EPL side Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood said that foreign players "currently offer English clubs better value for money than domestic footballers." Villa has signed nine players this summer, "including six foreign nationals." Sherwood: "If it (English talent) was better than the
foreign talent, then we would have gone that route, but it's not. The
value for money is on the foreign market" (REUTERS, 8/13). ... The Russian Football Union said on Thursday that Spartak Moscow has been fined $3,080 after its fans "displayed a banner with a Nazi symbol during a Russian Premier League match against Krylia Sovetov." Spartak fans were "also accused of offensive behaviour during the league match against Ufa in July" (REUTERS, 8/13). ... Fans "can now submit video evidence of racist abuse" through the enhanced Kick It Out app, making reporting discriminatory behavior on matchdays a "more straighforward process." Campaign group Kick It Out has updated its smartphone app to "make it easier for users to provide evidence of racist incidents at football matches" (GOAL, 8/13). ... Spanish national team Manager Vicente del Bosque has "criticized the decision" of Spain's Superior Sports Council (CSD) to ratify the changes to the La Liga schedule put forward by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), "which will see the end of the domestic competition put back a week." Del Bosque on Thursday warned that the move "could affect the national team's preparations for the European Championships in France next summer" (EP, 8/13).
