The Valencian Institute of Finances (IVF) "has made the strongest push in the auction" of Spanish third-tier club Hércules' Rico Pérez stadium, with an offer of €3.75M ($4M) to take over the stadium as part of the liquidation process of the facility's owner. The takeover "is pending confirmation from a court in Alicante" (EFE, 2/6).
Serie A side AS Roma "will hold a meeting with government officials," as the club looks to have "barriers removed from Stadio Olimpico." Since the start of last season, "plexiglass barriers have bisected both the Curva Sud and Lazio’s Curva Nord." As a result, "ultras from both clubs have been boycotting the stadium, despite pleas to return." The aim is to "secure the removal of the barriers, thus allowing the fans to return to the stadium" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 2/7).
The Confederation of African Football said that "it will take greater control over pitches at Africa Cup of Nations to avoid poor playing surfaces." The pitches at this year's finals in Gabon "came in for heavy criticism, with the state of the turf in Port Gentil blamed by then-Ghana coach Avram Grant as responsible for causing injuries to players." CAF Secretary General Hicham El Amrani said, "That is a lesson for us to make sure we have better control of better management in future" (BBC, 2/7).
The Plymouth City Airport leaseholder released new plans for a £200M ($250.3M) housing development site, including a veterans' rehabilitation village and a multi-sports arena. The "new city quarter" would have "walkable neighbourhoods connected by communal green spaces, allotments, squares and a tree-lined semi-pedestrianised boulevard." A village high street of shops and restaurants is "planned to wind past a primary school, hotel and community hall" (PLYMOUTH HERALD, 2/7).
