Ligue 1 side Bastia striker BRANDAO "has been jailed for a month" and fined €20,000 ($25,000) for headbutting Paris St. Germain's THIAGO MOTTA after a match in August. Judges "considered that the attack was premeditated" (RFI, 11/27). ... SUSIE WOLFF has "been promoted to the role of test driver for the Williams Formula 1 team." She was the "first female Scottish driver to compete in free practice at a Grand Prix in July." Following the departure of FELIPE NASR to Sauber, "Wolff will now compete in two Friday test sessions" (STV, 11/28). ... Real Madrid said that UEFA President MICHEL PLATINI should "not make public his personal views about who should be given the Ballon d’Or award." The club said in a statement released on Friday that it is surprised by "repeated comments regarding his personal preferences" over the choice of the winner of the award "given annually to the player regarded as the world’s best" (AP, 11/28). ... British Olympic Association Chair SEBASTIAN COE is to run for presidency of the Int'l Association of Athletics Federations next year. He has "made no secret of his desire to succeed" Senegalese LAMINE DIACK, 80, who is "stepping down after 16 years" (BBC, 11/27).
ALONG FOR THE RIDE: Australian PM TONY ABBOTT joined Australia's only professional cycling team on the WorldTour, Orica-GreenEdge, "on a morning ride in Canberra to celebrate the team's successful 2014 season." Abbott teamed up with riders SIMON GERRANS, MATTHEW HAYMAN, LUKE DURBRIDGE, CALEB EWAN and CAMERON MEYER and Orica-AIS riders LIZZIE WILLIAMS and JESSIE MCLEAN for a 26-km "training ride through the streets of the national capital" (GreenEdge Cycling). ... ManU assistant RYAN GIGGS will be a "surprise candidate" on League Championship side Wigan Owner DAVE WHELAN's shortlist if the club is forced to terminate Manager MALKY MACKAY's contract. Mackay is the subject of an "ongoing FA inquiry into allegations that he sent homophobic, racist and sexist messages while in charge of Cardiff" (MIRROR, 11/29). ... FIFA banned ALBERTO COLACO, the former general secretary of India's federation, for three years for "accepting a payment" during an '09 election for FIFA's exec board (BLOOMBERG, 11/27).
MURRIHY TO RETIRE: Racing NSW Chief Steward RAY MURRIHY, Australia's "leading racing lawman," is "set to retire after 20 years" in '15. He has been "considering for some time when the right time would be to step down but he will wait" until the cobalt case involving trainer DARREN SMITH "has been completed before hanging up his binoculars." While not drawn on a date, Murrihy said he would "prefer to take another role within sports integrity rather than finish a career that has spanned more than 40 years." Racing NSW is "likely to look from within to replace Murrihy," with his deputies GREG RUDOLPH and MARC VAN GESTEL the leading candidates (THE AGE, 11/30).
SAINZ TO TORO ROSSO: F1 driver CARLOS SAINZ JR. will race for Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso in '15. The 20-year-old Spaniard, "son of rally legend CARLOS SAINZ SR.," replaces JEAN-ERIC VERGNE of France and will partner with 17-year-old Dutch driver MAX VERSTAPPEN (BBC, 11/28).
NIERSBACH TO RUN FOR FIFA POST: The German Football Federation (DFB) announced that President WOLFGANG NIERSBACH will "run for a seat on FIFA's policy-making" exec committee. He will run to replace THEO ZWANZIGER, the German who is "leaving the post" (AP, 11/28).
