Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega is "considering standing as a candidate" in the FIFA presidential election. FIFA's exec committee meets on Tuesday to "discuss whether to postpone February's presidential election." Vega: "I come without baggage and I have substantial experience from both football and in finance" (BBC, 10/18). ... The president of the Malaysian football champions called on FIFA "to investigate the local football association (FAM), saying they had failed to tackle corruption and were hoarding broadcast revenues from the clubs." Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim said that the FAM "were culpable for the country's slide to a worst-ever FIFA ranking of 171st" after a record 10-0 loss to the UAE last month. He said, "Maybe FIFA should question them or something like that as it is not healthy" (REUTERS, 10/19). ... French President François Hollande condemned the "proselytism" in sporting clubs in France leading young players "to the path of fanaticism." Hollande promised to "prohibit such practices and convict the perpetrators." The president was responding to a recent note from the Central Service of Territorial Intelligence (SCRT) on the activity of "radical Islamists observed in sporting associations in certain neighborhoods in France." Hollande: "Sport is an exceptional school to fight against violence and fanaticism, until it is hijacked, and this is where we need to intervene" (20MINUTES, 10/19).
IN SPAIN: Barcelona has "once again been punished by UEFA" because of the pro-Catalan flags that were on display at the Camp Nou during the club's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen on Sept. 29. The punishment is a €40,000 ($45,300) fine. The previous UEFA sanction was linked to the "same issue" as "politically charged flags" were waved in the Barcelona section of the Olympiastadion in Berlin for the Champions League final against Juventus in June (MARCA, 10/19). ... The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body decided on Monday to fine Atlético Madrid €11,000 ($12,455) and Portugal's Benfica €20,000 ($22,643) for their fans' "violations" during the Champions League match on Sept. 30 at the Vicente Calderón. CEDB announced in a statement on its official website that the Spanish club was fined for "blocking stairways," while the Portuguese club was penalized for "crowd disturbances," "setting off fireworks" and "racist behavior" (EFE, 10/19).
