Argentine Tennis Association (AAT) President ARTURO GRIMALDI “died of a serious illness at the age of 61.” Grimaldi had been president of the AAT since ’09 and was serving his second term that was to end in ’17. AAT VP ARMANDO CERVONE “should succeed him at the head of the institution” (AFP, 10/26). ... Defending champion LEE CHONG WEI of Malaysia "will miss next month's Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open for the first time in almost a decade after being allegedly involved in a doping scandal that has shocked the badminton world" (SCMP, 10/27). ... French footballer NICHOLAS ANELKA “is set to return to action on Tuesday after serving a five-match ban for a gesture deemed to be ‘anti-semitic’ and known as a ‘quenelle.’” He is expected to play for his Indian Super League team Mumbai FC against Chennaiyin FC (AFP, 10/27). ... GENNARO GATTUSO has “made a U-turn and will stay on as coach of Greek Super League club OFI Crete.” The 36-year-old World Cup winner, who “took over last June and has presided over only seven matches, had announced his resignation from his post following a 3-2 loss at home to Asteras Tripolis on Sunday.” But after “long discussions with the club's administration and a show of support from fans, Gattuso has changed his mind” (REUTERS, 10/27). ... On the day it was "revealed he has been suffering depression," National Rugby League side Cronulla captain PAUL GALLEN has been fined A$50,000 ($44,000) and "banned from Test selection in 2015 following an abusive tweet" aimed at NRL hierarchy. In an "indication of how seriously the NRL authorities viewed Gallen's remarks, he has been handed the harshest individual penalty allowable under the NRL code of conduct" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 10/27).
DARROCH'S PAY SLUMPS: Sky CEO JEREMY DARROCH received £12.5M as "part of a long-term incentive plan in July 2013 after shares," including 300,000 awarded to him in '11 at the time of the News Corp. bid for Sky, "vested at a share price" of £8.35. Darroch earned £935,000 in "basic salary in the 12 months" to June 30, up 2.7% year on year (CAMPAIGN LIVE, 10/27).
FENUCCI LEAVING ROMA'S BOARD: AS Roma COO CLAUDIO FENUCCI announced on Monday that he is leaving the club's board. Fenucci, who previously was AS Roma’s CEO, "assumed the role of chief executive at the Giallorossi" in July ’11, "when he was appointed" by former AS Roma President THOMAS DIBENEDETTO to "lead the side’s off-field operations." Fenucci, however, "has seen his position marginalised since the arrival" of AS Roma President JAMES PALLOTTA. Il Tempo is "leading suggestions" that Fennucci will join up with Serie B club Bologna, as part of its "new direction" under American-Canadian ownership (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 10/27).
DEVI APOLOGIZES: A "remorseful" SARITA DEVI pleaded with the Amateur Int'l Boxing Association (AIBA) to lift the provisional suspension imposed on her for refusing to accept her bronze medal in the Asiad, saying that "she deeply regrets her outburst on the podium and would never repeat it" (PTI, 10/27). Requesting AIBA to revoke the provisional suspension on Devi, Boxing India President SANDEEP JAJODIA on Monday said that "her unconditional apology and impeccable past disciplinary record would form the crux of her defence in front of the world body" (PTI, 10/27).
ZIDANE HIT WITH BAN: Spanish second division side Real Madrid Castilla coach ZINEDINE ZIDANE has been “suspended from coaching for three months as a consequence of not having the required Level 3 qualification demanded by Spanish authorities.” Zidane served as Real Madrid Manager CARLO ANCELOTTI's assistant in ‘13 before “taking charge of the Castilla B team,” although his assistant SANTIAGO SANCHEZ was named as head coach. However, following an “official complaint lodged with the country's football federation,” second division judge FRANCISCO RUBIO has decided to “ban Zidane and Sanchez from coaching for three months” (London DAILY MAIL, 10/27).
