F1 hero Michael Schumacher’s race-suit from 2006 British Grand Prix expected to go for $25,000 at auction

 

Միխայիլ Շումահեր

A race-suit worn by seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is expected to raise more than $25,000 when it goes up for auction later this month.

The red and white Ferrari suit was worn by the racing legend at the 2006 British Grand Prix and features ‘M. Schumacher’ embroidered to the self-belt.

The suit features a host of sponsors along with authentic Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) accreditation on the back of the collar.

Շումախեր

Schumacher finished third in the 2006 race, behind Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.

The auction, which will be held on July 31, also features a race-suit worn by Alonso in the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix.

 

 

How the world watched the World Cup: From rebels in bombed-out Syria to astronauts in space – proof we are all the same when football’s on the telly

outer space

It kicked off last night with a match between the hosts Brazil and plucky little Croatia. The world was shocked when Marcelo’s own goal gave the Europeans an early lead but a dodgy penalty and poor refereeing led to Brazil running out 3-1 winners.

From outer space to Syrian rebels and brave Kenyans, it seems the world (and those outside of it) cannot get enough of the World Cup.

Astronauts on the international space station stopped their experiments to watch the game, Syrian militants in Aleppo put down their guns and the more stable inmates of the Asuncion Psychiatric Hospital in Asuncion, Paraguay, were allowed to watch the World Cup opener on an old television set although they had to stay behind bars and were not allowed too near the set.

The homeless in suburbs of Rio de Janeiro gathered outside shops to view the game on the owner’s telly while in Nairobi, Kenya fans gathered to watch despite a threat from despite the fears and warnings of possible attacks on the World Cup public screenings by Somalia’s al-Shabab Islamist terrorists.

The Germans watched the match in some style while sitting on settees in the 1.FC Union stadium in Berlin.

 

How the world watched the World Cup: From rebels in bombed-out Syria to astronauts in space – proof we are all the same when football’s on the telly

It kicked off last night with a match between the hosts Brazil and plucky little Croatia. The world was shocked when Marcelo’s own goal gave the Europeans an early lead but a dodgy penalty and poor refereeing led to Brazil running out 3-1 winners.

From outer space to Syrian rebels and brave Kenyans, it seems the world (and those outside of it) cannot get enough of the World Cup.

Astronauts on the international space station stopped their experiments to watch the game, Syrian militants in Aleppo put down their guns and the more stable inmates of the Asuncion Psychiatric Hospital in Asuncion, Paraguay, were allowed to watch the World Cup opener on an old television set although they had to stay behind bars and were not allowed too near the set.

The homeless in suburbs of Rio de Janeiro gathered outside shops to view the game on the owner’s telly while in Nairobi, Kenya fans gathered to watch despite a threat from despite the fears and warnings of possible attacks on the World Cup public screenings by Somalia’s al-Shabab Islamist terrorists.

The Germans watched the match in some style while sitting on settees in the 1.FC Union stadium in Berlin.

 

Pope Francis Confirms World Cup Neutrality

Հռոմի պապHe recently renewed his Argentine passport and remains an official card-carrying member of his favorite Buenos Aires football club. But Pope Francis has pledged absolute neutrality for the World Cup.

Francis recalled during an interview published Friday with the Barcelona newspaper “La Vanguardia,” that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff had asked him during a February visit to the Vatican to at least be neutral during the competition.

Laughing, Francis said: “The Brazilians asked for neutrality. I’ll keep my word because Brazil and Argentina are always opponents.”

On Thursday, Francis issued a video message pep talk to players and fans alike, urging them to make the World Cup a showcase for teamwork and solidarity and not an exhibition of racism, individualism and greed.

Argentina plays its first match Sunday, against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

 

Dramatic moment Dynamo Kiev footballer is saved from swallowing his tongue by a quick-thinking opposition player after collapsing on the pitch

բոյկով,գուսև

 

This is the dramatic moment a Dynamo Kiev footballer was saved from swallowing his tongue by a quick-thinking opposition player.

Oleg Gusev, 30, was knocked unconscious after competing for a cross with Dnipro goalkeeper, Denys Boyko, during a Ukrainian Premier League match in Dnipropetrovsk.

