At the request of Chilean President MICHELLE BACHELET, former Chilean footballer CARLOS CASZELY has “accepted the task of becoming a European sports ambassador.” His responsibility will be to “study and try to import into his country the models of success from the old continent.” His field of operations will “cover all of Europe, but he will be based in Spain, with an office at the Chilean embassy” (EL PAIS, 9/8). ... Peruvian football league (ADFP) President LUIS DE SOUZA FERREIRA died on Saturday at the age of 73 “following complications from a cerebral hemorrhage he suffered four days prior.” He was in his third term leading the ADFP after being elected in ’09 (LA REPUBLICA, 9/6). ... Basketball New Zealand said that it will advertise for a new Tall Blacks
coach with NENAD VUCINIC's time in charge "apparently over following the
latest World Cup campaign." Vucinic "has been coy about his
future since the Tall Blacks bowed out of the tournament in Spain,
beaten 76-71 by Lithuania in the round of 16 match on Monday" (STUFF, 9/9). ... TRENT ROBINSON started out as one of the lowest paid coaches in the National Rugby League, "but a premiership in his first season and another one up for grabs is set to see him be catapulted into the top echelon of coaches." Having originally signed a three-year deal with the Roosters worth close to A$250,000 ($230,000) a season, Robinson "is set to earn almost three times as much when he sits down with the club in the coming weeks to discuss a contract extension" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/9). ... Basketball great ANDREW GAZE labeled the investigation into Australia's "controversial" World Cup loss to Angola a waste of time, but believes if the Boomers are guilty of tanking, "people should be fired." A day after a defeat to Turkey knocked the team out of the tournament in Spain, Australia learned that it "could face disciplinary action" by FIBA, over the manner of its loss to Angola (THE AGE, 9/9). ... Bayern Munich CEO KARL-HEINZ RUMMENIGGE insisted that there is no issue over FRANCK RIBERY despite UEFA President MICHEL PLATINI "warning the player he could face a ban if he refuses to come out of international retirement" (ESPN, 9/9). ... Serie A side Roma President JAMES PALLOTTA branded MEDHI BENATIA "a liar" for suggesting that he only left for Bayern Munich this summer because the club "wanted to cash in on him" (ESPN, 9/9).
ROAD RAGE: Italian GIANLUCA BRAMBILLA and Russia's IVAN ROVNY "were disqualified from the Vuelta a Espana on Monday after coming to blows during the 16th stage from San Martin del Rey Aurelio to La Farrapona." In "bizarre circumstances both men landed punches and elbowed each other whilst continuing to cycle as they made up a breakaway group of 13 riders." It was originally announced that tour organizers would take a decision on sanctions at the end of the stage, but with Brambilla still part of a lead group of three with just 15km to go, "both teams were instructed to tell their riders to stop as they had been disqualified" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/9).
HOMECOMING: Former F1 champion MICHAEL SCHUMACHER "left hospital to continue
his recovery at home" but faces "a long and difficult road ahead" after
his skiing accident last year. A statement issued by Manager SABINE KEHM said,
"Henceforth, Michael's rehabilitation will take place at his home.
Considering the severe injuries he suffered, progress has been made in
the past weeks and months. There is still, however, a long and difficult
road ahead" (REUTERS, 9/10).
