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"Obviously No…": Marsh Breaks Silence On 'Legs On WC Trophy' Controversy

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"There Was Obviously No...": Mitchell Marsh Finally Speaks Up On 'Legs On World Cup Trophy' Controversy

Mitchell Marsh has now finally broken his silence over the controversial gesture.© Instagram

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had become a topic of major controversy for putting with his feet on the World Cup trophy during his side’s post-match celebrations. Australia won a record-extending sixth World Cup title last month after beating hosts India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In a viral picture, Marsh was captured putting his his feet on the World Cup trophy as the team celebrated their victory. He was on the receiving end of some harsh criticism, with many even suggesting that Marsh had the trophy and the game by doing the same.

It’s been 12 days since Australia defeated India and Marsh has now finally broken his silence over the controversial gesture.

The 32-year-old has insisted he meant no disrespect for his viral celebration that caused a stir across India.

“There was obviously no disrespect meant in that photo at all. I haven’t given it too much thought, I haven’t seen a lot on social media even though everyone tells me it’s gone off. There is nothing in that,” Marsh told SEN.

Marsh amassed 441 runs in the tournament, but it was Travis Head who stole the limelight with his match-winning century in the final

However, India star batter Virat Kohli was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ having set a new record for most runs — 765 — at a single World Cup.

But Australia captain Pat Cummins had Kohli playing on for 54 in final, to leave India 148-4, a crowd of over 92,000 at the Narendra Modi Stadium fell into stunned silence.

Before the match, Cummins — who finished the final with superb figures of 2-34 in 10 overs — had said there was no better feeling for an opposition player than quieting a partisan home crowd.

Cummins, asked if dismissing Kohli was as sweet a moment as he had known in cricket, the 30-year-old replied: “I think so. We did take a second in the huddle just to acknowledge the silence that was going around the crowd.

“It just felt like it was one of those days where it was all made for him (Kohli) to score another hundred like he normally does — so that was satisfying.”

(With AFP inputs)

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Middle East

Spanish PM says Israel disdains humanitarian law

admin Dec 1, 2023 0

In an interview with Spanish state-owned broadcaster TVE on Thursday, Sanchez reiterated that Israel’s military action in the densely-populated strip is unacceptable.

“The footage we are seeing and the growing numbers of children dying, I have serious doubt [Israel] is complying with international humanitarian law,” he said. “What we are seeing in Gaza is not acceptable.”

Sanchez also said the European Union should recognize a Palestinian state since this would help end the conflict and “stabilize” the region, Press TV reported.

“It is obvious that we must find a political solution to put an end to this crisis and this solution requires, in my opinion, the recognition of the Palestinian state,” he said.

“It is in Europe’s interest to address this issue out of moral conviction because what we are seeing in Gaza is not acceptable”, and also for “a geopolitical objective — to stabilize a region”, he added.

When he was sworn in for a new term this month, Sanchez said his foreign policy priority would be to “work in Europe and in Spain to recognize the Palestinian state”.

If there is no consensus among the EU’s 27 member states, Sanchez has said Madrid does not rule out unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state.

A handful of smaller European countries have taken the step, mainly east European nations like Hungary, Poland and Romania that did so before they joined the EU.

Spain’s parliament voted in 2014 in favor of a resolution calling for recognition of Palestine as a state.

The vote was non-binding, however, and there has been no follow-up.

“The situation has changed,” Sanchez told TVE, adding that Arab nations did not understand the EU’s position.

“During all these years, we have seen how Israel systematically occupied Palestinian territory,” he added in a reference to Israeli settlement expansion.

Israel’s top diplomat said he was recalling the regime’s envoy to Madrid over what he called “outrageous remarks” by the Spanish prime minister questioning the legality of Israel’s military invasion of Gaza.

“Because of the outrageous remarks by the Spanish prime minister, who again repeated baseless claims, I have decided to summon the Israeli ambassador in Spain for consultations,” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The new spat came less than a week after Israel expressed anger with Sanchez and his Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croo, who demanded the regime stop its massacre of civilians holed up in Gaza.

Tel Aviv also summoned ambassadors of both European countries over their remarks voiced at a joint press conference on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on November 24.

Cohen claimed the remarks by Sanchez and De Croo repeated “false claims” and “gave terrorism a boost.”

In response, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Cohen’s allegations were “false, unacceptable and out of place.”

Sanchez on Thursday said European countries should discuss the recognition of a Palestinian state.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the regime’s decades-long campaign of devastation against Palestinians.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, over 15,000 Palestinians, including more than 6,000 children, were killed in Israeli strikes during the 49 days of war. Many more dead people are feared to be under the rubble.

MNA