He received a blow to the face from Boyko’s knee – causing him to fall to the ground with a severe risk of swallowing his tongue.

 

բոյկով, գուսև

But he was saved after Dnipro midefielder, Jaba Kankava, rushed over and forced his hand down his throat to clear his airways in a potentially life-saving move.

 

Medical officials soon joined the throng of players trying to save the Dynamo Kiev captain, who transferred to the club in the summer of 2003.

 

Seconds later, he could be seen regaining consciousness –  kicking and rolling around, before eventually calming down.

 

The crowd, who had been shocked into silence following the collision, burst into applause as Gusev left the field on a stretcher.

 

Gusev was later spotted on the touchline in a fit state of health, according to reports.

 

However, the club has not yet given an update on his condition.

 

 

 

Անկախ

Here’s my number, call me, maybe?’

Russian snowboarder Alexey Sobolev1

‘ Russian Olympic snowboarder receives thousands of texts and some VERY indecent proposals after writing his cell phone number on his helmet

Here’s hoping Russian snowboarder Alexey Sobolev has unlimited texting on his phone.

Sobolev competed in slopestyle qualifying on Thursday with his cellphone number written on his helmet.

 

 Ալեքսեյ Սոբոլև

It was his idea of trying to get through what he called the boredom of the athletes’ village on the mountain. Sobolev says he has received more than 2,000 texts since then.

Olympic rules prevent Sobolev from competing with his number on his helmet in the finals on Saturday.

As far as he’s concerned, his mission is already accomplished: ‘Everyone already knows my number.’

Sobolev’s stunt didn’t last long, however, as in the semi-final round the number had been covered up.

 

Անկախ

Sochi Olympic medals will contain fragments of the Chelyabinsk meteor that slammed into Russia last year

Չելյաբինսկում ընկած երկնաքարի մասնիկներ

 

Gold medals presented to winners at the Sochi Olympics will contain fragments of the Chelyabinsk meteorite that struck Russia last year.

The medals are not the official coins handed out in the Olympic ceremony, but special commemorative ones to be given out to the sportswomen and men who win on the anniversary of the meteor strike on February 15.

 

sochi-Olympic ceremony

Ten medals will have a chip of the meteorite embedded in its centre, crafted by specialists at a workshop in Zlatoust, in the Chelyabinsk region, Russian media report.

The meteor fireball meteor that blazed across southern Urals last February was the largest recorded meteor strike in more than a century.
The 600kg rock, believed to be one of the largest pieces of this meteorite, is currently being exhibited at the Chelyabinsk Regional History Museum in the Southern Urals.
The Chelyabinsk government said it had struck 50 medals, which will be unveiled on Monday, and ten would be issued to the athletes who win finals on the anniversary of the strike.

The presentations will not be part of the official Olympic program.

 

 Անկախ

Italian boy, five, reports father to police for forcing him to become a Juventus fan by having a priest exorcise their house when he discovered his son supported Milan

JuventusItalian football fans are known for their passion and fierce loyalty to their local teams.

But one supporter appears to have taken the beautiful game a little too seriously.

Arturo Verratti’s five-year-old son has reported him to police for trying to force him to support Juventus football team.

The 38-year-old even called in a the local priest, Don Cesare, to exorcise the devil from his son who had committed the cardinal sin of supporting hated rival team Milan.

 

His father feared that only Satan could have been to blame for persuading his son to pledge allegiance to any team other than his beloved Juventus.
In an extraordinary attempt to change his son’s mind, his father dreamed up a few techniques to break his spirits.

The boy told police he was being forced to sing Juventus’ chants and wear their black and white jersey day and night to indoctrinate him into being a supporter.

Neighbours confirmed they have often heard the boy loudly singing Juventus chants under the urging of his dad.

 

Abducted Swedish Journalists Released in Syria

Սիրիա,առևանգված, երկու լրագրողները ազատ են արձակվել

Abducted Swedish Journalists Released in Syria

Two Swedish journalists who were abducted in Syria in November have been released, Swedish and Red Cross officials said Wednesday.

Sweden’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the release of writer Magnus Falkehed and photographer Niclas Hammarstrom, and said both were receiving assistance from Swedish diplomats in Beirut.

The two freelance journalists were abducted as they were on their way out of Syria in November.

