Turkish prosecutors investigating the failed July coup have reportedly "issued an arrest warrant for one of the country's best-known footballers," ex-int'l HAKAN SUKUR. Searches were carried out at two houses in western Turkey, as officials said that he faced charges of being a member of an "armed terrorist organisation." Former MP for the ruling AK party Sukur is a "known supporter of the cleric blamed for the botched coup." He moved to the U.S. several months ago (BBC, 8/12). ... NBA Charlotte Hornets player MARVIN WILLIAMS will "visit Indonesia in late August to host the National Training Camp Jr. NBA Indonesia children's coaching clinic." The three-day coaching clinic, From Aug. 26-28, will be held at Cilandak Sport Center and Atrium Pluit Village (JAKARTA GLOBE, 8/12). ... World-record signing PAUL POGBA is not available for ManU's first game of the Premier League season "as he is serving a ban carried over from his time at Juventus." The ban has taken ManU Manager JOSE MOURINHO "by surprise." The FA said on Friday that Pogba "collected a one-match ban after being booked twice in the Coppa Italia at the end of last season." Mourinho: "I knew the situation with the yellow cards, but I didn't know at that time if an accumulation of yellow cards (in Italy) would bring a player suspension (in England)" (AP, 8/13).
WORLD OF MOUTH: CONOR MCGREGOR revealed that CRISTIANO RONALDO "signed a new contract" with Real Madrid.
Speaking at a promotional event on Saturday night, the Irishman "was asked whether he could overtake Ronaldo in the Forbes list of top-earning celebrities and he let slip that the Portugal forward has already put pen to paper on an agreement." McGregor: "That'll be tough, he's just signed a new contract with Real Madrid but we'll see, maybe next year I'll have him!" (London DAILY MAIL, 8/14).
