Spain's National Commission of Markets & Competition (CNMC) opened into an investigation into the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), presided over by ÁNGEL MARÍA VILLAR, for "discriminating against coaches that did not obtain their official license from the RFEF itself or one of its territorial federations." The CNMC's report claims that Villar denies UEFA licenses to coaches who were trained at centers independent from the RFEF (AS, 10/29). ... Barcelona's JAVIER MASCHERANO "admitted two counts of fraud" totaling just over €1.5M. State prosecutors said that the Argentine defender failed to declare €1.5M in earnings in '11 and '12. He admitted to the charges in a court appearance in Gava, near Barcelona, lasting less than five minutes (BBC, 10/29). ... Former Serbia basketball coach RANKO ZERAVICA, who with the former Yugoslavia won the 1970 World Championships, "has died on Thursday" at 84. Zeravica, whose coaching career spanned over 50 years and who "contributed significantly to the development of basketball" in the former Yugoslavia, "had a heart attack in February from which he never recovered." He "was enshrined in FIBA's Hall of Fame" in '07 (TENPLAY, 10/29). ... Australian Football League side Sydney Swans parted ways with its doctor, NATHAN GIBBS, "after almost two decades with the club, confirming the two parties could not come to terms on a new agreement" for '16. His departure from the club was "not of his choosing" but came about after new Swans' football manager TOM HARLEY and Gibbs "differed over the structural future make-up of Sydney's medical department" (THE AGE, 10/29). ... LEWIS HAMILTON took a break from "the hectic Formula 1 schedule" ahead of the Mexico Grand Prix in "the most bizarre fashion" to try his hand at Lucha Libre wrestling. The 30-year-old "jumped into the ring with two Luchadores, MEPHISTO and MISTICO, to play table football, be serenaded by a Mariachi band and eventually show off his skills between the ropes" (London INDEPENDENT, 10/29). ... Australian Int'l TIM CAHILL "will stay with Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua for at least one more season" after agreeing to terms on a new one-year deal. Reports began to circulate that the club was "keen to off-load the striker" mid-season but his form in the second half of the year was "sufficient proof for the management to offer the Socceroo a new one-year deal" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/29).
BANKRUPT: Former Scottish Championship side Rangers Owner CRAIG WHYTE "has been declared bankrupt." The 44-year-old was confirmed as "insolvent in the wake of a High Court battle with Ticketus, which accused him of luring it into a deal" on false pretenses. The ticketing firm obtained a judgment in its favor "relating to allegations of a misrepresentation by Whyte during a ticket purchase agreement involving Rangers Football Club." The bankruptcy petition was "filed after Whyte failed to pay a judgment debt" currently worth some £20.8M ($32M) (Scottish DAILY RECORD, 10/29).