Swedish authorities wouldn’t say who abducted them or how they were set free. But national police spokeswoman Jessica Krasser Fremnell said Swedish police had worked closely with other authorities to secure their release.

Their state of health was not immediately clear.

Press advocacy groups say Syria has become the most dangerous country in the world for reporters over the past two years, with kidnappings becoming a major threat.

 

President received the leadership of the International Athletics Federation and Association of the Balkan Athletic Federations (ABAF)

 

Սերժ Սարգսյան,Աթլետիկայի միջազգային ֆեդերացիա

 President Serzh Sargsyan received today the leadership of the International Athletics Federation and Association of the Balkan Athletic Federations (ABAF), headed by the Vice President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), legendary sportsman Sergei Bubka.

The participants of the meeting, including representatives of the member states and among them a group of the athletes of international repute, have arrived to Armenia to participate at the year-end Summit of the national Federations-members of the ABAF. The Summit is to be held in Yerevan on October 27-30 and will recap the sporting results of the passing year. Armenia became a member of this Association in 2012 and according to the guests has already registered certain success in the developing athletics which warranted the organization of the ABAF Summit in Yerevan.

Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the guests from different countries and stressed the importance of communicating with the world famous athletes, particularly for young sportsmen, spoke about events carried out by them and aimed at the development of sports which are inspirational for young people.

At the meeting, Sergei Bubka and leaders of the Federations presented to Serzh Sargsyan activities of the Association of the Balkan Athletic Federations and upcoming events. They expressed readiness to continue together with the International Association of Athletics Federations to assist the Athletics Federation of Armenia in boosting the development of athletics in Armenia. The guests stressed the importance and hailed Armenia’s considerable attention towards that sport, which in their opinion, is an important guarantee for the development of athletics.

 

 

Lindsey Vonn puts comeback on ice for now

Lindsey Vonn(CNN) — Ski queen Lindsey Vonn has put her return to racing on ice — for now.

The new World Cup ski season begins in the Austrian resort of Soelden this weekend but the Olympic downhill champion will not take part as she continues her comeback from a serious knee injury.

Vonn was airlifted to hospital February after she landed heavily on her right knee on the opening day of the Alpine Ski World Championships in Austria.

Less than seven months after her horror crash, the 29-year-old American returned to the slopes in Chile to test out her reconstructed knee.

 

Lindsey Vonn vows to take on the men

See skier’s downhill (careful at 1:21!)

Secret of U.S. ski team’s success

But Vonn, who is dating golfer Tiger Woods, says she is not yet ready to return to competitive action on the snow.

“My training camp in Soelden went very well and I made great progress, but I feel that I need more training before I start racing again,” Vonn explained on her personal website.

“The Soelden race is not in the cards this year. Patience is not my strong suit so not racing is very hard for me but it will only make me more excited for the next one.”

Vonn was crowned America’s snow queen when she became the first American woman to win the Olympic downhill title at the Vancouver Games in 2010.

She followed up her Vancouver victory with a stellar World Cup season in 2011-2012, winning 12 races and the overall title with a new record points haul.

A combination of illness and injury disrupted Vonn’s dominance on the slopes last season but she is confident she remains on course to defend her Olympic crown.

She plans to return at the World Cup event in Beaver Creek, Colorado on November 29.

“I will go home to Vail and continue my preparation for the Beaver Creek races and my ultimate goal in February!” she said.

There is an old face returning to the opening round of the new World Cup season in Soelden, however, as American Olympic super combined champion Bode Miller is back from his ski sabbatical.

It will be the 36-year-old’s first World Cup start since February of 2012.

Ted Ligety, Julia Mancuso and slalom world champion Mikeala Shiffrin are all included in the nine-strong U.S. team in Soelden.

 

Step aside Pele: Non-league footballer Rene Steer becomes internet sensation after unleashing 40-yard wonder-strike

Rene Steer

 

 

A non-league footballer who was released by Arsenal as a youngster has become an internet sensation after hitting a stunning 40-yard thunderbolt goal in the FA Cup.

 

More than 250,000 people have already tuned in to YouTube to see defender Rene Steer unleash his lethal left foot strike, which stunned fans at non-league St Neots Town on Tuesday night.

