Former La Liga side Valencia player FERNANDO BARRACHINA, who played for the club in the '70s, died at the age of 68. He helped Valencia win La Liga in the '70-71 season (SUPERDEPORTE, 1/4). ... South Korea has "banned 2008 Olympic champion SA JAE-HYOUK from competition for 10 years." The 30-year-old has been "questioned by police for punching HWANG WOO-MAN." The Korea Weightlifting Federation said that the decision to ban Sa was made "quickly" as online photos of Hwang's swollen face had "created a big stir" (BBC, 1/4). ... LUIS SUAREZ has led the tributes to Uruguay national team physio WALTER FERREIRA after the 64-year-old "passed away on Sunday following a long battle with cancer." Ferreira earned the nickname the "Holy Hand" after his "prodigious treatment of players such as Suarez, even cutting short his cancer treatment to help the striker fire at the 2014 World Cup." Suarez said that he will "never forget" what his friend did for him. Suarez wrote on Facebook and Instagram: "Today, we lost more than a friend ... He was a fighter who, day by day, not only fought for himself, but for everyone else" (London DAILY MAIL, 1/4). ... Rugby League side Leigh Centurions "life president and club stalwart of more than 80 years, TOMMY SALE, has died aged 97. Sale made his first grade debut for the club as a 20-year-old, helped rebuild its "then-Hilton Park home and also represented Warrington and Widnes." After he retired he "served as coach, kit-man, administrator and time-keeper" (BBC, 1/3). ... British tennis player HEATHER WATSON "will be coached on an interim basis by Great Britain's Fed Cup captain JUDY MURRAY for the first few weeks of her 2016 season." The British No. 2, who split with Argentinian DIEGO VERONELLI last month, "will link up with Murray for the Hopman Cup in Perth, the Hobart International -- where Watson will be defending champion -- and the Australian Open" (SCOTSMAN, 1/2). ... Violinist VANESSA-MAE "will be allowed to call herself an Olympian after it was decided not to disqualify her from the 2014 Sochi Winter Games." The British citizen, skiing for her father's nation, Thailand, "finished 67th -- and last -- in the giant slalom." She was "originally banned for four years after results in her Olympic qualification were manipulated." The IOC "decided not to annul her result after she had the ban overturned last June" (BBC, 1/4).
UNCOMFORTABLE: West Indian cricketer CHRIS GAYLE "has drawn sharp criticism after making a pass at Network Ten journalist MEL MCLAUGHLIN during a post-innings interview." The live interview "quickly steered away from cricket, with the opening batsman asking McLaughlin if she wanted to come out for a drink with him," before adding "don't blush baby." McLaughlin "seemed bemused at the proposition," before responding, "I'm not blushing" as Gayle "awkwardly laughed the comment off" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/5).
