LIONEL MESSI's father, JORGE, said on Wednesday that he "has no connection" to businessman ENRIQUE BLAKSLEY, who is reportedly being investigated for "tax evasion and money laundering." Jorge Messi said, "Neither I nor my son, nor our foundation, has any connection with this business." Blaksley had claimed that he had been "associated with the Messi family to open a chain of cafes in Spain" (EFE, 1/14). ... Brazilian former footballer RONALDO will attempt to "make a playing comeback this spring with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers" of the second-tier North American Soccer League. The world player of the year in '96, '97 and '02, Ronaldo is now 38 and has not played since Feb. '11 with Brasileiro side Corinthians. He said, "I love to play. That was my big love. But when I retired, it was because of my body. I had so much pain and so many injuries. It isn't easy to get fit. I will try. I will train a lot" (TELEGRAPH, 1/15). ... The New Zealand SuperTourer series "could have its first female driver" with Australian RENEE GRACIE completing a "successful test session at Hampton Downs." Having just completed two seasons in the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup championship, Gracie is "moving onto the V8 Supercar Dunlop Development series in Australia and is looking to campaign a car in NZ SuperTourers as well, eager to lap up as much racing experience as possible" (STUFF, 1/15). ... ManU has sacked one of its European scouts after a "race storm." The club terminated TORBEN AAKJAER's contract after suspending him earlier in the day "after being alerted to a stream of racially offensive Facebook comments in which one mosque is described as a 'conspiracy-potential prayer-shop.'" A ManU statement said, "The club received the evidence from the Guardian, launched an immediate investigation into the matter and has terminated our association with Mr Aakjaer. Manchester United is an inclusive organisation and will not tolerate this sort of behaviour" (London GUARDIAN, 1/14). ... New Zealand All Black lock JEREMY THRUSH will join Premiership rugby club Gloucester after this year's Rugby World Cup. The 29-year-old, who "currently plays for Super Rugby side the Hurricanes, has won 11 caps for New Zealand and was a member of the squad that toured Europe for the recent autumn internationals" (AFP, 1/14). ... EPL side West Ham's RAVEL MORRISON "has been cleared of all charges of assaulting his former girlfriend and her mother." The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the allegations after CCTV footage showed he had not hit REAH MANSOOR, 19, outside a Manchester nightclub in July (BBC, 1/15).
BACKSTROM DROPS APPEAL: NHL Washington Capitals player NICKLAS BACKSTROM accepted a reprimand from Olympic officials "over a failed drugs test" at the Sochi Games, where he was part of Sweden's Silver-Medal winning ice hockey team. Backstrom, his country's top-line center, missed the Gold Medal game last February after "testing positive for pseudoephedrine, a banned ingredient in an allergy medication he was taking on the advice of his team's doctor" (BLOOMBERG, 1/15).
BRETT LEE RETIRES: Former Australian Test cricketer BRETT LEE will "retire from all forms of cricket at the end of the current Big Bash League campaign." Lee said, "It's been an amazing and emotional 20 years and I've enjoyed every single moment of it. I didn't bother to do the math on it, but it's a lot of ice baths, a lot of training sessions, a lot of cricket balls bowled, there's a lot of flights. But there's also been a fun" (AAP, 1/14).
RONALDO HONORED: Real Madrid's CRISTIANO RONALDO was named the "best player in the history of Portuguese football at the Gala Quinas de Ouro ceremony on Wednesday night." The award was part of the commemorations to celebrate "100 years of the
Portuguese Football Federation, which took place at the Casino de
Estoril" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 1/15).
