Spain's anti-violence commission has fined Barcelona €66,000 ($73,000) after the Catalan club's fans "booed the national anthem before the Copa del Rey final in May." Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona's opponent in the final, was also fined €18,000 ($20,000) for its fans' "part in the booing" while the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) was fined €123,000 ($136,000) (London GUARDIAN, 7/28). ... Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez decided to, in his words, "optimize" the club's youth program by eliminating its third team, releasing more than 40 youth players. Real Madrid C "disappeared from the Madrid organization." The decision means that "many players at the youth level will not be able to stay with Real Madrid" (EFE, 7/28). ... Spanish Football League (LFP) Dir of Integrity Esperanza Bernal said that the LFP is looking to implement mandatory codes of ethics for each club by the '16-17 season. Bernal: "We want to promote clean play not only on the field but also financially, and promote internal testing by the clubs. The idea is to show society a culture of transparency and integrity in the management" (EL PAÍS, 7/28).
