FIFA President Sepp Blatter has asked Iran "to end its ban on women
watching football matches, describing the situation as intolerable."
Blatter: "When I traveled to Iran in November
2013, I was not only confronted with huge popular enthusiasm from
football but also a law forbidding women from attending football
matches. ... This cannot continue. Hence, my appeal to the Iranian
authorities; open the nation's football stadiums to women" (REUTERS, 3/6). ... In a bid to keep South America's notorious "barra brava" hooligans away from football stadiums, Chile "is implementing strict rules that fans complain will take the fizz out of proceedings at the Copa America in June." Drums "could block exits and will not be allowed in to Copa games." Nor "will fireworks, flares or banners." The latter "can impede views or be used to smuggle in weapons or other banned items." The security crackdown "has upset fans, who say it is disproportionate." One local Facebook group with 17,000 likes said, "Drums and banners do not generate violence...we are fans, not criminals!" (REUTERS, 3/6). ... The British Army "is investigating claims that some of its troops yelled sexist abuse at members of the Australian national women’s team during a match against England." The alleged incidents "occurred during a Cyprus Cup game in Nicosia." A British Army contingent based in Cyprus attended the game and two female England supporters who were at the game said that "some of the troops targeted Matildas defender Servet Uzunlar throughout the match, as well as the Australian team’s substitutes as they took off their tracksuits before entering the field." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said, “We are investigating these claims and if it is found that any U.K. personnel have fallen below the high standards we expect then appropriate action will be taken” (NEWS CORP, 3/8).
BUS DEPOT: One of the stadiums used to host the World Cup last year in Brazil "has become a makeshift bus depot by order of the government." The 72,000-seater Estadio Mane Garrincha in Brasilia, which cost around £350M ($526M) to build, "is the second most expensive stadium in football history -- second only to Wembley." However, "with no top division teams based in Brazil's capital city, since the World Cup finished in June, save for a few friendly matches for the international side, it has been difficult for the Mane Garrincha to reach anywhere near full capacity." With monthly upkeep of the stadium estimated at £130,000 ($195,000), the local government "stepped in with an unusual solution" -- to re-fashion the venue as a de facto bus garage. Four hundred vehicles "are stored in the Mane Garrincha on a daily basis" (London DAILY MAIL, 3/7). ... The FA "is investigating the pitch invasion by Aston Villa fans" during their side's home FA Cup quarterfinal win over West Brom. Some Villa supporters "held up the tie by running on to the pitch in injury-time and at full-time, while seats were thrown from the West Brom end." The FA "will investigate in conjunction with both clubs and the police." West Brom expressed its "deep concern" that the safety of players and staff was "clearly compromised." Referee Anthony Taylor "was forced to halt the game in stoppage time, with Villa leading 2-0, as home fans spilled onto the pitch." The match "resumed after a short delay, before another invasion after the final whistle" (BBC, 3/8).
