Chechen linesman Musa Kadyrov was banned for life on Monday after assaulting a player in a Russian league football match. The incident "occurred at the end of Sunday's reserve game in Grozny between Amkar Perm and local side Terek when a raging Kadyrov dropped his flag and ran on to the pitch, attacking startled Amkar defender Ilya Krichmar" (REUTERS, 4/29). ... Real Madrid President Florentino Perez "has prohibited his players from signing shirts without the club’s permission, except for events organized by the club or by express request." The reason behind the decision is that ex-Telefonica Media President Manuel Garcia-Duran "controls the exclusive rights to items featuring the signatures of Real Madrid players." However, the report goes on to say that the Real Madrid players "completely ignore the ban and sign shirts, balls and photos, albeit discreetly" (INSIDE SPANISH FOOTBALL, 4/29). ... Brazil's government condemned the behavior of fans on Sunday after dozens of caxirolas -- Brazil's official 2014 World Cup instrument -- "were thrown onto the pitch during a stadium test event." An estimated 30,000 fans were handed their own caxirola -- a type of plastic maraca -- "before the local derby between Bahia and Vitoria at the newly opened Fonte Nova stadium." But the shaker "was turned into a projectile by scores of irate Bahia fans as their team trailed 2-0 just before half-time" (XINHUA, 4/28). ... Man City announced that the famous silver EPL trophy "has visited 16 countries during City's reign as champions" -- and helped to raise more than £45,000 ($70,000) for charity. The trophy won by City "has visited 74 official supporters clubs worldwide, 67 schools and attended more than 600 events, the majority of them fundraisers" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 4/28).
