Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund fans "are to pay tribute to the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster when they visit Anfield a day ahead of the tragedy's 27th anniversary." Dortmund faces Liverpool on Thursday in the second leg of its Europa League quarterfinal "after last week's meeting ended 1-1."
This week's match "comes a day before the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster when 96 Liverpool fans died on April 15, 1989, during the club's FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest" (ESPN, 4/13).
La Liga side Espanyol has been fined €24,002 ($27,000) for its fans' display of a banner "insulting Colombian pop star Shakira during a Copa del Rey game against Barcelona in January." Barcelona and Espanyol "met three times in early January across La Liga and the Copa, with bad-tempered behaviour culminating in supporters at Cornella-El Prat displaying a home-made banner which read 'Shakira es de todos'" during Barca's 2-0 Copa del Rey last 16 second leg victory on Jan. 13.
In Spanish this translates literally as "Shakira belongs to us all" and "was widely interpreted as a sexist insult against the wife of Barcelona defender Gerard Pique" (ESPN, 4/13).
UEFA "opened disciplinary proceedings" against Man City.
It "comes after fireworks were set off" during Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final victory over Paris St. Germain at Etihad Stadium (BBC, 4/13).
FIFA reached a deal with the Greek government and Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) "to restart the national cup competition and avoid an international ban."
The country risked suspension from int'l football if the government's decision to scrap the Greek Cup because of crowd violence was not reversed, and "they were handed an April 15 deadline." An agreement "was reached ahead of the deadline" after a FIFA delegation met Greek Deputy Minister for Sport Stavros Kontonis and EPO officials in Athens for talks (REUTERS, 4/12).
Premier League side Aston Villa canceled this season's player of the year awards "with the club facing relegation." Villa is nine points "adrift at the bottom of the Premier League" having won just three games all campaign and could go down on Saturday. A club spokesperson said, "In the current circumstances, we are sure our supporters will understand" (BBC, 4/13).
