The FIFA task force aimed at improving the situation of football in Palestine will hold its first meeting Sept. 3 in Zurich. The group is set to analyze different bilateral matters including facilitating the movement of players, referees and equipment in and out of and within Palestine. The ultimate objective is to improve the situation of football in the region (FIFA). ... FIFA said that players from Estonia and Tunisia and match officials from Lebanon and Armenia "have been given worldwide bans in connection with attempts to manipulate games." FIFA said that the bans had "already been imposed at local level by the respective federations and would now apply globally" (REUTERS, 8/29). ... The Spanish government has justified La Liga side Real Valladolid's decision not to allow Deportivo La Coruña fans to carry flags representing the Spanish state of Galicia into a La Liga game on May 11 at Valladolid's José Zorrilla stadium. The Spanish government said in a statement, "Although it is true that flags and emblems do not by themselves constitute any sort of infraction or crime, at a sporting event with masses of people and other circumstances, like athletic or regional rivalries, converging, displaying flags could provoke an adverse and violent reaction by other fans in attendance" (EL PAIS, 8/29). ... Deportivo La Coruña President Augusto César Lendoiro, whose team now competes in the Spanish second division, "requested that his team's fans give Real Madrid an ovation for participating 'for free' in the 60th edition of the Teresa Herrera Trophy on Thursday" at Deportivo's Riazor stadium. Lendoiro: "We should thank Real Madrid for the effort they make in coming for free, in a special way, because they are coming in between two La Liga games" (EFE, 8/28). ... The Greek football authorities "have again reformatted the leagues in a desperate bid to create more revenue." This time the format of the Football League, the country's second tier, "has been changed with immediate effect as the league seeks to generate more TV money" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 8/29). ... Two "notorious Brazilian fan groups have been given a two-year ban from attending matches at Brasilia's Mane Garrincha 2014 World Cup stadium." The government of Brazil's Federal District "applied for the penalty to the Hawks of the Faithful and Sao Independent fan clubs for their involvement in wild brawls at the venue in the past two weeks" (XINHUA, 8/29).
