FIFA presidential candidate and UEFA President Michel Platini has won the "key backing" of Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain. Sheikh Salman said in a statement on Friday that the world governing body would need "a leadership with experience, wisdom and ability to bring back stability to FIFA." He said, "Mr. Platini boasts such characteristics and has an ambitious vision to renew belief in the organization" (REUTERS, 8/14). ... Liverpool's Mario Balotelli will receive a "six-figure loyalty bonus if he stays at Anfield past the end of the current transfer window." He has been alienated by Manager Brendan Rodgers but "could be keen on prolonging his stay at Anfield due to a monetary incentive." Serie A clubs Lazio and Sampdoria "are keen on taking a punt on Balotelli" and Liverpool is "even prepared" to pay 60% of his wages if he was to "seal a move back to Italy." However, Balotelli appears to be "content on staying at Anfield in order to take advantage of the clause inserted into his contract by his agent Mino Raiola" (London DAILY MAIL, 8/14). ... A fourth footballer tested positive for cocaine this year, "as failed tests in English football hit record levels." Official FA figures "show nine anti-doping rule violations" in '14-15. All of the positive tests "were for recreational drugs." Sources said that there have been "several positive tests for cocaine" in '15 (DAILY MAIL, 8/15).
