Australian Football League commentator HARRY BEITZEL died, aged 90. The former Victorian Football League umpire was 3AW’s top AFL commentator for 16 years and was described as football’s "first multi-media superstar." He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in '06 (HERALD SUN, 8/14). ... Indian cricketer RAVI ASHWIN will join Worcestershire County Cricket Club for the remainder of the county season "with an eye on broadening his experience of conditions before next year's Test series in England." CHETESHWAR PUJARA is expected to rejoin Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club for a second stint as its overseas player (London GUARDIAN, 8/14).
OFFICIAL PUSH: Real Madrid's CRISTIANO RONALDO was "banned for five matches after pushing referee RICARDO DE BURGOS BENGOETXEA" during his club's 3-1 Spanish Super Cup first-leg win at Barcelona on Sunday. Ronaldo's 24 minutes as a substitute saw him score a "superb goal," pick up a booking for removing his shirt during the celebration and then "quickly receive a second yellow" after De Burgos Bengoetxea ruled the Portugal captain had dived to try to win a penalty. Ronaldo reacted to being sent off "by pushing De Burgos Bengoetxea." The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) banned Ronaldo for one match "for drawing the red card and the other four for pushing the official" (ESPN.com, 8/14).
