JUAN LUIS LARREA was named a member of UEFA's exec committee for one year. His appointment was confirmed at the organization's annual Congress. Larrea's position in the committee gives Spain a representative to replace ÁNGEL MARÍA VILLAR (MARCA, 2/26). ... Scottish Premiership side Celtic captain SCOTT BROWN "blamed a packed football calendar as he retired from Scotland duty for a second time." The 32-year-old, who earned 55 caps, initially ended his int'l career in Aug. '16 (BBC, 2/26). ... A high court judge "granted permission for proceedings to continue" against former South Yorkshire police chief superintendent DAVID DUCKENFIELD, whom the Crown Prosecution Service is seeking to charge with the manslaughter of 95 people killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster (London GUARDIAN, 2/26). ... Former Man City footballer SAMIR NASRI was banned for six months for "breaking anti-doping rules." Nasri, who is currently without a club, "flouted regulations by having an intravenous drip" at the L.A.-based Drip Doctors clinic in Dec. '16 (LONDON TIMES, 2/26). ... All Blacks player SONNY BILL WILLIAMS “shot down a report from Australia that he was planning to move back to ruby league” later this year after being told he was not in Manager STEVE HANSEN’s plans for next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan (London INDEPENDENT, 2/26). ... RYLE NUGENT announced his departure from RTÉ after 24 years with the broadcaster. Nugent “became the voice of rugby for Ireland fans” as he commentated on int’l and European Cup games (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 2/26).
CAREER CHANGE: USAIN BOLT, the 100m world record holder, said that he "has agreed to sign for a football club." Bolt, 31, retired from athletics last summer after a "glittering career" in which he won eight Olympic Gold Medals. He has "always spoken of his desire to play football once his sprinting career was over" (ESPN.com, 2/26).
