Real Madrid unveiled JULEN LOPETEGUI as its new manager on Thursday, a "mere 24 hours after he was sensationally sacked" from his role as manager of the Spanish national team on the eve of the World Cup. In an "afront" to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Real planned for the presentation of its new manager to take place on the eve of Spain's "pivotal" first match of the tournament against Portugal (London TELEGRAPH, 6/14). ... National Rugby League side Canterbury Bulldogs "shot down" reports it is looking to force player KIERAN FORAN into medical retirement. Club CEO ANDREW HILL denied the Bulldogs "wanted to move the premiership-winning halfback on in a bid to make salary cap space" (STUFF, 6/15). ... Bosnian police on Thursday arrested ZDRAVKO MAMIC, a fugitive former exec director of Dinamo Zagreb, on a warrant from Croatia which sentenced him to six-and-a-half years in prison for "tax evasion and siphoning off profits from player transfers." Mamic, who holds dual Croatian and Bosnian citizenship, was sentenced in absentia last week after he fled to Bosnia. He "denied any wrongdoing" and said that he aimed to stay in Bosnia to "fight for his innocence" (REUTERS, 6/14). ... Two British footballers "arrested over an alleged sex attack on a British teenager in Ibiza" appeared in court on Thursday. KARLAN AHEARNE-GRANT and REECO HACKETT FAIRCHILD were seen in handcuffs accompanied by police officers "ahead of an appearance before an investigating magistrate on the Spanish holiday island" (London DAILY MAIL, 6/14). ... CANELO ÁLVAREZ's promoter, OSCAR DE LA HOYA, said that the Mexican will face Kazakh world middleweight champion GENNADY GOLOVKIN in a rematch on Sept. 15. The duo "could not be separated after last year’s bout at the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas," allowing Golovkin to retain his World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and Int'l Boxing Federation belts (REUTERS, 6/14).
'THE DECISION': France int'l ANTOINE GRIEZMANN said that he "intends to sign a new contract" with Atlético Madrid in a televised documentary on Thursday, "ending a long-running courtship from Barcelona." The pursuit "played out in public for several months" before Griezmann said last week that he would share his plans so that they would not "overshadow" the World Cup. And yet, he "opted to reveal his decision in a 45-minute TV special" entitled "The Decision" -- in a stunt reminiscent of LEBRON JAMES' identically titled ESPN special in '10 (ESPN.com, 6/14).
