UEFA's report into bidding countries indicated that legal aspects surrounding Scotland's bid to host games at Euro 2020 "may have to be reassessed" if the country becomes independent. The Scottish FA has submitted a bid for Glasgow's Hampden Park to
host three group games and one match in the knockout rounds of the
tournament, which is being held in 13 countries around Europe. The evaluation report said of the
Scottish bid, "Scotland being part of the UK, the legal situation is
mostly -- but not entirely -- identical to that of England and Wales. The
situation may have to be reassessed should Scotland become independent
of the UK following the referendum" (PA, 9/10). ... The Hong Kong FA on Wednesday signed an agreement with sports data provider Sportradar to "get intelligence about global betting on over 100 games per season" until July '17. Sportradar's system will cover all 113 games of Hong Kong's Premier League, League Cup, Community Shield, Senior Shield, FA Cup and playoffs each season (IANS, 9/10). ... Man City's "huge fine" for breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play
rules is "to be shared out around the other clubs in the Champions
League." The first tranche of payments from City, Paris St. Germain and Zenit
St. Petersburg will total £20M ($32.3M) and will be "split among the Champions
League and Europa League clubs who did comply with the rules last
season" (PA, 9/9).
DEIN CALLS FOR WINTER BREAK: Former Arsenal Vice Chair David Dein said that the FA "needs a winter break as early as next season
to help the national team." The English top flight is the "only major European league that does not take a hiatus at the turn of the year." Dein: "We have to introduce that and I'm hoping that will be one of the points
that come out of the FA's report on how to improve the England team" (BBC, 9/9). ... Football Federation Australia has announced that it will "introduce two extra officials for the rest of the FFA Cup, a trial that could see the system ultimately implemented in the A-League." In addition to the main referee, "two linesmen and the fourth official,
two assistants will stand alongside each goal for the remaining 15
matches of the competition, which has reached the round-of-16 phase" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/10). ... UEFA has charged the FA of Wales for the "pitch invasion following Gareth Bale's late winner against Andorra." The Andorran Football Federation "also faces action for incurring five or more cards" and insufficient organization inside the Estadi Nacional (BBC, 9/10). ... At La Liga side Valencia's home games, bands have played on the field during pregame since '94 -- "until this summer." The club has "withdrawn the invitation to bands," claiming that it blocks the visibility of stadium advertising and that musicians "damage the playing surface" (EL PAIS, 9/10).
