Jersey "is to make a bid" to join UEFA and play int'l football.
The Channel Island, "which has a population of around 100,000, is hoping to follow Gibraltar and take part in European Championship qualifiers."
Jersey "is currently classed as a county" by the FA.
Under UEFA rules, non-sovereign nations "cannot be members, but the Jersey FA said earlier this summer it was hopeful of changing the European football governing body's mind" (BBC, 12/9). ... Sixteen fans "have reportedly been arrested, three charged and 65 held for identification after clashes" between Serie A side Napoli and Legia fans on Wednesday.
The two clubs "face off in their final Europa League match on Thursday" but there were reports on Wednesday of trouble (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 12/10). ... Russian President Vladimir Putin "called for reforms to Russian football at Tuesday's meeting of the president's council for sports" and the 2018 World Cup organizing committee. Putin criticized the existing system of football administration and "called on the national squad to represent the country at the 2018 World Cup with dignity."
The president "also offered to prepare a nation-wide development strategy through to 2030." Putin:
"It's obvious that a clear-cut program of actions is needed" (AFP, 12/9). ... Real Madrid is out of this season's Copa del Rey after its appeal against expulsion was rejected by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The club was "thrown out of the tournament for fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev" in the first leg of its last-32 tie with Cadiz (BBC, 12/10).
