German referees have been "forbidden from using a vanishing spray designed to mark positions during free kicks after a trade watchdog deemed the product dangerous." The spray contains chemicals "that could affect hormones and its packaging doesn’t have a fire hazard warning," German newspaper Bild "cited the Tuev Rheinland Holding AG report as saying" (BLOOMBERG, 9/26). ... The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) and the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) on Monday signed an agreement to "facilitate the academic growth of footballers in a partnership between the COE and Universidad Católica San
Antonio de Murcia (UCAM)." The agreement will enable "footballers and former footballers to harmonize their athletic and academic activity" (EFE, 9/29). ... Gibraltar "may have made its debut in European
competition this season, but there will be no immediate place for the
British overseas territory" in FIFA. FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced that "neither Gibraltar nor the
Northern Mariana Islands," a U.S. Pacific island territory, matched
requirements for membership (AFP, 9/26). ... Serie A kicked off its national integrity tour with a press conference and the first educational workshop, delivered to the youth teams of Inter Milan and AC Milan. The tour, delivered by Sportradar, will provide a tailored integrity program to all 20 Serie A clubs this season (Sportradar).
'16 EVENTS TO OVERLAP: The Centennial Cup America has been "officially added to the 2016 FIFA events calendar." The dates mean that the oldest int'l cup competition in the world will "overlap with UEFA's revamped 24-team Euro 2016 championships for 16 days." The addition to the '16 events calendar means that "all countries will
be able to make a mandatory call for the services of their players from
any club in the world, ensuring the best players will be present" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 9/29).
PROTECTION PROGRAM RENEWED: FIFA's Exec Committee has approved the renewal of the Club Protection Programme -- the scheme "designed to remove a longstanding bone of contention by compensating clubs when players they employ are injured on international duty -- for a further four years" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 9/28).