander Frei after the captain limped out of the team’s final training session in Zurich yesterday