Rolland Courbis, a former French player and coach often called in to rescue teams from relegation who became an outspoken media pundit, has died aged 72. Courbis won the French title three times as a player, with Marseille in 1972 and then Monaco in 1978 and 1982.
He spent two years as coach of Marseille during a colourful career in which he coached for more than 500 games in Ligue 1 and went to jail twice over financial issues at his club at the time. Courbis also managed Toulon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Montpellier, ending his coaching career at Caen in 2019.
By then he had become a well-established media commentator on French radio and television for RMC with an opinionated style that broke the mould in France. France coach Didier Deschamps said French football had lost "an endearing, warm personality with a strong character," a "true enthusiast" who had "chosen to share his passion in recent years, behind a microphone, with a unique way of expressing himself".
Marseille paid tribute to Courbis in a statement calling him "an emblematic coach and a key personality in French football".
Simeone apologises to Vinicius after Super Cup row
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone apologised to Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior after the pair squared off in the Spanish Super Cup. Simeone bickered with Vinicius both during Atletico's 2-1 semi-final defeat on Thursday and after the Brazilian was substituted.
The Argentine coach also said sorry to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, after appearing to tell Vinicius that the Los Blancos chief would kick him out of the club. "I would like to apologise to Mr Florentino and Mr Vinicius for the episode we saw," Simeone told a news conference ahead of Atletico's Copa del Rey last 16 visit to face Deportivo La Coruna today. "It was not good of me to put myself in that position and I accept I didn't do the right thing. Beyond that the team that deserved to win went through, they deserved it."
Vinicius scored a fine solo goal in the Spanish Super Cup final but Madrid lost 3-2 against Barcelona. The winger's contract expires in June 2027 and as of yet he has not agreed a new deal with Real Madrid.
Aberdeen fan jailed for throwing seat that injured player
An Aberdeen fan who permanently disfigured one of the club's players after throwing part of a seat was jailed for 18 months. David Gowans, 32, hurled the object onto the pitch following Aberdeen's 2-1 loss away to Dundee United at Tannadice on May 17 last year.
It struck Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie, who was thanking travelling Dons fans for their support in the Scottish Premiership fixture. MacKenzie suffered a deep laceration to his left eyebrow and an abrasion below his eye.
Gowans, who had been a member of the Aberdeen ultras supporters' group, admitted culpable and reckless conduct in October. Gowans was sentenced to 18 months in prison and handed a banning order, barring him from attending football matches for 10 years.
He had already received a lifetime ban from Aberdeen Football Club.
