TEAM PLAYERS BESIDE POOL, PLAYING CARDS AND GENERALLY RELAXING WHILE GUARDS KEPT NEWSPAPERMEN OUT OF OTHER MOTEL RETREAT, THEN SHOTS OF PLAYERS WORKING OUT AT A LOCAL SOCCER FIELD.




Initials RM/NR/le


SPORT: SOCCER

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Background: Despite the loss of their star, Britain's World Cup soccer team appeared relaxed and confident Tuesday (May 26) as they prepared for the tourney in Mexico City.

The team captain, Bobby Moore, was left behind in Bogata, Colombia to face a theft charge, as the team flew into Mexico City after a warm-up tour of Ecuador and Colombia.

On Wednesday, the British government consulted the Colombian government in an attempt to secure the release of Moore in the time for the opening of the tournament next week.

British Embassy official Keith Morris met acting Colombia Foreign Minister Santiago Salazar after British Prime Minister Harold Wilson ordered the Embassy to do all it could to seek Moore's release.

Danilo Rojas, owner of a jewelry shop, alleged that Moore took a $1,500 dollar gold bracelet with emeralds and diamonds from his shop in the Hotel Tequendeme shortly after the English squad arrived in Bogata, May 18. Moore said he was innocent.

Despite the fact that Moore is being held, the rest of the players flew on to Mexico City where they appeared relaxed and unworried about the loss as they enjoyed the facilities of a luxurious motel and practised on the field of a local soccer club.

Moore, who captained England to victory in the 1966 World Cup and was named "Player of the Games", is the key mid-field defender for England and for his First Division Club, West Ham. One of the finest defenders to play for England, he commands one of the top salaries in the England League.