German Football Federation (DFB) President WOLFGANG NIERSBACH "has been re-elected for another three-year term at the helm of the organization." The former sports journalist and DFB general secretary succeeded THEO ZWANZIGER as DFB president in March '12 (FOCUS ONLINE, 10/25). ... Slovenian skier TINA MAZE, who won last year's overall World Cup title, "was awarded the Skieur d'Or award as the most outstanding personality of the previous World Cup season" (KURIER, 10/24). ... Two-time Tour de France runner-up ANDREAS KLÖDEN, who also won an Olympic Bronze Medal, "announced his retirement on Thursday after 16 years in the sport." Klöden "seldom talked to German media in the last years of his career, angered by what he said were false allegations of doping, and has been living in Switzerland" (REUTERS, 10/24). ... Serie A Inter Milan President MASSIMO MORATTI "is looking likely to remain in his positon" despite the club's takeover by Indonesian media man ERICK THOHIR. Moratti said, "When you’re so used to a certain role, it’s hard to take on a different one. We’re talking with these people and they are kindly asking me to remain as president. We’ll see" (ISPORTCONNECT, 10/25). ... PRINCE WILLIAM, revelling in his role as FA president, and FA Chair GREG DYKE played host to the FIFA President SEPP BLATTER and his UEFA counterpart MICHEL PLATINI at a gala dinner at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms.
They were joined by England Manager ROY HODGSON, World Cup winners GEOFF HURST, GEORGE COHEN and MARTIN PETERS, the FA’s Grassroots Heroes JUNE KELLY and TROY TOWNSEND, plus England legends DAVE CLARKE and MICHAEL OWEN and many others (FA). ... PRINCE WILLIAM, who is president of the FA, said that "footballers need support to help them handle the pressure that comes with their high-profile." He said, "Our national players are role models for millions of young people and I think we need to give those highly pressured and driven players the support and training they need to live up to their rightly exalted status. We were as a nation so proud of our Team GB athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics, for their success on the field but also for the way they conducted themselves in interviews and with their competitors. It is perfectly possible to say the same about our national teams -- they are good people, ambitious for success and to a man and woman aware of their status as role models" (PA, 10/28). ... V8 Supercars driver JAMIE WHINCUP "may have taken centre stage at the Gold Coast's glitzy V8 Supercars showdown at the weekend, but behind the scenes he's locked in a messy legal battle with his former managers."
In documents filed in the Brisbane District Court, Whincup "is suing company International Quarterback" -- of which former Wallaby rugby player JOHN EALES is a director -- for nearly A$500,000 ($479,000) (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/28).
... Former Australian middle- and long-distance runner ALBERT THOMAS "died on Sunday morning in Sydney" at the age of 78. He "ran in three Olympic Games," won Silver and Bronze Medals in a British Empire Games, set individual world records at two and three miles and, along with DENIS WILSON, JOHN MURRAY and ELLIOTT, ran in the 4x1 mile relay (THE AGE, 10/28). ... Red Bull driver SEBASTIAN VETTEL has been reprimanded by motorsports governing body FIA and his team fined £21,000 ($34,000) after the "newly crowned world champion celebrated his fourth successive title by wowing the grandstands at the Indian Grand Prix with some rubber burning doughnuts" (London DAILY MAIL, 10/27). ... Spanish second division side Girona B team keeper NIL MARIN died at the age of 20 in a car accident Sunday morning (EFE, 10/26). ... British golfer SIMON DYSON "was disqualified in the BMW Masters" after TV viewers "phoned the European Tour to point out a misdemeanour in Friday's second round." European Tour Chief Referee JOHN PARAMOR said, "Simon was found to have breached rule 16-1a, which states that a player must not touch his line of putt. Television viewers alerted the European Tour to the incident ... and when the footage was reviewed Simon was seen to touch the line of his second putt after marking and lifting his ball on the green" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/26).
