Former FIFA President SEPP BLATTER described former Cayman Islands FA & CONCACAF President JEFFREY WEBB as the "most breathtaking scoundrel of all" (CARIBBEAN NEWS NOW, 6/20). ... BARRY BENNELL, once "regarded as one of football's greatest talent-spotters," is now facing a total of 55 counts of sexual abuse against boys as young as 11. Bennell, 63, will appear at South Cheshire Magistrates' Court in Crewe on Wednesday, a week after being charged with 14 new offenses, allegedly committed from '79-91 (London GUARDIAN, 6/20). ... CRISTIANO RONALDO will testify on July 31 "in a case in which he is accused of hiding income from the tax authorities," court officials said on Tuesday (REUTERS, 6/20). ... European Cycling Union President DAVID LAPPARTIENT will "stand against" Britain's BRIAN COOKSON for the presidency of the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI), he said on Tuesday. Cookson, who took over in '13, "faced criticism during a difficult period for the sport," including doping scandals, and his younger challenger is promising "fundamental changes" (REUTERS, 6/20). ... Australia's MEGAN ANDERSON is to become the country's first woman to "fight for a UFC world title." Anderson will meet "controversial" fighter CRIS JUSTINO for the featherweight title at UFC 214 in California on July 29 (AAP, 6/20).
CONSERVATION WORK: Cricketer KEVIN PIETERSEN will "bid farewell to English cricket this summer" when his stint in the T20 Blast playing for Surrey comes to an end. Pietersen "revealed that this would be his last summer playing in England as his life moves in different directions." Pietersen turns 37 next week and "even though he still intends to carry on playing around the world, he will not be available for county cricket next summer as he intends to spend the time building a new house near Kruger National Park and become more involved in wildlife conservation programmes" (London TELEGRAPH, 6/19).
