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Suarez facing big financial hit from alleged bite

By WTOP Staff

PAN PYLAS
Associated Press

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Luis Suarez faces the prospect of a big financial hit following his alleged biting of Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, with existing sponsorship deals potentially being ripped up and future endorsements put in jeopardy.

Already, two of his sponsors — 888poker and adidas — have hinted that they may re-examine their deals with Suarez.

888poker, which signed up Suarez last month, said it was “reviewing” its relationship with the striker.

“We will not tolerate unsporting behavior,” it said in a tweet.

888poker announced a global endorsement contract with Suarez after Liverpool’s surprise run toward the Premier League title. Though the team placed second behind Manchester City, it gained many supporters for its attacking flair.

The signing up of Suarez, who is a keen poker enthusiast, was also a sign that Suarez had improved his image following a biting incident with Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic the previous season. He was voted player of the year by his peers in the English game as well as football writers.

A far bigger profile for Suarez comes from adidas, which is FIFA’s oldest partner — the relationship goes back to 1970.

In a statement, the German sportswear giant said it awaits “FIFA’s full investigation into this matter and will respond accordingly.”

In the early hours of Wednesday, FIFA announced it had opened a disciplinary case against Suarez, who allegedly bit into the left shoulder of Chiellini in a crucial group-stage game. Uruguay won the game 1-0 to progress to the second round but Suarez’s participation in that looks in real doubt. Under the guidelines, Suarez could face a ban of up to 24 international matches.

Nigel Currie, director of sports marketing agency Brand Rapport, said the potential cost to Suarez could “potentially run into millions” and doesn’t just account for his current deals.

“It’s pretty damaging for him, it’s not as if he hasn’t had previous,” said Currie, noting two previous biting incidents, a racism row involving Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, and his handball in the last World Cup in South Africa that prevented a clear Ghana goal.

“He could end up missing out on a chance of a lifetime of being a hero at the World Cup,” Currie said. “Although he’s a great player, there are others around and if there’s a big risk they (the sponsors) will go for a safer option. This is the real shop window, the real global opportunity to become one of the top global superstars.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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