Three visitors to FC Barcelona's museum, Alex Jiménez and his two sons, Estanis and Dídac, 10 and 7, respectively, "became the 25 millionth visitors to the FC Barcelona Museum" on Saturday. The museum was inaugurated in '84. The three then "enjoyed an exclusive tour" of the museum (EL PERIODICO, 1/5). ... An investigator that has been working with FIFA to investigate match-fixing scandals around the world said that "a Singaporean crime syndicate tried to infiltrate the lucrative world of the J.League by contacting one of the clubs." The unnamed "but powerful team refused to cooperate with the fixers" (JAPAN DAILY PRESS, 1/3). ... The League Managers Association has accused former FA Chair David Bernstein of making "misguided, unhelpful and inflammatory" comments over the behavior of its members. Bernstein said that managers were setting a "terrible example" to both players and supporters with their conduct on the touchline. In a statment, the LMA said, "We believe the comments are misguided, and unhelpful" (LONDON TIMES, 1/3). ... Football Federation Australia has announced A-League clubs Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory "will be stripped of three competition points should their fans misbehave again this season." The two clubs "have been charged with bringing the game into disrepute regarding clashes between their fans" last week. It "is the first time a points deduction has been threatened in the A-League" (CANBERRA TIMES, 1/4). ... Six football players from Hong Kong First Division club Happy Valley were taken away by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Sunday night "after their match against Sunray Cave Sun Hei at Tsing Yi Sports Ground." The six players "were seen each taken separately into a private car." It "was unknown whether the ICAC's action was related to an alleged match-fixing involving mainland defender, Li Ming" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 1/5). ... South Africa, the host of the African Nations Championship that kicks off Saturday, faces the "embarrassment of not being able to get all their own first choice players on to the pitch for Bafana Bafana as leading club Kaiser Chiefs are refusing to release five players." The competition is not recognized by FIFA "as being a mandatory event for the release of players from their club sides." Kaiser Chiefs has said that its players "would not be available for the first two weeks of the tournament" while it completes its league season and its attempt to retain its championship title (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 1/3).
