Latest news with #Blatter
Japan Today
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Swiss village cashes in as tourists pay to visit dock featured in hit K-drama 'Crash Landing On You'
Korean visitors take pictures at the pier at Lake Brienz in Iseltwald, Switzerland. By JAMEY KEATEN A Swiss village has cashed in on a pay-for-entry turnstile used by avid tourists who flock each day to a lakeside dock featured in the hit South Korean Netflix series 'Crash Landing On You,' often to snap souvenir photos. Local leaders in Iseltwald and tourism officials insist the village's 406 inhabitants aren't getting rich off the influx of visitors, who pay 5 Swiss francs ($6.30) to access the dock. In 2024, entries brought in nearly 245,000 francs ($307,000), while a one-franc public pay toilet collected about 58,000 francs more, said village clerk Gabriela Blatter. Proceeds have gone mostly to garbage disposal, restroom cleaning, additional work hours and custodial staff hires, she said. Titia Weiland, manager of the Bönigen-Iseltwald Tourism agency, said the funds go right back to village upkeep: 'It's not correct to read it as 'the community gets rich',' alluding to some comments along those lines in the media and online. The village, situated along a small peninsula that juts out into Lake Brienz, features majestic views of Alpine peaks over the water. An episode in early 2020 of the cross-border Korean love story spotlighted the dock as a romantic getaway. That sparked online hype among fans of the series across Asia and beyond, which hasn't let up, fueling the rush of tourism to Iseltwald. The continued influx has exposed growing pains for the Swiss village, like those faced by other tourist hotspots that get too much of a good thing. Part of the problem is infrastructure: Iseltwald has three hotels and four restaurants, not enough for about 1,000 visitors who arrive by tour bus, public bus and car each day on average, according to Blatter. The village is revamping a parking lot to help cope with the strain, and the only village store now operates 7 days a week. Previously, it was open Monday to Friday. 'There were always tourists in Iseltwald. We are happy with them. The problem is that the tourists don't understand what's private and what's public," Blatter said, adding that some traipse through private yards and gardens. 'They go everywhere.' For months, fans of the series could visit the dock for free until the turnstile was put up in 2023 to help offset costs incurred by the local government. Not long ago, Weiland said, 'we were wishing for more tourists in Iseltwald: In some ways, we are thankful ... but it can be extreme.' Villagers who hosted the crews for on-site filming at the dock had no idea the series would become such a runaway success, she said. The village has a website devoted to the 'filming location" of the series that lists transportation options and entreats visitors to respect the dock, refrain from littering, and consider the 'quiet atmosphere of this authentic Swiss village' by keeping noise down and avoiding private property. 'Enjoy your stay in beautiful Iseltwald and take with you memories to your home country!' the site says. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
Village cashes in as tourists pay to visit dock featured in hit K-drama
GENEVA -- A Swiss village has cashed in on a pay-for-entry turnstile used by avid tourists who flock each day to a lakeside dock featured in the hit South Korean Netflix series 'Crash Landing On You,' often to snap souvenir photos. Local leaders in Iseltwald and tourism officials insist the village's 406 inhabitants aren't getting rich off the influx of visitors, who pay 5 Swiss francs ($6.30) to access the dock. In 2024, entries brought in nearly 245,000 francs ($307,000), while a one-franc public pay toilet collected about 58,000 francs more, said village clerk Gabriela Blatter. Proceeds have gone mostly to garbage disposal, restroom cleaning, additional work hours and custodial staff hires, she said. Titia Weiland, manager of the Bönigen-Iseltwald Tourism agency, said the funds go right back to village upkeep: 'It's not correct to read it as 'the community gets rich',' alluding to some comments along those lines in the media and online. The village, situated along a small peninsula that juts out into Lake Brienz, features majestic views of Alpine peaks over the water. An episode in early 2020 of the cross-border Korean love story spotlighted the dock as a romantic getaway. That sparked online hype among fans of the series across Asia and beyond, which hasn't let up, fueling the rush of tourism to Iseltwald. The continued influx has exposed growing pains for the Swiss village, like those faced by other tourist hotspots that get too much of a good thing. Part of the problem is infrastructure: Iseltwald has three hotels and four restaurants, not enough for about 1,000 visitors who arrive by tour bus, public bus and car each day on average, according to Blatter. The village is revamping a parking lot to help cope with the strain, and the only village store now operates 7 days a week. Previously, it was open Monday to Friday. 