Liga MX side Tigres UANL announced that one of its youth team players, EDSON TADEO CÁRDENAS HUERTA, died at the age of 17. The club "did not announce the cause of death" (LA AFICIÓN, 1/3). ... Premier League side Burnley re-signed JOEY BARTON for the remainder of the season "despite the threat" of an FA ban. The 34-year-old, who played for the Clarets from '15-16, "left Scottish Premiership side Rangers in November." In the same month, "he was given a one-match ban for breaking Scottish FA rules on gambling and has since been charged with misconduct by the FA" (BBC, 1/2). ... Former French rugby captain ELIE CESTER died aged 74 at his home in Bourg-lès-Valence. As captain, Cester won the Five Nations tournament in '68 (LE DAUPHINE, 1/3). ... Former Australia cricketer ARTHUR MORRIS was inducted into the Int'l Cricket Council's Hall of Fame by STEVE WAUGH during the tea break on the opening day of the third Test between Australia and Pakistan in Sydney. Morris became the 82nd player to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, and was given the honor posthumously. His wife, JUDITH MORRIS, received a personalized cap from Waugh, himself an ICC Cricket Hall of Famer (ICC). ... Hong Kong's REX TSO SING-YU agreed to a one-year contract extension with boxing promoter Top Rank. Tso's coach and Manager JAY LAU CHI-YUEN announced the 29-year-old unbeaten southpaw will stay with Top Rank "for at least another 12 months" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 1/3). ... Australian teenager DESTANEE AIAVA "created a slice of history" on Tuesday when she became the first player born in the '00s to win a main-draw match on the WTA Tour. The 16-year-old Aiava beat fellow qualifier BETHANIE MATTEK-SANDS of the U.S. 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Brisbane Int'l (AFP, 1/3). ... Pakistan's "most prominent" int'l cricket umpire, ALEEM DAR, achieved a "major milestone on Monday." The 48-year-old, who started his int'l umpiring career in '00, featured in his 332nd int'l match when he stood as field umpire. He surpassed South African RUDI KOERTZEN, who had officiated in 331 int'l matches, to become the umpire with the "most supervised international matches under his belt" (DAWN, 1/3).
FRENCH CHAMPION: French skier JEAN VUARNET, an Olympic champion and entrepreneur, died after a stroke aged 83. Vuarnet won downhill bronze in the '58 world championships. He then went on to win Gold in the downhill event in the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, Calif., "becoming the first Olympic champion on metal skis." Vuarnet was also credited with developing the "egg" position racers adopt for a better aerodynamic profile. At the 1960 Games, he "wore a new type of anti-glare sunglasses provided for the French team and later hacked a deal allowing the manufacturer to use his name" (RFI, 1/3).
MEDICAL COSTS: Reports have emerged stating that the bill for former F1 driver MICHAEL SCHUMACHER's care has reached £13.8M ($17M). Schumacher was in a coma for six months after an accident on Dec. 29, 2013, "having banged his head on a rock despite wearing a helmet." His current condition "is not known, with members of his inner circle stating it is a private matter." He is believed to have been worth £500M "before the accident" (London DAILY MAIL, 12/29).
