Former French national rugby team Manager GUY NOVÈS is contesting the legality of his dismissal. Novès released a statement through his lawyer saying, "This brutal rupture occurred without any prior procedure, that is to say in violation of the rights and essential guarantees provided by law" (L'ÉQUIPE, 12/29). ... NFL Jacksonville Jaguars Owner SHAHID KHAN, through the Jaguars Foundation, is "donating 1,000 tickets for refugees" for his team's playoff game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Refugees from "around the world" will receive 500 tickets, while the Pakistani-American franchise owner will also donate 500 tickets to "displaced Hurricane Maria victims from Puerto Rico" (ARAB NEWS, 1/3). ... Former Premier League side Southampton youth coach BOB HIGGINS pleaded not guilty to 50 counts of child abuse. Higgins, 64, is accused of "carrying out indecent assaults on 24 boys" between '70 and '96 (BBC, 1/4). ... WBC world lightweight champion MIKEY GARCIA was ordered to face JORGE LINARES in a "potential unification bout" after both men compete in early '18. Garcia, 30, holds the WBC title at lightweight but is challenging for the IBF world title at light-welterweight against SERGEY LIPINETS on Feb. 10 (BBC, 1/4).
