Eight teams cut in half, part two

Four clubs will try to make into the final in Wales and Sweden and for the remaining 90 minutes fierce battle is expected on the pitch. While at the 'strongest' competition the champion is still trying to defend its title, for the second one we are searching for new leader from start of the season.

Next week will be the final time this year that Champions league will be held over two days. Two pairs should provide plenty of entertainment from 20.45 CET.

Tuesday, 09 May: Juventus - Monaco.

Wednesday, 10 May: Atletico Madrid - Real Madrid.

Lots of excitements happened past week and for the next we are hoping the same. For the last time from 21.05 CET Europa league will be held on one day.

Thursday, 11 May: Manchester United - Celta Vigo and Olympique Lyon - Ajax.

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Newspaper quintet goes to court because of 'a crime'

Sport journalist Javier Sanchez, data collecting journalist Paula Guisado, research journalist Quico Alsedo and director Pedro Garcia Cuartango, who works at the famously known newspaper 'El Mundo', are accused in Madrid due to unlawfully collecting information about players who evade taxes in the affair 'football leaks'. Together with director of the publishing house Unidad Editorial, Antonio Fernandez Galiano, needs to appear in court on 18 May.
On 02 December all Spanish media needed to stop issuing the articles, after judge Arturo Zamarriego forbids them from further publishment. El Mundo is compiled in a consortium of 12 European media issuing series of articles about Real Madrid players who avoid paying taxes to the state, who among them is best player in the world Cristiano Ronaldo. As football leaks continued, last Thursday Zamarriego has charged all five for disobeying a court order.
Their answer, and it is evidently, that El Mundo did not came to those information illegally, and the articles were published simultaneously in all 12 media united at the consortium. Reactions from many journalists associations want the judge to revoke the order, while opposition political parties accuse the government of protecting the clubs and players. Parliamentary representative at the Podemos party (We can), Alberto Garzon said that this is a 'powerful network with big economic interests' which includes marketing and construction companies. 'People at the end understands there is one justice for rich and one for poor' he added.

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Powerful 'Navy Blues'

Instead of winning Team Wellington has lost its second final leg with similar score, which means that Auckland City won the Oceania Champions league for seventh consecutive time. The new / old title holders collected all four awards: golden ball, boot and glove as well as the fair play reward.
Next champion will be revealed in Europe on 03 June, first final who will be decided on only one leg.
Therefore first pair is known at the Club World cup opening match which will be held in United Arab Emirates. On 06 December the Alibaba YunOS Auto tournament kicks off with Al Jazira - Auckland City in Al Ain stadium at 19.00 CET.

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Continued action of removing members

Real Madrid carried on removing 'bad' members who were selling their cards for the Spanish derby against Barcelona. It is believed that visiting fans were illegally buying those yearly tickets, so the Madrid club lost 635 members. Last Tuesday in April were taken 357 yearly passes, and the investigation were opened for 1.450 users. Some reports are even saying that tickets were selling over the Internet with very high price.
In response cancelled persons have formed a group, hired a lawyer office and announced legal proceedings against 'the Blancos'.

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World Cup qualifying fines

Last Thursday FIFA has issued, more or less, heavy amercement for 9 FAs which the organization will collect in total 289.000 Swiss francs (266.480 euros). European region lead the way with 5 associations penalized, followed by CONMEBOL with 2 plus CONCACAF and Asia zone each have 1 fine.
Mexico is the only country from north America and Caribbean region with the lowest amount of 10.000 Swiss francs (9.221 euros). Next on the list are Italy and Montenegro, who are each penalized with 15.000 Swiss francs (13.831 euros). Both teams were fined for various incidents. Going higher with 17.500 Swiss francs (16.136 euros) has to pay Poland because their fans used pyrotechnics on their last qualifying game. Twenty thousand Swiss francs (18.441 euros) are for the first south American country - Argentina. Bosnia and Herzegovina has to pay 6.500 more (24.435 euros) because their spectators also used pyrotechnics. Second and last team in this list from south America is Brazil who has to give 35.000 Swiss francs (32.273 euros). Together with their hot rivals Argentina, Brazilians are also punished for bad behavior of their fans who were discriminatory and sang homophobic chants. IR Iran is the second most highest team which are losing 50.000 Swiss francs (46.104 euros). The only Asian representative is penalized for the overcrowded pitch and using of pyrotechnics in the game against PR China. Albania is at the top of 'bad' countries with the highest fine in this list of 100.000 Swiss francs (92.207 euros). The main reason is because their supporters were throwing pyrotechnics in the game against Italy who was interrupted for several minutes. And again no question of lack of security presence at the gates.

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