Belgian MEP Ivo Belet said that football needs to prove it "deserves" the exemptions from European Union law that the sport's transfer system "currently benefits from -- or risk losing such privileges." The paying of transfer fees "is just one of several aspects of law European teams do not have to conform to" and Belet -- who has fought the corruption that led to Sepp Blatter's suspension -- believes the European Commission "could consider revoking the advantages." Belet: "Transfer fees are an exemption from employment rules in the European Union. It's a ridiculous system a kind of modern, well-paid slavery. But football and car manufacturing aren't the same. Football has another dimension -- social and cultural. They have the right to some exemptions but they have to deserve them" (London EVENING STANDARD, 2/3). ... Dynamo Kiev had its UEFA sanctions for racist attacks by fans "cut on Tuesday, clearing the club to allow spectators in" when Man City visits in the Champions League. UEFA said its appeals committee reduced the Ukraine champion's punishment "from two closed-door matches to one." UEFA also halved Dynamo's fine to $55,000 (AP, 2/2).
IN SOUTH AMERICA: A member of CONMEBOL's disciplinary committee resigned on Tuesday and said South American football's reputation "has been tarnished further" after Boca Juniors' stadium ban for crowd violence was reduced from eight games to two. CONMEBOL Disciplinary Committee VP Adrian Leiza said that the ruling "was politically motivated" (REUTERS, 2/2). ... CONMEBOL announced that the clubs participating in the current Copa Libertadores will "see their revenue doubled for every game they host during the tournament's group stage." The clubs will receive $600,000 per home game instead of the $300,000 they received through last year's edition (AFP, 2/3). ... Argentina's national government announced that it reached an agreement with the Argentine FA to continue the Fútbol para Todos program. The parties agreed that during this year's Torneo de Transición the national government will pay the AFA a total of 761M Argentine pesos ($54M) (LOS ANDES, 2/3).
