World Curling finds no violations after cheating allegations rock Canada-Sweden curling match

World Curling has addressed the cheating allegations that rocked Friday night’s round-robin game between Canada and Sweden, concluding that "no violations were recorded" during the umpires’ observations that followed the claims.

Tensions flared when Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson accused Canada’s Marc Kennedy of double-touching the stone. Videos shared online appeared to show Kennedy touching the stone with an extended finger after he released the handle. 

The two opponents exchanged words when Eriksson said, "Maybe it’s okay touching the rock after the hog line, I don’t know."

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Kennedy then fired back, "Who’s doing it? I haven’t done it once, you can f--- off."

The two continued to exchange words, but it was Kennedy who used profanities to express his displeasure with the accusations. 

"Come on Oskar, just f--- off." 

World Curling released a statement Saturday addressing the controversy – both the accusations and Kennedy’s sportsmanship. 

"Game Umpires are situated at the end of each sheet and physically cannot see every delivery infraction. However, when they are made aware of delivery issues, game umpires are positioned to observe the delivery for three ends. During this period of observation in the Friday evening game, there were no violations recorded," the statement began, noting that video replay is not used during games and an umpire’s call is final. 

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The sports governing body also addressed two rule concerns, including "double-touching" and touching the granite. According to the rules, players can retouch the handle multiple times, but "touching the handle after the hog line is not allowed and will result in the stone being removed from play." 

Additionally, the stone will be removed from play if the granite is touched at all during "forward motion."

As a result of the allegations, World Curling said that two officials will be positioned to observe all deliveries beginning with Saturday’s games. 

Canada was also issued a verbal warning from World Curling for Kennedy’s language during the game.

 "During that meeting it was made clear to those officials that further inappropriate behavior, determined by rule R.19 would result in additional sanctions," the statement read. According to the rule, Kennedy could face suspension if he commits another violation. 

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Hawaii cruise thrown into chaos after emergency at sea forces port change

Cruise passengers expecting to visit Kauai, Hawaii, this week faced a scary "man overboard" alert. 

The Emerald Princess was about to enter a port at Nāwiliwili Harbor on the southeast side of the island on Feb 10. As the ship approached, a harbor pilot who was climbing a rope ladder from a pilot boat next to the ship slipped and fell into the water, according to Kauai Now and other accounts. 

"Scary situation off the coast of Kaua‘i on the [Princess Cruises] Emerald Princess," user whereswaltertravel — otherwise known as travel agent and founder Walter Biscardi Jr. of Florida — wrote in a Feb. 10 Instagram post.

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"Our pilot slipped on the ladder trying to board the ship in very rough weather conditions," he added. Biscardi was a passenger on the cruise. 

Witnesses said the pilot tried multiple times to board the ship during rough seas before he lost his footing. 

One passenger said the harbor pilot fell around 10 to 20 feet from the ship’s hull, not alongside it.

The crew on the boat worked quickly to rescue the pilot. Video shows that the man was pulled back onto the small vessel within minutes. 

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He did not seem to be injured, according to Cruise Hive.

"Fortunately, the crew on the boat were able to retrieve him safely," Biscardi wrote on Instagram. 

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"Our port call is waived … but none of that matters when a life and death situation unfolds."

After the cruise's port call on Kauai was canceled due to the emergency, it traveled on to Maui — where the ship was slated for its next port call.

"Thanks to God for a quick recovery and a well-trained crew … [the harbor pilot] is healthy and fine," a passenger told Cruise Hive. 

"I am amazed [at] how [the] well-trained and efficient Emerald staff handled everything quickly and professionally. Well done, crew."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Princess Cruise Line for comment.

The 3,090-passenger cruise ship departed Los Angeles on Feb. 4 for a 16-night Hawaii voyage, with Kauai scheduled as the first port call.

Trish Walters of Portland, Oregon, another passenger, recounted the frightening incident on social media.

Replying to a Facebook post by her husband, she mentioned how choppy the waters were that day.

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"Very windy — and kinda scary," Walters wrote. 

"We could see the breakwaters for the Kaua‘i port, but the ship needed lots of room to fit into the harbor; the wind was pushing us pretty good, so the captain and port folks decided it was too dangerous to try."

Strong winds caused massive breaking waves along the shorelines of the island, according to Cruise Hive.

The National Weather Service recently issued a high surf advisory.

"We will come back to visit another day," Biscardi said. 

"Thankful for the safety of the pilot and for the work all pilots do to help make our cruises amazing."

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