Football Federation Australia defended its decision to slash all Futsalroos funding for the next year, calling the move a "necessary short-term measure" amid "wider cost-cutting." Players and staff of the national team program have been informed they will "receive no funding from FFA" for the '17-18 financial year. FFA said that it intends to resume the program in '17-18, when Australia will attempt to qualify for the 2020 Futsal World Cup (AAP, 7/5).
Russian Deputy PM Vitaly Mutko said that "as many as 1 million tourists are expected to visit the country" during the 2018 World Cup. Mutko "summarized the results" of the recent 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia's State Duma on Tuesday (RT, 7/4).
Four match officials were attacked after a "controversial draw" in the Chinese second division on Saturday. Baoding Rongda was leading 2-1 when referee Huang Xiang awarded Wuhan Zall a penalty during seven minutes of stoppage time. The referee was reportedly "confronted by players and staff at the final whistle, fans threw objects and there was a power cut at the stadium." Police and the Chinese FA are investigating (BBC, 7/5).