Former Czech Republic FA General Secretary RUDOLF BAT'A died, aged 89. He served in a number of roles for UEFA, as a member of the Finance Committee, Control & Disciplinary Committee, Stadia Committee and Stadium and Security Committee (UEFA). ... Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund suspended forward OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ "until further notice," three days after the club rejected a bid from Barcelona. The 20-year-old France int'l was fined and suspended until Monday "for missing Thursday's training, but the ban has been extended indefinitely" (BBC, 8/13). ... Barcelona's GERARD PIQUÉ said that he knew "100 percent" that NEYMAR would leave the club when he posted a "now-infamous" photo with his then-teammate saying, "He stays." Piqué said, "I don't feel tricked by Neymar. The day I said, 'He stays,' I knew that he was going 100 percent. It was the final shot. He got angry with me, but we worked it out" (ESPN.com, 8/12). ... CARLOS TEVEZ "hinted" that he could bring an early end to his time with Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua and "return to his boyhood club in Argentina." The striker left Boca Juniors last December to sign a two-year contract with Shanghai that reportedly made him the "highest-paid player in the world" on wages of £615,000 ($799,800) a week. He has the "option of activating a release clause in his contract after one year, but suggested he could stay in China" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 8/13). ... Former German Olympic bobsleigh champion ANDRÉ LANGE was named a coach for the South Korean national luge team Sunday. The Korea Luge Federation said that Lange, 44, will join the team in October in preparations for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Lange is "one of the most decorated bobsleigh pilots in history," having won four Gold and one Silver medal at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics (YONHAP, 8/13).
MILLION POUND MAN: Championship rugby side Bristol secured a "sensational deal" for CHARLES PIUTAU as the New Zealand int'l became the "highest-paid player in world rugby" after signing a £1M ($1.3M)-per-season contract. Piutau, who has 16 caps for the All Blacks, signed a two-year contract with Bristol and will join his new teammates ahead of the '18-19 campaign "after he completes his contract with Ulster." Bristol "fended off fierce competition from leading clubs in France to acquire his services" (London DAILY MAIL, 8/11).
