Tennis player PAULA BADOSA, born in N.Y. to Spanish parents, announced on Monday her decision to compete for Spain. Badosa, who won the Roland Garros Junior French Championships this year, said, "I wanted to make my nationality official, it was between the U.S. and Spain. I have decided to play for Spain" (EFE, 12/21). ... Former La Liga side Sevilla President JOSÉ MARÍA DEL NIDO was "condemned to two years and three months in prison for the Fergocon case involving irregularities in the awarding of projects by the Marbella City Council" (MARCA, 12/21). ... Sheikh SALMAN BIN EBRAHIM AL KHALIFA from Bahrain "was made the favorite to become FIFA's new president in February's election by bookmaker William Hill on Monday following the eight-year ban on UEFA President MICHEL PLATINI." Sheikh Salman is 6-5, "ahead of second favorite Prince ALI BIN AL-HUSSEIN from Jordan at 13-8, with UEFA's General Secretary GIANNI INFANTINO 5-2" (REUTERS, 12/21). ... Dutch Eredivisie side Ajax defender KENNY TETE was arrested "after a fight in a cannabis café in Amsterdam at the beginning of December." Tete "will face charges and appear in court." It is "not clear" why Tete was arrested but the Telegraaf said that eyewitnesses reported "he had insulted a police officer and resisted arrest." Ajax said in a statement that "Tete has been disciplined by the club but that there could be further fall-out" (DUTCH NEWS, 12/21). ... Belgian club Gent suspended one of its players "indefinitely after he aimed homophobic remarks at supporters of a rival club." Striker BENITO RAMAN "was one of several players to address the crowd through a microphone." The 21-year-old sparked controversy by chanting "Alle Boeren zijn homos" ("All 'Boeren' are homos"). Boeren, meaning farmers, "is one of the nicknames used by Gent's rivals Club Brugge" (ITV, 12/21). ... ANDY MURRAY "became just the fourth person to be named Sports Personality of the Year twice as the BBC was spared the nightmare of TYSON FURY taking home a prize." Fears the outspoken 27-year-old would end up on stage with Murray in Belfast "proved unfounded" as rugby league player KEVIN SINFIELD and heptathlon competitor JESSICA ENNIS-HILL "finished second and third, respectively." The Davis Cup side was named Team of the Year "and they were only denied a clean sweep when Northern Ireland Manager MICHAEL O'NEILL was named Coach of the Year" (London TELEGRAPH, 12/20). ... Hockey New Zealand CEO MALCOLM HARRIS "has resigned." Harris had been in the role since '13 and "leaves to pursue another career opportunity and believes he leaves the sport in good shape." A process to find Harris' replacement "will start shortly" but HNZ Community Sport & Events GM IAN FRANCIS is acting CEO (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 12/21).
