German Hockey League (DEL) club Hannover Scorpions have to pay €95,000 ($124,300) in compensation to ex-coach TONI KRINNER. In addition, the club must pay €60,000 ($78,500) in taxes plus Krinner's car and apartment bills. Overall, the firing of Krinner has cost the team more than €200,000 ($262,000) (SPORTAL, 12/12). ... Former Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner HIROMORI KAWASHIMA died Sunday at a Tokyo hospital. The 90-year-old "is credited with helping improve ties between professional and amateur baseball in Japan" (KYODO, 12/12). ... DAVID BECKHAM and Manchester City Owner & UAE side Al Jazira Chair SHEIKH MANSOUR BIN ZAYED "attended the same invitation-only gala dinner for a magazine launch" at the Emirates Palace marina Wednesday night. Beckham, who is in search of a new team, "has been linked in the int'l media with a move to a Middle East team." When asked if he might join Al Jazira, he said, "We'll see" (THE NATIONAL, 12/13). ... Premiership rugby club Sale Sharks confirmed that former player DAVID TAIT "has died at the age of 25." Tait "was found dead after falling from an apartment block in Hong Kong" (PA, 12/13).
CONVICTION AND JUSTICE: A gang who "targeted rich Londoners," including F1 CEO BERNIE ECCLESTONE and airport operator BAA Chair NIGEL RUDD, "in a string of terrifying raids" were Wednesday jailed for 53 years (London EVENING STANDARD, 12/12). ... Former Asian Football Confederation President MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM "will not face new charges that he bribed Caribbean officials during his campaign." An investigation into Bin Hammam by FIFA Chief Ethics Investigator MICHAEL GARCIA "has been closed after failing to find new evidence" (THE NATIONAL, 12/13).
