Paris St. Germain Chair NASSER AL-KHELAIFI is set to join the UEFA exec committee. The European Club Association said that its board elected the Qatari to be one of its two delegates on the policy-making panel. Al-Khelaifi's position on the committee has to be ratified next week in Rome (AP, 1/30). ... Melbourne Cup-winning horse trainer DARREN WEIR is being investigated over allegations of animal cruelty after police seized four electric shock devices, known as "jiggers," during twin raids on his stables. The trainer was arrested along with two other men during the raids on Wednesday, with police "also seizing an unregistered gun and a substance believed to be cocaine" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/30). ... PSG's Champions League chances "suffered a major setback" with NEYMAR ruled out for 10 weeks with a foot injury on Wednesday. The Brazilian, who has a fractured metatarsal, will miss the club's last 16 match against ManU, although he "could be fit for a potential quarterfinal in April" (REUTERS, 1/30). ... The wife of jailed Bahraini footballer HAKEEM AL ARAIBI pleaded with Thailand PM PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA on Wednesday to "ensure he is not extradited to his native country," saying that he "faces torture there and should be sent back to asylum in Australia" (REUTERS, 1/30).
