Bolivia’s Plans Taken in Break-In

Burglars who broke into the suburban La Paz home of Bolivia Coach Nelson Acosta stole two laptop computers containing the team’s plans for its next two World Cup 2006 qualifying matches.

“We had all the national team’s work plans for the games against Argentina and Venezuela,” Acosta told Thursday’s edition of the Bolivian newspaper La Razon. “It’s a great shame.”

Also stolen were televisions, video cameras, jewelry and roughly $20,000 in cash, Acosta told police.

Bolivia, which has recalled 33-year-old D.C. United midfielder Marco Etcheverry to its squad, plays Argentina on the road in Buenos Aires on Nov. 15 and plays host to Venezuela in Maracaibo on Nov. 18.

Medal Stolen

A theft of a different sort took place in Tokyo this week when an unidentified Urawa Reds’ fan tore the J-League Cup winner’s medal from the neck of Brazilian striker Emerson after the Reds had beaten the Kashima Antlers, 4-0, in Monday’s final.

Emerson on Thursday issued a plea to the thief, one of several hundred fans to invade the field after the game, to return the medal.

“You can have your picture taken with me, have my autograph and I will say thank you, of course,” Emerson was quoted as saying by Japan’s Nikkan Sports newspaper.

The victory was the Urawa Reds’ first trophy since the formation of the J-League in 1993.

Euro 2004 Riches

The European Championship in Portugal next summer could be worth as much as $20.1 million to the winning team.

Meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, leaders of UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, announced a 66% increase in prize money for the quadrennial continental championship -- from $87.8 million in 2000 to $146.3 million in 2004.

Each of the 16 teams will receive $5.5 million for qualifying for the June 12-July 4 tournament. In addition, first-round victories will be worth $731,000 apiece (or half as much for a tie). Each quarterfinalist will receive an additional $2.2 million and each semifinalist an additional $2.9 million.

The winner of the final will get an extra $7.3 million and the runner-up $4.4 million.

2006 Security

Goettrik Wewer, Germany’s deputy interior minister, told an international security conference in Berlin that the European Union needs to implement tougher rules to prevent hooliganism from marring the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Wewer told the gathering of more than 100 police and legal experts from 15 countries that he would like to see legislation enacted that would prevent those with a record of crowd violence from crossing European borders.

Quick Passes

Major League Soccer’s disciplinary committee fined San Jose Earthquake defender Troy Dayak $1,500 for “aggressive, confrontational behavior” and Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz $250 for his part in their altercation during halftime in the tunnel at the Home Depot Center in Saturday night’s MLS playoff game in Carson.... Goalkeeper Reto Gafner, 32, of the Swiss second division club FC Greifensee died in a hospital Tuesday, two days after falling into a coma when his head accidentally struck an opposing player’s knee during a league match against Wiedekon.

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Times wire services contributed to this report.