Horse trainer MARK RILEY is claiming "impaired mental functioning" in a bid to "reduce or beat a charge of bicarb treatment that could result in a three-year ban." He will visit a psychologist next Tuesday, "and is calling a general practitioner after an owner/stablehand tendered evidence that the Mornington trainer had glazed eyes" and "stumbled with words" on the day of the incident (HERALD SUN, 2/10). ... Argentine first division side San Lorenzo VP MARCELO TINELLI "ruled out any possibility of his candidacy for the presidency of the AFA." Tinelli: "There has to be a major reorganization of Argentine football. It is necessary because this is beyond the people. Areas have to be professionalized and improved. Argentine football can improve a lot. Much of what we do at San Lorenzo can be applied to the AFA" (LOS ANDES, 2/9). ... Veteran Australian Football League side Adelaide defender BRENT REILLY is "in intensive care but out
of immediate danger after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured
skull." He was "rushed to hospital via an ambulance on Monday
after copping a heavy knock to his head during an accidental training
collision" (AAP, 2/9). ... Former Grand Slam doubles champion BOB HEWITT "pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault of minors on Monday in a court in Johannesburg." Australian-born Hewitt, 75, is accused of "raping a girl under the age of 16" in '81, raping "another girl under the age of 16" in '82, and "sexually assaulting a third girl under the age of 18" in '94, all in South Africa. Hewitt "emphatically denied raping his former students" (AP, 2/9). ... Liverpool Manager BRENDAN RODGERS has warned RAHEEM STERLING's representatives "Liverpool will not bow to excessive wage demands in the youngster's new deal." Rodgers said that Sterling has been made an "incredible" offer to extend terms at Anfield but negotiations "are ongoing with the player's agents" (London TELEGRAPH, 2/9).
'FALCIANI LIST': McLaren F1 driver FERNANDO ALONSO, through his advisers, "is set to make various claims for the damage
caused to his reputation by the incorrect use" of his name in the controversial "Falciani List," a list of HSBC Geneva clients that
features "many individuals accused of tax evasion in their home countries"
in '06 and '07. Newspapers including the London Guardian, Le Monde and El Confidencial have
"caused an uproar by reporting that the Spanish driver had an account
with the bank" from '02-10. Sources close to Alonso said, "Fernando lived there and paid (tax)
there. He never had anything in Spain since he upped and moved to
England with everything he owned" (MARCA, 2/9). El Confidencial reported former Barcelona VP ALFONS GODALL "hid money in a Swiss bank account" during his time as VP of Barcelona. Godall's name appeared in the HSBC database. He was "reportedly linked to the account of a business called Double Joy Limited, with headquarters in the Virgin Islands" (MARCA, 2/9).
CONTE COULD FACE TRIAL: Italian national football coach ANTONIO CONTE "could go on trial accused of sporting fraud after the conclusions of an investigation by the state prosecutor of Cremona were published on Monday." Conte -- who was banned for 10 months, reduced to four on appeal, as part of a previous investigation in '12 -- "again faces accusations that he was aware of an attempt to fix a game while in charge of Siena" (ESPN, 2/9).
