Starting in '19, the final of the Copa Libertadores is expected to "be decided in one game instead of two legs." CONMEBOL is meeting on Thursday "to approve and definitively implement this change in what will be a revolution in South American football." The organization "sees the Champions League as a true model to follow" for the selection of a neutral venue for the final (AS, 2/21).
The upper regional court in Bremen ruled on Wednesday that the German Football League (DFL) must pay additional police costs incurred as a result of "high-risk" Bundesliga matches hosted by local side Werder Bremen. The court overturned a May '17 decision, when the lower regional court ruled that is was "not lawful for Bremen to pass on the additional costs from high-risk matches to the DFL" (DW, 2/21).
Sergio Agüero told Man City that "he was spat at and verbally abused by a Wigan Athletic fan" during the pitch invasion following the FA Cup fifth-round match. The FA launched its investigation into the match and its "aftermath" and announced on Tuesday that Agüero "will not face any disciplinary action for his reaction" (London TELEGRAPH, 2/20).
The "high cost of traveling to Russia" will result in 33% fewer Mexicans attending this year's World Cup compared to '14, according to Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV) President Jorge Hernández. He predicted that "only 20,000 Mexicans will be in Russia, down from 30,000 in Brazil." Travel packages from Mexico to Russia, which include a 20-day stay and tickets for Mexico's three group stage matches, cost from 100,000-180,000 Mexican pesos ($5,356-$9,640) (MILENIO, 2/20).
