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Atletico’s Simeone suspended 8 games over incident

By WTOP Staff

JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

Spanish champion Atletico Madrid will have to find a way to win without its inspirational coach for the next month.

The Spanish football federation suspended Atletico coach Diego Simeone for eight matches on Monday after he was sent off for a vehement protest that included tapping an assistant referee on the head during the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

Simeone will miss four Spanish league matches, with the remaining four-match ban applying to future Spanish Super Cups.

Simeone was already suspended from Atletico’s league opener at Rayo Vallecano on Monday because of a suspension that carried over from last season.

That means Simeone’s new suspension will begin on Aug. 30 against Eibar. He will then miss the clash against Real Madrid on Sept. 13 and the subsequent league games against Celta Vigo and Almeria.

Atletico says it will appeal the decision. It has 10 days to do so.

Later on Monday, Simeone watched from the stands as his team was held to a 0-0 draw by Rayo at Vallecas Stadium while assistant German Burgos coached on the sideline.

Simeone said he had no comment to make on the suspension other than to show his “respect for the people who make the decisions.”

The federation announced its decision three days after defending Spanish champion Atletico beat Madrid 1-0 to win the Super Cup 2-1 on aggregate.

Simeone was ejected in the 25th minute of the match at Vicente Calderon Stadium for dissent after he vociferously called for Juanfran Torres to be allowed back on the pitch after being treated on the sidelines. The defender had received treatment for a cut on his lip that had bloodied his shirt and was waiting to go back out.

Simeone was suspended for four games for patting the back of the assistant referee’s head, two games for protesting, one game for applauding his sending off, and one game for remaining in the stands instead of going to the changing room after his expulsion. The federation statement cited referee Fernandez Borbalan’s match report.

Simeone was also fined 4,805 euros ($6,339), while Atletico was fined 2,800 euros ($3,694).

Burgos will remain in charge of the team during games while Simeone serves his suspension.

Simeone will also miss the first game of the Champions League for a suspension incurred in last year’s final, when Atletico lost 4-1 to Madrid in extra time.

In its previous three seasons under Simeone, Atletico has won the Spanish Super Cup, the Spanish league, the Copa del Rey, the European Super Cup and the Europa League.

The Spanish Super Cup is a two-game competition played at the beginning of the season between the winners of the league and the Copa del Rey of the previous campaign.

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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