Spanish Basketball League (ACB) side CAI Zaragoza coach JOSÉ LUIS ABÓS said in a statement that he "will leave the bench this season due to a serious health problem." Abós said that he has suffered from a health problem "since several weeks ago and is unsure how much time he will need to recover." He added that he hopes to return "as soon as possible" (EFE, 8/4). ... GARY LINEKER "has claimed he feels sick at alleged corruption within FIFA and labelled the decision to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as 'ludicrous'" (PA, 8/3). ... CORINNE DIACRE, "the only female coach of a men's professional team in a major European country," took charge of Ligue 1 Clermont Foot on Monday.
Diacre, 40, "was appointed in June on a two-year deal" (BBC, 8/4). ... Englishman ANTHONY HUDSON is set to be announced as the new coach of New Zealand's national football team "after walking out on Bahrain last week."
The 33-year-old's departure "left Bahrain's preparations for January's Asian Cup in disarray," and the Gulf state's FA said on Friday that it "would challenge his exit through the courts" (REUTERS, 8/4). ... ANDY MURRAY insists his coaching liaison with AMELIE MAURESMO "is long-term."
Murray said that "he has enjoyed working with the former Wimbledon champion at his training base in Miami as he prepares for the U.S. hardcourt season." Murray: "We've agreed to work together and I think from both sides we're willing to do what it takes to make it work long term" (REUTERS, 8/4). ... The Wrestling Federation of India suspended referee VIRENDER MALIK, who "was detained on charges of alleged sexual assault in Glasgow during the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games, with immediate effect" (PTI, 8/4).
