The Mexican Football Federation's (FMF) Disciplinary Committee sanctioned Liga MX side Pachuca VP ANDRÉS FASSI with a four-month suspension and a fine of more than 134,000 pesos ($9,900) for insulting the "game's referees" and trying to attack Santos Laguna President ALEJANDRO IRARRAGORRI after Pachuca lost to Santos Laguna last Friday (LA AFICION, 11/12). ... French footballer ÉRIC ABIDAL, currently playing for Greek side Olympiacos, will return to his former team Barcelona after he retires from Olympiacos. Abidal, 35, has not yet announced when he will retire. His role with Barça will be director of the club's football schools (AS, 11/13). ... After "being courted by Arsenal and ManU," Italian int’l midfielder CLAUDIO MARCHISIO extended his contract with Serie A side Juventus until ’19. Marchisio was previously under contract until ’16 (GOAL, 11/13). ... Tajikistan defender KHURSHED BEKNAZAROV has been banned for two years for a doping offense during the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, the Asian Football Confederation said Thursday (MALAY MAIL ONLINE, 11/13).
BORYS BACKS NFL: London Mayor BORIS JOHNSON said Wednesday on the Late Show with David Letterman that he thinks there’s an “normare to see NFL. ... I was at the stadium, Wembley the other day -- our national stadium -- and it was full to the rafters, 85,000 people. We’ve got lots of Americans in London, but these were Brits, and they understood it, too” (PRO FOOTBALL TALK, 11/13). ... DIEGO MARADONA has accused SEPP BLATTER of “trying to force him out of football.” The Argentine legend “railed against the FIFA president, accusing him of underhand tactics” to try and keep him out of the public eye. Maradona said, "Blatter wouldn't let me watch the World Cup because I had exposed him, removed his mask. ... And now I can't manage in the UAE because he rings club presidents to stop them contracting me. That's something they've told me" (London DAILY MIRROR, 11/13). ... National Rugby League side South Sydney Rabbitohs center KIRISOME AUVA’A has been suspended from the NRL indefinitely. The NRL released a statement late on Thursday afternoon, saying the grand final winning back would not be allowed to return to the game "until he has demonstrated behavioural change designed to prevent the recurrence of violent behaviour toward women." Last week Auva'a was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend (AAP, 11/13).
END OF THE LINE: Swedish Formula 1 rookie MARCUS ERICSSON has terminated his Caterham contract with immediate effect. Caterham is in administration but is "trying to raise enough money through crowdfunding to enable them to compete at the season finale" in Abu Dhabi. Ericsson said, "This is a sad day as we have greatly enjoyed working with the team through a difficult and tough season” (BBC, 11/12). ... Republic of Ireland assistant manager ROY KEANE called police to the team's hotel following an incident with a member of the public, according to the Football Association of Ireland. A fan is “believed to have confronted Keane in the hotel's reception area, tearing up a book” after a heated argument turned physical. The FAI says Keane has its "full support” after "inaccurate reports" (BBC, 11/13). ... Former footballer PELE is doing "fine" and was expected to be
discharged from a Sao Paulo hospital early on Thursday "after he was
admitted for stomach pains." He had to "cancel a book-signing at a museum named for him in his
native city of Santos after complaining about his stomach on Wednesday" (REUTERS, 11/12).
