German state Rhineland-Palatinate Tennis Federation President ULRICH KLAUS will run for president of the German Tennis Federation (DTB) at its next meeting on Nov. 16 (DTB). ... Irish jump racing trainer OLIVER BRADY has died at the age of 75 following a "long battle with cancer." Brady was "known for his celebrations in the winner's enclosure, when he would often make a rousing speech and lead a sing-song" (BBC, 9/16). ... The Rugby Football League has said that "no action will be taken against" Leeds Rhinos full-back ZAK HARDAKER after an "investigation into claims he had used homophobic language." The RFL had been "looking into an alleged incident involving" Hardaker during a Super League defeat by St. Helens last month (BBC, 9/16). ... Suspected football match-fixer DAN TAN SEET ENG, who has been named by prosecutors "as the chief of an international match-fixing gang,
challenged his detention without trial in Singapore." He is "seeking a court order against the Home Affairs
Minister and a superintendent of the maximum security Changi
Prison Complex for a review of his detention" (BLOOMBERG, 9/15). ... Jockeys MARTIN DWYER and PAUL MULRENNAN have "recently been interviewed by
racing's ruling body and remain under investigation over allegations
that they discussed betting on a race in India" in '10. However, "there is no indication as to what, if any, action will now be taken" (London GUARDIAN, 9/15).
A SURPRISE CONTENDER: Former Argentine national football team coach ALEJANDRO SABELLA "has emerged as a shock contender to become the new manager" of League Championship side Leeds United. Sabella, who quit as Argentina manager following its defeat to Germany in this summer’s World Cup final, is on Elland Road Owner MASSIMO CELLINO’s wishlist after interim coach NEIL REDFEARN "was ruled out of the running" to replace the sacked DAVE HOCKADAY (London DAILY MAIL, 9/16). ... National Rugby League side North Queensland has been fined A$10,000 ($9,100) over coach PAUL GREEN’s "sensational claim that the club has lost faith in the NRL match review and judiciary process."
Green said that "they did not bother to fight" back-rower TARIQ SIMS’ shoulder charge ban because "they have no faith in the NRL match review and judiciary process" (AAP, 9/16). ... Caribbean Football Union VP and FIFA audit and compliance committee member CANOVER WATSON "has been relieved of his role temporarily pending the outcome of a police investigation." He was "arrested by police in the Cayman Islands on suspicion of corruption and money laundering" (PA, 9/16).
ZIDANE LINKED TO FRANCE: Former French int'l ZINEDINE ZIDANE, who "helped Les Bleus win the 1998 World Cup on home soil, has hinted he could be interested in coaching the national team." He said, "I am ambitious. I am a coach now, and I tell myself 'why not be national coach?'" (REUTERS, 9/16).
IN SPAIN: Barcelona has announced that it will "rename their training ground" after former Manager TITO VILANOVA, who died earlier this year at the age of 45. Barcelona's board has agreed that the "first team training complex in Ciudad Deportiva de Sant Joan Despi would have its name changed" to honor Vilanova (London INDEPENDENT, 9/16). ... Twitter announced that during the two weeks of the FIBA World Cup, the "#Spain2015 hashtag, which accompanied Marca's online broadcasts, drew 4.3 million tweets." The most-mentioned players on Twitter were KYRIE IRVING of the U.S., Spain's PAU GASOL and France's NICOLAS BATUM (MARCA, 9/16).
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Bild newspaper F1 reporter NICOLA POHL warned her colleagues about the stiff Russian visa requirements on Twitter. She tweeted, "quick warning for all F1 colleagues who apply for Russian visa: you need soooo many more things for embassy than requested in @fia letter!!!" (Twitter). ... The Russian Consulate in Madrid "refused to grant a visa" to Spanish newspaper AS reporter JOAQUÍN MAROTO, "who was supposed to have traveled to St. Petersburg on Monday" to report on a meeting of European football coaches (AS, 9/16). ... Olympic gymnast ALINA KABAEVA " is to lead the biggest private pro-Kremlin media holding in Russia" after serving more than six years as a parliamentary deputy. National Media Group spokeswoman OKSANA RAZUMOVA "did not give details of what Kabaeva’s functions will be as a manager or when the formal appointment will take place." The Kremlin "has denied speculation about an alleged romantic relationship" between Kabaeva, 31, and President VLADIMIR PUTIN, 61, "who formally divorced his wife" LYUDMILA earlier this year (REUTERS, 9/16).
TOO MUCH STRESS: Dutch Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar coach MARCO VAN BASTEN "stepped down" from his position on Tuesday, saying that "he could no longer cope with the stress." However, he "will stay at the Dutch club after swapping jobs with his assistant" ALEX PASTOOR. The club had announced on Monday that Van Basten "was returning from a brief leave of absence." But in a "dramatic twist" to the saga, the 49-year-old said that stress, which led to heart palpitations, "meant he could no longer work as head coach and would never again do so." Van Basten:
"The stress I experienced as a head coach was much more than I would have liked" (REUTERS, 9/16).