F1 driver GARY PAFFETT will leave his role as McLaren test and reserve driver at the end of the season when the team switches from Mercedes to Honda power (REUTERS, 11/17). ... Footballer DANIEL ENGELBRECHT has made history by becoming the "first
player in German professional football to play with a defibrillator
after he nearly died from an inflammation of the heart." He collapsed 16 months ago and "needed four operations and the fitting of a defibrillator" to regulate his heartbeat (AFP, 11/17). ... The details of the "bust-up" between ROGER FEDERER and STAN WAWRINKA at the ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday night "became clearer" on Sunday as "well-placed sources attested that the two men found themselves 'thrashing out their differences' in the O2 Arena's gym after their semi-final." The common thread in the "accounts of a hot-tempered match concerns the role" of Federer's wife, MIRKA. Her reportedly "intense and even provocative support for her husband" -- which peaked just before Wawrinka served for the match at 5-4 in the third set -- caused Wawrinka to "complain about her behaviour" (TELEGRAPH, 11/17). ... Former EPL footballer DELROY FACEY pleaded not guilty to a charge of "conspiracy to commit
bribery during a brief hearing before a judge at Birmingham Crown Court." The
former Bolton, Hull and West Brom striker is "alleged to have committed
the offence by offering financial advantage to others, including
professional footballers," in Nov. '13 (PA, 11/17). ... AVRAM GRANT is "set to be confirmed" as the new manager of Ghana's men's national football team on a two-year deal. Grant, the former Chelsea and West Ham manager, will "reportedly land a hefty signing-on fee" in the region of £130,000 ($203,300), in addition to £30,000 ($46,900)-a-month wages. The Israeli could be "refused access to some Northern African countries," but Ghana FA President KWESI NYANTEKYIE believes the issue will be resolved (London DAILY MAIL, 11/17). ... Top 14 rugby side Grenoble third line center FABIEN ALEXANDRE extended his contract with the club for two additional seasons. Alexandre arrived in Grenoble in ’11 and is now bound to the club until ’17 (RUGBY 365, 11/17). ... South Korean left-handed pitcher YANG HYEON-JONG will soon be "posted for interested Major League Baseball clubs," his current Korea Baseball Organization team announced Monday. The Kia Tigers said they will "make the 26-year-old pitcher available in an MLB-wide silent auction" this week. The Tigers said they notified the KBO, which in turn will inform MLB of Yang's status (YONHAP, 11/17). ... A Madrid mercantile court has ordered the Spanish Football League (LFP) to issue PEDRO LEÓN with the necessary documentation so that the player "can be included in Getafe's match day squads without the club facing disciplinary action" for fielding an ineligible player (AS, 11/17). ... Former J.League Division 1 club Vissel Kobe manager MASAHIRO WADA is likely to succeed RYOICHI KAWAKATSU as manager of J.League second-division club Kyoto Sanga (KYOTO, 11/16). ... Ligue 2 side Créteil coach PHILIPPE HINSCHBERGER is no longer the coach of Créteil. Saturday’s defeat in the French Cup against French National side St. Maur Lusi “seems to have been too much” for Hinschberger, who decided to leave “after this slap.” Assistant coaches JEAN-MICHEL BRIDIER and FRANCIS DE PERCIN took over the coaching responsibilities Monday (L’EQUIPE, 11/17).
