Football Notes: Barcelona To Expand Asia Footprint, Open Hong Kong Office

FC Barcelona "agreed to lease space in a building in Hong Kong’s Central business district as European teams seek to expand their fan base in Asia." The team will occupy a floor of more than 3,000 square feet at 8 Queen’s Road Central (BLOOMBERG, 7/25). ... Serie A side Lazio "is facing the possibility" of a six-point deduction, and captain Stefano Mauri could be suspended for four-and-a-half years following the start of their match-fixing trial on Wednesday. Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi "has also asked" for Lazio to be fined €20,000 ($26,000) and for Genoa and Lecce "to be docked three points each" (CANADIAN PRESS, 7/24). ... Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, which is under new ownership, "announced that there will be a salary cap for players and staff, reducing salaries to below last season's levels." The highest wages of the top players will be about 15,000 leva ($9,900) per month (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 7/25).