Former Bayern Munich President ULI HOENEß, who was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for tax evasion, "has resigned from Germany's Sports Hall of Fame" (BILD, 5/1). ... Because his "nerves do not allow it," Atlético Madrid CEO MIGUEL ÁNGEL GIL MARÍN "is not usually present during games at his team's Vicente Calderón stadium." For his team's Champions League semifinal return league match in London against Chelsea, which Atlético won 3-1, Marín "made sure his flight back to Spain from London coincided with the time of the match" (LIBERTAD DIGITAL, 5/1). ... Barcelona's DANI ALVES has said that "those criticising the anti-racism campaign he helped launch as pre-planned should remember that previous complaints about racism had gone unheeded." Alves said that "anyone focusing on the pre-planned nature of the campaign was missing the point." Alves: "It is hypocritical to criticize a campaign against racism. The critics are focusing on the context and not the objective, which is to make people aware that we are all humans and all the same" (ESPN, 5/1).
COACHING MOVES: Former S.League Tampines Rovers FC player and assistant coach RAFI ALI "has been chosen as the club's new interm head coach" following the announcement of SALIM MOIN's resignation from the club (ASIA ONE, 5/1). ... The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has announced that Spain U21 coach JULIEN LOPETEGUI "has stepped down from his post" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 5/1). ... Sport Mediaset reported that GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI ''will be unveiled" as Morocco’s new coach this Friday. The 75-year-old was in Marrakesh Tuesday "to finalise the details of a four year contract with the Atlas Lions." He will also "be responsible for the nation’s attempts to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 4/30). ... RICARDO LA VOLPE lasted just four games as coach of Liga MX side Chivas "before being ousted" on Wednesday after Owner JORGE VERGARA accused him of "inappropriate conduct" toward a female staff member at the club. The details "remain murky." Vergara told reporters leaving the conference that the club "would be making a legal complaint to authorities about La Volpe's behavior" (ESPN, 5/1).
