Barcelona said it terminated the contract of midfielder SERGI GUARDIOLA "just hours after he signed" because of a series of "offensive" tweets. Guardiola, 24, signed to play for Barça B on Monday. But by the end of the day Barcelona announced that the contract was "no longer valid." The club said in a statement, "FC Barcelona has decided to terminate the contract signed with Sergi Guardiola, after finding that he had published offensive tweets about the club and Catalonia." Spanish newspaper AS reported that two of the offending tweets were posted during last month's Clásico, in which Barcelona beat Real Madrid 4-0 at the Bernabéu. They read, "I wouldn't put Messi in my team, he stops the others from playing," and "Up Madrid and f--- Catalonia" (ESPN, 12/28). ... Former France rugby player LILIAN CAMBERABERO has died from liver cancer. He was 78. Camberabero played alongside his flyhalf brother GUY for both France and Ardeche-based club La Voulte-sur-Rhone, winning the French championship in '70 (SPORT24, 12/29). ... Former Newcastle United goalkeeper PAVEL SRNICEK died at the age of 47, "nine days after suffering cardiac arrest in his native Czech Republic." A "big favourite" with fans during his first spell at St. James' Park between '91 and '98, Srnicek collapsed while jogging on Dec. 20. Srnicek, who also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and West Ham, made 49 appearances for his country (BBC, 12/29). ... Bangladeshi int'l cricketer SHAHADAT HOSSAIN has been charged with "physically torturing an 11-year-old girl he and his wife kept as a domestic servant, in a case that has shocked cricket fans." Hossain, 29, "who is considered a hero by many younger Bangladeshis," faces charges carrying a potential 14 years in prison, plus a fine, "and has been suspended from all cricket until further notice by the Bangladeshi cricket board" (London GUARDIAN, 12/29). ... Super League rugby club Leeds Rhinos announced that the man of the match in the World Club Challenge in '16 will receive the GRAHAM MURRAY Medal. Murray, who coached Leeds Rhinos in '98-99 and then National Rugby League side North Queensland Cowboys from '02-08, will be remembered through the award when the teams meet at Headingley on Feb. 21. Rhinos CEO GARY HETHERINGTON was "full of praise for the man who delivered a Challenge Cup victory to the Yorkshire club." Hetherington said, "This is a fitting tribute to Graham Murray who was such a popular coach at both clubs. His wife AMANDA will be over from Brisbane for the game to present the medal to the Man of the Match which will be judged by the assembled press" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/29). ... Real Madrid has not hired JACINTA LLORENTE, one of Atlético Madrid's "most important organizational figures." Real Madrid's hire "was mistakenly reported" by AS (AS, 12/29).
