Barcelona's board announced on Tuesday the names of the candidates for the presidential election that will be held on July 18. JOSEP MARÍA BARTOMEU, JOAN LAPORTA, AGUSTÍ BENEDITO and TONI FREIXA each obtained the "minimum number of member signatures required," while Seguiment FCB was eliminated (AS, 7/8). ... Juventus midfielder ARTURO VIDAL has been "given a two-year driving ban" following a crash while on Chile duty. The 28-year-old "crashed his Ferrari while driving under the influence after a night in a casino, and did not contest the charge" on Wednesday (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 7/8). ... ALEX FERGUSON and LOUIS VAN GAAL played alongside the likes of WAYNE ROONEY, MICHAEL CARRICK and youngsters JAMES WILSON and PADDY MCNAIR for the annual ManU Charity Golf Day at Dunham Forest Golf and Country Club on Tuesday. Assistant Manager RYAN GIGGS was also there to "defend the best player award he won last year" -- while former teammate GARY NEVILLE also "returned to lend a hand" (London DAILY MAIL, 7/8). ... RORY MCILROY "has conceded defeat in his battle to be fit" for the Open Championship next week. McIlroy made the announcement on social media website Instagram. He wrote, "After much consideration, I have decided not to play in the Open Championship at St Andrews. I’m taking a long term view of this injury and, although rehab is progressing well, I want to come back to tournament play when I feel 100 per cent healthy and 100 per cent competitive. Thank you for all your support and best wishes. I hope to be back on the course as soon as I can. In the mean time, come on Andy!!!" (London TELEGRAPH, 7/8).
