MERCY. Senegal winger Khalilou Fadiga admitted shoplifting a $500 gold necklace from a Korean jewelry store, according to Nikkan Sports, which reported that the store owner asked police not to arrest
the player. Fadiga is scheduled to start in the opener against France. ''I want our players to have much more discipline,'' said Senegal coach Bruno Metsu. THWARTED. A 37-year-old
Englishman identified as hooligan was stopped at the Tokyo International Airport and sent home. He was carrying 175 tickets, mostly for the England-Argentina match, according to Asahi News. FINGER
FOOD. The popular ''Tokyo Sports Cafe'' has switched from glass to plastic beers cups and a menu that doesnÆt require knives or forks. As for manpower -- seven Australian security
guards have been hired, according to Sankei News. ... Although Tokyo is not a World Cup venue, 14,000 police are dedicated to World Cup security in the city. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. Spain's
players will reap the biggest bonuses should they lift the World Cup. TheyÆre promised $445,000 should they win it all. The French would receive $290,000 -- one third more than they got in 1998. ... A
patron not affiliated with the Russian federation is offering a $70,000 Porsche to the teamÆs ''man of the match'' for each game. ... Co-host South Korea, which has never won a World
Cup game, has promised its players $175,000 each for reaching the second round. ThatÆs the same amount Brazilian players will receive for winning their nationÆs fifth World Cup, according to Reuters.
A PRACTICE CROWD. Nearly 20,000 Japanese fans turned up at ItalyÆs first open training session since they arrived in Sendai. Italy took the J-LeagueÆs Vegalta Sendai in an 80-minute scrimmage.
