Williams F1 Team Principal FRANK WILLIAMS "is in hospital for treatment on a pressure sore on his back." The 72-year-old, a quadriplegic since a road accident in '86, "is receiving what is described as routine treatment and is said to be responding well." Daughter and Deputy Team Principal CLAIRE WILLIAMS missed the U.S. Grand Prix in Texas "to be with her father" (BBC, 10/31). ... Scottish Premiership side Celtic backed ALEKSANDAR TONEV after the winger was suspended for seven matches for using “offensive, insulting and abusive language of a racist nature” against Aberdeen defender SHAY LOGAN. The club immediately released a statement on its official website, saying that it had "accepted Tonev’s claim of innocence and confirming the player will appeal the decision" (PA, 10/30). ... A Swiss amateur footballer "has been handed a 50-year ban from the sport for kicking the ball at a referee and insulting him in a fourth-tier match." RICARDO FERREIRA of Berne's Portugal Futebol Clube "received a lifetime ban after he kicked the ball at the official, sprayed him with water and verbally abused him at the end of a game during which he was an unused substitute" (REUTERS, 11/1). ... Formula One's Sauber signed MARCUS ERICSSON for the ‘15 season on Saturday as the Swedish driver “left the struggling Caterham team which is on the brink of collapse.” Ericsson's arrival will mean either ADRIAN SUTIL or ESTEBAN GUTIERREZ “will lose their seat at Sauber next year” (AFP, 11/2). Paris St. Germain announced it has extended the contract of defensive midfielder ADRIEN RABIOT for the next four years. The French youth int'l is now tied to the club until '19 (PSG).
NRL NAMES: Former National Rugby League side Parramatta player ERIC GROTHE SR. “could be expelled from the club with whom he won four premierships over a deal he had to sell meat trays to the club while he was a board member.” He is one of “five officials recommended for disciplinary action in a damning Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing report about Parramatta Leagues Club that runs to more than 6000 pages” (THE AGE, 11/2). ... NRL side Cronulla coach SHANE FLANAGAN "has been cleared to return to the club from suspension by the NRL." NRL GM of Integrity NICK WEEKS said on Friday that Flanagan "had satisfied all the conditions required for his return which comes in time" for the start of the club's preseason training on Monday (AAP, 10/30).
