FIFA's ethics judges "announced Saturday the extension of Thai football chief Worawi Makudi's temporary suspension for 45 more days, over allegations of an ethics breach." A statement pointed out that the 90-day suspension imposed on Worawi on Oct. 7 "would expire at midnight, and said the additional 45-day-suspension would begin immediately after that, on Sunday." The court provided no further details, but in October it said Worawi was suspected of "a breach of the Code of Ethics" (AFP, 1/9). ... Paris St. Germain became "embroiled in a row with the London-born rapper M.I.A after she wore a modified version of the club’s shirt in one of her music videos." Via Twitter, the 40-year-old "revealed a letter sent to her record company, Universal Music, by Jean Claude Blanc, PSG’s deputy CEO, last month complaining about the fact she can be seen in the video for Borders, a song about the global migrants crisis, wearing a white PSG shirt with the words ‘Fly Pirates’ across the middle, as opposed to ‘Fly Emirates,’ the French club’s sponsor."
Blanc’s letter requests a total halt to the broadcasting of any images or clips which show M.I.A. in the modified shirt as well as compensation for "the harm we have suffered." Given M.I.A has tweeted images of the letter, and Universal have yet to block online access to the video, it suggests that "neither is taking the threat from PSG too seriously" (London GUARDIAN, 1/11). ... Kazakhstan’s football federation "will be giving the fans of the national team a unique chance to help select a new coach for the national team through an Internet vote, it was announced on Monday."
Football Federation of Kazakhstan President Yerlan Kozhagapanov said that
football lovers "will first be able to cast ballots in an online poll to decide if the next national manager should be foreign or Kazakh."
If more than 50,000 people participate "then the result will be considered valid and the federation will then hold a second round of voting to decide between four candidates" (AFP, 1/11). ... Scottish Premiership side Celtic banned three fans over the use of pyrotechnics during its Scottish Cup clash with Stranraer, claiming their actions "caused embarrassment" to the club.
The start of the match at Stair Park "was briefly delayed due to objects being thrown onto the playing surface, with players forced to wait in the tunnel."
Tony McGlennan "will now review any evidence available to him before deciding how to proceed" (STV, 1/11). ... A bus carrying amateur football players and fans "plunged into a river after careening off a bridge in eastern Mexico on Sunday, leaving at least 21 people dead."
Another 30 "were injured in the crash in the municipality of Atoyac in the eastern state of Veracruz."
A preliminary investigation "found that the bus was speeding" (AFP, 1/11).
TEBAS ADDRESSES TWEET: Spanish Football League (LFP) President Javier Tebas said that he is "bothered" by Barcelona's involvement in the political situation in Catalonia. After Barcelona tweeted from its official account congratulating pro-secession politician Carles Puigdemont on being elected as the leader of Catalonia, Tebas said, "This message from Barcelona surprised me a lot. I do not approve it, because above all it congratulates a person, Carles Puigdemont, who is pushing to break the unity of Spain" (AS, 1/11).
