Atlético Madrid has announced plans to "play three friendly games in the Far East this summer." Club CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín is visiting China this week and will meet representatives from the Dalian Wanda Group, whose owner Wang Jianlin bought 20% of Atleti shares in January, to finalize plans. One of the games is scheduled to take place in Shanghai, while "the other venues and opposition are still to be decided," although the confirmed dates for the matches are July 28, Aug. 1 and Aug. 4 (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 3/3). ... The Dutch FA will spend about $440,000 to fund Chair Michael van Praag’s "run for president of the sport’s world governing body."
The costs to cover his attempt to take the FIFA post "were approved" at an extraordinary meeting of the KNVB. Dutch FA spokesperson Koen Adriaanse said that of the 48 members present, "four opposed the spending" (BLOOMBERG, 3/3). ... Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Carlo Tavecchio said that "ownership rules for Italian clubs could be changed in light of the crisis at Parma."
The Ducali has "had three different owners this season," with the latest President, Giampietro Manenti, "acquiring the club for €1 and so far failing to address debts." Tavecchio: "We’ve been following the Parma situation for a long time, not just a few days ago. The Federation will monitor the situation and intervene in a drastic way, we want Parma to finish the campaign" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 3/3). ... South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula "has accused FIFA of being 'very inefficient' and not acting decisively on match-fixing investigations." He "criticized the failure of football's governing body to complete an investigation into whether 2010 World Cup warm-up matches were fixed" (AP, 3/3).
