Latest news with #Yugoslavian
Leader Live
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham legend Smallman can tell you all about Melbourne!
The former Wrexham striker, whose goals famously took Wrexham to the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1974, emigrated to Australia in 1982, and played for Melbourne-based Green Gully. The Reds kick off their Down Under tour against Melbourne Victory this morning in what should be a packed Marvel Stadium. And that's such a contrast to what it was like for goal-getter Smallman more than 40 years ago. 'It wasn't exactly coats for goalposts but it wasn't far off!' said Smallman, recalling his move from North Wales to Victoria. He convinced wife, Barbara, to make the big move and Australia was home for six years with his two children, David and Jennifer, both born in Melbourne. 'It was my uncle who first gave me the idea,' added Smallman, whose return to Wrexham on a two-year contract was ruined by another freak injury that dogged his career. 'He'd gone out to Melbourne on a £10-assisted package. He was an engineer and went on to become head mechanic at Qantas.' Smallman's top flight days at Everton, who paid Wrexham £76,000 for the Flintshire-born striker in 1975, had been thwarted by injury. 'I was at Everton for five years and I was injured for four years and three months of that time,' said Smallman. 'Arfon Griffiths wanted to sign me back and I was playing in the reserves. We had a game at Port Vale one Saturday morning and I'd tried to put the goalkeeper off by standing in front of him - like you used to be able to do - when he took a kick out of his hands. 'I turned round and he belted the ball right into my back. It almost ballooned back over him and went just over the bar. 'I carried on playing but my back was really hurting - it turned out I'd broken a rib. 'So the Wrexham return didn't come off so Charles Roberts - the former Wrexham director - was chairman at Bangor City and invited me to play there where Graham Whittle and Peter Williams were playing. 'It was alright but then the Australia opportunity came up and I ended up playing for a team called Green Gully. 'They were a Maltese team - and that's what it was like over there at the time. You had Yugoslavian teams, there was an Italian team called Juventus and another Maltese side called Green Cross. They were bitter rivals and it always kicked off against them!' Smallman's injury jinx struck again and an ankle ligament injury ruled him out for the first five weeks. 'It was unbelievable and obviously they weren't impressed,' added Smallman, now aged 72 and living in Minera. 'When I returned I went in for a diving header; the keeper caught me with his shin and I had 26 stitches in my lip with my nostril hanging off!' There was no national league in Australia back in the Eighties but there was success for Green Gully in the Victoria State League. 'We won the league and in my last season there, I was player-manager,' said Smallman. 'We won the treble and I scored a last minute goal in the final game of the season to win the league. 'The highlight was playing a cup final in front of 25,000 at the Olympic Stadium. We beat a German team called Heidelberg and I scored twice and set up the other three in a 5-0 win. 'Obviously I was working out there as well as playing - we'd get about 50 dollars a game - and ended up at Monsanto - the same group that had a factory in Acrefair - but my days ended at Green Gully when Jimmy Rooney, who'd play 100 times for Australia, came in as manager. 'We didn't get on and I played for a Greek team called Western Suburbs and then for the team where I lived in Melton. ' I remember my mum and dad coming out while I was playing and it was great for my dad to see me score in one of the games.' But by 1988 and after Smallman had come back home after having a beer following training, the conversation turned to: 'Do you want to go home?' And that's exactly what the Smallman family did as they boomeranged back for a new adventure back home in north Wales. Smallman did play a few games for Colwyn Bay but at 36, he knew it was time to finally hang up those boots!
San Francisco Chronicle
26-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Brazil agrees to compensate family of journalist killed during dictatorship 50 years ago
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's government on Thursday signed a landmark agreement accepting responsibility for the killing of Vladimir Herzog, a prominent journalist and political prisoner whom the military dictatorship falsely claimed had killed himself while in custody 50 years ago. Herzog's family celebrated the official admission of liability, which involved the government agreeing to pay them compensation. 'This apology is not merely symbolic,' the journalist's son, Ivo Herzog, said from the Vladimir Herzog Institute in Sao Paulo, an organization dedicated to preserving his memory. 'It is an act by the state that makes us believe the current Brazilian state doesn't think like the Brazilian state of that time.' Under the settlement, the government will pay nearly 3 million Brazilian reais (about $544,800) to the Herzog family as compensation for moral damages. The agreement also includes retroactive payments of a monthly pension to Herzog's widow, Clarice Herzog, from a prior court order. Along with Rubens Paiva — whose story was portrayed in the 2025 Oscar-winning picture 'I'm Still Here'— Herzog's case became a national symbol of the fight to bring justice to the victims of the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985. Official estimates put the number of dead and missing during the regime at 434. Herzog, commonly known by his nickname Vlado, was a Jewish journalist born in 1937 in Osijek, a Yugoslavian city that is now part of Croatia. His family escaped the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia in 1941 and settled in Brazil. Herzog was the news director of a São Paulo television station — the state-run TV Cultura — when, in October 1975, intelligence agents summoned him for questioning on suspicion that he had ties to the outlawed Communist Party. Herzog, who had denied any connection to the Communist Party, walked into the Sao Paulo intelligence headquarters to testify and never came out. At the time, the Brazilian military claimed he had hanged himself in his cell with a belt. The government released a public photo of his body, which was later proven to have been staged. Jorge Messias, Brazil's federal legal counselor, praised the agreement Thursday as representative of Brazil's commitment to democracy. 