FIFA said on Friday that it "has suspended its investigations" into former Exec Committee Member CHUCK BLAZER of the U.S., at least until the end of the year. FIFA chief investigator ROBERT TORRES, "heading the investigation into the 68-year-old who has been accused of financial mismanagement in his role as general secretary of the CONCACAF confederation," said that the investigations would stop until the end of '13 at the earliest (REUTERS, 8/2). ... MLS Seattle Sounders "have confirmed the signing" of CLINT DEMPSEY from Tottenham. The EPL side Saturday revealed that the U.S. captain was returning to MLS "after just one season at White Hart Lane" (London TELEGRAPH, 8/4). ... Chelsea Manager JOSE MOURINHO has revealed that "he turned down the chance to manage England because he would have found the job unfulfilling," but now wants to help turn around the "sad" performances this summer of various national teams (London TELEGRAPH, 8/4). ... Australian Football League Sydney Swans have signed a 6-6 American basketballer PATRICK MITCHELL as the club "try to replicate the success" they have had with Canadian ruckman MIKE PYKE. From Iowa, "Mitchell has played basketball for the University of North Dakota" (AAP, 8/4). ... NBA N.Y. Knicks player AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE, who claims Hebrew roots and is currently touring Israel, "is seeking Israeli citizenship." Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, told New York magazine that Stoudemire "is in the process of becoming an Israeli" (JTA, 8/3). ... Spanish second division side Deportivo La Coruna President AUGUSTO CESAR LENDOIRO confirmed that "he will step down" as president after 25 years in the post. Lendoiro confirmed on Friday evening that "he would be leaving" the club. Lendoiro: "We are not going to put the interests of the Board before the interests of the club" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 8/3). ... Former Indian Premier League Chair RAJEEV SHUKLA chaired the IPL governing council meeting on Friday but he "made it amply clear that he doesn’t want to continue as chairman of the high-profile league." Shukla: "They (BCCI) requested to me that I chair the meeting and I did so. There were no issues with that. But I have told the board that I do not wish to continue as IPL chairman" (IANS, 8/2). ... EPL Liverpool and MLB Boston Red Sox Owner JOHN HENRY has bought the Boston Globe newspaper in a £46M ($70.3M) deal. Henry, who bought Liverpool in ’10, "will take control of the world-famous 141-year-old paper as part of his takeover of the New England Media Group." The group also includes the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 8/4). ... Barcelona player LIONEL MESSI and his fellow Barcelona teammates were mobbed on their arrival in Israel on Saturday where the Spanish Primera Liga giants are staging two "training camps for peace." Hundreds of fans, wearing Barcelona shirts, "as well as a heavy police presence greeted the squad who will train with groups of Israeli and Palestinian children." The training sessions are organized by the Peres Centre for Peace "as well as the Israeli and Palestinian football federations" (AFP, 8/4). ... Philippine boxer MANNY PACQUIAO believes that "he has two or three years of fighting left before he quits the sport" and still retains the hope of securing a bout with American boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. (REUTERS, 8/2). ... An Italian sports tribunal on Friday suspended Serie A club Lazio captain STEFANO MAURI for six months and fined the club €40,000 ($53,000) for its involvement "in an illegal betting scandal." The sentence "was relatively lenient as prosecutors had asked for a four-and-a-half year ban for Mauri" (AFP, 8/3). ... Russian tennis player MARIA SHARAPOVA "has been named as one of Samsung Galaxy's brand ambassadors ahead of Sochi 2014." The 26-year-old from Sochi will "work to promote sporting and Olympic ideals as well as helping raise awareness for Samsung's sponsorship of the Games in her hometown" (INSIDE THE GAMES, 8/2).
