An offer from League One side Peterborough United to buy back its stadium from the city council was rejected, club Chair Darragh MacAnthony revealed. Asked if the club was "any closer" to buying back the ABAX Stadium, he replied, "I made an excellent offer but it was turned down. More on that later in week" (PETERBOROUGH TODAY, 1/16).
National League side Eastleigh is "ready to unveil the next stage" of its ground development at the end of the month. The club earmarked its home game against Hartlepool United on Jan. 27 as the official opening of its new West Stand extension. Costing an estimated £750,000 ($1.03M), the extension incorporates a large gymnasium and treatment room for the players and a football management office (SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO, 1/16).
A Primeira Liga match was abandoned at halftime and "spectators evacuated on to the pitch after cracks appeared in a stand." Estoril was leading 1-0 at home against Porto on Monday when away fans were "ordered from one of the stands at the Antonio Coimbra da Mota Stadium." According to broadcaster Sport TV, "one of the stand pillars had cracks of around 2cm" (BBC, 1/16).