'Today, we are witnessing something unprecedented: The Brazilian state formally honoring the memory of Vladimir Herzog," he said. Messias said the agreement held particular significance in this moment of tumult for Brazil's democracy. Military officers accused of plotting a coup to keep former president Jair Bolsonaro in power despite his failure to win re-election in 2022 are standing trial in a historic case before the Supreme Court, 'In the 2022 election, we stood at a crossroads: Either to reaffirm democracy or move toward the closure of the Brazilian state, with all the horrors we lived through for 21 years,' Messias said. Ivo Herzog said the settlement closes a painful chapter in his family's decades-long fight for justice. In 1978, a court ruling issued while Brazil was still under dictatorship ordered an investigation into the circumstances of his father's death. In 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights found Brazil guilty of crimes against humanity for Herzog's killing and prevented the case from expiring under the statute of limitations. The ruling also required the state to acknowledge and formally apologize for the crime but it didn't at the time. 'This has been a struggle not only of the Herzog family, but of all the families of the murdered and disappeared,' Ivo Herzog said. ____
26-06-2025
- Politics
Brazil agrees to compensate family of journalist killed during dictatorship 50 years ago
SAO PAULO -- Brazil's government on Thursday signed a landmark agreement accepting responsibility for the killing of Vladimir Herzog, a prominent journalist and political prisoner whom the military dictatorship falsely claimed had killed himself while in custody 50 years ago. Herzog's family celebrated the official admission of liability, which involved the government agreeing to pay them compensation. 'This apology is not merely symbolic,' the journalist's son, Ivo Herzog, said from the Vladimir Herzog Institute in Sao Paulo, an organization dedicated to preserving his memory. 'It is an act by the state that makes us believe the current Brazilian state doesn't think like the Brazilian state of that time.' Under the settlement, the government will pay nearly 3 million Brazilian reais (about $544,800) to the Herzog family as compensation for moral damages. The agreement also includes retroactive payments of a monthly pension to Herzog's widow, Clarice Herzog, from a prior court order. Along with Rubens Paiva — whose story was portrayed in the 2025 Oscar-winning picture 'I'm Still Here'— Herzog's case became a national symbol of the fight to bring justice to the victims of the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985. Official estimates put the number of dead and missing during the regime at 434. Herzog, commonly known by his nickname Vlado, was a Jewish journalist born in 1937 in Osijek, a Yugoslavian city that is now part of Croatia. His family escaped the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia in 1941 and settled in Brazil. Herzog was the news director of a São Paulo television station — the state-run TV Cultura — when, in October 1975, intelligence agents summoned him for questioning on suspicion that he had ties to the outlawed Communist Party. Herzog, who had denied any connection to the Communist Party, walked into the Sao Paulo intelligence headquarters to testify and never came out. At the time, the Brazilian military claimed he had hanged himself in his cell with a belt. The government released a public photo of his body, which was later proven to have been staged. Jorge Messias, Brazil's federal legal counselor, praised the agreement Thursday as representative of Brazil's commitment to democracy. 'Today, we are witnessing something unprecedented: The Brazilian state formally honoring the memory of Vladimir Herzog," he said. Messias said the agreement held particular significance in this moment of tumult for Brazil's democracy. Military officers accused of plotting a coup to keep former president Jair Bolsonaro in power despite his failure to win re-election in 2022 are standing trial in a historic case before the Supreme Court, 'In the 2022 election, we stood at a crossroads: Either to reaffirm democracy or move toward the closure of the Brazilian state, with all the horrors we lived through for 21 years,' Messias said. Ivo Herzog said the settlement closes a painful chapter in his family's decades-long fight for justice. In 1978, a court ruling issued while Brazil was still under dictatorship ordered an investigation into the circumstances of his father's death. In 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights found Brazil guilty of crimes against humanity for Herzog's killing and prevented the case from expiring under the statute of limitations. The ruling also required the state to acknowledge and formally apologize for the crime but it didn't at the time. 'This has been a struggle not only of the Herzog family, but of all the families of the murdered and disappeared,' Ivo Herzog said.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Brazil agrees to compensate family of journalist killed during dictatorship 50 years ago
