CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez confirmed that the federation wants South America to host the 2030 World Cup with a joint bid by Argentina and Uruguay. Domínguez confirmed that CONMEBOL wants to hold the World Cup in '30, and not '26, when it is "one of two continents, along with Africa, that is eligible to bid against the U.S., Canada and Mexico" (AP, 5/17).
Foreign players in Hong Kong will "find it tougher" to become a "local player" starting on July 1 following a new rule that will be implemented by the Hong Kong FA. Expat players will now need to hold a Hong Kong passport and give up their own nationality because the "Chinese government does not recognise dual nationality." It means that overseas players who have spent seven years residing in Hong Kong "would not be able to change their status and become a local player as before" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 5/18).
Argentine Minister of Sports Carlos Mac Allister announced on Wednesday in Beijing that his country and China agreed on a "collaboration program" to work on "the development of football" in the Asian country. Mac Allister: ''We are going to bring 150 Chinese youngsters to Argentina for a year, as well as coaches and physical therapists, to take classes." In return, Argentina will send 500 coaches and physical trainers to China (XINHUA, 5/18).
Captains of 12 Eredivisie teams asked the national federation and league organizers to "ban matches on artificial turf." Dirk Kuyt of Feyenoord and Davy Klaassen of Ajax "joined a protest by their national union." Players believe they "sustain more joint injuries and need more recovery time in switching from games on grass" (AP, 5/18).
A Swedish top-flight fixture between Gothenburg and AIK "has been postponed after an alleged match-fixing attempt." The Swedish FA claimed an AIK player was "offered a considerable sum" if he contributed to losing Thursday's Allsvenskan game. Police in Sweden "have started an investigation into the allegation" (BBC, 5/18).
