Football Notes: Barcelona President Defends Decision Not To Appeal UEFA Fine

FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu "has defended the decision not to appeal the penalty" of €30,000 ($32,700) that UEFA "imposed on the club for the display of Catalan independence flags by fans at the end of Champions League final last June." Bartomeu said that Barcelona "will be firm but cool-headed." He said, "We will use all the legal and diplomatic options we have." Bartomeu stated that the decision not to appeal the UEFA fine is not "out of weakness" and said that the independence symbols "also belong to the team, not just the fans" (ZEE NEWS, 8/6). ... At least four of the 12 Scottish Premiership clubs "are in favour of summer football," a survey has found. Business advisers BDO "surveyed clubs in the Scottish Premiership and the top four English football leagues." All four Scottish respondents "backed the idea of summer football," compared with just 15% in the English Premiership and 12% in the English Championship (SCOTSMAN, 8/6).