Polish FA Chair Zbigniew Boniek said that Russia "should be stripped of hosting the 2018 World Cup because of the conflict with Ukraine." Boniek: "Hosting the World Cup in Russia is a disastrous mistake, it's a country engaged in war, who invaded another country" (London GUARDIAN, 5/21). ... Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia has "failed to get licenses for European club competitions and for the domestic championship in Bulgaria." Three other clubs -- Lokomotiv Sofia, Marek Dupnitsa and Haskovo -- also failed to get licenses. The decisions for Marek and Haskovo "are not fatal as both clubs have already been relegated from the top division in Bulgaria." But
the situation for CSKA Sofia and Lokomotiv Sofia is "considerably more
serious -- both clubs have one week time to appeal the decision and make
themselves compliant" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 5/21). ... To "guarantee the safety of the fans" at the quarterfinal Copa Libertadores match between Argentine first division side River Plate and Brasileiro side Cruzeiro on Thursday, 1,650 security professionals were "escalated" to the Monumental de Nuñez stadium. Of those, 1,100 are police, 500 are "professionals from a private company and 50 security guards from the Argentine club will be on duty in the stadium" (BAHIA NOTÍCIAS, 5/20).
