FRANCESCO RICCI BITTI will stand "unopposed for a second term as president" of the Association of Summer Olympic Int'l Federations. The 74-year-old Italian "was the only candidate to put himself forward" by Monday's deadline. The election will be "held during the annual ASOI General Assembly" on April 19. Ricci Bitti has been leading the organization since '13 (INSIDE THE GAMES, 4/5). ... Argentinean rugby player CIPRIANO MARTINEZ could face a lifetime ban from professional rugby after he "brutally kicked a rival in the head during a club match in Buenos Aires." The "violent assault was filmed during a club game between his side Pucará Club and San Albano in the Torneo de la URBA last weekend" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 4/5). ... Former Portugal footballer LUIS FIGO on Tuesday said that he “regrets withdrawing” from FIFA's presidential race “but wished good luck” to newly-elected President GIANNI INFANTINO. Figo: “I said I didn’t have any chance to win in a democratic way. So I announced to leave, it was not that someone was telling me. The facts and things that happened on the day of the Congress, I saw that I did not have any chance. But I regret it now” (IANS, 4/5).
SHARAPOVA CALLED OUT: Slovakian DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA “dropped a bomb” on MARIA SHARAPOVA in an interview with a sports magazine in her home city of Bratislava ahead of a tournament in Poland. Cibulkova said that Sharapova has not “been missed since being placed on provisional suspension.” She said, “I was surprised that most of the reactions were so diplomatic, because everyone's opinion is actually totally different. I didn't make any statement, as I didn't want to be the only person to openly say what they think about this case. I will only say that I don't feel sorry at all for Sharapova and I don't miss her on the tour. She's a totally unlikeable person. Arrogant, conceited and cold. When I sit beside her in the locker room, she won't even say hello” (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 4/5).
CONTE ACCUSED: An Italian prosecutor wants a six-month suspended prison sentence and €8,000 ($9,100) fine for incoming Chelsea Manager ANTONIO CONTE “over his alleged role in a match-fixing case.” Conte, who denies any wrongdoing, is accused by prosecutors in the city of Cremona of "sporting fraud.” He has “already served a ban” imposed by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in connection with the ’11 case (BBC, 4/5).
EXPANDED ROLE: ALISON BENDER has expanded her role at ESPN FC as football presenter and reporter, contributing daily content, analysis and breaking news on Premier League, European and world football. In the expanded role, Bender will appear regularly on ESPN FC's daily global football program, broadcast by BT Sport in the U.K., as well as contributing video reports and interviews for ESPN. Bender will also serve in various hosting and reporting duties surrounding ESPN's Euro 2016 coverage, including ESPN FC's Euro After Dark, a digital-exclusive show (ESPN).
