Croatia defender JOSIP SIMUNIC "has lost his appeal at sport's highest court, ruling him out of the World Cup for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after a playoff win." Announcing the ruling to uphold the 10-match ban, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said that it "unanimously rejected Simunic's arguments and dismissed his appeal" against the FIFA sanction (AP, 5/13). ... Cricketer VIRAT KOHLI’s popularity "continues to rise on social networking sites." Kohli now has 3.1 million followers on Twitter while he breached the 10-million mark on Facebook last month. Kohli "was the most popular player on Twitter in the third week of IPL." Defending champion Mumbai Indians "has remained the most searched team on the social networking site last week" (PTI, 5/13). ... Real Madrid's XABI ALONSO has said reports that the Spanish tax authorities are demanding money from him are "completely false." A statement released by Real Madrid added that "it is absolutely false that Alonso is having any negotiations" with the Spanish tax authorities (EFE, 5/13).
RECRUITING GAME: Formula E's Virgin Racing has brought in Spanish driver JAIME ALGUERSUARI. Alguersuari was "the youngest ever to start a Formula One grand prix" when he started racing for Scuderia Toro Rosso in '09. The second car will be driven by "up-and-coming" British driver SAM BIRD, who finished second in the '13 GP2 series -- the same launching point from which the likes of HEIKKI KOVALAINEN, NELSHINHO PIQUET, LUCAS DI GRASSI, BRUNO SENNA, VITALY PETROV and SERGIO PEREZ "all launched their F1 careers" (AUTO BLOG, 5/13).
