Various "FC Barcelona fans linked to the team's powerful inner circles were scheduled to present a censure motion against Barcelona President SANDRO ROSELL" and four of his top execs on Monday. Despite "Barcelona's current athletic success, many consider now the time to approach Rosell's presidency in a radical manner." Rosell "will be accused by club members of being responsible for 'the appearance of Qatar in Barcelona,' the abandoned 'Excitement Zone' project at Camp Nou and the team's release of ERIC ABIDAL" (AS, 9/29). ... Australian Football League CEO ANDREW DEMETRIOU "could soon be leaving" the AFL. Demetriou is "running to fill the vacant top job" with the ATP, "headquartered in London." Demetriou "met with tennis officials about the job" on a recent trip to the U.S. (THE AGE, 9/30). ... Cyclist JONATHAN TIERNAN-LOCKE has "withdrawn from cycling because of a 'potential discrepancy in his biological passport data.'" Tiernan-Locke, "last year's winner of the Tour of Britain," has been asked by the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) to "explain suspect blood values, dating from September last year," three months before he joined Team Sky (LONDON TIMES, 9/29). ... Dutch side AZ Alkmaar fired coach GERTJAN VERBEEK on Sunday in a "surprise move that came a day after they beat Dutch league leaders PSV Eindhoven to move to within two points of the top of the standings" (REUTERS, 9/29). ... Former captain of club and country PAUL DODGE has been appointed as president of Premiership rugby side Leicester Tigers (Leicester Tigers). … Chinese tennis player LI NA "has been signed on as an ambassador for Right to Play, an organization that uses sports to educate and empower kids facing adversity" (ANI, 9/27).
