An "explosion overnight damaged the offices of an insurance company" owned by the president of the Cyprus FA, Kostakis Koutsokoumnis, who is in the center of an "intense discussion over penalties" for teams suspected of match-fixing, police said. They said that "a high explosive device placed against the door" of an insurance company in Limassol, owned by Koutsokoumnis, went off, causing "extensive damage to the lobby of the office." A "similar explosion" occurred outside Koutsokoumnis' business four years ago. No one "has been arrested for that incident." A police source said that investigators "are looking into the possibility that the explosion is connected to a probe" carried out by UEFA into allegedly fixed matches (XINHUA, 11/17).
A ManU supporter "has been banned from attending matches for three years after attempting to sell a ticket online." The fan "is thought to have advertised a stub" for the away Europa League fixture with Fenerbahce on social media. ManU told all supporters before this season started that "tickets offered for re-sale" would constitute a three-year suspension. It is a "level four offence," with only "abusive and aggressive" behavior toward those in a "working capacity" or any other criminal activity deemed worthy of "harsher sanctions" (London DAILY MAIL, 11/17).
Brasileiro side Gremio has been punished after the daughter of coach Renato Gaucho "invaded the pitch" after the team won a domestic cup semifinal. Carolina Portaluppi, 22, "sat on the bench for the closing stages, before joining the on-field celebrations." Brazil's Superior Court of Sporting Justice told the club it "must play the final's second leg away from home." Gremio was also fined R$30,000 ($8,800) (BBC, 11/17).
Former Scottish Premiership side Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has been handed a one-match suspension by the Scottish FA after admitting to breaching football betting rules. The 34-year-old "left the Ibrox club last week" when his contract was terminated following a dressing room row with Manager Mark Warburton and subsequent club suspension. A disciplinary tribunal convened at Hampden Park to consider whether Barton had breached Disciplinary Rule 31 by placing wagers on 44 football matches between July 1 and Sept. 15 (HERALD SCOTLAND, 11/17).
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the body tasked with making the preparations and hosting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is "on course to deliver all projects on time, despite the changing economic scenario following the fall in crude oil prices." SC Secretary General Hassan al-Thawadi said, "Of course, our budget is assigned by the government. But we were already working towards reducing our expenses. And this was before the oil prices went down. So when the slide happened, we had already taken significant steps towards adjusting our budgets" (GULF TIMES, 11/17).
