Japanese footballer KEISUKE HONDA and Iran coach CARLOS QUEIROZ have been fined by the Asian Football Confederation for criticizing referees at the Asian Cup. Honda was hit with a A$5,000 ($4,100) fine after complaining that Japan's opener against Palestine was "like playing basketball." Queiroz was fined A$3,000 following his criticism of Australian referee Ben Williams in Iran's 2-0 win over Bahrain (AFP, 1/18). ... Australian professional golfer ROBERT ALLENBY said that he is confident "whoever is responsible for a brutal attack he feared he would not survive will be brought to justice." The 43-year-old, one of Australia's "most successful golfers of the last 20 years," was kidnapped, beaten and robbed in Honolulu, Hawaii on Friday night before "being dumped" about 10km away from where he was abducted (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/18). ...
U.S. racecar driver ALEXANDER ROSSI has admitted he is "really interested" in becoming the first U.S. driver to race a Haas car in F1. Although Californian, the 23-year-old “has risen through the European racing ranks over the past six years, including in Formula BMW, the Renault world series and finally GP2.” Asked specifically about Haas, Rossi answered, "I am really interested in the Haas team. I have the necessary knowledge, the experience, I understand Formula One and I think for the promotion of the series in America they want a driver from the U.S.” (PADDOCK TALK, 1/17). … German tennis player ANGELIQUE KERBER agreed to a deal with Porsche as a brand ambassador. In engaging Kerber, Porsche has intensified its sponsorship of women’s tennis (Porsche). … Australian Baseball League side Adelaide Bite relief pitcher TROY SCOTT “has received the biggest suspension in Australian Baseball League history for his part in a bench-clearing brawl that marred Friday night’s clash at Norwood Oval.” Scott “was suspended for six games and fined an undisclosed amount.” Melbourne relief pitcher AL YEVOLI “also received a fine for his part in the brawl” (THE ADVERTISER, 1/18).
YANG TRAINING: Chinese swimmer SUN YANG has "used a loophole to sidestep a Swimming Australia ban to continue training under top local coaches." Yang, "arguably one of the best Chinese swimmers and the country's most-famous athlete, was forced to sever ties" with coach DENIS COTTERELL and was prohibited from using Cotterell’s training facility at Miami, on the Gold Coast, after his doping ban was "exposed late last year." But in a "slap in the face for Swimming Australia, he is now training under the watchful eye" of Cotterell's former top lieutenant, BRIAN KING, just 20km away, where he has "rented" a lane privately. Yang is now based at Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre on the Gold Coast’s north, where he is training under King, "who is working as a subcontractor for the Chinese Swimming Association" (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, 1/18).
