Under-fire Japan Manager JAVIER AGUIRRE, who is reportedly being investigated by Spanish authorities for match-fixing, "pleaded his innocence during a two-hour meeting with the Japan Football Association’s lawyer." According to the JFA, Aguirre said, “I am a professional coach, and I have never, ever done anything of the sort" (AP, 12/4). ... MARCO PANTANI may have accidentally committed suicide after voluntarily ingesting a "mixture of medicinal drugs and cocaine," a leading forensic scientist commissioned to reinvestigate the legendary Italian cyclist's death has claimed. Professor FRANCO TAGLIARO's assertions "appear to contradict claims by Pantani's family that the 34-year-old cyclist was the victim of homicide a decade ago" (AFP, 12/4). ... Violinist VANESSA-MAE "appealed against a four-year skiing ban." The Int'l Ski Federation (FIS) imposed the punishment after ruling she helped to "manipulate" results to ensure her place at the Sochi Olympics (BBC, 12/4). ... After former Deportivo La Coruña President AUGUSTO CÉSAR LENDOIRO was sacked "as an ambassador" of the Spanish Football League (LFP) for his attendance at Wednesday's funeral for a Deportivo ultra, LFP President JAVIER TEBAS said of Lendoiro, "He represented La Liga all around the world and he has been relieved of his duties. If he had any kind of relationship with or knew family members of JIMMY, he should have gone round to their house as a normal member of the public, not attend a public act where there was a certain glorification of violence in the world of football. This is something that we will not put up with" (MARCA, 12/4).
