The Stade de Lyon will host a UEFA club competition final for the first time after being named as the venue for the '17-18 UEFA Europa League final. The stadium was opened earlier this year in advance of Euro 2016, where it staged six matches. It is also scheduled to hold the opening game and the final of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The Europa League final will take place on May 16, 2018. The other '18 club finals will be hosted by Kiev (UEFA Champions League) and Tallinn (UEFA Super Cup) (UEFA).
Romanian Liga 1 side Astra head coach Marius Sumudica "has decided not to take charge" of Süper Lig side Gaziantepspor, despite agreeing terms with the Turkish club, after seeing footage of the Istanbul bombing on Saturday." Two bombs "exploded less than a minute apart, killing 29 people and wounding 166." Sumudica was "due to fly to Turkey late on Saturday to sign his contract but changed his mind" (REUTERS, 12/11).
La Liga "suspended an assistant referee for two weeks after he was too friendly with Barcelona players during El Clasico." Radio station Cadena SER reported Pau Norbert Cebrian Devis was "reprimanded for his conduct in the tunnel by the home changing rooms" where a report from a refereeing committee said "he had been talking to players before the game." Real Madrid players "did not launch an official complaint but were critical of referee Carlos Clos Gomez and his team" (London DAILY MAIL, 12/12).
