Journalist FERNANDO GOUROVICH, who worked in Argentine newspaper Clarín's sports section since '98, died of cancer on Wednesday (DIARIO VELOZ, 8/12). ... CARLOS CHÁVEZ "will not resign from his position and will remain president" of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) from prison. He said in a note to new members of the FBF's exec committee, "I exercise and will exercise my position." Chávez, who is also treasurer of CONMEBOL, "has been detained since four weeks ago" for alleged corruption (DPA, 8/13). ... Former world No. 1 CAROLINE WOZNIACKI claims the Women's Tennis Association "forced" her to play in the Rogers Cup "without proper preparation." Wozniacki, whose build-up was hampered by a calf injury, lost to BELINDA BENCIC in round two in Toronto. Wozniacki said, "But the rules are if you're a top-10 player, that this was my commitment tournament, you're forced to play" (BBC, 8/13). ... NICK KYRGIOS has been fined for an "insulting remark" made to STANISLAS WAWRINKA during their Rogers Cup match in Montreal this week. French Open champion Wawrinka branded Kyrgios "unacceptable" and "called for action to be taken against him after the Australian appeared to make comments about his girlfriend." Details of the fine "are not being made public until after Kyrgios has been notified" (PA, 8/13). ... BBC presenter CLARE BALDING made more than £500,000 from her TV presenting duties and books last year. The sports broadcaster, 44, made £538,472 in the year to the end of October (London GUARDIAN, 8/13).
PRESSURE'S ON: FA CEO MARTIN GLENN said that England Manager ROY HODGSON will lose his job "if the team fails in next year's European Championship." Glenn said Hodgson "has accepted that, and would not expect to be given a new contract" if England has a bad tournament, because he is "a proud man" (GUARDIAN, 8/12).
BECKHAM TOO BUSY: DAVID BECKHAM turned down the chance of joining his ManU "Class of 92 pals" at Salford City to work on winning a Major League Soccer franchise. RYAN GIGGS confirmed that he and PAUL SCHOLES, NICKY BUTT, GARY NEVILLE and PHIL NEVILLE approached Beckham last year "to be part of their dream of taking the part-time club into the Football League, but had been knocked back." Giggs: "The conversation was had. Becks was busy with trying to get an MLS franchise so the timing wasn't great which we understood. He was busy and still is busy. It was a shame" (London DAILY MAIL, 8/12).
