A lot has happened in Auckland these past few days. On Friday, New Zealand’s most populous city was shocked by the news of a shooting that took three people’s lives, including that of the gunman. The incident happened just hours before the host nation were due to playNorway in the opening game of the tournament- a game they narrowly won by a goal to nil.
After the historic victory- it was the Ferns’ first ever win at a World Cup-, the team were forced to evacuate their hotel in central Auckland after a fire broke out on Saturday night.
Chief Executive of News Zealand Football Andew Pragnell speaks about fire in NZ team’s hotel
“New Zealand Football can confirm that the Football Ferns team and staff have been temporarily evacuated from the Pullman Hotel, their team base for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, due to a fire,” said an official statement from the New Zealand soccer federation.
“The fire does not appear to have been targeted at the team, Fifa or the Fifa Women’s World Cup in general,” it continued. The perpetrator, a local man of 34 years of age, has been arrested and charged for burglary and arson.
Chief Executive of New Zealand Football Andew Pragnell, who has since described the incident as “another curveball”, has confirmed that none of the players of members of staff have been injured because of the fire in the team’s latest press conference. “Most importantly all the players and the staff are well and healthy, trained well today in the sunshine, which was welcome as well and are looking in good shape. So, that’s the most incredible thing from our perspective,” he said.
He went onto reveal that extra security measures have been put into place as a precaution. “So there are obviously security measures in place, and we have, with the support of FIFA, enhanced those somewhat. Ironically, these two instances have no connection in terms of the cause or the relationships, uncanny coincidences if you like, but yes regardless, just as an extra measure, we have increased security as well.”
New Zealand take on the Philippines on Tuesday for their second match in group A.
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