FIFA sanctions have forced Barcelona to rescind the contracts of two of its youth players. Duch player Fode Fofana and Venezuelan Matías Lacava "played last season without a problem" for the club's Infantil A team, but Barcelona "has decided to break its connection with the players due to the regulations related to foreign youth players" (MARCA, 8/20). ... The traditional two-week winter break in La Liga will be reduced this season in a bid to ease fixture congestion ahead of next year's Euro 2016. An agreement between the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE), the Spanish Football League (LFP) and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) means a full round of fixtures will now take place on Dec. 30, with the final weekend of the season reverting back to its original date of May 15 (FIFA). ... Adidas agreed to a partnership with the Chinese education ministry to promote football in schools "as part of a campaign to support the sport at the grassroots as it goes head to head with Nike in the basketball-obsessed nation." The German sportswear maker said that it had signed a three-year deal to develop a football program for 20,000 primary and middle schools, train 50,000 teachers "and also support a national summer camp for more than 400 students" (REUTERS, 8/19). ... Hopes for a settlement of the dispute between Football Federation Australia and the players union "have buoyed after the parties met in Sydney" Thursday. Representatives of FFA and Professional Footballers Australia "held discussions for several hours." It appears that "they have made headway towards a new Collective Bargaining Agreement" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/21).
