Soccer Tensions High in US, Europe

AS IT IS 2016-06-16 Soccer Tensions High in US, Europe

The European soccer competition involving 24 teams started last week, but the fighting off the field has received a lot of attention.

People are talking about the fights between fans from Russia and England in the French city of Marseille on Saturday.

The two teams finished the game tied, 1-1, but more than 35 people were injured during fights in and around the soccer stadium.

French police are sending 29 Russians home as a result of the violence.

UEFA is the governing body for soccer in Europe. It fined the Russian team about $168,000. Tuesday, UEFA said the team will be disqualified if its fans do not behave.

Russian spokesman² Dmitry Peskov called the fighting “unacceptable.” He asked Russian fans to obey the laws of the host country and behave themselves while in France.

One Russian player said the team does not want to be removed. Russia will play Slovakia on Wednesday in the French city of Lille.

British police are also looking for fans who fought in France and will ban them from attending soccer games at home.

Close to Lille, officials are concerned about Thursday’s game between two British teams in the French city of Lens. England will play against Wales. Two thousand four hundred security officers will be on duty.

Other fans were fighting, too. In the city of Nice, seven people were hurt in fights between fans from Northern Ireland and local residents.

Two people were hurt in fights between fans from Germany and Ukraine.

The French minister of the interior³ called the fighting “unacceptable” and asked that sales of alcoholic⁴ beverages⁵ be banned leading up to games.

On the field, teams have completed one round of games. They are getting ready for the second round. Teams including France, Wales, Spain, Germany and Italy already have one win.

The game on Monday between Italy and Belgium was possibly the most exciting of the tournament so far. Belgium is the second-ranked team in the world according to FIFA. Italy is ranked 12th.

The Azzurri, as the Italian team is known, scored in the 32nd minute. The team scored again just before the final whistle for a 2-0 victory.

Copa America

There is another big soccer tournament taking place. The Copa America is being played in the United States for the first time. The tournament is traditionally played among the teams from countries in South America. This time, however, the tournament includes teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

The tournament is heading into the elimination⁶ phase. Colombia, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador and Venezuela all advanced to the next part of the tournament. The most surprising team may be Venezuela, which defeated both Jamaica and Uruguay and tied Mexico.

Brazil and Uruguay are the two notable⁷ teams that failed to advance to the elimination phase.

Brazil is the most famous soccer nation in the world. Uruguay had trouble scoring, playing without Luis Suarez, its star player. Suarez was with the team but could not enter any games because he did not heal from an injury.

In the most controversial game of the tournament, Peru defeated Brazil 1-0. It was the first win by Peru over Brazil in 30 years.

The goal came on a hand ball that referees⁸ did not see. A scoreless tie would have qualified¹ Brazil to continue, but instead, Peru will keep playing.

After seeing the goal, soccer fans are calling for referees to use video replays to confirm goals.

Words in This Story

hand ball – n. when a soccer player illegally uses his hand to direct the ball into the goal

controversial – adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument : likely to produce controversy⁹

elimination – n. the act of removing something

phase – n. a part or step in a process : one part in a series of related events or actions

host – n. a person or group who is holding an event or entertaining guests

advance – v. to move forward

1 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

2 spokesman   

n.发言人，代言人

参考例句：

• The government spokesman gave a quick briefing to the reporters.政府发言人向记者们作了情况简介。
• They drew lots to decide who should be their spokesman.他们抽签决定谁是他们的发言人。

3 interior   

adj.在内的，内部的，内地的，国内的；n.内部

参考例句：

• There is water in the interior of the cave.在山洞的内部有水。
• They went into the interior room.他们进了内室。

4 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

5 beverages   

n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 控制酒类销售的法规
• regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 含酒精饮料的销售管理条例

6 elimination   

n.排除，消除，消灭

参考例句：

• Their elimination from the competition was a great surprise.他们在比赛中遭到淘汰是个很大的意外。
• I was eliminated from the 400 metres in the semi-finals.我在400米半决赛中被淘汰。

7 notable   

adj.值得注意的，著名的；n.名人，要人

参考例句：

• His achievement is very notable.他的成就是非常显著的。
• He wrote and published the essay under notable's name.他假托名人写文章发表。

8 referees   

n.裁判员( referee的名词复数 )；证明人；公断人；（专业性强的文章的）审阅人

参考例句：

• The fiery player has had numerous run-ins with referees. 这位脾气暴躁的队员曾和裁判员发生过无数次争吵。
• If you want to appeal, the Court of Referees will decide. 如果你要上诉，可以由仲裁法庭去判决。 来自辞典例句

9 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。