Former Ligue 1 side
Olympique de Marseille Manager Franck Passi, named head coach in April before being fired five months later,
received €1.2M ($1.3M). The amount “corresponds to the entirety of his contract” through ’18. According to sources, Passi had to “threaten the club with legal action, via his lawyer, to resolve this agreement” (
L’ÉQUIPE, 12/31).
Nasser Al-Attiyah said that his plan to take part in the 2017 World Rally Championship season with a private Volkswagen Polo "fell through due to lack of time, and has switched his attention to making it possible for a year later." Volkswagen had worked "extensively on its new generation WRC car before the marque's late decision not to continue in the series this year." With the car being near completion, Al-Attiyah revealed in December that "he was working on a plan to compete with the Polo R WRC, supported by the Qatari sovereign wealth fund." The deal "eventually did not materialise" (MOTORSPORT, 1/2).
The year "has begun with a very positive figure for La Liga side Espanyol." On Monday the club announced that it now has 28,000 members, one of the objectives for '16-17 that was "highlighted by its top execs." Espanyol said in a statement, "Without a doubt, an accomplishment that demonstrates once again the faith and love the Espanyol family has for the blue and white colors" (EL PERIÓDICO, 1/2).
