Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday, Jan 8

Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday. FIFA Platini withdraws candidacy for FIFA presidency Banned European soccer boss president Michel Platini has withdrawn his candidacy from the race for the presidency of soccer's scandal-plagued governing body FIFA, he told French sports daily L'Equipe. (SOCCER-FIFA/PLATINI moved, 500 words) - - Suspended Guatemalan judge granted release on bond NEW YORK - A suspended Guatemalan judge who was arrested last month as part of a U.S. investigation into corruption in soccer's world governing body FIFA won the right to be released from jail on Thursday on a $4 million bond. (SOCCER-FIFA/TRUJILLO, moved, by Nate Raymond, 500 words) - - Paraguay officials raid CONMEBOL headquarters ASUNCION - Paraguayan state prosecutors on Thursday raided the headquarters of South American soccer confederation CONMEBOL, in a further development in the corruption scandal rocking the business of global soccer. (SOCCER-FIFA/CONMEBOL moved, by Daniela Desantis, 350 words) - - - - ATHLETICS Life bans for Balakhnichev, Melnikov and Papa Diack LONDON - Former head of Russian athletics Valentin Balakhnichev, the country's former head coach Aleksey Melnikov, and Papa Massata Diack, son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack, have been banned from the sport for life over corruption charges. (ATHLETICS-CORRUPTION/, moved, by Mitch Phillips, 410 words) - - - - SOCCER FA Cup third round Exeter City v Liverpool (1955 GMT) LONDON - Seven-times winners Liverpool, beset by an injury crisis, will hope to avoid an embarrassing slip-up at fourth-tier Exeter. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/CUP, expect by 2145 GMT/4:45 PM ET, 300 words) Countdown to FA Cup weekend We will cover news conferences by Premier League managers ahead of this weekend's English FA Cup third-round matches. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/CUP, expect throughout) - - Ligue 1 Paris St Germain v Bastia (1930) Unbeaten Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain, a massive 19 points clear at the top, will expect to take another three points when they welcome 16th-placed Bastia to the capital. (SOCCER-FRANCE/, expect by 2130 GMT/4:30 PM ET, 200 words) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Hyundai Tournament of Champions (to 10) Reed leads Spieth after first round in Hawaii HAWAII - Defending champion Patrick Reed made a brilliant eagle at the last to earn a one-stroke lead over Jordan Spieth in the first round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Thursday. (GOLF-PGA/, moved, 350 words) - - European Tour: South African Open, Johannesburg (to 10) Van Zyl takes one shot lead into second round JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's Jaco van Zyl holds a one-shot lead going into the second round at Glendower Golf Club as 33 golfers must start early to still complete their first rounds after lightning halted play on Thursday. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, expect by 1600 GMT/11 AM ET, 300 words) - - - - TENNIS Brisbane International ATP/WTA, Brisbane (to 10) Federer sees off Dimitrov Roger Federer quelled Grigor Dimitrov's challenge in three sets while home hope Bernard Tomic continued his promising form ahead of the Australian Open by overcoming Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals. (TENNIS-BRISBANE/, moved, 400 words) - - Hopman Cup, Perth (to 10) Murray leads Britain to win over Germany Andy Murray led Britain to victory in their final Group B clash against Germany, with 'Australia Green' looking to wrap up top spot and a final berth against Ukraine when they take on France in the evening session. (TENNIS-HOPMAN/, expect throughout, 400 words) - - - - BASKETBALL Euroleague Red Star clash with Fenerbahce BELGRADE - Red Star Belgrade entertain the Euroleague's noveaux riches Fenerbahce Istanbul in the cauldron of their Pionir Arena as the continent's premier club competition gains momentum (EUROLEAGUE-BASKETBALL/WRAPUP; expect by 2230 GMT/5.30 p:m ET; By Zoran Milosavljevic, 400 words) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Hyundai Tournament of Champions (to 10) Second round action from the Kapalua Resort on the Hawaiian island of Maui where an elite, winners-only field of 32 has assembled. (GOLF-PGA/, expect end-of-day lead by 0300 GMT/10 PM ET, 350 words) - - - - NBA Streaking Spurs host Carmelo's Knicks The San Antonio Spurs, one of the hottest teams in the National Basketball Association, look to extend their win streak to seven games when they host Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks. (NBA-SPURS/, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) - - Gasol's Grizzlies clash with Gallinari's Nuggets Spanish centre Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies play host to Italian forward Danilo Gallinari and the Denver Nuggets in a matchup of teams battling to get back in contention in their respective division. (NBA-GRIZZLIES/, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) - - Warriors visit Trail Blazers, T'Wolves host Cavs The Golden State Warriors will try to improve the best record in the National Basketball Association when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers while LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in two of the in two of the 10 games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) - - - - NHL Kane's Blackhawks host lowly Sabres Patrick Kane, the National Hockey League's points leader, and the Chicago Blackhawks host the struggling Buffalo Sabres while the St. Louis Blues will try to snap a four-game skid and get back into contention in the Central division when they visit the Anaheim Ducks in two of the six games on the National Hockey League schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0101 GMT/8:01 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) (Europe desk editor: Ed Osmond)