Former Barcelona footballer ROMÁRIO DE SOUZA will be a senator
for Rio de Janeiro after "obtaining 63.43% of the state's written votes
in the legislative, regional and presidential elections held Sunday
throughout Brazil." With this "impressive result, he guarantees his
presence in the Senate for eight years" (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 10/6). ... Former Spanish second division side Mallorca Owner JAVIER MARTÍ ASENSIO "was sentenced to 2 years in prison and must pay Mallorca" €603,679 ($762,500) for "using club funds" to pay off the cost of the majority share in the club that he bought from MATEO ALEMANY in '09 (EFE, 10/6). ... Former F1 driver ANDREA DE CESARIS "was killed in a motorcycle accident" in the wake of JULES BIANCHI's life-threatening crash in the Japanese Grand Prix. De Cesaris, who drove in the sport from '80 to '94, racing for teams
including McLaren, Ligier, Minardi, Jordan, Tyrrell and Sauber, "died in his
native Rome aged 55 on Sunday." MARTIN BRUNDLE, who raced against de Cesaris for much of his career, said on
Monday morning, “RIP Andrea De Cesaris. A lovely man, passionate racer. A
little bit crazy, in a nice way. Please let Jules [Bianchi] have the same
opportunity we did.” McLaren driver JENSON BUTTON said, "Woken up to the sad news that ex F1
driver Andrea de Cesaris has passed away.. #RIPAndrea." After retiring from motor racing in '94, de Cesaris "went on to become a
successful currency trader, as well as pursuing his love of windsurfing" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/6). ... Former ManU player RIO FERDINAND ruled out joining FIFA next year "after it emerged he was on a shortlist to become its British vice-president." Ferdinand "was a surprise inclusion among candidates being considered" by the FA for one of the most senior roles in the game. But the former England defender said that working alongside FIFA President SEPP BLATTER "was not on his agenda -- for now." Ferdinand: "Sepp’s not called me yet, so I don’t think now’s the time." The FA must decide whether to put up a candidate for the FIFA vice-presidency after its own vice-chairman, former ManU Dir DAVID GILL, "ruled himself out" (TELEGRAPH, 10/6).
