Digest

SOCCER

Four players dead in Brazilian plane crash

Four players and the president of Brazilian soccer club Palmas died on Sunday after their plane crashed ahead of a local cup match.

Club president Lucas Meira and players Lucas Praxedes, Guilherme Noe, Ranule and Marcus Molinari died when the plane plummeted to the ground shortly after takeoff at the Tocantinense airfield, near the northern city of Palmas, the club said in a statement. The pilot, identified only as Wagner, was also killed.

"The plane took off and crashed at the end of the runway at the Tocantinense Aviation Association. We regret to report there are no survivors," the statement said.

The plane was en route to the central city of Goiania, around 800 kilometers away, for a Copa Verde match against Vila Nova on Monday.

Local media reported that the victims had traveled separately from the main squad because they were completing the last day of mandatory isolation, having previously tested positive for COVID-19.

Founded in 1997, Palmas Futebol e Regatas plays in Brazil's Serie D.

Dalian Pro linked with ex-Barca boss Setien

Chinese Super League side Dalian Pro is eager to appoint former Barcelona boss Quique Setien as its new head coach, according to reports in Spain.

Dalian is looking for a new coach after previous incumbent Rafa Benitez announced his departure from the club on Sunday after 18 months in charge.

"It looks like (Benitez) will be replaced by a Spaniard, since Quique Setien is being lined up as the potential replacement. The former Barcelona coach has been considered by various clubs in the Asian league and is in advanced talks with Dalian Pro," said Spanish news outlet Marca.

Former Liverpool boss Benitez, 60, left Dalian with one year remaining on his contract with the club, which finished 12th in the 16-team Chinese Super League last season.

Benitez wrote on his personal website: "Unfortunately, like so many things in the last year, COVID-19 has changed our lives and our projects. From today, both my coaching staff and I will sadly no longer be coaching Dalian Professional FC."

"I say goodbye sadly under these circumstances, but at the same time I am convinced that the future will be bright for Dalian Pro."

OLYMPICS

Champion calls for Games to go ahead

Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi has spoken out strongly in favor of going ahead with the Tokyo Games, nearly a year after she led calls to postpone the event over the coronavirus pandemic.

Stefanidi, of Greece, told Japan's Kyodo News agency that it would be better to hold the Olympics without fans than not at all, adding that she thought athletes were overwhelmingly in favor of competing.

A surge in coronavirus cases around the world has renewed doubts over the postponed 2020 Olympics, which are scheduled to start in July. With Tokyo under a state of emergency, polls indicate plunging support in Japan.

"I think if we have to have the Olympics without spectators, I would prefer that than not having the Games at all," Stefanidi, who is a member of World Athletics' Athletes' Commission, was quoted as saying.

Stefanidi had voiced concerns for athletes' safety before the International Olympic Committee took the unprecedented decision to postpone the Games last March.

SAILING

Former coach arrested in sexual abuse case

A Greek former sailing coach was arrested on charges of sexual abuse of a junior athlete in the period 2010-2013, Greek police announced on Sunday.

An Athens prosecutor issued the arrest warrant against the alleged perpetrator after receiving testimonies from the now 21-year-old female athlete and her family, Greek daily Proto Thema reported. The report added that the man was arrested on Samos island where he currently resides.

A few hours earlier he had given an interview to the same newspaper, revealing his identity and claiming that it was not a case of rape, but "consensual sex" with the underage girl.

Triantafyllos Apostolou, 38, claimed that the girl was not 11, but 13 at the time the "relationship "started with the "blessing" of her mother. He intended to marry the girl at 16, he said.

Xinhua - Agencies