BRIEFS

• Pay dispute

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

World Cup organisers are meeting with stadium stewards and a security contractor to resolve a pay dispute that saw police use tear gas and fire rubber bullets at workers after the Germany-Australia match in Durban. The dispute flared at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban early yesterday, three hours after the match. Disgruntled stewards had tried to stay in the stadium to protest wage levels.

• 30 arrested

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP):

Witnesses say a Somali Islamic militia group has arrested 30 people, including a 15-year-old boy, for watching a World Cup match on television. The witnesses say the militiamen stormed two private homes Sunday night in the town of Afgoye, near the Somali capital, while the football fans watched the Germany-Australia game. The militiamen were members of the Hizbul Islam group.

Hizbul Islam, just like its ally, the al-Qaida linked al-Shabab group, has imposed a strict version of Islam in the areas they control in southern and central Somalia. For example, in April, Hizbul Islam banned Mogadishu-based radio stations from playing music, labelling it un-Islamic, in a move reminiscent of Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

• Zidane critical

KNYSNA, South Africa (AP):

Former France captain Zinedine Zidane says Raymond Domenech "is not a coach" and that "there is no teamwork" among the French players at the World Cup. France drew their opening group game 0-0 against Uruguay and Zidane saw little hope for improvement.

Speaking on Canal Plus television Sunday, Zidane said the players "must take responsibility for themselves" and "must put your ego to one side" if the team is to reach its potential.

• 'Stay on' Loew

ERASMIA, South Africa (AP):

Germany coach Joachim Loew has received strong endorsement from the country's football chief, who wants Loew to stay on after the World Cup regardless of how the team performs in South Africa. Loew's contract runs out after the World Cup and talks between him and football federation president Theo Zwanziger over an extension broke down unexpectedly in February because of financial disagreements and other issues.

• Grass blamed

POLOKWANE, South Africa (AP):

The coaches of Slovenia and Algeria have each blamed the lacklustre performances in the Group C match on the surface at Peter Mokaba Stadium, which hosted the first World Cup game to be played on artificial grass. The surface at the Polokwane venue is made up of natural grass and synthetic fibres.

Robert Koren scored with a 25-metre shot that Algeria goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi misjudged and allowed to bounce into the net off his arm in the 79th minute, giving Slovenia a 1-0 win on Sunday. Algeria coach Rabah Saadane says the conditions "put our goalkeeper off" although "the ball and the turf caused problems for both teams". Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek said "I don't agree with this turf ... it's a different game".

• Green should remain

RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AP):

England defender Jamie Carragher has backed Robert Green to remain in goal in Friday's World Cup match against Algeria despite his blunder against the United States. Green allowed Clint Dempsey's a 25-metre shot to bounce twice and go through his hands into the net on Saturday to gift the Americans an equaliser in a 1-1 draw in the Group C opener.

The 32-year-old Carragher said yesterday that "every player is under a lot of scrutiny when you make a mistake ... we've all been there".