 

When the great Pele made a similarly audacious attempt in the 1970 World Cup against Czechezlovakia, the man widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all saw his effort go just wide.

 

The wonder-goal has already been tipped to be goal of the season, and Ladbrookes has given it a 50/1 chance.

 

Rene, 23, a football coach, said: ‘I remember seeing the ball and I just thought “Why not?”

 

‘I tried it in training last week and I hit one out of the astro. I didn’t realise how far it was, if I did I wouldn’t have hit it.

 

‘I can’t remember the flight or how I hit it, I just remember it hitting the cross bar and then I got ambushed.’

 

But his 71st minute strike was not good enough to win the game, and St Neots lost the second qualifying round replay 2-1.

 

 

 

Winter Olympics host city Sochi hit by flooding

sochiCNN) — Rain, floods, evacuations and power cuts may have hit Sochi — but an Olympic size effort is underway to ensure the city is ready to host the 2014 Winter Games.

Streets and homes were flooded Tuesday with Irina Rossius, the press secretary for Russia’s Emergencies Ministry, forced to admit that a state of emergency was still in effect, according to Russian state agency, RIA Novosti.

While the local Emergency Ministries branch had denied that a state of emergency had been imposed, “the negative outlook” for Tuesday night has led to a change in circumstances.

Read: A brief history of the Winter Olympics

Will Sochi be most connected Games?

How social will Sochi 2014 be?How social will Sochi 2014 be?

Sochi gets ready to put on a showSochi gets ready to put on a show

It is estimated that 1800 workers are currently undertaking work to clean the city following the evacuations of residents.

While 10 homes in the village of Mirny and some train stations in the Adler district are still flooded, the ministry stated on its website that rescue teams had made progress by pumping out water and allowing some trains to run.

The ministry also confirmed that all 30 residents who were moved from the village of Kepsha have since returned home after the water level drop from 45 centimeters to 5cm.

Flights at Sochi’s regional airports were canceled amidst severe weather, while traffic jams left the roads in turmoil.

Kubanenergo, the local power company, confirmed Tuesday that it had cut off the power in five regions to avoid risking power outages.

Read: Will social media foil Putin’s grand Winter Olympics plan?

The floods come at the worst possible time for Sochi with the International Olympic Committee coordination committee making its final visit to the city before the Games, which start on February 7.

The commission’s chairman, Jean-Claude Killy, will finish his visit on Thursday after holding meetings with organizers and visiting venues.

“The exceptional weather conditions in Sochi have not impacted the visit of the IOC coordination commission that is in Sochi from Sept 24 to Sept 26,” read a statement sent to CNN by the IOC.

“The Commission’s work is ongoing and they have just completed a successful visit to the mountain venues.”

When contacted by CNN Wednesday, the Olympstroy press office insisted none of the venues had been damaged by the adverse weather.

“None of the sports venues in Imeretinskaya lowland and in Krasnaya Polyana have been affected by heavy rainfall,” read a statement.

“All the new Olympic facilities have been built in accordance with strict seismic safety, weather protection and geological protection guidelines.

” All venues have proper mudslide and landslide protection. Service personnel in both mountain and coastal clusters are in place to ensure proper functioning of the facilities.”

 

This super-fan in Vietnam chased the Arsenal team bus for miles – and then Wenger and their big-hearted superstar players invited him on for pictures and autographs (and a much-needed rest!)

Arsenal's Mikel Arteta poses with 'The Running Man'As Arsenal continued their Asia Tour in Hanoi, the team took some time off to visit the One Pillar Pagoda and naturally were chased by many local fans hoping to catch a rare glimpse of the Gunners in person as they ventured across Vietnam on their team bus to the historic Buddhist temple.

Many tried to dart in and out of traffic on bikes, but it was one man who caught the squad’s undivided attention as he impressively ran alongside the bus, keeping pace despite bumping into a few trees and lampposts. And the bus was soon full of chants from the Arsenal team singing: ‘Sign him up, sign him up.’ One player is heard to joke: ‘He’s fitter than Aaron Ramsey!’

Striker Olivier Giroud filmed the run on his phone before uploading it on to his Facebook page where he claimed the fan had followed the bus for 15 minutes.

