Soccer club’s licensing issues hit after inferno

RIO DE JANEIRO >> Brazil’s soccer club Flamengo came under mounting criticism for licensing issues at its training ground on Saturday, a day after a fire ripped through a dormitory and left 10 dead. Three teenagers are still in the hospital, including one in serious condition.

Rio de Janeiro’s City Hall said in a statement Friday night the club was fined 30 times because of infractions at the Ninho do Urubu training ground, which had to be closed in October 2017.

The current permit issued for the grounds is valid until March 8.

City Hall also said the sleeping quarters where Flamengo’s teenage players died was irregularly licensed as a parking lot.

“The lodging area hit by the fire is not included in the last project approved by our licensing,” it said. “There are no registers of new licensing requests for that area as a sleeping quarter.” The administration of Mayor Marcelo Crivella said it would open an investigation.