UEFA has rejected appeals by Serbia and Albania "after their European Championship qualifying match was abandoned when a drone flying a political banner flew into the stadium." UEFA's appeals body on Tuesday "upheld the original disciplinary sanctions: Albania forfeited the match for refusing to play on, and Serbia was deducted the three points from a 3-0 win by default" (AP, 12/2). ... Football clubs in Saudi Arabia are "reportedly angry at a decision to
add them" to the kingdom's nationalization employment program, "claiming
there are not enough local professional players." The clubs claim they "should not be included in the Nitaqat system
because they are not considered to be part of the private sector." Clubs that do "not meet the quota could be prevented from hiring foreign players, coaches and other staff" (ARABIAN BUSINESS, 12/3). ... Borussia Dortmund's players have gone to "extraordinary lengths to thank their fans for their passionate support -- by serving them pints at the club's Christmas party." In total, around 1,000 supporters "descended on Signal Iduna Park, the club's
stadium, for what was a welcome distraction from the club's on-field
struggles" (London TELEGRAPH, 12/3). ... Boston University neuropathologist Dr. Ann McKee has warned that children's brains "can be damaged by heading footballs at an early age." She said, "I think there are dangers to the adolescent brain being exposed to these injuries. Before the brain is fully developed, before the neck and musculature is mature I think these kids are at risk" (BBC, 12/3). ... The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) said that Bulgarian club Levski Sofia has been fined $23,000 for racist chants by its supporters. Fans "made monkey noises directed at opponents Litex Lovech's French-born Senegalese defender Jackson Mendy during last weekend's league game at home that ended 2-2" (AFP, 12/3). ... Ligue 2 side Tours, which was "banned from recruiting earlier in the season by the French National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) due to irregularities in player contracts (with salaries paid in part through premiums)," saw its sanction lifted on Tuesday by the disciplinary body. The club announced through a statement that it “can now strengthen itself within the limits of its payroll.” Of the €5M ($6.2M) debt to be paid by ’16, the club president has already paid €2.3M. Tours currently sits in the 19th spot in Ligue 2 (SPORT 24, 12/2).
