National coaches give cold shoulder to political boycott of 2018 World Cup

Vicente del Bosque

By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – National team coaches from Europe have played down the likelihood of a boycott of the 2018 World Cup as a penalty for Russia’s incursion into Ukraine. Meeting in St Petersburg for a technical study of the Brazil World Cup, the coaches of UEFA’s 54 member nations are reported to have been lukewarm over the idea of a boycott that has the support of a raft of European diplomats.

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Legia Warsaw looks forward with plans for a new €10m training base

Legia Warsaw fans

By Jaroslaw Adamowski
September 17 – Legia Warsaw, who were controversially dumped from the Champions League to the Europa League after fielding an ineligible player against Celtic in the qualifying rounds, are pushing forward an expansion programme with plans for a new training ground, despite missing out on the big cash win that comes with Europe’s top club competition.

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Nottingham beats Manchester and Portsmouth to English ‘city of football’ accolade

Nottingham Cty of football

By David Owen
September 17 – Nottingham in the English Midlands has been named “city of football” by Sport England, the grass-roots funding body. The decision opens the way for the city – home to two Football League clubs, including Nottingham Forest, the former European champions under manager Brian Clough – to receive £1.6 million to endeavour to get more Nottinghamians playing football regularly.

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