Arsenal midfielder MESUT ÖZIL said that "he wants to know the long-term future" of Manager ARSÈNE WENGER before committing to a new contract at the club. The Germany int'l, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, "is in talks with the Gunners about a new deal but has been linked with other clubs." Özil: "I want to be clear on what Wenger is doing" (BBC, 1/9). ... Former Paraguay football int'l ROBERTO CABAÑAS died "after suffering a heart attack on Monday aged 55." The striker "was a well known figure for top Argentine league side Boca Juniors" and played alongside Brazilian PELÉ for the New York Cosmos in the '80s. Cabanas played for the Paraguay side "that won the Copa America" in '79 (AFP, 1/9). ... Australian tennis player NICK KYRGIOS has "made a strong political statement" heading into the Australian Open, "wearing an anti-DONALD TRUMP t-shirt after his Fast4 victory over RAFAEL NADAL in Sydney." Kyrgios, was "forced to scramble through his bag for a shirt after his laundry didn't arrive following his match." He wore a shirt that had Trump's face "covered with devil-like illustrations" and the words "F*** Donald Trump" down the bottom. Asked about the decision to wear the shirt, Kyrgios said, "It's pretty explanatory" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/10). ... Former mixed martial arts champion GAEL GRIMAUD is "taking legal action against a ban hitting the sport in France." Grimaud said that he will "challenge new combat sports guidelines recently pushed forward by France’s sports ministry stipulating that fighters can’t be hit while on the ground." Grimaud said that the new regulations "aimed at improving security are in reality imposing a blanket ban on MMA" (AP, 1/9). ... Superleague Greece side Panathinaikos President GIANNIS ALAFOUZOS, also owner of SKAI TV Station, was "found guilty by a Greek court" of instigating journalist KYRIAKOS THOMAIDIS to violate Greek legislation regarding the protection of sensitive personal data. Both were "convicted to one year in prison and fined." They had been prosecuted for "making public documents from the case file of the ‘Koriopolis’ investigation, in violation of due legal process that forbids documents from an ongoing investigation and penal case to be made public" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 1/9). ... Spanish athletics coach MIGUEL ÁNGEL MILLÁN “entered prison without bail on Monday on charges of sexual abuse of minors.” A judge in Tenerife, Spain, made the ruling. Millán had testified in December and been “released with charges” (EFE, 1/9). ... Bundesliga side Hamburg SV Head of Merchandise & Licensing TIMO KRAUS "has been missing since Saturday night." German police said that Kraus "was attending a party with several colleagues on Saturday and left the event at around 11:30pm." He got into a taxi cab "to get home, but he never arrived at his house in Buchholz, Germany." The club "has taken to social media to ask the public for help to find Kraus" (DPA, 1/9).
FIFA AWARDS: With
LIONEL MESSI looking "unlikely to beat"
CRISTIANO RONALDO for FIFA's annual top honor, Barcelona announced that Messi would not travel to Monday night's awards gala in Zurich, Switzerland. Barcelona said that "with the aim of prioritizing preparations for Wednesday’s game against Athletic Club, FC Barcelona have decided that the players recognized” at The Best FIFA Awards will not travel. Messi was the only Barça player up for an award, although
NEYMAR was "considered a favorite to be voted into the World XI team" (
FOX SPORTS, 1/9).
AGGRAVATED LIBEL: A Swedish court found former national track and field Team Manager ULF KARLSSON "guilty of aggravated libel" against ManU striker ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC on Monday for "suggesting he used performance-enhancing substances." The district court in Karlstad ordered Karlsson to pay a fine of 24,000 Swedish crowns ($2,654) for comments at an April '16 panel discussion about what he called a "sudden weight gain by the 35-year-old, who is Sweden's top goalscorer" (REUTERS, 1/9).
