The Int'l Tennis Federation announced DENIS SHAPOVALOV has been fined $7,000 for his "reckless actions in Great Britain's Davis Cup victory over Canada." The 17-year-old Canadian "smashed a ball in anger during the third set of the deciding rubber against KYLE EDMUND, hitting umpire ARNAUD GABAS in the eye, and was immediately defaulted." Shapovalov "could have been fined up to a maximum" of $12,000 on site by referee BRIAN EARLEY but the "unintentional nature of the offence and his remorse will have been taken into account" (RTE, 2/6). ... All Blacks player PATRICK TUIPULOTU "remains provisionally suspended." New Zealand Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association confirmed on Sunday that the 12-test All Blacks "produced a positive drugs test during last year's tour to the northern hemisphere." NZR and the NZRPA said that Tuipulotu was "shocked" by the result and "working hard to identify the source of the specified substance" (STUFF, 2/5). ... Former Mercedes Formula 1 driver NICO ROSBERG said that he "would have liked FERNANDO ALONSO to replace him" as LEWIS HAMILTON's teammate. Asked by Spanish newspaper Marca who he would have preferred, Rosberg said, "Everyone says Alonso and I say it too because there would be fireworks with Hamilton. As a fan, it would be nice, but for the team it wouldn't work" (BBC, 2/6). ... STEVE HITCHEN has been named the new chief scout at Tottenham. Club Chair DANIEL LEVY is "overhauling the club's scouting department" with Head of Recruitment PAUL MITCHELL currently serving his notice period after quitting the club. Mitchell has been "on his way out of the club for months after serving notice to quit while veteran IAN BROOMFIELD has also left to leave a hole on the scouting front" (TRIBAL FOOTBALL, 2/6). ... ROMELU LUKAKU's four-goal haul in Everton's 6-3 win over Bournemouth on Saturday "brought up the 300th hat-trick in Premier League history." It was 25 years ago, on Aug. 25, 1992, when Leeds United's ERIC CANTONA "netted the first treble in the Premier League when he propelled his side to a 5-0 win against Tottenham" (London DAILY MAIL, 2/6). ... Former Real Madrid President LUIS GÓMEZ-MONTEJANO died on Sunday at the age of 94. Gómez-Montejano became a member of the club in '57 and served as its interim president from April 26-July 2, 2006. He was a member of current President FLORENTINO PÉREZ's board of directors from '00-06 (EFE, 2/6). ... La Liga side Málaga President ABDULLAH BIN NASSER AL THANI "published a message on Twitter that raised suspicion of a possible coaching change." Málaga lost to Espanyol on Saturday in coach MARCELO ROMERO's fifth game since being hired. The club has four losses and one draw under Romero (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 2/6).
'BECKILEAKS':
DAVID BECKHAM was "hit by a media onslaught on Monday after a series of hacked emails raised questions over his charity work after being made public." A "staple of British gossip and style columns, Beckham, 41, came under attack from newspapers after emails he allegedly sent were disclosed" by the website "Football Leaks." A spokesperson for Beckham said that the emails had been "taken out of context and doctored." Among them was his "foul-mouthed reaction when he found out he was not going to be knighted and his reluctance to donate his own money to a charity project" (
REUTERS, 2/6).
STEPPING DOWN: ALASTAIR COOK has "relinquished the England Test captaincy, ending weeks of speculation about his future and the longest captaincy career in English cricket history." There was "never any rush for Cook to make a decision" given that England does not play another Test until July, but, having met previously with England Cricket Dir ANDREW STRAUSS, he spoke to England & Wales Cricket Board Chair COLIN GRAVES on Sunday evening to "confirm that he is stepping down after 59 Tests in charge." JOE ROOT is "widely expected to take over as captain," and Cook said that he will continue to play Test cricket as a batsman (LONDON TIMES, 2/6).
