British tabloid journalist freed in World Cup case

British tabloid journalist Simon Wright had World Cup-related charges dropped on Saturday after paying an admission of guilt fine ahead of his trial, a South African court ruled. Sunday Mirror reporter Wright was arrested and charged with helping Pavlos Joseph illegally enter the England dressing room after their goalless draw against Algeria in Cape Town on June 18.
However, after more than three hours of negotiations between prosecutors and Wright's defence team on Saturday morning, the main charge of attempting to defeat or obstruct the administration of justice, alternatively fraud, was dropped. Wright paid 750 rand ($99.10) admission of guilt fine for contravening sections of the Immigration Act by unlawfully registering under a false name at a Cape Town hotel. "The main count and first alternative count ... is removed from the roll and the admission of guilt fine of 750 rand paid in respect of the second alternative count is accepted, therefore the matter is disposed of," magistrate Joe Magele said.