'There were always tourists in Iseltwald. We are happy with them. The problem is that the tourists don't understand what's private and what's public," Blatter said, adding that some traipse through private yards and gardens. 'They go everywhere.' For months, fans of the series could visit the dock for free until the turnstile was put up in 2023 to help offset costs incurred by the local government. Not long ago, Weiland said, 'we were wishing for more tourists in Iseltwald: In some ways, we are thankful ... but it can be extreme.' Villagers who hosted the crews for on-site filming at the dock had no idea the series would become such a runaway success, she said. The village has a website devoted to the 'filming location" of the series that lists transportation options and entreats visitors to respect the dock, refrain from littering, and consider the 'quiet atmosphere of this authentic Swiss village' by keeping noise down and avoiding private property. the site says.
Winnipeg Free Press
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Swiss village cashes in as visitors pay to visit dock featured in hit K-drama ‘Crash Landing On You'
GENEVA (AP) — A Swiss village has cashed in on a pay-for-entry turnstile used by avid tourists who flock each day to a lakeside dock featured in the hit South Korean Netflix series 'Crash Landing On You,' often to snap souvenir photos. Local leaders in Iseltwald and tourism officials insist the village's 406 inhabitants aren't getting rich off the influx of visitors, who pay 5 Swiss francs ($6.30) to access the dock. In 2024, entries brought in nearly 245,000 francs ($307,000), while a one-franc public pay toilet collected about 58,000 francs more, said village clerk Gabriela Blatter. Proceeds have gone mostly to garbage disposal, restroom cleaning, additional work hours and custodial staff hires, she said. Titia Weiland, manager of the Bönigen-Iseltwald Tourism agency, said the funds go right back to village upkeep: 'It's not correct to read it as 'the community gets rich',' alluding to some comments along those lines in the media and online. The village, situated along a small peninsula that juts out into Lake Brienz, features majestic views of Alpine peaks over the water. An episode in early 2020 of the cross-border Korean love story spotlighted the dock as a romantic getaway. That sparked online hype among fans of the series across Asia and beyond, which hasn't let up, fueling the rush of tourism to Iseltwald. The continued influx has exposed growing pains for the Swiss village, like those faced by other tourist hotspots that get too much of a good thing. Part of the problem is infrastructure: Iseltwald has three hotels and four restaurants, not enough for about 1,000 visitors who arrive by tour bus, public bus and car each day on average, according to Blatter. The village is revamping a parking lot to help cope with the strain, and the only village store now operates 7 days a week. Previously, it was open Monday to Friday. 'There were always tourists in Iseltwald. We are happy with them. The problem is that the tourists don't understand what's private and what's public,' Blatter said, adding that some traipse through private yards and gardens. 'They go everywhere.' For months, fans of the series could visit the dock for free until the turnstile was put up in 2023 to help offset costs incurred by the local government. Not long ago, Weiland said, 'we were wishing for more tourists in Iseltwald: In some ways, we are thankful … but it can be extreme.' Villagers who hosted the crews for on-site filming at the dock had no idea the series would become such a runaway success, she said. The village has a website devoted to the 'filming location' of the series that lists transportation options and entreats visitors to respect the dock, refrain from littering, and consider the 'quiet atmosphere of this authentic Swiss village' by keeping noise down and avoiding private property. 'Enjoy your stay in beautiful Iseltwald and take with you memories to your home country!' the site says.
New Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Terengganu FC clear the air over FIFA sanction
KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu FC have dismissed concerns over a FIFA-imposed transfer ban, insisting the matter was resolved last month. In a statement on their official Facebook page, the east coast club said the issue stemmed from a dispute with a former foreign staff member over a five-figure allowance, which has since been settled. "The issue shouldn't even be played up as it was resolved in April," the club said. "FIFA confirmed the settlement on April 21 and gave five days for the claimant to acknowledge receipt of payment. That window has passed." The club stressed that the Malaysian league's transfer window has not opened yet — it's expected to start in July — and that the new season is likely to kick off in early August. "We've already taken proactive steps, despite having ample time. This issue is being sensationalised," they added. Earlier, Timesport reported that FIFA had imposed transfer bans on nine Malaysian clubs, including Super League side Terengganu. The ban, which began in April and is due to last three years, had cast doubt over the club's preparations for the 2025-26 season. Football Dec 16, 2024 @ 7:48am Ex-Terengganu City players finally receive Fifa compensation Football 5 hours ago Nine Malaysian clubs on FIFA transfer ban list Football Mar 25, 2025 @ 8:26pm Blatter and Platini cleared in FIFA graft case Nation Apr 24, 2025 @ 10:21am Terengganu to ban vape sales from Aug 1
Dubai Eye
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Ex-FIFA chief Blatter and Platini cleared in corruption case
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and France football great Michel Platini were both cleared of corruption charges by a Swiss court on Tuesday, two and a half years after they were first acquitted of the offences. The pair, once among the most powerful figures in global football, were cleared of fraud at the Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court in the town of Muttenz, near Basel. The hearing came about after Swiss federal prosecutors appealed against their 2022 acquittal at a lower court. Both men had denied the charge which related to a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.26 million) payment Blatter authorised for Platini in 2011. The court said there were doubts about the prosecution's allegation the payment for Platini, a former captain and manager of the French national team, was fraudulent. The 2022 indictment had accused Blatter and Platini of deceiving FIFA staff in 2010 and 2011 about an obligation for world football's ruling body to pay Platini. "They falsely claimed that FIFA owed Platini, or that Platini was entitled to, the sum of 2 million Swiss francs for advisory work. This deception was achieved through repeated untruthful claims made by both accused parties," the indictment said. But the court cleared the pair, saying their account of an oral agreement for the payment could not be ruled out. Platini had argued that the payment had been partly deferred until 2011 because FIFA lacked the funds to pay him in full immediately. The court said the pair had both been consistent in their accounts of the payment, which covered consultancy work carried out by Platini for Blatter between 1998 and 2002. Platini's experience as a top footballer and coach, explained the size of the payment, said the court, which followed the legal principle that in cases of doubt, favour the accused. "It can not be assumed that the defendants acted with the intention of enriching themselves in the sense of the charged offences," the court said. The scandal, which emerged in 2015 when Platini was president of European football's ruling body UEFA, ended his hopes of succeeding Blatter, who was forced out of FIFA over the affair. Blatter and Platini were suspended from football in 2015 by FIFA for ethics breaches, originally for eight years, although their exclusions were later reduced. Platini said he was relieved the case was over, and he had received messages of support from 10,000 people. "The persecution of FIFA and some Swiss federal prosecutors for 10 years is now over," Platini told reporters. "It is now totally over. And for me, today, my honour has returned and I am very happy." The 69-year-old said he thought the case had been intended to prevent him becoming FIFA president, but he was now too old to return to football. The money, which had been confiscated and held by the Swiss authorities, can now be returned to him. A frail-looking Blatter hugged his daughter Corinne after the judgement and said he was relieved with the decision. "It is a great relief for me because it's been going on for ten years. It's like a sword of Damocles hanging over my head," he told reporters. "And now it's over and I can breathe," the 89-year-old said. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 20 months in jail, suspended for two years for both Blatter and Platini. The Swiss attorney general's office said it would review the written judgement, before deciding whether to appeal again to the Swiss Federal Court, the country's highest legal authority.
