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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Cuban soccer players vanish day before match
TORONTO -- The search continued Saturday for three players from the Cuban men's soccer team after they disappeared just before a World Cup qualifying match against Canada.
A spokesman for FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, confirmed in an email that the players defected Thursday, one day before the scheduled game in Toronto. The FIFA official would not release further details.
The defecting players left Cuban coach Alexander Gonzalez with only 11 on his team for the match. He said the missing fourth player fell ill and wasn't able to make it to the game.
A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection would not confirm reports the players tried to cross into the United States at the Niagara Falls border point Thursday.
Murray takes out Federer
SHANGHAI, China -- Two-time defending champion Andy Murray beat Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 in the Shanghai Masters on Saturday, setting up a rematch of the U.S. Open final against Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic reached his 10th final of the season when he beat fourth-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-4 in the first semi.
Sinclair suspended, fined
OTTAWA -- Canadian women's soccer star Christine Sinclair was handed a four-game suspension Friday for her actions after a dramatic semifinal loss to the United States at the London Olympics.
The findings of a FIFA disciplinary committee panel were released by the Canadian Soccer Association, which said the discipline was for "displaying unsporting behaviour towards match officials." Sinclair was also fined an undisclosed amount.
The veteran captain from Burnaby, B.C., had all three goals for Canada that day at Old Trafford. Canada had the lead until the Americans pulled even late in the second half and prevented a big upset by adding the winner in extra time.
The Canadians were left feeling robbed in a loss they believed was decided by the officials.
"We feel like we didn't lose; we feel like it was taken from us," Sinclair said moments after the final whistle. "It's a shame in a game like that that was so important, the ref decided the result before it started."
The United States would go on to win the gold medal while Canada took the bronze. The CSA said it has contacted FIFA to request the reasons for the judgment.
-- from the news services
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 14, 2012 B16
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