Soccer Star Cantona Charged With Assaulting English Fan
Manchester United star Eric Cantona was charged with common assault Tuesday in London for attacking a spectator at Crystal Palace last month in an English Premier League soccer match.
Cantona, 28, was released on bail and ordered to appear before magistrates on March 23 to answer the charge, which constitutes the lowest form of assault in English law. It carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $8,000 fine.
The assault took place during a game on Jan. 25.
After being sent off by the referee for a foul, Cantona took a two-footed leap over the front row of the stands to kick and punch a taunting 20-year-old spectator.
Two days later, Manchester United suspended Cantona for the rest of the season. He faces a hearing Friday before the Football Assn., which could take further disciplinary action against him.
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Arsenal manager George Graham was fired after allegations that he received kickbacks as part of player transfer deals. Arsenal said Graham, the target of a Premier League investigation into alleged transfer irregularities, “did not act in the best interests of the club.”
Graham allegedly received $425,000 as part a $1.7-million transfer of Danish star John Jensen from Brondby to Arsenal in 1992. Graham called the team’s action a “kangaroo court judgment.”
Baseball
The president of the Detroit Tigers says Manager Sparky Anderson likely will have his job back when the strike ends, provided the settlement comes early in the season.
“I don’t know where the curtain is,” club President John McHale Jr. said. “I’m trying to reserve the maximum flexibility.”
McHale placed Anderson on unpaid leave of absence after the manager balked at coaching replacement players last Friday.
Colorado Rockie prospect Rodney Pedraza tore cartilage in his pitching shoulder and likely will be sidelined two months.
A northern Virginia group seeking an expansion team has inquired about buying the Pittsburgh Pirates, almost certainly with the intention of moving them to Washington, D.C.
Pro Football
A source says former Raider coach Art Shell has agreed in principle to become an assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs. . . . The Raiders named Garrett Giemont, who worked for 10 years with the Rams, as strength and conditioning coach. Raider tackles Russ McCullough and Willie Stubbins will play for the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football this summer. The team concluded its two-day draft Tuesday. Quarterback Jamie Martin of the Rams will play for the Amsterdam Admirals. . . . Kicker Brad Daluiso re-signed with the New York Giants, getting a three-year deal reportedly worth more than $1.5 million. . . . Oklahoma defensive coordinator Tom Hayes was hired by the Washington Redskins as defensive backs coach.
Horse Racing
Hollywood Wildcat, the champion 3-year-old filly in 1993, has suffered a lesion on a tendon in her left foreleg and faces either a long recovery period or retirement, trainer Neil Drysdale said.
Irv and Marge Cowan, who bred and race Hollywood Wildcat, are expected to make a decision about her future soon.
Hollywood Wildcat, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 1993, was training at Hollywood Park to run Sunday in the Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita. The injury was discovered Monday.
Miscellany
Atlanta Olympic organizers say they’ve already sold 100 sets of $50,000 “patron” ticket packages, and this week will begin a direct mail campaign to sell thousands more to wealthy executives. The general public can begin ordering tickets May 1.
Russian sports scientists and coaches will assist Australian athletes in six sports for the 2000 Olympics as part of a $1-million deal between Australian officials and the Russian Olympic Committee.
Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes crossed the finish line three seconds ahead of Young America in the closest finish in the 1995 America’s Cup defender trials. Three seconds translates to less than half the length of a 75-foot racing sloop. Young America had won five races in a row.
On the challenger course, Team New Zealand defeated NZL-39 by 1 minute, 28 seconds, its first defeat in five races in the third-round robin. Also, oneAustralia dispatched Sydney 95 by 1:59. And Japan handed Rioja de Espana its 17th loss in 18 races, winning by 1:51.
Names in the News
Leaking carbon monoxide caused the death of basketball player Sam Mitchell in his apartment in Fabriano, Italy , a preliminary autopsy report said. The fumes that overcame Mitchell, 24, probably came from a defective water heater, police said. But the investigation is continuing.
Andre Agassi, all business in his first match of the tournament, overpowered Swedish qualifier Jan Apell, 6-4, 6-2, in the opening round of the $714,250 U.S. Indoor at Philadelphia.
Nanne Dahlman of Finland upset fifth-seeded Nathalie Tauziat of France, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, in the opening round of an indoor tournament in Linz, Austria. Second-seeded Iva Majoli of Croatia struggled against Christina Singer of Germany before winning, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Yevgeny Kafelnikov, fresh from a victory in Milan, routed Petr Korda, 6-2, 6-1, in the opening round of the $2.25-million Eurocard Open in Stuttgart, Germany.
The Boston Bruins signed former Montreal forward Mats Naslund to a one-year contract, reportedly worth about $200,000, with an option to extend the contract for one year.
Rusty Keaulana, two-time world longboard champion, won the richest purse in longboard history, the $50,000 Buffalo invitational at Makaha Beach, Hawaii.
U.S. skier Ellen Breen took third place, scoring 25.65, in women’s ballet in the Freestyle World Cup at Kirchberg, Austria.
