Turkey announced "an ambitious bid backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan" to host Euro 2024, "brushing off concerns over security and infrastructure." Turkey in '14 withdrew its bid to host final stage matches of Euro 2020 -- which "uniquely will be held across Europe" -- in favor of "focusing on a one country bid" for '24. Turkish Football Federation President Yildirim Demiroren said that the bid would be "formally presented to UEFA on March 2." Sports Minister Akif Cagatay Kilic said that Turkey now has the "best stadium infrastructure in Europe and its only rival in terms of recently built venues" is the U.S (AFP, 2/15).
Eight Iranian girls who "disguised themselves as boys to attend a football match despite an official ban were prevented from entering the stadium," an official was quoted as saying Tuesday. Iran argued that its ban on women attending football matches in the same stadiums as men is "necessary to protect them from lewd language that might emanate from the terraces." Women have been "barred from sporting stadiums" in Iran since the '79 Islamic revolution (MIDDLE EAST ONLINE, 2/14).
The FA announced Premier League side West Ham Manager Slaven Bilic and his assistant Nikola Jurcevic have both been fined £8,000 ($9,950) "after admitting misconduct charges." Bilic and Jurcevic each accepted the "standard penalty" in relation to incidents during last Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Brom. The pair "escaped possible touchline bans" (SKY SPORTS, 2/15).
FIFA has begun formal proceedings against former Costa Rican FA President Eduardo Li and ex-Guatemalan FA President Brayan Jimenez, with "lifelong bans from any football-related activity recommended." Li and Jimenez both pleaded guilty last year to "corruption charges" as part of a FIFA probe (BBC, 2/15).
The Asian Football Confederation Disciplinary Committee issued a life ban from football-related activities to 22 individuals from Laos and Cambodia for involvement in the manipulation of matches involving the representative teams of Laos and club side Lao Toyota (AFC).
