FIFA Exec Moya Dodd "is sympathetic to players protesting about synthetic turf at the 2015 Women's World Cup but says hosts Canada had the best bid." Nearly 50 top players "have signed a petition and threatened legal action if matches are not played on grass." Dodd: "Of course I have sympathy with players who want to play in the best conditions. But the important thing is to ensure that the tournament will be played in the best facilities available" (BBC, 9/11). ... La Liga "definitely wants to penetrate the Asian markets" and the morning and early afternoon schedules "instituted in recent seasons will continue this year." Barcelona will play on Saturday at 4pm local time against Athletic Bilbao, "as this time zone will debut this season." To Spanish Football League (LFP) President Javier Tebas, 4pm games on Saturday and noon games on Sunday are "very appealing for the far east," as "at 4pm in Spain, it is 10pm in China, while at noon in Spain, it is 6pm in China" (MARCA, 9/11). ... At a Federal A tournament game between Argentine clubs Sarmiento and Chaco For Ever, "one man died from a gunshot and two were seriously injured during a fight between factions of fans of Sarmiento." The fan who died was 25 years old (DPA, 9/11).
SPREADING THE WEALTH: Thailand's footballers "will share" a $1.7M bonus if they take Gold in the upcoming Asian Games in South Korea. Thailand FA President Worawi Makudi said that the "generous cash incentive has been offered for the men's team by a
Thai sports magazine publisher who is a big football fan" (CHINA DAILY, 9/10). ... FIFA VP Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein wants “real candidates” -- focused on policy, not personality -- to run world football after FIFA President Sepp Blatter leaves. The 78-year-old Blatter confirmed this week that "he will stand" for a fifth, four-year term as president. Prince Ali said, "When you talk about elections, I would really like -- maybe it’s too late now -- but in the future that it’s not based on personality but based on a mandate, based on evolving the organization" (AP, 9/11).
RILED RANGERS: Scottish Championship side Rangers fans called on Rangers CEO Graham Wallace to boot Dir Sandy Easdale out. A picture of "convicted fraudster Easdale out to lunch with Interpol target Rafat Rizvi is the final straw." Easdale "does not sit on the plc board of Rangers International but is chairman of the 'football board' and supporters have long been uneasy at his influence on club affairs" (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 9/11). ... CONCACAF and the European Sports Security Association, the
regulated betting industry’s integrity body, signed a memorandum of
understanding on Tuesday to establish an arrangement for the sharing of
betting integrity information (CONCACAF).
