England football Manager ROY HODGSON has been "knighted" in Finland for helping the nation put its name on the football map. Finland has honored Hodgson with the Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland. Hodgson managed the Nordic nation from Jan. '06 until Nov. '07 (REUTERS, 9/29). ... Real Madrid's CRISTIANO RONALDO "wants to become the first footballer" to make £400,000 ($647,000) a week. However, because of Spain's punitive tax laws, Ronaldo would need to break through the £400,000-a-week barrier "for a big pay rise to take effect" (SOCCERNET.ESPN.com, 9/30). ... Aussie cricketer SHANE WATSON visited a government school in Colombo, Sri Lanka "to inspire children to read books." Room to Read is an int'l nonprofit organization supported by the Int'l Cricket Council, which aims to promote literacy and gender equality in education. Watson promotes the initiative, along with India's VIRAT KOHLI and Sri Lanka's ANGELO MATHEWS (GULF NEWS, 9/30). ... Olympic Gold Medalist KATHERINE GRAINGER visited a school in Peterborough, England to open a new sports facility. The rowing champion toured the gym at The Peterborough School and met with students to give them a "chance to try out the new equipment" (ITV.com, 9/28). ... The DUKE and DUCHESS of Cambridge are to "open the new national football center near Burton." The royal couple will visit the site on Oct. 9 and join specially-invited guests to celebrate the opening of St. George's Park, which will be home to all 24 national squads. It has 11 football pitches, "including three community pitches, two hotels and state-of-the-art medical and training facilities." Honorary Football Association President PRINCE WILLIAM will officially unveil the center (THISISDEREBYSHIRE.co.uk, 9/29).
LEGAL STEPS: Chelsea defender JOHN TERRY "will take legal advice before deciding whether to appeal" the four-match ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender ANTON FERDINAND. Terry was banned and fined £220,000 ($355,000) after being found guilty (London TELEGRAPH, 9/27). The AFP reported Ferdinand has revealed that he was "subjected to a hate campaign" in connection with the racist abuse case. In his first comments since Terry was found guilty, Ferdinand said on Twitter that he had "received abuse" on the social media site since Thursday's ruling. His family have also reportedly "been targeted by hate mail since the controversial incident" (AFP, 9/28).
DON'T ASK QUESTIONS: Former India cricketer MOHINDER AMARNATH has "paid the price for being the dissenter" against the Board of Cricket Control in India. He has been "unceremoniously sacked" by the BCCI as senior national selector for raising the question of MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI's credentials to continue as captain of the Indian Test team. It is "generally viewed as irreverent" by the board to go against the popular vote (TNN, 9/28). ... The Cricket Australia Board unanimously recommended three individuals with diverse backgrounds and skills to be elected as CA's first independent directors on a streamlined nine-member board. CA Chair WALLY EDWARDS recommended former Ericsson Australia and NZ Managing Dir JACQUIE HEY, Australia Rio Tinto Managing Dir DAVID PEEVER and former New South Wales cricketer KEVIN ROBERTS "to sit alongside" himself, JOHN BANNON, TONY HARRISON, EARL EDDINGS, HARRY HARINATH and MICHAEL KASPROWICZ on a new board replacing the previous, state-based, 14-member CA Board (CA).
