South African Olympian OSCAR PISTORIUS “filed papers to appeal against his conviction for the murder of girlfriend REEVA STEENKAMP,” according to a family spokesperson. The athlete, nicknamed “Blade Runner” because of the prosthetic legs he uses to race, “has spent the last three months under house arrest at his uncle’s home in a wealthy Pretoria suburb" (REUTERS, 1/11). ... Chilean national football coach JORGE SAMPAOLI said that he is being held like a “hostage” after his request of a reduction to his exit clause was denied. Sampaoli said that he does not want to continue as coach of Chile, claiming he is being “held like a hostage” by the Football Federation of Chile (ANFP). The Argentinean has “become increasingly unsettled” following the resignation of former ANFP President SERGIO JADUE in November amid a corruption investigation. Newly elected President ARTURO SALAH revealed Friday that he “intends to retain the 55-year-old’s services until the end of his contract,” which is set to run until the 2018 World Cup (GOAL, 1/11). ... ANDY MURRAY has raised more than £83,000 ($120,730) for the charity UNICEF "through his Andy's Aces initiative." Last September, the Wimbledon winner and current BBC Sports Personality of the Year said that he would donate £50 ($73) "every time he hits an ace on court." His donations "were added to by his sponsors, tennis associations and fans" (BBC, 1/11). ... LIONEL MESSI won the FIFA Ballon d'Or for the best player in the world for the fifth time, while U.S. midfielder CARLI LLOYD claimed her first-ever FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award. Barcelona Coach LUIS ENRIQUE and U.S. national team Coach JILL ELLIS were also named for the first time as FIFA World Coaches of the Year for men's and women's football respectively (FIFA).
