U.S. football player Abby Wambach said that FIFA "needs to do more to
develop women's football." The U.S.'s all-time leading scorer urged FIFA "to
give more financial backing." Wambach: "The growth of women's soccer
and women's sports all around the world has been slow. It [support] not
only has to come from FIFA, it needs to come from specific federations
around the world." Wambach, whose club side is the Western New York
Flash, also said she would be "open" to a future role within FIFA and
would like to see more women in the governing body (BBC, 3/8). ... Two Brasileiro sides' fan clubs, Torcida Organizada Young Flu and Torcida Organizada Força Jovem do Vasco, were suspended Friday from "stadiums during a yearlong period, in all national territories" as a result of violent conflicts at Rio's João Havelange stadium on Feb. 22. The Federal Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) and Judge Marcello Rubioli ruled the "removal of the fan clubs from locations that hold sporting events" with a R$20,000 ($6,500) fine per indentified member per event. Força Jovem do Vasco has already racked up a R$301,000 ($97,000) fine for "breaching the injunction" (LANCENET, 3/6).
IN SPAIN: Spanish national team Manager Vicente Del Bosque addressed the controversy surrounding "the fact that it still has not been determined where the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao will be held." He said, "There are two great finalists and the semifinals have been fantastic. The [Spanish Football] Federation and the clubs decided to be flexible regarding the decision to look for a venue, and this flexibility is good because it is not known who will reach the final" (EFE, 3/9). ... Former Spanish second division side Osasuna board member Angel Vizcay said that two Spanish tax authority officials will appear in a Navarra court to "address whether Hacienda officials knew about practices" at the club, which is facing accusations of match-fixing. Vizcay was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of being "linked to irregularities in the club's accounts" (EFE, 3/9).
