VAR technology is "set to be implemented" in Liga MX as early as this year, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) announced on Monday. The FMF needs to obtain a certificate from the Int'l FA Board to be able to use the technology officially, "but will be carrying out tests with the hope of obtaining it in time for the 2018 Apertura playoffs in November." Tests started on Tuesday in Liga MX's U20 league, "with the pilot program in the full Liga MX taking place" over weeks 13 and 14 of the current season (ESPN.com, 8/20).
La Liga side Las Palmas rejected a capital increase "due to the harm it would mean for current shareholders," the club said in a statement. Las Palmas members considered a capital increase an inconvenience "due to the fiscal and economic contingencies it would provoke" (BESOCCER, 8/21).
Female fans will be asked "how safe they feel attending matches in Scotland" in a survey launched by the Scottish Football Supporters Association. Around 9,000 women regularly attend Scottish games and the SFSA "wants to better understand their experiences." Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock Dir Cathy Jamieson, a former MSP and Scottish Minister for Justice, "urged women to take part, especially if they have safety fears" (BBC, 8/21).
Nigeria "narrowly escaped" an int'l football ban after its government responded to a FIFA ultimatum "shortly before a suspension took effect on Monday." FIFA "had issued a statement" saying that it would suspend Nigeria at 11am local time Monday "because of a power struggle over the leadership" of the Nigeria Football Federation. Amaju Pinnick was elected head of the NFF in '14. However, while he was at the World Cup with Nigeria's Super Eagles team, "another faction took over the federation's headquarters." Nigeria on Monday rejected sports administrator Chris Giwa's claim to leadership "and backed Pinnick instead" (CNN, 8/20).
