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Ajax Amsterdam will have almost a week free to prepare for their Champions League last 16 second leg clash at Real Madrid after the Dutch federation on Thursday allowed the club to move their Eredivisie game against PEC Zwolle.
Four-time European champions Ajax lost the first leg 2-1 at home last week, despite outplaying Real for long periods, leaving the Dutch club with faint hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2003.
Ajax, who are in second spot four points behind PSV Eindoven in the Dutch top flight, were due to play Zwolle on Saturday, March 2, three days before the Madrid trip, but their domestic league match will now take place on Wednesday, March 13.
The club apologised to fans for the short-term disruption but hoped they would understand the significance of the move.
"The request to change this game was submitted by Ajax to the KNVB (federation) with the aim of an optimal preparation in the run-up to the important and decisive away match against Real Madrid," said a statement on the club website.
"Ajax realizes that the new playing date -- on a weekday -- will not be ideal for all fans. An alternative turned out to be impossible for various organisational reasons, which Ajax unfortunately has no influence on."
The club added that they would compensate season ticket holders who could not attend the match on the new date.
Rodgers criticises referee after Celtic crash out of Europe
Celtic's quest to overhaul a 2-0 deficit at Valencia and reach the Europa League last 16 became mission impossible after Jeremy Toljan was sent off in the first half on Thursday, manager Brendan Rodgers has said.
The German full back's dismissal for a second booking in the 37th minute meant Celtic played with 10 men for nearly an hour before losing 1-0, as Valencia completed a 3-0 aggregate win.
"I thought the referee took the game away from us," Rodgers told reporters.
"I spoke to the referee after the game. He said it was a definite sending-off. I thought it was really harsh.
"I thought it was a free-kick to us because the player came in on the blind side and sort of had contact with Jeremy, which knocked him over. That then changes the dynamic of the game."
Rodgers said the Scottish champions began well and fought bravely until Kevin Gameiro's 70th minute goal ended their hopes.
"I'm proud of them but if you make mistakes at this level defensively you'll get punished," he said.
"Unfortunately for us, that's cost us."
FFA renews calls for govt funding as participation grows
Football Federation Australia (FFA) repeated calls for increased government funding to boost and improve facilities on Friday after releasing a report showing participation rates in soccer had risen by 13 percent in the past year.
The FFA, in their annual census, highlighted a "A$500 million ($354.85 million) facilities funding gap" that needed to be addressed after participation numbers grew to 1.8 million.
Further development of the sport was being "held back by inadequate facilities", it said.
"We are calling on government to join with us to deliver improved facilities and programs which can help improve participation even further, drive gender equality, integrate new communities and deliver strong preventative health outcomes," FFA Chief Executive David Gallop said in a statement.
Last August, Gallop asked central and state governments to contribute A$100 million to a 'fighting fund' to help develop more facilities.
Research had showed that in Australia's two most heavily populated states -- Victoria and New South Wales -- there were not enough pitches for the expected growth in numbers, with clubs already having to cap registrations, particularly among young girls which was an area FFA wanted to target.
"Our women and girls participation base continued to increase and provide one of the greatest growth opportunities for football," Gallop added.
"International tournaments including the 2018 AFC Asian Cup, women's Cup of Nations and Female Football Week have played a key role in driving new women and girls to our game, now boasting over 141,000 registered participants."
The release of the annual census came two days after FFA reaffirmed their commitment to bid for the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Australia's central government had committed A$5 million to the bid process, with the final documents due at world governing body FIFA by early October with a decision on the host expected in March 2020.