Brazilian police investigate after Spain football team players robbed at Confed Cup hotel

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazilian police are investigating after Spanish national football team players were robbed at their hotel in the northern city of Recife, football officials said Thursday.

FIFA confirmed the investigation after Spanish media said players had money stolen from their rooms while in Recife for a Confederations Cup match against Uruguay on Sunday.

“We know that there was a police report and this was being dealt with by the relevant authorities,” FIFA spokesman Pekka Odriozola said. “We have also been in touch with the team.”

A spokeswoman for the Spanish team declined to discuss the incident, while police in Recife could not be reached for comment.

Six Spanish players, including Gerard Pique, reported that goods, including money, had been stolen from their rooms, according to Spanish daily newspaper Marca and the EFE news agency.

The players reportedly discovered their money was missing as they prepared to leave Recife on Monday after the 2-1 win over Uruguay the previous day.

Security has long been a major problem in Brazil, where knife- and gun-point muggings, carjackings and armed robberies continue to be facts of daily life.