Atlético Madrid's FERNANDO TORRES "has not even made his debut in his second stint with the club, but he is already breaking records." His presentation "attracted a crowd of 45,000." On Sunday, the club's team store sold 2,000 shirts featuring Torres' No. 19, "another record" (MARCA, 1/6). ... Former Queensland rugby league player JASON SMITH "has been charged for allegedly trafficking cocaine in the state's south-east." Smith, 42, who also represented Australia and won a premiership with the Bulldogs, "was arrested on Monday" along with 34-year-old prominent local restaurateur JASON WOOD (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/6). ... DAVID CHUNG will be the sole candidate in the 2015 Oceania
Football Confederation presidential election campaign. The deadline for
submissions to run for president has passed with incumbent Chung the
only candidate (OFC). ... Veteran Italian sprinter ALESSANDRO PETACCHI signed for Italian Southeast cycling team, "formerly known as Neri Sottoli." The Italian was the winner of the 2010 Tour de France green jersey "and acted as lead-out man" for MARK CAVENDISH at team Omega Pharma-QuickStep during '14 (CYCLING WEEKLY, 1/6). ... EPL side West Bromwich Albion and England U21 striker SAIDO BERAHINO "is set to appear in court after being arrested on suspicion of drink-driving" (PA, 1/6). ... Arsenal goalkeeper WOJCIECH SZCZESNY "is facing the prospect of a significant club fine after being accused of smoking in the showers following the 2-0 defeat against Southampton on New Year’s Day." Arsenal maintain that Szczesny "has not yet been fined but disciplinary action would now appear to be a formality," with the club expected to impose a £20,000 ($30,400) sanction (London TELEGRAPH, 1/6).
EARLY RELEASE: German Football League (DFL) Managing Dir ANDREAS RETTIG "has asked the supervisory board of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH to release him prematurely from his contract," which expires at the end of '15. Rettig: "I have come to the conclusion that my own future lies in club football. It was therefore only logical for me not to seek any renewal of my contract before any specific thought had been given to the future tasks" (Bundesliga).
TOP FOUR: French Swimming Federation (FFN) President FRANCIS LUYCE “revealed the four candidates on the ‘short-list’ for the vacant post” of national technical director following the resignation of LIONEL HORTER in September. They include ROXANA MARACINEANU, 200m backstroke world champion in ’98; JACQUES FAVRE, director of the “sports committee for the Marseille Circle of Swimmers;” PHILIPPE HELLARD, who “heads the FFN research department;” and MARIE-LAURE ETIENNE, former assistant national technical director of the French Canoe Federation. The final candidate will be selected on Jan. 23 and is “expected to take office in early March” (L’EQUIPE, 1/6).
