Scottish Championship side Rangers are "taking down the controversial portrait of the 'New Pioneers' at Ibrox that angered and baffled their support." The painting, by artist Helen Runciman, "featured boss Ally McCoist and players Lee McCulloch, Lee Wallace and Neil Alexander, 'celebrating' the club's reemergence in the lower leagues following insolvency" (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 5/12). ... Brasileiro side Sport Club do Recife will "celebrate its 110th year" on Wednesday. The club's commemorations will include a "dawn of fireworks" before its match against Chapecoense for the Copa do Brasil. Kit sponsor adidas will also release a 110th anniversary edition jersey "for the special day" (SUPER ESPORTES, 5/12). ... League Championship side Leeds United has had its transfer embargo "lifted after six months." In December, the club was "placed under embargo until the season's end after breaching Financial Fair Play rules." To have had the embargo lifted, the club "will have needed to stay within an operating loss" of no more than £3M ($4.7M), with a maximum of £3M of shareholder investment this season (BBC, 5/12). ... Serie A side Genoa President Enrico Preziosi says it would be "a mockery" if the Grifone "were barred from playing in Europe should they qualify." The club is currently appealing a ruling that saw it denied a UEFA license for next season, meaning Genoa "could not compete in the Europa League." Manager Gian Piero Gasperini's side moved to "within a point of the sixth and final European slot" with a 5-1 win over Torino on Monday (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 5/11).
