La Liga side Celta Vigo President and Majority Shareholder CARLOS MOURIÑO revealed on Thursday that "on a recent trip to Mexico he addressed with his children the possibility of abandoning the presidency of the club." He took over Celta Vigo 10 years ago. He said, "These were some very difficult months. On this last trip to Mexico I considered with my children whether to remain with the club. We did not make any decision in this respect" (EFE, 9/8). ... Former Argentine first division side River Plate President DANIEL PASSARELLA "has been charged with fraud for allegedly participating in the resale of tickets during his time leading the club" (LOS ANDES, 9/8). ... French int’l and NBA Charlotte Hornets player NICOLAS BATUM opened a gymnasium in his home region of Calvados, France. Based in Moyaux, the 622-square-meter gym is called the “Complexe Nicolas Batum.” The project was “backed by regional local development company Lintercom” and Batum and France Sports Minister PATRICK KANNER were present for the formal presentation (OUEST-FRANCE, 9/8). ... MotoGP organizers have "announced that the No. 58 made famous by the late MARCO SIMONCELLI is to be retired from use in the premier class." Simoncelli remains the "last rider to be killed in a premier class race, having succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash" at the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang in '11. He was 24 (MOTORSPORT, 9/8). ... Sierra Leone FA President ISHA JOHANSEN and two other senior officials have "been detained." The country's Anti Corruption Commission "picked the trio up after an FA Cup match on Wednesday." ACC official PATRICK SANDY explained that the commission "made the arrests due to a of lack of cooperation from the SLFA" (BBC, 9/8). ... A-League side Newcastle Jets "plunged further into crisis" on Thursday with the departure of assistant coach LUCIANO TRANI. The Jets sacked head coach SCOTT MILLER on Wednesday "amid reports he had a falling out with Trani on a recent tour of China." Club CEO LAWRIE MCKINNA "refused to comment on the reported rift" (AAP, 9/8). ... A South Korean baseball commentator was found dead Thursday, police said, "in an apparent suicide that occurred a few months after he was indicted over allegations of fraud." Police said that an employee found the body of HA IL-SUNG, 67, "hanging in his office in Songpa Ward, eastern Seoul." A suicide note "has not been found yet" (YONHAP, 9/8). ... Indian open water swimming champion BHAKTI SHARMA, who set a world record by swimming 1.4 miles in 52 minutes in the Antarctic Ocean, is "seeking monetary help through an online crowdfunding platform" to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Bhakti said, "I am falling short of funds to complete my training and therefore I approached the team of fueladream.com to help me launch an online petition" (PTI, 9/8). ... Japan Olympic football team head coach MAKOTO TEGURAMORI said on Thursday that "he is set for a return to a coaching role" with the senior national team under head coach VAHID HALILHODZIC. Teguramori, 48, has "doubled as a national team coach after the 2014 World Cup as well as the head coach for the Olympic team" (KYODO, 9/8).
BACK IN THE SADDLE: MICHELLE PAYNE's "return to the saddle" is almost over after the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey "took a mount at the Sale race meeting on Sunday." Payne, who "swept to world prominence with her win on Prince Of Penzance in last year's Cup, will make the journey to Gippsland" to ride Lucky Liberty. Just three months ago, Payne fell in a race at Mildura and "tore her pancreas and suffered other complications." According to trainer HENRY DWYER, Payne's booking for Sunday "was by sheer chance." He said that "he had contacted Payne about a fence that needed building between his property and Payne's." He said, "Then I asked her how she was and how her weight was and she said she was at 54 kilograms and feeling good, so I thought, 'You may as well ride Lucky Liberty as I need a rider for the horse on Sunday'" (THE AGE, 9/8).
