Just days before Gabon hosts the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, the state of league football in the country has been described as "anarchic." In December, four local teams boycotted games in protest over unpaid wages. Gabon's footballers' union (ANFPG) said, "The situation is a result of bad management, and a lack of control and accountability in the management of clubs and football institutions." The ANFPG hopes the Nations Cup can "improve local players' conditions." The union said that many first and second division players are still owed "substantial" salaries from last year (BBC, 1/12).
A police watchdog said that British prosecutors are "to consider whether criminal charges should be brought against 23 suspects over the 1989 Hillsborough soccer stadium disaster in which 96 fans died." The Liverpool supporters died "in a crush in an overcrowded, fenced-in enclosure" at the Hillsborough ground in Sheffield, northern England, at an FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest. It remains Britain's "worst sporting disaster." Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said that it "would consider charges including gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office against the 23 unnamed suspects" (REUTERS, 1/12).
League Two side Plymouth Argyle Manager Derek Adams said that the FA "should not change how it distributes FA Cup money to clubs." The FA plans to increase prize money, but could introduce a "unity" payment to split funds more equally. Clubs receive an extra payment each time a tie in which they are involved is televised live, meaning some earn "much more money than others." Adams, whose side has earned £1M ($1.22M) from this season's FA Cup, said, "I think it should be the same as it is now" (BBC, 1/12).
The independent review into allegations of child abuse in football has "made its first call for evidence." Set up by the FA and led by Clive Sheldon QC, the review has written to all football clubs in England and Wales, amateur and professional, "asking for information about allegations of child sexual abuse" between '70 and '05. The clubs have until March 15 to respond but the review is also inviting any individuals with information to send it by email to footballsportresolutions.co.uk (PA, 1/11).
Germany and Bayern Munich footballer Jérôme Boateng has been "taken to court over an unpaid deposit" of €250,000 ($265,300). A laywer representing the German int'l was in Munich's district court on Wednesday "over the unpaid bill of a quarter of a million euros, plus tax -- a deposit on a villa in the Bavarian capital." The estate agent who took Boateng to court offered to reduce the sum to €220,000 ($233,500), which Boateng's lawyer rejected, while "the judge has suggested the matter be settled" for €185,000 ($196,300). Now, "both parties have three weeks to accept the compromise" (ARAB NEWS, 1/12).
