Argentine FA President Claudio Tapia and Argentine Players' Association (FAA) Secretary Sergio Marchi agreed that clubs in debt to their players will not start the upcoming Superliga season when it begins on Aug. 25. This conclusion was reached following a meeting with Superliga CEO Mariano Elizondo (LOS ANDES, 8/15).
Widespread reports that Iran had banned two members of the national squad for breaking the sporting boycott of Israel were "refuted by the Iranian FA" over the weekend in a letter to FIFA, according to the Iranian Student News Agency. The allegations against Iran, followed a reported comment by Iran Deputy Sports Minister Mohammad Reza Davarzani on Iranian TV saying that "it is certain that Masoud Shojaei and Ehsan Haji Safi will never be invited to join the national football team because they violated the red line" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 8/15).
Players were forced to leave the pitch during Hertha Berlin's German Cup first round game at Hansa Rostock" after fans let off flares and fireworks." Third-tier Hansa said that a flare was set off from the away end "shortly after half-time, before the game was later suspended for 10 minutes" (BBC, 8/14).