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's government on Thursday signed a landmark agreement accepting responsibility for the killing of Vladimir Herzog, a prominent journalist and political prisoner whom the military dictatorship falsely claimed had killed himself while in custody 50 years ago. Herzog's family celebrated the official admission of liability, which involved the government agreeing to pay them compensation. 'This apology is not merely symbolic,' the journalist's son, Ivo Herzog, said from the Vladimir Herzog Institute in Sao Paulo, an organization dedicated to preserving his memory. 'It is an act by the state that makes us believe the current Brazilian state doesn't think like the Brazilian state of that time.' Under the settlement, the government will pay nearly 3 million Brazilian reais (about $544,800) to the Herzog family as compensation for moral damages. The agreement also includes retroactive payments of a monthly pension to Herzog's widow, Clarice Herzog, from a prior court order. Along with Rubens Paiva — whose story was portrayed in the 2025 Oscar-winning picture 'I'm Still Here'— Herzog's case became a national symbol of the fight to bring justice to the victims of the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985. Official estimates put the number of dead and missing during the regime at 434. Herzog, commonly known by his nickname Vlado, was a Jewish journalist born in 1937 in Osijek, a Yugoslavian city that is now part of Croatia. His family escaped the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia in 1941 and settled in Brazil. Herzog was the news director of a São Paulo television station — the state-run TV Cultura — when, in October 1975, intelligence agents summoned him for questioning on suspicion that he had ties to the outlawed Communist Party. Herzog, who had denied any connection to the Communist Party, walked into the Sao Paulo intelligence headquarters to testify and never came out. At the time, the Brazilian military claimed he had hanged himself in his cell with a belt. The government released a public photo of his body, which was later proven to have been staged. Jorge Messias, Brazil's federal legal counselor, praised the agreement Thursday as representative of Brazil's commitment to democracy. 'Today, we are witnessing something unprecedented: The Brazilian state formally honoring the memory of Vladimir Herzog,' he said. Messias said the agreement held particular significance in this moment of tumult for Brazil's democracy. Military officers accused of plotting a coup to keep former president Jair Bolsonaro in power despite his failure to win re-election in 2022 are standing trial in a historic case before the Supreme Court, 'In the 2022 election, we stood at a crossroads: Either to reaffirm democracy or move toward the closure of the Brazilian state, with all the horrors we lived through for 21 years,' Messias said. Ivo Herzog said the settlement closes a painful chapter in his family's decades-long fight for justice. In 1978, a court ruling issued while Brazil was still under dictatorship ordered an investigation into the circumstances of his father's death. In 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights found Brazil guilty of crimes against humanity for Herzog's killing and prevented the case from expiring under the statute of limitations. The ruling also required the state to acknowledge and formally apologize for the crime but it didn't at the time. 'This has been a struggle not only of the Herzog family, but of all the families of the murdered and disappeared,' Ivo Herzog said. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Daily Mirror
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Wimbledon boycott - Controversial call that saw 81 players snub 1973 tournament
The main draw at Wimbledon in 1973 looked a lot different to usual as 81 players - including Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe - boycotted over a Davis Cup decision that split the sport Wimbledon is perhaps the centre of the tennis calendar, but 52 years ago in 1973 the sport's biggest names boycotted the All England Club. Eighty one elite stars including defending champion Stan Smith all said no over a dispute that centred on a player being banned from the Davis Cup. As well as Smith, Rod Laver - arguably the greatest player in history - and Arthur Ashe - after whom the US Open's main court is named after - also bypassed Wimbledon. The build-up to the tournament was dominated by the 'will they, won't they' saga, but those in charge never believed for one second that the sport's leading lights would miss out on Wimbledon - they were wrong. Tennis was still divided by the fact some players had turned professional five years earlier, whilst some remain amateur. The recently formed players' union, the ATP, threatened to boycott Wimbledon when Yugoslavian player Nikki Pilic was banned by his country's tennis federation for refusing to play in a Davis Cup match. Not only did he get a ban from his own federation, run by his own uncle, but the International Lawn Tennis Federation (now the ITF) banned him for six weeks, knowing full well it would take him right into the middle of Wimbledon. The ATP were ready to back one of their own players in Pilic. Their board, comprising Smith, Ashe and fellow American player Jim McManus, Britons Mark Cox and John Barrett, chief executive Jack Kramer and president Cliff Drysdale met in a Mayfair hotel to vote on whether to boycott. This was the day before the Wimbledon draw was due to be made. Cox and Barrett stayed loyal to Wimbledon and Smith voted not to boycott but Ashe, McManus and Kramer voted for. Drysdale therefore had the casting vote and he abstained. But by abstaining it meant the vote remained deadlocked 3-3 and, under ATP rules, the motion had to be carried. The decision to boycott was relaid to Captain Mike Gibson, who had just done the draw but had to rip it up because 81 players had backed out of playing at Wimbledon. The tournament had to quickly put together a new field which was filled up mainly of Europeans, whose federations did not allow them to be ATP members. A number of young players would also feature with the draw now including a 17-year-old Bjorn Borg, who would win Wimbledon five times. Three ATP members broke ranks - British number one Roger Taylor among them. Romanian Ilie Nastase, who would go on to win two Grand Slams and remains a divisive figure, also played. As did Australian Ray Kelbie, because he said he could not afford not to play. Taylor found himself between a rock and a hard place. His father was a union man and urged him not to play, but there was a huge media pressure to turn up at his home event. He played, but it made him hugely unpopular in the dressing rooms afterwards. The winner of the 1973 Wimbledon of course goes down in the history books. His name is there champions' wall inside Centre Court with Czech Jan Kodes the man to emerge triumphant, beating Russia 's Alex Metreveli in three sets for the title.
