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Penn State coach Joe Paterno fired amid abuse scandal | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
One of the most famous coaches in American sport has been sacked amid a child abuse scandal that has shocked the country. | |
Penn State's head football coach Joe Paterno had earlier said he would retire at the end of the season, and that he was "absolutely devastated". | |
University President Graham Spanier was also dismissed with immediate effect. | |
Mr Paterno has been accused of failing to act over alleged child abuse by long-serving assistant Jerry Sandusky. | Mr Paterno has been accused of failing to act over alleged child abuse by long-serving assistant Jerry Sandusky. |
Mr Paterno has not been implicated in the case. | Mr Paterno has not been implicated in the case. |
News of the university trustees' decision emerged shortly after 22:00 local time on Wednesday (03:00 GMT) when officials held a news conference. | |
'Great sorrows' | |
Hours before news of his dismissal emerged, Mr Paterno said in a statement on Wednesday: "I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief. | |
"I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: to serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today. | "I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: to serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today. |
"That's why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season." | "That's why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season." |
He added: "This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more." | He added: "This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more." |
Addressing his players in the auditorium of Penn State's football building, Mr Paterno reportedly broke down in tears as he told his team he was leaving. | Addressing his players in the auditorium of Penn State's football building, Mr Paterno reportedly broke down in tears as he told his team he was leaving. |
He said he wanted the team to finish the season with "dignity and determination" - but was eventually denied that opportunity. | |
Players gave him a standing ovation when he walked out. | Players gave him a standing ovation when he walked out. |
Mr Paterno's announcement came three days before the Nittany Lions, Penn State's football team, play their last home game of the season against Nebraska. | Mr Paterno's announcement came three days before the Nittany Lions, Penn State's football team, play their last home game of the season against Nebraska. |
The 84-year-old has won 409 games, a record for major college football, and was dismissed in the middle of his 46th year as coach. | |
Never reported | Never reported |
Former assistant football coach Mr Sandusky was arrested at the weekend for allegedly abusing eight boys between 1994 and 2009. | Former assistant football coach Mr Sandusky was arrested at the weekend for allegedly abusing eight boys between 1994 and 2009. |
Mr Paterno has said he alerted the university's athletic director after he was informed in 2002 of an alleged serious sexual assault by Mr Sandusky on a boy as young as 10 in a locker room shower. But the incident was never reported to police. | Mr Paterno has said he alerted the university's athletic director after he was informed in 2002 of an alleged serious sexual assault by Mr Sandusky on a boy as young as 10 in a locker room shower. But the incident was never reported to police. |
Police have said that Mr Paterno fulfilled his minimum legal requirement but have suggested the coach had a moral responsibility to do more. | Police have said that Mr Paterno fulfilled his minimum legal requirement but have suggested the coach had a moral responsibility to do more. |
Penn State's athletic director Tim Curley along with the university's senior vice-president Gary Schultz were charged on Monday with failing to report the suspected abuse. | Penn State's athletic director Tim Curley along with the university's senior vice-president Gary Schultz were charged on Monday with failing to report the suspected abuse. |
Both men are also accused of perjury during their testimony before a grand jury. | Both men are also accused of perjury during their testimony before a grand jury. |
Mr Sandusky retired from Penn State in 1999, but continued to use the university's facilities for his work with the Second Mile foundation, a charity for vulnerable children. | Mr Sandusky retired from Penn State in 1999, but continued to use the university's facilities for his work with the Second Mile foundation, a charity for vulnerable children. |
He is facing 40 criminal charges, and has been released on bail. |