Arsenal players "will lose bonuses worth millions if they fail to qualify for the Champions League" for the first time since '97. Manager Arsène Wenger's club is currently fifth, five points behind Liverpool in fourth, with two games in hand. It is also understood "some players could be forced to accept pay cuts" if Arsenal misses out on "Europe's elite club competition." Last season, Arsenal received £46.7M from UEFA for reaching the round of 16 (London DAILY MAIL, 3/14).
National Rugby League side Manly Sea Eagles Owner Scott Penn "issued support" for new CEO Tim Cleary "amid an escalating power struggle" with Head of Football Bob Fulton, saying that the former school principal had been given a mandate to be "across everything," including the club's football department. Cleary "put himself on a collision course" with Fulton after making the former player's daughter, Kristie, "part of his staff clean-out, and indicating a desire to have jurisdiction over football matters as he seeks to make his mark at Brookvale." Penn's backing of Cleary "could potentially spell the end for Fulton at the Sea Eagles" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/15).
Real Madrid is to open its first football school in England as "part of a partnership with a school in Croydon, south London." Former Real Madrid player Emilio Butragueño is set to open the "social sport school" at The Cedars School later this month. The Real Madrid Foundation "runs such schools across the world" (London DAILY MAIL, 3/15).
ManU has been charged by the FA with "failing to control" its players during Monday's FA Cup quarterfinal defeat at Chelsea. Referee Michael Oliver was "surrounded" by several ManU players after sending off midfielder Ander Herrera 10 minutes before halftime (BBC, 3/14).
