The Chinese FA has "drawn criticism" for publishing a promotional poster that "warns not to underestimate Hong Kong's team of 'black, white and yellow' players" ahead of their World Cup qualifiers. The poster, published on the CFA's official WeChat account, "shows an image of three bare-chested soccer players on a red background with the caption: 'Don't underestimate any opponent. This team has people with black skin, yellow skin and white skin. For such a diverse team, be on guard!'" (REUTERS, 6/10). ... Porto Alegre, Brazil, host of its national team's friendly on Wednesday against Honduras, saw "banners with protests" against the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) hanging throughout the city. One of the banners "states 'Get out football mafia.'" Another, "Get out CBF football belongs to the people." The protest was "organized by a few football fan movements" (GLOBO ESPORTE, 6/10). ... Professional Footballers Australia, the players' union representing the Socceroos, is "locked in a fresh pay dispute with Football Federation Australia over match payments and commercial sponsorship." PFA has "lodged a claim with an independent arbitrator, which will hear the union's claim that players are owed money it believes should be distributed as 'agreed payments'" (THE AGE, 6/10). ... League One side Blackpool Chair Karl Oyston has been "banned from all football activity for six weeks" and fined £40,000 ($62,100) for "sending abusive texts to a fan." The punishment from the FA has been suspended for four weeks and will not start until July 8. Oyston was charged with misconduct by the FA in March after "allegedly referring to Stephen Smith" as a "retard" when the fan criticized him (BBC, 6/10). ... UEFA President Michel Platini said on Wednesday that he had "officially invited French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to watch last Saturday's Champions League final in Berlin," after a "row exploded about Valls' use of a government jet to get there." Platini said that Valls' cabinet had told him ahead of the match that he "wanted to discuss the EURO 2016 tournament, to be hosted by France, and the corruption allegations" engulfing FIFA (REUTERS, 6/10). ... Ramon Adell, president of the committee that presides over Barcelona while there is no elected board, announced that "the elections to become the next president" of Barcelona will be on July 18. The voting will take place between 9am and 9pm at Camp Nou, with Adell saying there will be things going on to create a "party" atmosphere (SPORT ENGLISH, 6/10).