So impressed were the Arsenal squad that cheers of ‘sign him up’ soon filled the bus, before the fan eventually jumped on to the back of a bike near the end of his pursuit, to cheers from the Arsenal players.

But by that point the Arsenal touring party had been won over and took time out to allow the fan they have now dubbed as ‘The Running Man’, after the Arnold Schwarzenegger film, on to the bus to get pictures with the players as well as his replica shirt signed.

Wojciech Szczesny, whop helped narrate the video on the Arsenal website, claimed how the team were impressed with the physique of the fan.

Arsenal opened up their Asia tour with a 7-0 win over the Indonesia XI and face Vietnam on Wednesday at the My Dinh National Stadium.

The north London side then travel to Japan where they will face Nagoya Grampus on July 22 and Urawa Red Diamonds four days later to complete their Asia tour.

 

Tottenham enter race for Mkhitaryan as Liverpool face fight to land £20m midfielder

mkhitaryan
Tottenham are poised to hijack Liverpool’s £20million move for Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers looked to be pole position to land the talented attacking midfielder, but Spurs have now entered the race to land the Armenia international.

It is understood Mkhitaryan’s advisors have held initial talks with Tottenham chiefs regarding a possible move to White Hart Lane next season.

Spurs are currently focused on completing a £17million move for Corinthians midfielder Paulinho, who is expected rubber-stamp his switch after Sunday’s Confederations Cup final.

But once the Brazil international’s move is over the line, Tottenham will look to make progress on other targets – with Mkhitaryan one of the options being considered.

Sportsmail revealed this week how Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund made a £19.5million offer for the 24-year-old.

But Shakthar insist they want at least £25million for the player, who has also interested Chelsea and Manchester City.

 

‘We’re a mess’, Indonesia football official admits

Indonesia football official admitsIndonesian football is in “such a mess” that nothing will be done to address the issue of unruly crowds at international games despite the country being fined $15,000, an official admitted Tuesday.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Monday fined the Indonesian association over several matches at which fans let off fireworks and threw plastic bottles and paper cups onto the pitch.
But the dire state of the game in Indonesia, still trying to recover from a bitter battle between rival federations, meant no action would be taken, said Rudolf Yesayas, a senior Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) official.
“Football management in Indonesia is in such a mess at the moment, we aren’t able to do anything about things like this. We have much bigger problems,” he admitted to AFP.
The fine was imposed over crowd problems at several matches this year and last, the most recent of which was an Asian Cup home qualifier against Saudi Arabia on March 23.
Indonesia would also have to play a match behind closed doors if problems reoccurred in the next two years, the AFC said.
Football in Southeast Asia’s biggest nation had been mired in controversy for two years, with the PSSI and rival federation, the Indonesian Soccer Rescue Committee (KPSI), running competing leagues.

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: David Beckham retires from football – England legend calls it a day

b9David Beckham has retired from football, bringing an end to a glittering career on the field.

Since his debut for Manchester United two decades ago, the 38-year-old has emerged as arguably the most iconic sportsman of his generation, captaining his country, collecting 115 caps, and celebrated as a champion in four different countries – the only British footballer in history to do so.

Despite the offer of an extended one-year deal at Paris Saint-German, the 38-year-old has played his last game, bowing out on a high after helping Carlo Ancelotti’s side win the French title for the first time in 19 years.

When approached for comment by Sportsmail, Beckham’s representative was today unavailable.

The trailblazing midfielder –  who played for some of the biggest clubs in the world such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Los Angeles Galaxy – is now set to continue his ambassadorial duties with a variety of organisations, which include Sky Sports, adidas, Unicef and promoting football in China.

Having relocated from LA in January, Beckham is expected to set up a permanent base in London with his wife Victoria and children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper.

His vast fortune of an estimated £165million comfortably makes him the richest athlete ever in British sport, with a host of lucrative sponsorship deals and salary payments over the last decade amassing his wealth.

 

FIFA Task Force outlines anti-racism fight

130506230411-football-fifa-task-force-boateng-blatter-story-top(CNN) — FIFA’s anti-racism Task Force proposed the attendance of officials to specifically “identify potential acts of discrimination” at matches when the newly-created body first met on Monday.

