While Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini reacted with horror to being bitten by Uruguay striker Luis Suarez in their World Cup match on Tuesday a handful of gamblers in Scandinavia were celebrating as their unlikely bet came up trumps.
Bookmaker Betsafe had been offering odds of 175/1 that the Uruguayan, twice banned for biting, would sink his teeth into an opponent during the World Cup in Brazil.
Sure enough, over 100 gamblers decided that it was worth a punt.
One winner, Jonathan Braeck from Stenungssund in Sweden, bet 80 Swedish crowns ($12.04) that Suarez would bite, and the 23-year-old substitute teacher is now set for a payout of 14,000 crowns for his wager.
Chile FA fined after fans storm Maracana
Chile’s national football federation (ANFP) has been fined by FIFA after a group of ticketless Chilean fans forced their way into the Maracana Stadium’s media centre last week in a desperate effort to watch their team play Spain in a World Cup Group B match.
The ANFP did not give details of the fine but said it would be sanctioned far more harshly if Chilean fans are involved in any other incidents.
Another investigation is ongoing after fireworks were set off during Chile’s 3-1 victory over Australia in their opening Group B game.
Thereau seals his move to Udinese
Udinese have signed French striker Cyril Thereau from Chievo, the Friuli outfit confirmed yesterday.
The 31-year-old, who had two years left on his previous deal with the Verona outfit, has put pen to paper on a contract that will keep him at Udinese until July 2018.
A statement from Udinese read: “Udinese Calcio announces it has acquired the sporting rights of French striker Cyril Thereau from Chievo.”
Thereau, who had been a target of Atalanta and Torino, is Udinese’s first signing since the club appointed Andrea Stramac-cioni as coach earlier this month.
Zidane to coach Real Madrid B team
Zinedine Zidane has taken his first steps into management, taking charge of Real Madrid Castilla as of next season.
The former Real Madrid midfielder spent last season as one of Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant coaches and proved to be a lucky charm, as the club lifted the Champions League for the first time since 2002, when the Frenchman’s sensational volley against Bayer Leverkusen delivered the trophy.
Now he has been given the reins of Real’s reserve team, who last season were relegated to Spain’s third division.
Mondragon hails coach Pekerman
Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon hailed coach Jose Pekerman after he made history as the oldest man to ever play in the World Cup finals.
The veteran stopper, who turned 43 on Sunday, came on for the last five minutes of his side’s 4-1 win over Japan as Colombia finished Group C in top spot.
It meant Mondragon eclipsed the record held by Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who was 42 at the 1994 finals in the United States.
“Jose Pekerman convinced me to continue playing,” Mondragon told Sportal.
“I will never forget that. If it wasn’t for him, I would have retired two years ago. I feel privileged to be here, it was my best birthday ever.”
Hodgson grateful for fans’ support
England headed back home on Tuesday night having been given a standing ovation they did not deserve, according to manager Roy Hodgson.
They may have ended the tournament with their worst World Cup points total in history, but there was no scorn from the travelling fans in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday evening following the 0-0 draw against Costa Rica.
Hodgson was thankful they did so particularly as, in his view, the squad did not deserve it.
“We are very grateful for the emotional moment at the end where they showed their support,” said Hodgson.
“We are so sad and disappointed for them because we know what they’re going through.”
Lamouchi quits as Ivory Coast boss
Sabri Lamouchi has resigned as Ivory Coast coach following the 2-1 defeat by Greece which saw his side knocked out of the World Cup.
Georgios Samaras struck an injury-time penalty as Greece snatched a place in the World Cup last-16 with a dramatic win over the African side. Following the result, Lamouchi announced his decision to step down.
The 42-year-old Frenchman said: “My contract comes to an end at this World Cup and there will be no epilogue and you can understand well as to why.
“It is logical as we did not do well at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations or at the World Cup finals.”