Former Scottish Championship side Rangers players "locked in dispute with the club over unpaid holiday pay have dropped their case." Ian Black, Richard Foster, Kyle Hutton and Steve Simonsen had "claimed that their former employers had not allowed them to use 35 days of annual leave entitlement, and had also failed to pay them for holidays not taken." It is not yet clear "whether the four have reached a settlement with the club over the unpaid monies" (STV, 3/24).
PAYING RESPECT: The FA has "paid its respects to the victims of Tuesday's terror attacks in Brussels by lighting up Wembley Stadium's arch" in the colors of the Belgian flag. At least 31 people were killed and 300 injured after suicide bombings at Zaventem Airport and Maelbeek Metro station. As a tribute to the victims and to show solidarity with Belgium, Wembley's 315m long arch was "lit in black, red and yellow" Wednesday evening (London DAILY MAIL, 3/24).
FOOTBALL BRIEFS ...
Local authorities in Morocco have banned the activities of "ultra" fan groups following Saturday's riot in Casablanca that "left three people dead and 54 reported to have been injured." Rival Raja Casablanca fan groups "fought among themselves after their side's 2-1 victory over Chabab Rif Al Hoceima." Fans will "still be allowed at the Mohammed V stadium." However, items "such as flares and banners are expected to be prohibited under the new ruling" (BBC, 3/24).
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter will "reportedly attend the 2018 World Cup finals as a guest of Russian President Vladimir Putin." Blatter is serving a six-year ban from all football related activities -- "meaning he can only attend football matches as a paying member of the public." According to a report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Blatter "has written to accept Putin's offer to be his guest of honour for the 2018 finals" (SKY SPORTS, 3/24).
