DIEGO MARADONA "is no stranger to controversy and the Argentina legend proved it once again when he slapped a journalist following a heated interview with reporters." The 53-year-old "was questioned by several journalists" as he left a theater with the mother of his child, VERONICA OJEDA, and their son DIEGO FERNANDO. After one reporter "allegedly gestured or winked at Ojeda, Maradona was angered enough to get out of his car and slap the man." The incident has made headlines in Argentina "after the slap was captured on camera" (METRO, 8/10). ... Former Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev midfielder ANDREI BAL "has died during a football match of veteran teams." Bal, who played for Dynamo from '81-90, "won four Soviet titles and four Soviet cups with the Ukraine club." Ukraine-born Bal, 56, "served as his nation's interim manager in October 2012, when he stepped up from his role as assistant" to replace OLEH BLOKHIN (BBC, 8/9). ... Man City midfielder SAMIR NASRI "confirmed his retirement from international football with France." The 27-year-old "dropped a strong hint last week" that he had decided to cut short his int'l career. Nasri: "I will only be 29 in 2016 for the European Championship, but the French national team doesn't make me happy" (AFP, 8/10). ... The Asian Football Confederation said on Saturday that AVCHIEV TAKHIR of Kyrgyzstan and DOAN NGOC HAO of Vietnam "have been slapped with two-year bans for doping violations." Avchiev "failed a dope test following Kyrgyzstan's May 19 match against Palestine during the AFC Challenge Cup." Hao "tested positive for levo-methamphetamine after Vietnam's April 30 match against Iraq at the AFC Futsal Championship" (REUTERS, 8/9).
