Sam Allardyce called on the Premier League "to introduce a winter break on his first day as England manager."
Allardyce said that "it would benefit the national team to give players time off in December." Allardyce: "I've been an advocate of a mid-season break for about 10 years ... A break would help the players and would help the national team. January and February is always the most difficult period" (London DAILY MAIL, 7/25).
SAFETY FIRST: Turkey "has taken additional measures to ensure the safety of the AS Monaco team visiting Istanbul this week for a Champions League qualifying game against Fenerbahce after a failed coup attempt in the country." Turkey Sports Minister Akif Cagatay Kilic:
"Monaco demanded some extra security measures. We took these measures. We will make sure that their safety has the utmost guarantee."
Kilic said that Turkey "would react negatively to a potential Monaco demand to postpone the game, pointing to France hosting the Euro 2016 tournament under a state of emergency after militant attacks" (REUTERS, 7/25).
PAYING UP: Liverpool has been fined €16,000 ($17,600) by UEFA following crowd trouble before and during their UEFA Europa League final against Sevilla in Basel in May.
UEFA's Control, Ethics & Disciplinary Body "announced the sanction which related specifically to crowd disturbances, the setting off of fireworks, and an illicit banner."
Sevilla was fined €17,000 ($18,700) "for their part in the disturbances, which involved crowd disturbances and the throwing of objects" (RTE, 7/25).
