Man City captain Vincent Kompany "believes it is a joke" that UEFA is investigating the club "over the booing of the Champions League anthem." Man City were reported to the European governing body under regulations concerning the "disruption of the competition anthem" after fans jeered during its playing prior to last month's home game against Sevilla. Man City fans "have had a number of issues" with UEFA in the past. Kompany thinks Man City fans "have every right to protest in the way they have and points out players sometimes have to deal with far worse booing." Kompany: "It's a joke. We have played many games in Europe where there has been racial abuse and we have had to put up with it" (INDEPENDENT, 11/2). ... Former Portuguese int'l Luis Figo, who bid for the FIFA presidency last time round until withdrawing before the ballot, "has given his backing to UEFA stand-in candidate Gianni Infantino for the February 26 vote." Infantino is "unlikely to stay in the race if the suspended Michel Platini is cleared in time to run." But Figo said that the UEFA general secretary "is the best man for the job" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 11/2). ... Italian Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malago condemned Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Carlo Tavecchio, but has "no requirement" to intervene. Tavecchio was "caught-up in a racism storm," and this weekend recordings emerged of him "making homophobic and anti-Semitic remarks." Malago: "The words which emerged through the audio recording are unacceptable and should be condemned" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 11/2).
