South American football governing body CONMEBOL's Court of Appeals has rejected the request of Brasileiro club Grêmio coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo to reduce the six-game suspension and fine he received for his role in a brawl after a Copa Libertadores match between his team and Chile's Huachipato. In addition to the suspension, Luxemburgo also appealed the $25,000 fine he received, which was also upheld (EMOL, 5/14). ... FIFA confirmed the worldwide extension of sanctions imposed on eight players by the Estonian FA and one player by the Lebanese FA relating to match-fixing manipulation and fraud investigations. The eight Estonian players each received a one-year ban from all football-related activities while the Lebanese player was banned from all football-related activities for life (FIFA). ... Three-quarters of European football fans interviewed in a new survey "want the option to stand while watching games." The online company Int'l Hattrick questioned more than 1,200 supporters from all over Europe with a vast majority saying that standing areas "should be permitted" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 5/14).
