Liga MX Dir Enrique Bonilla indicated that the league is "looking to improve security at Mexican football stadiums after violent outbreaks over the last 15 days." He said, "They (violent incidents) have been reduced substantially but there remains a group of vandals that do not understand that it is a family event and that they do not belong at the stadiums. We are working on a protocol document for safe stadiums" (LA AFICION, 9/22). ... A Brazil court announced on Monday that it will investigate "allegations of homophobic insults during a Brasileiro game on Sunday between Corinthians and Sao Paulo." Brazil's Sports Justice Superior Court, which "recently punished Gremio for racism," announced that it will also "investigate fights, disturbances and objects thrown onto the field during various games this weekend" (EFE, 9/22). ... Algerian club JS Kabylie has been "banned from African competitions
for two years over the death of Cameroonian footballer Albert Ebosse." Ebosse died after being "hit by an object thrown by fans after an Algerian league match last month." The Confederation of African Football has also decided to "establish an annual fair-play award named after Ebosse" (BBC, 9/22).
A VOLATILE MIX: Man City officials are to "hold talks with Greater Manchester Police and the local safety advisory group" to finalize security arrangements for next Tuesday's Champions League encounter with AS Roma. The game is being
viewed as a "potentially volatile fixture due to previous incidents involving
the Italian club's supporters in Manchester and clashes with CSKA Moscow
supporters during last week's Group E fixture in Rome" (London TELEGRAPH, 9/23).
... Media Group Ukraine "extended its broadcast rights agreement with Team Marketing" for the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. The pay-TV and commercial broadcaster "won the exclusive rights to every game in both competitions" for the '15-16 to '17-18 cycle. Games "will be shown on free-to-air channel Ukraine" as well as on the group’s specialist pay-TV football channels and online (SOCCEREX, 9/22).
NEW HEAD INJURY PROPOSAL: FIFA will "submit a proposal to its executive committee to bring in new measures to deal with head injuries." The plans include a "referee being able to stop a game for three minutes in order for a team doctor to carry out an on-pitch assessment." The doctor will "also decide if a player can continue to play" (BBC, 9/23).