Members of the European Parliament called on FIFA on Friday to "act against Israeli clubs based in settlements in the occupied West Bank and prevent them from participating in officially sanctioned play." Sixty-six members of the 751-member European Parliament signed a letter addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino "urging action at next month's FIFA Council meetings." The five clubs the MEPs referred to as being in breach of FIFA rules "are all minor, non-professional outfits from the West Bank settlements of Maale Adumim, Ariel, Kiryat Arba, Givat Zeev and Bikat Hayarden (Jordan Valley)" (REUTERS, 9/9).
RACISM BAN: Russian club Rostov has "been hit with a partial stadium closure" for its next home Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven later this month. UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body found the club's supporters "guilty of racism during the second leg of their Champions League play-off against Ajax on Aug. 24." A total of 1,500 seats in the East Stand at the Olimp 2 Stadium will be closed during the match on Sept. 28 as part of the sanction (REUTERS, 9/9).
DOPING SUSPENSION: The Asian Football Confederation Disciplinary Committee provisionally suspended Jin Jingdao of Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng following the doping control conducted at the AFC Champions League quarterfinal first leg. Jin tested positive for clenbuterol before the match against Seoul on Aug. 23. Jin is now banned from taking part in any football-related activity for 60 days (AFC).
