The papers outlining secret tactics were meant to be slipped under South African cricketer Dale Steyn’s hotel room door on the eve of a game against New Zealand. Instead, they went to the wrong room and are now there for the world — and the New Zealand players — to see after the occupant posted them on Facebook. The South African team acknowledged that papers listing apparent weaknesses of New Zealand’s batsmen were put in the wrong room. Although they don’t contain any startling insights, the tactics — titled “Plan / Strategy Handouts” — outline team management’s suggestions on how Steyn and his fellow fast bowlers could get the New Zealanders out in yesterday’s game. For one, middle-order batsman Colin Munro is susceptible to “bouncers into rib cage.”
Football | Chung slams ‘cynical’ FIFA ethics probe of charity money
FIFA presidential contender Chung Mong-joon says any ethics committee investigation of his disaster relief donation to Pakistan would be “cynical.” The South Korean lawmaker launched his FIFA election campaign Monday with strong criticism of outgoing president Sepp Blatter. In 2010, as FIFA vice president, Chung pledged USD400,000 for football projects in Pakistan after floods there. In June, the Asian Football Confederation sent FIFA ethics investigators details of unspent donations, according to a letter to the Pakistan Football Federation seen by The Associated Press. Chung says in a statement he would condemn any probe as “a cynical and unethical effort by FIFA to misrepresent even charitable donations for political manipulation.” All FIFA contenders must pass an integrity check by the ethics committee to be candidates in the Feb. 26 election.
Barcelona defender Pique banned 4 matches for outburst
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has been given a four-match ban for insulting a linesman during the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup, which his club lost 5-1 on aggregate to Athletic Bilbao. A Competition Committee judge yesterday ordered the sanction having studied the case after Pique was sent off for the offense during the match. Barcelona presented arguments in defense of its player, but was unable to shorten the punishment, and the decision means Pique will not be able to play against Bilbao, Malaga, Atletico Madrid and Levante at the beginning of the La Liga season. Referee Velasco Carballo’s match report said Pique used foul and abusive language while shouting at the assistant referee. Earlier, Pique had apologized and insisted he did not insult the official.
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