The Korean FA announced that South Korea's World Cup qualifier against Kuwait "has been cancelled due to the FIFA ban on the Gulf Nation," according to Hooyeon Kim of REUTERS. Kuwait was banned by the world governing body in October "over government interference in domestic football." A KFA official said that FIFA told the KFA "the game was to be cancelled unless the ban was lifted by March 10." The official said, "The time has passed and we haven't been notified by FIFA that the ban is lifted, so we decided to see the game as cancelled for now." It was "unclear how the match's points were to be awarded or what part Kuwait might play in the rest of the qualifying phase" (REUTERS, 3/11).
OUT ON BOND: REUTERS' McDermid & Rosenberg reported a former South American football boss who was arrested last year as part of a U.S. investigation into corruption in FIFA "won the right to be released from jail on Thursday" on a $7M bond. Former Venezuelan Football Federation President & CONMEBOL VP Rafael Esquivel "is accused by the U.S. Department of Justice of receiving bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of marketing rights to regional football tournaments." Esquivel, wearing prison issue khaki coveralls at a court hearing in front of Brooklyn federal judge Raymond Dearie, "was to be released to his son and daughter" after securing the bond with $2M in cash and 12 properties (REUTERS, 3/10)
RACIAL ABUSE: The AP reported in the latest racist incident involving Serie A side Lazio fans, UEFA charged the Italian club "after disruption at a Europa League match." Lazio fans reportedly "aimed racist chants at Sparta Prague defender Costa Nhamoinseu, who is black and from Zimbabwe." UEFA said that it charged Lazio with "racist behavior" by fans, plus "illicit chants" and displaying an offensive banner (AP, 3/11).
COSTA: In London, Chris Bascombe reported Chelsea striker Diego Costa will not face FA action "for an alleged bite on Gareth Barry after the Everton midfielder intervened on the striker’s behalf -- but he is under investigation for a series of other indiscretions following his red card at Goodison Park." Barry "stated publicly he was not bitten by Costa and the FA has swiftly determined there is no case to answer having been in contact with the Merseyside club." Costa’s "disciplinary issues do not end there, however, as the FA are reviewing several incidents after the Brazilian’s dismissal in the FA Cup quarterfinal at Goodison Park." They "include his conduct towards match referee Michael Oliver when he failed to leave the field of play immediately and an alleged gesture to the home fans following his sending-off." Both "could lead to extended bans" (TELEGRAPH, 3/13).
