Man City Manager Manuel Pellegrini said that the club's supporters "have the right to boo the Champions League anthem to express their dissatisfaction with European football's governing body."
UEFA "launched disciplinary proceedings against City under regulations concerning the 'disruption of the competition anthem'" after fans jeered while it was played before the Premier League club's 2-1 home win over Sevilla on Oct. 21. Pellegrini:
"I think everyone has the right to boo or protest on different things" (REUTERS, 11/3). ... As Indonesia "faces the grim prospect" of having no national football team at the Asian Games in '18 after being suspended by FIFA from int'l competitions, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo "will form a special team" to lobby FIFA to have the sanction lifted. The government’s determination "to find an amicable solution to the quagmire was expressed" during Jokowi’s meeting with visiting FIFA and Asian Football Confederation execs on Monday. Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki said that the president "would soon form a special team to work closely with FIFA in finding a solution on the status of the PSSI and eventually allow Indonesia to return to international tournaments" (JAKARTA POST, 11/3). ... The Nov. 13 friendly match between Belgium and Italy “sold out in less than four hours.” The Belgium FA (URBSFA) announced tickets went on sale at midnight Tuesday and in less than four hours “all of the seats had been spoken for” (LA MEUSE, 11/3).
