The Italian football club Como extended the contract of a player diagnosed with cancer, saying it would keep him a member of the squad through his treatment.

Separately, the club introduced priority seating for older supporters at home matches in European competition, on the principle of favouring those who have followed the team longest.

What the extension means

In professional sport, long-term injury or illness usually leads to a renegotiated contract. Maintaining terms through a period when a player cannot appear carries a financial cost for the club.

For the player, security of status during treatment bears directly on planning a return, since medical support and rehabilitation continue while he remains under contract.

The question posed by the ticket policy

Seats for European ties are a resource in heavy demand. Allocating them by attendance history and age rather than price raises the question of how a club defines its supporters.

Allocation practices vary by club, usually mixing ballots, membership tiers and first-come-first-served. Giving priority to a particular group is comparatively rare.

Como has established itself in the top flight only in recent seasons. Whatever its results, how such decisions are received locally remains of interest.