ManU Manager José Mourinho was hit with a one-match touchline ban and fines totaling £58,000 ($72,200) over two FA misconduct charges. Mourinho will have to sit in the directors' box when ManU plays at Swansea City on Sunday after admitting "using abusive language" toward referee Mark Clattenburg in the tunnel during halftime of ManU's goalless draw with Burnley last weekend. The offense carried an £8,000 ($9,960) fine. He was also fined £50,000 ($62,300) for saying it would be difficult for referee Anthony Taylor "to have a very good performance" before ManU played at Liverpool last month (London DAILY MAIL, 11/3).
Jorge Pérez has announced he will run for president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and challenge his former boss, incumbent Ángel María Villar. Villar has been president of the RFEF since '88 and "has already confirmed he will run for an eighth successive term" after failing in his bid to become UEFA president in September. Pérez, who was dismissed by Villar as RFEF secretary general on Oct. 11, said, "I believe Villar can be beaten although it will be difficult" (ESPN.com, 11/3).
La Liga side Valencia "has asked for the suspension" of the €23.3M ($25.9M) payment demanded by the EU. The payment was demanded after the club "received illegal state aid" and is due on Sunday. Valencia has presented an appeal to the EU and the Spanish court (EFE, 11/2).
