SHAKIRA, who is married to Barcelona's GERARD PIQUÉ, announced that her foundation, Pies Descalzos ("Bare feet"), partnered with the Barcelona Foundation and Spanish bank Caixa's foundation to build a school in Barranquilla, Colombia. The singer announced the news at a press conference hosted by the club. The foundations of the club and bank will contribute €1.2M ($1.3M) to the project (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 3/28). ... After having his decisions questioned by players "time and again," Israel men's national football team coach ELISHA LEVY "decided to take a stand on Monday," suspending striker TOMER HEMED and goalkeeper ARIEL HARUSH for the team's next two matches, "meaning they will not play for the team again until at least September" (JPOST, 3/28). ... Former Olympic Silver Medalist PAUL RATCLIFFE was "appointed British Canoeing's new performance director." Ratcliffe, 43, had been head coach of the slalom podium program since '13 and takes over for JOHN ANDERSON (BBC, 3/28). ... Former All Blacks coach ERIC WATSON died in Dunedin, New Zealand, aged 91. Watson was in charge of the All Blacks in '79-80, first in '80 "on an unsuccessful tour of Australia but then later in the year on a more distinguished one to Wales" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 3/28). ... Former Australian Football League player BEN COUSINS was given a 12-month prison sentence "for stalking and breaching a violence restraining order," with a magistrate saying that he subjected his former partner to "nine months of terror." Cousins, 38, has been "behind bars since February." He later plead guilty to 11 charges, "including drug possession and the aggravated stalking of MAYLEA TINECHEFF -- the mother of his children" (ABC, 3/28).
AIR RONALDO: Madeira Airport "will be renamed CRISTIANO RONALDO Airport from Wednesday, despite opposition from local politicians." The Portugal captain is "expected to attend a ceremony at the airport outside his hometown of Funchal on Wednesday." Funchal "already has a statue and museum" for Ronaldo, as well as a hotel complex named after him (ESPN.com, 3/28).