The FA is marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster "by delaying the kick-offs of all Premier League, Football League and Conference matches by seven minutes" (London GUARDIAN, 3/21). ... Liverpool's players "are poised to kick-start their summer with a beach holiday with a difference, in the shape of a post-season friendly against West Ham in Mauritius." Liverpool Sales Dir Olly Dale was in Mauritius this week "to examine the facilities at Anjalay Stadium, the nation's 30,000-capacity showpiece sports venue." While L'Express reported that the game had been confirmed, Le Mauricien insisted that "the deal remains to be completed" (London GUARDIAN, 3/21). ... Bulgarian football club Levski Sofia Owner Todor Batkov "has stopped player wages until the end of the season." The lawyer "was furious at the club's elimination from the Cup of Bulgaria, which means that Levski will remain without any trophy in its jubilee season" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 3/21).
LIGA MX VIOLENCE: Mexican media reported on Sunday that during Saturday's Liga MX match between Guadalajara and Atlas, "eight hooligans were arrested and five supporters and two policemen badly injured as Guadalajara fans fought with police." In a "running battle" on Jalisco Stadium's "upper-south terraces lasting about 15 minutes," Mexican newspaper Record reported "police were hugely outnumbered and came off worse with two officers taken to hospital" (REUTERS, 3/23). Following the violence, Guadalajara City Council Secretary General Jesús Lomelí said that "Jalisco Stadium is closed." Lomelí: "The director of inspection and vigilance made this decision and based on regulations we will proceed with the closing of the stadium" (LA AFICION, 3/23).
