Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho has "sought to avoid renewed conflict with referees by making a public apology to Kevin Friend following his side's 3-0 FA Cup victory over Watford." Mourinho "was contrite having used a television interview to criticise Friend's failure to award a second-half penalty when defender Craig Catchcart handled the ball as he blocked a shot by Diego Costa." Mourinho: "I want to apologize for my earlier comments in some television (interviews). What the referee did was great refereeing" (PA, 1/5). ... Israel on Monday allowed a "high-ranking delegation" representing FIFA to "cross in the
Gaza Strip after several hours delay, Palestinian officials said." Palestinian Football Union Deputy Chair Ibrahim Abu Salim said that the delegation "includes David Borcha, in
charge of the FIFA development department, and two other FIFA members" (XINHUA, 1/5). ... The days of players "having to sing a song in front of their new teammates or risk having their suit cut to shreds" look to be over after the Professional Footballers' Association revealed they are "initiation ceremonies." The PFA is "keen to outlaw the humiliating practice" (London DAILY MAIL, 1/4). ... Entrepreneur Michał Świerczewski has reportedly "taken full
control" of Polish football club RKS Rakow Czestochowa. Few details "are available but Świerczewski, who has a chain of retail
outlets in Poland, will reportedly become chairman of the club" (SOCCEREX, 1/5). ... Approximately 800 security personnel, including police officers, private security guards and emergency service professionals will monitor Wednesday's Copa del Rey game between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderón. The game has been declared high-risk by Madrid's Government Delegation (EFE, 1/5).
