FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that India is "a football boom waiting to happen." The country will host the 2017 U17 World Cup in October. Infantino "felt there is plenty of scope to develop the sport in India." He added, "Although football has been making considerable strides in the country for years now, there is a unanimous sense that the room for growth is still of gigantic proportions" (PTI, 8/29).
Bolivia lost its appeal against forfeiting two World Cup qualifying games for "fielding an ineligible player" on Tuesday, a ruling that "hurts Argentina's chances of qualifying." The Court of Arbitration for Sport said that FIFA was "right to hand 3-0 losses to Bolivia in games played last September against Chile and Peru." Because Chile and Bolivia originally drew 0-0, the CAS verdict "confirms the FIFA ruling that Chile is awarded an extra two points" (AP, 8/29).
The Korean FA said Tuesday that "more than 50,000 tickets have been sold" for South Korea's World Cup qualifier against Iran later this week. The KFA said that "some 54,000 tickets" were sold as of 3pm Tuesday. This is the "second-fastest pace for a national team match" since Oct. '13 (YONHAP, 8/29).
Polish side Legia Warsaw was fined €50,000 ($59,810) "for a fan banner criticizing UEFA." The club must also close the north stand of its stadium, "where the trademark pre-match displays are made by fans," when it next plays at home in the Champions League or Europa League. Legia fans displayed a giant banner of a UEFA badge with a pig and the slogan "And the 35,000 fine goes to..." at a Europa League game this month (AP, 8/29).
