The Confederation of African Football reiterated that "it will not move the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations from January and has given Morocco until Saturday to decide if they will host as scheduled." Morocco wants "a postponement because of fears over the Ebola outbreak" (BBC, 11/3). ... Police are "investigating claims" Man City's Yaya Toure was racially abused on Twitter. Toure "reactivated his account with the social network on Monday after a five month absence." Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said it had "received complaints" about two tweets of a "racist nature" and had informed the police on Monday. Greater Manchester Police said, "Officers are currently investigating" (BBC, 11/4). ... Al Ain Club Investment Company signed a wide-ranging, two-year agreement with Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt "to share facilities and expertise in areas such as training, youth development, stadium operations and strategy." The agreement "will see specialist management, logistics, and commercial and maintenance teams from Frankfurt's Commerzbank-Arena, with a capacity of 51,500, to share their knowledge and experience with their counterparts at Al Ain's new Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium." The partnership "also includes scope to hold training camps at each other's grounds, participate in friendly matches and could help pave the way for the establishment of an annual winter tournament for European and Emirati clubs" (ARABIAN BUSINESS, 11/3). ... Nepal FA (ANFA) President Ganesh Thapa "temporarily stepped aside while FIFA's ethics committee investigates allegations of financial irregularities made by two of his own vice-presidents." FIFA said in a statement, "Ganesh Thapa ... has agreed not to participate in any football-related activity at national and international level for a period of 120 days while the FIFA ethics committee completes its review of claims involving alleged misconduct by ANFA officials." ANFA VPs Karma Tsering Sherpa and Bijay Narayan Manandhar said that "they had asked FIFA ethics investigator Michael Garcia to look into Thapa and how funds to Nepal from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation" were used. Thapa "has repeatedly denied all the allegations, saying he has done nothing wrong" (REUTERS, 11/4).
IN ARGENTINA: Argentine FA President Luis Segura admitted that starting in '16, there could be changes to the 30-team format that will be instituted in '15. The "changes could reportedly be profound," though Segura "did not admit this." The idea "would be to have four teams relegated to the second tier and two teams promoted every year for five years, so that after this period, it would return to 20 teams" (CLARIN, 11/4).
PERUVIAN PROBE: Peru's Attorney General Carlos Ramos announced on Monday that he will lead an investigation into Peruvian football on suspicion of fraud and asset laundering, “deepening the crisis in Peruvian football.” Ramos said he will order Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) authorities, national team players and coaches and even sports journalists to testify. Ramos: “This mega-investigation will include all involved authorities, team owners and those who have done business with the FPF at the national and international levels in the last 12 years.” FPF President Manuel Burga said that “he does not understand the decision and said he will collaborate with the investigation.” Burga: “I don’t know what this decision comes from, the FPF has a lot of investigations. As always we will be available” (AFP, 11/3).
