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Rampaging Chile World Cup fans bust into Rio venue

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN WADE
Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Nearly 100 rampaging Chilean fans broke through a security checkpoint at the Maracana stadium on Wednesday, rushing through a large media room and breaking down walls as they tried to force their way into the sold-out Spain vs. Chile match at the World Cup.

The red-shirted supporters, mostly young men, surged through the media center underneath the stands, shouting and shoving their way past journalists and TV crews toward a corridor they apparently thought would lead to the grandstands.

To get to the corridor, the fans broke down a temporary wall in a corner of the room, sending metal lockers crashing to the ground, according to Associated Press journalists. They then rushed back down the corridor in the other direction, smashing other parts of the same wall down onto media work tables and television screens.

Security at the Maracana — where the World Cup final will be held July 13 — were slow to react to the mass break-in less than an hour before kickoff. They eventually contained the fans in a section of the corridor around 15 minutes after they first forced their way in.

The Rio de Janeiro state security secretariat, which oversees security forces, said in a statement that 85 fans were detained. FIFA said it was at least 85. Some were marched away in a line by security officials, their arms resting on the shoulders of the people in front of them.

An official with the Rio security secretariat said that the detained fans would spend the night in jail — and then likely be notified by Brazil’s Federal Police, who enforce immigration laws, that they must leave the country within three days.

The official spoke on condition his name not be used, as he wasn’t allowed to discuss the issue with the media.

Outside the stadium after the rampage, riot police armed with stun guns forced dozens of the detained fans to walk single-file toward a holding area. There, the Chile supporters chanted and loudly complained about scalpers charging $1,000 a ticket for the game. “I traveled thousands of kilometers to get here!” one fan yelled, while others chanted “FIFA is a mafia! FIFA is a mafia!”

Asked how many guards should have been watching the entry where the Chileans broke through, security guard Diego Goncalves said “about 20.”

“I was the lone guy standing out there,” near the entry to press center, Goncalves said. “All of a sudden they knocked down the fence and just pushed their way through.”

In a joint statement, FIFA and Brazil World Cup organizers said they “condemn these acts of violence.”

“Ahead of the Spain versus Chile match at the Maracana a group of individuals without tickets violently forced entry into the stadium, breaking fences and overrunning security,” FIFA and Brazil’s organizing committee said. “They were contained by the security and did not make it to the seats.”

But the fans came extremely close to racing down a corridor that leads onto the field. They apparently didn’t know how close they were and surged back toward the media room, chased now by security staff in bright orange vests.

The guards eventually gained control of the situation, waving their hands frantically, restraining some supporters and ordering them to sit down in a large group before leading them away. Many fans covered their face with scarves showing Chile’s logo as they were photographed and filmed by journalists.

After the fans broke in, security was beefed up, with long lines of heavily armed military police standing watch as thousands of fans lined up to get inside the 74,000-seat stadium. Chile later won 2-0 to eliminate defending champion Spain from the World Cup.

The Rio de Janeiro state security secretariat said that because of the “aggressive and orchestrated” behavior of the Chile fans, FIFA asked police for help in controlling the situation and detaining the fans. An investigation is underway.

___

AP Sports Writer Gerald Imray and writer Bradley Brooks contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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