Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of rape booed again, louder, loses second match of Olympics

PARIS (AP) — Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who served time in prison after he was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in England, lost his second straight match at the Paris Olympics and received an even harsher reaction from the crowd on Wednesday than for his first match.

Three days after they made their Olympic debut to some boos — mixed in with cheers from the orange-clad Dutch fans — Van de Velde and Matthew Immers were heartily jeered after a 21-19, 21-16 loss to Chile. There were more boos when Van de Velde played most any shot.

“I was disappointed with the crowd, for sure,” Immers said. “I cannot do anything about his past anymore. I’m here to play with him. … So, yeah, I’m disappointed with it. But I think mentally we’re really strong, and I’m really strong to get through this, together. And we’re going to do that.”

Van de Velde, 29, served 13 months in prison after his 2016 conviction for having sex with a 12-year-old girl. Although victims advocates, lawmakers and fans have called for him to be banned from the Olympics, the IOC has said it was powerless to stop the Netherlands from sending an athlete who qualified in the usual way.

Van de Velde again did not walk through the mix zone to address the media on Wednesday, something typically required of every athlete. When Immers arrived, Dutch press attache Hans Nieuwenburg told reporters, “Sport questions only.”

“He said everything on (Sunday),” when the two lost their opening match to Italy, Nieuwenburg said.

Immers was asked about the reception and said the two spoke on the court and recognized they would need to be extra supportive of each other. Asked if he understood why they received that reception, he said, “I don’t want to talk about that, if it’s OK.”

“I think what’s in the past is in the past, and we’re here to go for a good result together,” Immers said, noting that there were Dutch fans cheering for them. “And I want to say there was also a lot of people supporting us, and we’re doing it for them. I really like this sport and I still love the crowd and the people who support us.”

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

The Netherland's Steven van de Velde blocks a shot against Chile in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

The Netherland's Steven van de Velde celebrates afterhe and The Netherland's Matthew Immers defeated Chile in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

The Netherland's Steven van de Velde slams a shot over the net against Chile in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

The Netherland's Steven van de Velde applauds the crowd after his team's victory against Chile in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. Van de Velde was booed throughout the match in response to his rape conviction. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

The Netherland's Steven van de Velde gets set to return a shot against Chile in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal is leaving archrival Tottenham’s stadium with a win for the third season in a row after Gabriel Magalhaes' second-half header settled a feisty and physical north London derby in the Premier League on Sunday.

Tottenham had Arsenal pegged back for much of the game but couldn’t make its chances count as the visitors weathered the pressure before Gabriel secured a 1-0 win by scoring in the 64th minute. The Brazilian center back lost his marker and met a corner from Bukayo Saka with a thumping header from the middle of the box.

“It is a big derby and we are so happy to win here," said Gabriel, who celebrated boisterously in front of the away fans after the final whistle. “Let’s enjoy it now.”

The goal came largely against the run of play but secured a vital victory for Arsenal, which is already two points behind defending champion Manchester City and could ill afford to drop more points ahead of a trip to the Etihad Stadium next weekend.

The visitors were slightly fortunate not to be trailing early, though, as Tottenham took full advantage of Arsenal’s weakened midfield to boss proceedings for much of the opening hour.

Without the suspended Declan Rice and the injured Martin Odegaard, Arsenal never looked comfortable against Tottenham’s press and struggled to establish anything resembling its normal passing game.

But Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made two good early saves to keep Tottenham at bay, while Spurs striker Dominic Solanke failed to make the most of a couple of decent chances.

“We had to work really hard as you saw, we knew it was going to be a difficult game," said Arsenal midfielder Jorginho, who captained Arsenal in Odegaard's absence. "We had key players missing but we are a total team, the whole squad. We know that whoever comes on will be ready to help the team.”

It was a very different game compared to last year’s fixture, when Arsenal went 3-0 up before holding off a late fightback to win 3-2. But it had its usual share of physical tackles and temper flare-ups, with seven bookings handed out in the first half alone.

And Arsenal had to hang on in the final minutes again, although Tottenham’s only half chances for an equalizer came when Solanke sent a header straight at Raya in the 88th and Dejan Kulusevski sent his long-range shot over the bar in injury time.

Arsenal only had three senior outfield players available on the bench, including transfer deadline-day signing Raheem Sterling who came on for his Gunners debut in the 80th minute.

In Sunday’s only other Premier League game, Wolves hosted Newscastle in the later kickoff.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's Jurrien Timber and Tottenham's goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario square-up to each other during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Tottenham's James Maddison is pulled back by Arsenal's Jorginho during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Arsenal's Gabriel scores the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Arsenal's Gabriel, foreground, celebrates with teammate William Saliba after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Gabriel, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Arsenal's Gabriel, foreground, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)