People familiar with the situation said that Warner Bros. and Oscar winner BEN AFFLECK will "make a movie about the FIFA scandal." They said that the Burbank, Calif.-based studio "acquired the rights to 'Houses of Deceit,'" the story of former FIFA Exec CHUCK BLAZER. Warner Bros. is "banking on doing better than FIFA's own film account of the global soccer federation’s history." "United Passions," released in the U.S. on June 5, has taken in less than $200,000 in worldwide ticket sales, according to Rentrak Corp. data. Affleck, MATT DAMON and their production company, Pearl Street, are "among the producers, according to the Hollywood Reporter" (BLOOMBERG, 6/26). ... ANDONG SONG has "become the first Chinese-born player to be chosen" in an NHL draft. The N.Y. Islanders "took the defender in the sixth round, with the 172nd overall pick on Saturday." Born in Beijing, Song "began playing hockey in China before his family moved to Canada when he was 10 to continue his development" (REUTERS, 6/28). ... Japan FA President KUNIYA DAINI said that Japanese women's national football team Manager NORIO SASAKI is "set to stay on" after the Women's World Cup in Canada. Sasaki was appointed manager in '08 and won the 2011 World Cup in Germany. Japan also won Silver at the 2012 London Olympics (KYODO, 6/28). ... KUMAR SANGAKKARA will “retire from Test cricket following the second Test of the series against India in August.” Sangakkara, who has already retired from one-day and Twenty20 internationals, is Sri Lanka's “highest run-scorer and the fifth-highest Test scorer of all time.” Cricket Sri Lanka released the news following the end of play on the third day of the second Test against Pakistan (PA, 6/27). ... PHIL NEVILLE “is in talks” with La Liga side Valencia but “has not been appointed” despite the Spanish club claiming the former England defender is its new assistant manager. Valencia announced the appointment of Neville, 38, on its official website. However, Neville has said that while talks “are ongoing, there is a way to go before any deal is done.” He would replace Scot IAN CATHRO, who is set to join STEVE MCCLAREN’s backroom staff at EPL side Newcastle. Valencia Owner PETER LIM has a stake in Salford City, the non-league club co-owned by Neville with his former ManU teammates RYAN GIGGS, GARY NEVILLE and PAUL SCHOLES (BBC, 6/28). ... MO FARAH is “facing being quizzed by anti-doping detectives” after they began questioning his Nike Oregon Project teammates over claims their coach was a “drugs cheat.” Farah was in line to be interviewed by the team that "brought down" LANCE ARMSTRONG and has now “trained its sights on the man who led Farah to double Olympic gold at London 2012,” ALBERTO SALAZAR. The United States Anti-Doping Agency, headed by Armstrong’s “nemesis” TRAVIS TYGART, spoke to Farah’s teammate, TRENIERE MOSER, last week and is “expected to approach other members of the camp” (London TELEGRAPH, 6/27).
