Former professional footballer MICHAEL BALLACK "has been caught speeding in Spain." The 36-year-old "drove at an alleged speed of 211kph in a 120kph zone." The Spanish prosecution demands a €10,000 ($13,000) fine and a driver license suspension of two and a half years (DPA, 10/18). ... The Malaysian Football Association "has torn up the case" against British coach PETER BUTLER, overturned a six-month suspension and ordered his Terengganu club to buy him out of his contract. The 46-year-old said, "I've won. I'm just relieved it is all over. This is not about money, this is about my integrity and my reputation" (REUTERS, 10/18). ... South Korean PARK JOO-BONG will assume the Badminton Association of Malaysia coaching director's post (THE STAR, 10/18). ... The England and Wales Cricket Board said that cricketer KEVIN PIETERSEN has been added to England's Test squad for the tour of India (BLOOMBERG, 10/18). ... Cyclist MARK CAVENDISH has confirmed he is leaving Team Sky to join Omega Pharma-Quick Step for the '13 season (London GUARDIAN, 10/18). ... RAFAEL NADAL has confirmed his participation in the ATP 500 Acapulco event in Mexico from Feb. 25 to March 3 (OEM.com.mx, 10/18). ... Road Fighting Championship President JUNG MUN-HONG said UFC is “cheap” for taking domestic talents without providing appropriate compensation to their organizations where the fighters “honed their skills.” Jung said that the harsh logic of capitalism is “pervasive in the sport where UFC dominates noting.” Jung said, “They use their reputation to recruit talent, while the talent-builders like us get nothing” (KOREA TIMES, 10/18).
ON THE PITCH: England and Chelsea defender JOHN TERRY “will not appeal against the four-match ban and fine of £220,000 ($355,000) for racially abusing QPR defender ANTON FERDINAND. Terry publicly apologized for the first time, he said in a statement: “I want to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone for the language I used in the game” (London INDEPENDENT, 10/18). … England and Chelsea left-back ASHLEY COLE “has been fined £90,000 ($145,000) over his foul-mouthed Twitter attack” on the FA. The FA confirmed the fine on Thursday after Cole had “admitted a charge of making a Twitter comment that was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute” (PA, 10/18). ... EPL Reading striker JASON ROBERTS is "refusing wear a Kick It Out shirt" at Anfield on Saturday in protest at what he says is the organization's lack of action against racism in football in the last year. Roberts, "who is also a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live," is set to be part of the Reading squad that takes on Liverpool in a Barclays Premier League match (London DAILY MAIL, 10/18).
IN THE WATER: Australian national swimming head coach LEIGH NUGENT, who is "under fire for the failure of his squad at the London Olympics, has broken his silence and confirmed he wants" to continue in his position. In an exclusive interview with The Australian, Nugent was asked whether he wanted to remain in his job: "I wouldn't be giving this interview if I didn't." Nugent also revealed that he had "plans to rebuild the team," including planning a major camp of swimmers and coaches in January, bringing a sports psychologist back on staff and devising a new team charter (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/19). ... The Volvo Ocean Race has appointed shore Manager for Team Sanya in the '11-12 edition NICK BICE to manage its Yacht Maintenance Center, which will oversee shared services for teams competing in the new one-design boat in the '14-15 race (ISPORTSCONNECT, 10/18).
NEWS FROM GERMANY: German Hockey League (DEL) club ERC Ingolstadt "signed NHL Buffalo Sabres defenseman ALEXANDER SULZER during the league's lockout." The 28-year-old German native has been practicing with DEL club EHC Reb Bull Munich to stay in shape (DPA, 10/17). ... Former F1 driver and current German Touring Car Championship (DTM) driver DAVID COULTHARD "will retire from DTM racing" after Sunday's final race at the German Hockenheimring (DPA, 10/18). ... German Touring Car Championship (DTM) driver SUSIE WOLFF had her first F1 experience driving a '11 Williams F1 car Wednesday at Silverstone. The 29-year-old Scott dedicated her test drive to Spanish F1 test driver MARIA DE VILLOTA, who lost her right eye in an accident in July (KRONE.at, 10/18).
TEE UP IN CHINA: The 2012 Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am "will welcome a number of leading Hollywood stars" for the golf tournament at Mission Hills Haikou in China Friday through Sunday. Athlete participants include: MICHAEL PHELPS, YAO MING, RONALDO, PAT CASH and STEPHEN HENDRY. Celebrity participants include: ADRIEN BRODY, ANDY GARCIA, RYAN REYNOLDS, MINKA KELLY, MICHELLE YEOH and JEONG WOO-SEONG. Local talent includes: film directors FENG XIAOGANG and HE PING; actors WANG ZHIWEN, ZHANG GUOLI, ZHANG JIAYI, SUN NAN, ERIC TSANG, SIMON YAM, MICHAEL WONG, LEON LAI, CHARLIE YOUNG and GIGI LEUNG; and actresses MICHELLE CHEN and COCO LEE (Mission Hills Group).
