Slovakia Minister of Education, Science, Research & Sport Juraj Draxler said that Slovakia's government is "aiming to complete the construction of a new national football stadium" in '17. The sports facility "will be located in the country's capital Bratislava," and it is estimated that its construction will cost €68M ($74.6M). This would represent a "major increase" on the initial estimate of €45M ($49.4M) but, according to the Slovak minister, "the first estimate related only to the construction work, and not on other related costs" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 10/29). ... The "path is clear" for Football Federation Australia to schedule A-League finals at Etihad Stadium as it "sees fit after the AFL left the venue free on certain dates in April and May next year." Etihad has been kept free on May 1, the date on which the '15-16 A-League grand final "will be played." Melbourne Victory won hosting rights to last season's decider, but the FFA was denied access to Etihad Stadium -- its preferred venue -- "because of a fixture kerfuffle with the AFL" (HERALD SUN, 10/29).
