NEYMAR's feud with Granada's RUBEN VEZO on Saturday "spilled over into the tunnel and on Monday, a video emerged of the Brazil star pushing Vezo down a small flight of stairs." As the two players were leaving the pitch following Barcelona's 1-0 win against the last-placed side in La Liga, Neymar, who was walking alongside DAVID BARRAL, "pushed Vezo down the stairs." The two players were both booked in the 87th minute after a Neymar challenge on one of his teammate's "did not sit well" with Vezo (ESPN.com, 10/31). ... Indian men's field hockey team coach ROELANT OLTMANS' contract is "set to be extended" until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Oltmans, who served as high performance director before "doubling up as chief coach" following the sacking of PAUL VAN ASS last year, has "helmed the team to the Azlan Shah Cup silver medal and most recently the Asian Champions Trophy gold" (PTI, 11/1). ... F1 driver ESTEBAN OCON has "signed a deal to switch from Manor to Force India" for '17. That is the claim of Spanish publication Formula Rapida, "amid a multitude of similar reports in the wake of the weekend's Mexican grand prix." Force India is "looking for a replacement for the Renault-bound NICO HULKENBERG, and 20-year-old Frenchman Ocon would make sense given his backing by the team's engine supplier Mercedes" (GRAND PRIX, 11/1). ... Double Olympic Silver Medalist LOUIS SMITH has been "suspended for two months by British Gymnastics over a leaked video in which he and fellow gymnast LUKE CARSON appeared to mock Islam." Carson, who retired from gymnastics last year due to injury, "was issued with a reprimand." The Sun published a clip from the video, taken at a hotel wedding reception, "showing the two gymnasts pretending to pray while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'" (REUTERS, 11/1). ... French basketball player RUDY GOBERT signed a contract extension with the NBA Utah Jazz for $102M over four years. The new contract will make Gobert the “highest paid French athlete” in ’17. The title was previously held by Charlotte Hornets player NICOLAS BATUM after he signed a $120M five-year extension this summer. Gobert’s salary for the current season is $2.1M (L’ÉQUIPE, 11/1).
ON THE MOVE?: AC Milan GM ADRIANO GALLIANI "may be on the verge" of joining Real Madrid in a similar capacity. According to La Gazzetta, the 72-year-old "may be forced to change his position" within Milan due to the sale of the club to the Sina Europe Sports Investment group. It is understood Madrid President FLORENTINO PÉREZ has "already contacted Galliani to offer him a role at the Santiago Bernabeu, due to the good relationship the pair have formed over the years" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 11/1).
