FIFA World Cup: Spirited Switzerland hold Brazil
Rostov (Russia), June 18 : Switzerland came up with a gritty, fighting performance to hold title contenders Brazil 1-1 in a Group E match of the FIFA World Cup here on Sunday.
Philippe Coutinho handed Brazil the lead with an in-swinging, dipping free-kick in the 20th minute.
Switzerland made a strong comeback after the break with Steven Zuber exploit ing some loose marking to head in the equaliser off a corner in the 50th minute.
Switzerland are now second in the group with one point. Serbia are at the top of the group with three points thanks to their victory over Costa Rica earlier in the day.
The goal seemed to rejuvenate the Europeans and they put the five-time world champions on to the back foot with some excellent attacking play.
The South Americans gradually regained their attacking rhythm but were repeatedly let down by the poor quality of their final pass. The Swiss defence was extremely well organised and allowed very little space to the Brazil forwards.
But the Swiss defenders were guilty of committing numerous cynical fouls on Brazil's star forward Neymar throughout the game.
Brazil's attacking talisman, who struggled to recover from a foot injury before the tournament, did his level best, but was left battered by repeated fouls.
The Swiss players tried everything -- pulling Neymar's jersey, body checks and even the good old boot to the leg -- to stop the Brazil star.
The rest of the Brazil forward line also struggled to penetrate the well organised Swiss defence.
Although they did create several half chances, Brazil were let down by poor finishing on those occasions.
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Mangaluru man released early from Saudi jail under National Day Amnesty
Mangaluru: A 66-year-old man from Mangaluru, Karnataka, who was serving a three-year jail sentence in Saudi Arabia, has been granted early release under the Kingdom’s National Day amnesty program. The man, identified as Ahmed Imran (name changed), worked as a driver in Jeddah before his arrest in September 2023.
Ahmed’s troubles began during a routine day at work when a neighborhood boy repeatedly harassed him while he was washing his employer’s car. Despite having previously complained to the boy's father about his behavior, no action was taken. Frustrated by the continued disturbances, Ahmed pushed the boy away. However, the boy reported the incident to his father, allegedly exaggerating the events.
The boy’s father lodged a police complaint, which led to Ahmed’s arrest. Following court proceedings, Ahmed was sentenced to three years in jail. Lacking the financial means to hire a defense lawyer, Ahmed was unable to appeal the judgment.
After his sentencing, Ahmed’s family and local leaders from Karnataka reached out for assistance. Dr. & Adv. P.A. Hameed Padubidri, a Riyadh-based pro bono lawyer and social worker originally from Udupi, took up the case. Dr. Hameed and his Saudi legal team worked to resolve the matter, including attempts to negotiate with the complainant. However, these efforts were unsuccessful.
As a final step, Dr. Hameed advised Ahmed’s family to submit a mercy petition to the authorities. Following consistent follow-ups, Ahmed’s case was included in Saudi Arabia's National Day amnesty program, which facilitates the early release of eligible inmates.
Ahmed was released within a year of his sentence, bringing relief to his family in India. Upon his return, he expressed gratitude to his employer in Jeddah and the individuals who assisted him during his ordeal, including Dr. Hameed, K.S. Nasir Asaigoli, a social worker from Mangaluru, and Azhar from Jeddah.
The National Day amnesty program, a regular initiative by Saudi Arabia, offers relief to many individuals, reflecting the Kingdom’s efforts to uphold principles of justice and clemency. Ahmed’s release highlights the importance of community support and legal intervention for expatriates facing challenges abroad.
