Parts of Olympique Marseille’s Stade Velodrome will be closed after crowd trouble marred a Ligue 1 game against Girondins Bordeaux earlier this month, the French League (LFP) said.
The North and South stands will remain partially shut until the LFP has completed an investigation after OM fans clashed with police during the 0-0 draw on April 10.
Marseille, whose coach Michel was replaced by Franck Passi on Tuesday, are 15th in the league standings, six points above the relegation zone with only four games left.
FIFA plans workers’ welfare body
The head of soccer’s world governing body FIFA sought yesterday to ease fears of human rights abuses in construction of stadiums for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, announcing plans for a special group to monitor working conditions.
Gianni Infantino said Qatar, the tournament’s first Arab host, supported the initiative.
Infantino said the FIFA-led monitoring group would be independent and include civil society representatives.
“With regards to the composition, it will be defined in the coming days and we want to put it in place very, very soon,” he told reporters in Doha yesterday.
Chelsea still keen on signing John Stones
England centre-back John Stones remains a target for Chelsea despite his recent travails with Everton.
Reports said yesterday that Stones is a transfer target for incoming Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte.
The 21-year-old was pursued by Chelsea and Jose Mourinho last summer, but the Toffees rebuffed three bids, with the third in excess of £30 million.
Chelsea had also considered signing Stones from Barnsley before his move to Goodison Park in early 2013.
PFA investigation
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has launched an investigation after its team of the year announcements were leaked ahead of its awards dinner this weekend.
Line-ups appeared on Twitter on Thursday, prompting the PFA to bring forward confirmation of its line-ups which had been due to be revealed tomorrow.
The individual player of the year announcements were not leaked.
The PFA, which is headed by chief executive Gordon Taylor, will look at how the information made its way into the public domain, firstly by seeking answers from printers of its awards ceremony brochure.
Reports said a Twitter user had received the brochure and posted the teams online, where they were widely shared.
Sturridge targets 100 Liverpool goals
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has set his sights on scoring 100 goals for the club after he reached the half century mark in the 4-0 league thrashing of Everton on Wednesday.
Sturridge reached the milestone in his 87th game for the club, with only Albert Stubbins (77 games), Roger Hunt (79) and Fernando Torres (84) taking fewer matches to notch 50 goals.
“It has been a good time since I’ve been here and it is great to get to 50 goals,” Sturridge said.
“The next aim is 100 goals. Now 50 has gone it is on to the next game and hopefully I can add to that.”
Newcastle warning
Tottenham fans have been warned they could be thrown out of St James’ Park if they buy tickets in the home stands for the club’s potentially decisive final game of the season.
All the away seats for the game on May 15 have already been snapped up and the Magpies have announced there will be no general sale after already turning away title-chasing Spurs supporters on security grounds.
Steve Storey, Newcastle’s head of security, said: “Away tickets have sold out for this game and we are aware that a number of Tottenham fans have attempted to purchase tickets in home areas.
“This is contrary to Premier League ground regulations and I must stress that away fans found to be in home seated areas will face the risk of being ejected from the stadium.”
‘Trapped’ players to request release
Up to 50 footballers are expected to start proceedings to be released by Romanian clubs as new legislation came into effect in the country yesterday, the world players’ union FIFPro said.
FIFPro said the players, who it described as “trapped”, would be able to take advantage of a change to an insolvency law which has until now treated them as assets of clubs in financial difficulties.
This means they have not been able to join a new team without the permission of their club’s administrators even when they have not been paid.
FIFPro quoted the Romanian players’ union AFAN as saying the new legislation would affect around 300 footballers.