The lowest-paid footballers in La Liga will earn 21% more starting next season as part of a collective bargaining agreement between the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) and the Spanish Football League (LFP). The new contract will take effect in July and last through June '20. The minimum guaranteed monthly salary for a La Liga player will be €6,500 ($7,000), up from the previous minimum of €5,375 ($5,850) (20 MINUTOS, 12/8). ... Phillip Chiyangwa "won the race" for the Zimbabwe FA presidency. Chiyangwa beat other presidential candidates -- Trevor Caresle-Juul, Leslie Gwindi and former national team player James Takavada -- "at an extraordinary general meeting held at the Zifa Village in Mount Hampden near Harare" on Saturday. Chiyangwa, who was supposed to poll at least 37 votes to win the election on the first goal, "surpassed the mark, bagging 40 votes, while Juul came second with 13 votes" (THE STANDARD, 12/6).
NOT SATISFIED: China Deputy Sports Minister Feng Jianzhong said that China "is working hard to overcome football's negative image following years of corruption scandals and a stagnation in player development." He said, "There have been major efforts made in Chinese football in recent years and while there have been some positive results, the people are still not satisfied." Feng said that "the government planned to promote anti-corruption measures and increase punishments for wrongdoers, while introducing improved regulations and education" (REUTERS, 12/8).
IN CHILE: Chilean authorities decided to once again suspend the first division game between Colo Colo and Santiago Wanderers after the Valparaíso, Chile Government received threats from Wanderers fans "who warned that they would attack the Colo Colo buses on the way to the stadium." Valparaíso Governor Omar Jara said that the match, which had been rescheduled for Wednesday, "will not be played" (DPA, 12/8). ... Beyond the security protocols implemented for games that are considered high-risk, violence at Sunday's Colo Colo-Santiago Wanderers match "obligated the government to to take action on the subject." Chile's government decided that future games that are declared high-risk will be played "behind closed doors, without spectators" (MARCA, 12/7).