Chaired by FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb, who presides over the continental CONCACAF body, the Task Force also suggested the possibility of points deductions and/or relegation for “reoffenders or for serious incidents”.

The Task Force will present a draft resolution at the FIFA Congress in Mauritius at the end of the month whereupon member associations will vote on the measures.

“We have a special responsibility in the way we can impact football and society,” said Webb during his opening remarks in Zurich.

“One of the opportunities this task force has is its vast reach throughout FIFA’s 209 member associations, where we can implement the resolutions in every region and every country where football is played, bringing universality to the mechanisms that combat racism and discrimination.”

Webb: Racism sanctions will send message

FARE: ‘Erratic’ Sepp Blatter should quit

Boateng: Racism in football must end

Alex Ferguson: ‘Racism still exists’

Hayatou: Good example key against racism

The creation of the Task Force was announced in March after a series of racial incidents affecting the sport.

In England, both Luiz Suarez and John Terry received bans for racial abuse in separate incidents that took place in 2011 but the story that made headlines around the world came when Milan’s Kevin-Prince Boateng led his team off in a friendly in protest at racism from supporters this January.

Boateng was swiftly invited by Blatter to FIFA headquarters and was one of the first names added to the makeup of the Task Force, but the Ghanaian did not attend Monday’s meeting due to playing commitments.

“K-P Boateng and Jozy Altidore didn’t make today’s FIFA meet,” tweeted Task Force member Osasu Obayiuwana, a football journalist and lawyer. “I hope they attend the next session. Views of active players are crucial.”

In their absence, the Task Force suggested that officials attend games to identify discriminatory acts “with the aim of easing the pressure on referees and facilitating the availability of evidence, which is not always easy to obtain”.

The second proposal is likely to be of more interest to fans, especially those who have long argued that points deductions are a more efficient punishment for clubs and national teams than paltry fines.

The Task Force suggested the application of sanctions in two stages, with the threat of “a warning, a fine or the playing of a match behind closed doors” for “a first or minor offence”.

For more serious incidents and those who reoffended, the Task Force spoke of “points deductions, expulsion from a competition, or relegation”.

The third proposal from the new body was for the “need to implement the existing sanctions in a harmonized way across all confederations, member associations and leagues”.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who courted controversy in 2011 when telling CNN that racism could be settled by a handshake after the match, announced his satisfaction with the inaugural meeting.

“Very happy with first Task Force Against Racism & Discrimination meeting,” he tweeted, before later adding “We want strong & consistent sanctions at all levels of football for any discriminatory act.”

A second Task Force meeting is planned for later in the year to discuss how to educate those in football in a manner which reduces discriminatory acts in the game.

 

Inter hit with UEFA racism fine

130426155822-inter-milan-fans-story-top(CNN) — Inter Milan has been hit with a $58,600 by UEFA after being found guilty of “improper conduct” following allegations its fans racially abused Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Togolese striker, who scored a precious away goal to take Tottenham through to the next round during last month’s Europa League tie, appeared to be subjected to monkey chants, while a fan was also seen with an inflatable banana.

Inter won the match 4-1 but crashed out of Europe’s second-tier competition on the away goals rule with Adebayor’s strike proving crucial.

Read: Inter Milan faces new racism charge

The Italian club was also charged with “insufficient organization” and “throwing of missiles and/or fireworks.”

Boateng: Racism in football must end

Juventus midfielder: Stop racism

Hayatou: Good example key against racism

Inter has already been punished in domestic competition after the Italian football authorities found its fans guilty of racially abusing former players Mario Balotelli and Sulley Muntari, who now play for fierce rival AC Milan.

Read: Lazio punished for fourth racism offense

The club was fined $65,500 for the incident which took place in March, while it was also forced to pay out $22,700 after fans sang racist chants about Balotelli during a Serie A game against Chievo.

Inter is one of two Italian clubs to have been punished by UEFA for racist behavior this season with Lazio having been hit with four charges this campaign alone.

Lazio was punished with a $52,000 fine in February on the back of the $230,000 it was forced to pay for racist abuse and other offenses during two group stage games against Tottenham and Slovenian side Maribor.

Meanwhile, Benfica has been fined $41,000 for organizational problems and the conduct of its supporters during last month’s Europa League clash against Bordeaux in Lisbon.