La Liga side Getafe has "completed the signing" of JOSÉ BORDALÁS. The parties "have not officially announced the agreement because Bordalás still is the coach" of Spanish second division side Alcorcón, "which he recently informed he would not manage next season" (AS, 5/31). ... PELÉ said that he "approves of the re-election" of FIFA President SEPP BLATTER. Pelé: "I was in favor of Blatter's re-election. It's always better to have someone with experience" (REUTERS, 6/1). ... FIFA's Independent Ethics Committee has banned VP JEAN GUY BLAISE MAYOLAS, Congolese FA General Secretary BADJI MOMBO WANTETE and official ENRIQUE SANZ from football-related activities (FIFA). ... One of Pelé's sons "has been sacked as coach" of Brasileiro Série B side Mogi Mirim after just four matches in charge. EDINHO, 44, was told the news by Mogi Mirim President and Brazil World Cup winner RIVALDO on Sunday, just hours after the club's 0-0 draw with Oeste. Rivaldo said in a statement, "Unfortunately, professional football is about results" (XINHUA, 5/31). ... Former cricketers SACHIN TENDULKAR, SOURAV GANGULY and VVS LAXMAN were on Monday inducted into the Board of Control for Cricket in India's newly constituted cricket advisory committee to "guide the Board and the national team on various 'progressive steps' needed for future challenges." Spelling out their role in the committee, the BCCI said that the three players' guidance will be "sought in preparing the national team for gruelling overseas assignments besides strengthening the domestic structure" (PTI, 6/1). ... SINISA MIHAJLOVIC has stepped down as coach of Serie A side Sampdoria "amid speculation" he will replace RAFAEL BENITEZ at Napoli, but "insisted he does not have another job to go to." Mihajlovic ended a two-year spell in charge at Samp after its 2-2 draw with relegated Parma in the final match of the season on Sunday (SKY SPORTS, 6/1).
WARNER CITES THE ONION: Former FIFA VP JACK WARNER has “renewed his criticism” of the U.S., where he faces “corruption charges, by releasing videotaped comments” -- partly based on a story by satirical website The Onion. Warner: “This past week has been a most trying one for me, a most difficult one.” Warner attempted to get his message across by “citing a fictitious story” from The Onion bearing the headline: “FIFA Frantically Announces 2015 Summer World Cup In United States.” In an eight-minute Facebook video, which was “quickly deleted after numerous news reports picked up on the gaffe,” he asked, “if FIFA is so bad why is it the US wants ... the World Cup?” (SMH, 6/1).
INVASION OF PRIVACY: MICHAEL SCHUMACHER’s manager, SABINE KEHM, has pointed the finger at the "French paparazzi" for trying to “invade Schumacher's privacy.” Der Spiegel reported that photographers “almost constantly hide in the nearby woods with long lenses, or attempt to catch a glimpse of the seven time world champion in low-flying helicopters.” ROGER BENOIT, the long-serving F1 correspondent for the Swiss newspaper Blick, said prying photographers are even using "drones" to fly over the property (WORLD CAR FANS, 6/1).
