FIFA has provided funds worth $500,000 "to build infrastructure" to update a football academy in Pyongyang, North Korea.
The Int'l School of Football "opened earlier this year and has been training North Korean youths between the ages of 6 and 13" (KOREA HERALD, 10/31). ... The 2014 Thai Premier League season "will kick off on Feb. 15 and end on Nov. 2." There "will be 20 teams, two more than the current season" (BANGKOK POST, 10/31). ... FIFA said that "it was postponing the second round of ticket sales for next year's World Cup to comply with a request by Brazilian authorities to monitor the process." FIFA said on its website, "In order to ensure the Brazilian authorities' involvement in supervising the procedures for the allocation of tickets following the first sales period, FIFA have had to postpone the draw" (SOWETAN LIVE, 10/31). ... The Yaroslavl region interior ministry head said that police "detained 78 football fans in connection with crowd violence during the Russian Cup match between Shinnik Yaroslavl and Spartak Moscow on Wednesday." Spartak fans "threw flares and smoke bombs before the match and during the first half with the situation worsening a few minutes after the break when visiting supporters clashed with riot police, ripping out seats and hurling them onto the pitch" (REUTERS, 10/31). ... Egypt has "been cleared by FIFA to host the World Cup playoff return match against Ghana in Cairo despite safety concerns."
The Ghana FA had urged FIFA to find "a safe and secure venue" on neutral territory for the Nov. 19 game following recent violence in the Egyptian capital.
However, FIFA on Wednesday "confirmed Cairo as the venue after a visit by inspectors and a demand that Egypt provide security guarantees, it said in a letter to both countries released by the Ghana FA" (REUTERS, 10/30).
