FC Barcelona has announced that "next season it will not go on the kind of pre-season tour it has in recent years." The 2014 World Cup "will leave no time for such games." Barcelona is "considering the possibility of travelling to the USA or an Asian country" to promote the team's brand, but "keeping to the framework" of an old-fashioned preseason tour: "setting up a permanent camp in a U.S. or Asian city and playing several games, but without travelling great distances" (MARCA, 9/10). ... England's National Football Museum "has hailed the levels of support from the corporate sector as it prepares to induct 10 legends of the national game into its Hall of Fame." The annual awards ceremony will be hosted at the museum's new Manchester home on Sept. 25 "with some of the biggest names in the game in attendance." Those to seal sponsorship deals include lead sponsor the Professional Footballers' Association and award sponsors Singha Beer, Enterprise Insurance Co and Templegate Training Academy (SOCCEREX, 9/11). ... Spanish bank Bankia has reportedly determined that if the Valencia City Council is ruled unable to take responsibility for La Liga side Valencia's debt, "they will look to sell the club." The bank "is currently discussing with Valencia, the club's majority shareholders Fundacio VCF and the city council over two debts owed to them," one of €219M ($291M) owed by Los Che and another of €85M ($113M) owed by Fundacio VCF (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 9/10). ... North Korea said Wednesday that "it had barred one of its top domestic football clubs from all competition for six months, in a rare admission of cheating in sports" (AFP, 9/11). ... The Football Kenya Federation "has withdrawn the Players' Licence granted to Nigerian national Ken Joseph," following claims that he obtained it fraudulently and without its knowledge from sacked former CEO Lordvick Aduda (XINHUA, 9/11).
