STRASBOURG, France: A damaged Ferrari once belonging to Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is to be sold on eBay, after its new owner came to an agreement with the Internet auction site, the vendor’s lawyer said yesterday.
Renaud Bettcher said he and his client -- a garage owner from the eastern city of Strasbourg -- were “very satisfied” that they had finally been given the go-ahead to sell the car, after eBay asked for proof of its provenance.
The site would also pay undisclosed damages to the dealership, the lawyer added. According to the Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace newspaper, the figure could be as much as 20,000 euros ($26,000).
Ronaldo crashed the 250,000-euro sports car into a barrier near Manchester airport in 2009, a week before the then-Manchester United striker was awarded the 2008 Ballon d’Or as world player of the year. REUTERS
FIFA allays concerns over Maracana
RIO DE JANEIRO: Rio’s emblematic Maracana stadium will be ready for June’s Confederations Cup in Brazil, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said yesterday, despite concerns over flooding and delays in reconstruction work.
The famous old stadium in Rio de Janeiro that hosted the final match of the 1950 World Cup has been undergoing a makeover since December 2012.
But Valcke took to his Twitter account to allay concerns.
“Delighted that Rio’s governor, (Sergio) Cabral, reconfirmed in our meeting that the Maracana will be opened on April 27, 2013,” he wrote on @jeromevalcke.
The Brazilian government claims that 87 percent of the rebuilding work has been completed. REUTERS
