Barcelona's GERARD PIQUÉ "is continuing his business trip through Asia." On Monday, he was in Tokyo, where he posted a photo with video game brand Konami President HIDEKI HAYAKAWA, whose company sponsors Barcelona. Piqué is the owner of Kerad Games, which designs, develops and commercializes football video games. His trip to Tokyo followed a visit to Shanghai, where he met with Desports execs. Desports, a Chinese marketing agency, owns Spanish second division side Granada (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 7/10).
U.K. Foreign Secretary
BORIS JOHNSON met with Qatari Emir
SHEIKH TAMIM BIN HAMAD AL-THANI in Doha on Saturday in the "latest effort to mediate the
Gulf diplomatic crisis," Qatar state media reported. The two officials "discussed the latest developments of the [Gulf] crisis and its implications in terms of regional and international stability" (
AL BAWABA NEWS, 7/9). ... Ferrari Formula 1 team "ruled out"
FERNANDO ALONSO rejoining the team for '18. Ferrari President
SERGIO MARCHIONNE said, "Maybe he might have some interest for us, not us for him" (
SKY SPORTS, 7/10). ... Former ManU midfielder
PHILLIP MULRYNE has "officially been ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the Dominican Order." Mulryne, who once earned £600,000 per year, has "taken a vow of poverty after being ordained as Fr Mulryne in Dublin on Saturday" (
90MIN, 7/10). ... Extensive contact between former Olympic Council of Ireland President
PAT HICKEY and British ticketing agent
MARCUS EVANS in the lead-up to the Rio Olympic Games "has been confirmed by a report into the ticket controversy." Emails between the pair "are included in an unpublished report" conducted by
CARROLL MORAN, who is investigating allegations of ticket touting at the Rio Games (
LONDON TIMES, 7/10).
