FA of Malaysia began negotiations with former Nigeria, South Africa and Japan national team coach PHILIPPE TROUSSIER. Troussier, who has just completed his contract with China’s Shenzhen Ruby, "is reportedly the leading candidate" to replace DATUK K. RAJAGOPAL, whose deal ends next month (THE STAR, 11/27). ... The French government has conferred AirAsia CEO and co-Chair TONY FERNANDES of the Caterham Group Legion d'Honneur award. French President FRANCOIS HOLLANDE conferred the award to Fernandes in a ceremony Tuesday in France (Caterham F1). ... Australian businessman CLIVE PALMER is "throwing in the towel and abandoning his costly Supreme Court bid to sue an independent Football Federation Australia arbitrator" for A$10M ($9M) over a judgment that highlighted "dishonourable" conduct by the resources tycoon and federal MP. The Australian "has seen legal documents" showing the leader of the Palmer United Party wants to walk away from the defamation action, which "could have led to the testing of evidence about a mysterious reputed break-in at the offices of his company Mineralogy" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/28). ... Former La Liga Athletic Bilbao President JESÚS MARÍA DUÑABEITIA died on Wednesday. Duñabeitia served as president of the club from '77-82 (MARCA, 11/27).
