Brasileiro side Corinthians player ALEXANDRE PATO probably "will not return to the Corinthians." Pato is currently loaned to São Paulo, which Corinthians President ROBERTO DE ANDRADE doubts will "show interest in signing him" (GAZETA ESPORTIVA, 3/3). ... Two-time F1 world champion FERNANDO ALONSO will "miss the opening race" of the '15 season in Australia after suffering a concussion in a crash in testing on Feb. 22. Alonso's McLaren team said, "In order to limit those environmental risk factors, specifically, his doctors have advised that he should not compete in the imminent Australian Grand Prix meeting" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/3). ... JARRYD HAYNE "sacrificed a multimillion-dollar deal" that would have likely seen him become the highest-paid player in the National Rugby League to "pursue the American dream which, on Tuesday afternoon, finally turned into reality." Hayne achieved what many "deemed as impossible," announcing himself as an "American footballer" after revealing that he had secured a contract with NFL club San Francisco 49ers. The Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks were "willing to take a punt" on the 27-year-old from Minto, but it was a $100,000 financial guarantee from the 49ers that separated San Francisco from the other two clubs (CANBERRA TIMES, 3/4). ... ADAM JOHNSON’s girlfriend will stand by him after the EPL side Sunderland midfielder was arrested on Monday on "suspicion of having sex with a 15-year-old girl." Johnson was questioned by police on Tuesday following an allegation that he "engaged in sexual activity involving an underage girl" and has been suspended by EPL side Sunderland, having been released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation (London INDEPENDENT, 3/3). ... Former Tottenham, Hearts and Scotland midfielder DAVE MACKAY has died at age 80. Spurs announced that he "passed away in a hospital" in Nottingham on Monday evening. The Scottish int'l started his footballing career in '53 with Scottish Championship side Hearts, which he "captained" to the Scottish League Championship in '58 (London INDEPENDENT, 3/3). ... Bangladesh national women's team forward SABINA KHATUN is "all set to make history by becoming the first female footballer from the country" to play for a foreign football club. Khatun will join the Maldives Police FC and will "stay in the island for two months" (DHAKA TRIBUNE, 3/3).
