Aviation authorities said on Monday that a "series of human errors caused an airliner to run out of fuel and crash in Colombia last month, killing 71 people including most of Brazilian football team Chapecoense." Colombia's Civil Aeronautics agency concluded in its investigation that the "plan for the flight operated by Bolivia-based charter company LaMia did not meet international standards." Among the errors made "were the decisions to let the plane take off without enough fuel to make the flight safely and then to not stop midway to refuel." The pilot "also did not report the plane's emergency until it was too late." The plane was in the air for about 4 hours and 20 minutes "when air traffic controllers in Medellín put it into a holding pattern because another flight had reported a suspected fuel leak and was given priority." Investigators found that crew members of the LaMia flight "were aware of the lack of fuel but waited too long to report the emergency" (INDEPENDENT, 12/27).
One of European football's "iconic names could disappear from the professional game" after Romania's defense ministry won a court case against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday. The 1986 European Cup winners -- the country's most successful club with 26 league titles -- has "been illegally using the name which rightfully belongs to an army side, the court ruled." The ministry called the court ruling "well-deserved" and said in a statement it would sue Becali’s Steaua for €40M ($41.7M) for using the brand illegally for more than a decade (REUTERS, 12/22).
Australian Football League side Greater Western Sydney "will not pursue legal action" after it was handed a A$100,000 ($71,850) fine and a penalty of 1000 draft points, having been found guilty by the AFL for "conduct unbecoming" over the Lachie Whitfield case. The Giants were "not stripped of specific draft picks but instead were docked points, understood to be the equivalent of about pick 15." The subcommittee ruled that the club "had been responsible in part" for how former football-department CEO Graeme Allan and welfare boss Craig Lambert had handled Whitfield and "advised him to stay at Lambert's house in May last year to avoid a possible drug test." Fairfax Media revealed in August the AFL "was investigating the issue" (THE AGE, 12/22).
Scottish Premiership side
Inverness is "
coming under scrutiny for offering a ticket deal to home fans for their clash with Motherwell on Wednesday." Caley Thistle fans can buy four match tickets for the discounted price of £40 ($49), which is £48 ($59) less than what it would cost to buy individually for the Scottish Premiership clash. Clubs "often offer special deals to their own supporters, but away fans paying more than double to watch the same match will do little to bring visiting fans back in the future" (
Scotland DAILY RECORD, 12/26).
The sale of "financially-troubled" Championship side Bradford Bulls is "expected to go through after Christmas." The Rugby Football League revealed on Thursday that a consortium was "considering a formal bid for the Bulls." A decision was expected on Friday, but it is understood "certain points of the offer need to be clarified by solicitors, which has caused a delay" (BBC, 12/23).
