The fall-out from Aston Villa's Premier League relegation continued on Friday when caretaker manager ERIC BLACK revealed that defender JORES OKORE "is refusing to play" for the club. The 23-year-old Denmark int'l "turned down the chance to be on the substitutes' bench" for the home match against Bournemouth two weeks ago and is now training with the U21 squad. Black: "After that game, he said that he didn't want to be considered for any of the games going forwards" (REUTERS, 4/22). ... Former Brazilian football player PELE "expressed his wish to light the Olympic cauldron at this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro."
The 75-year-old "is widely tipped" to officially open the Games at the Maracana stadium on Aug. 5. Pele:
"I would be very, very happy if that happened. It would be great if I could be there. Maybe I could bring Brazil good luck" (XINHUA, 4/23). ... MOHAMMAD AMIR "could be denied a visa for Pakistan’s tour to England this summer over his conviction for spot-fixing."
Amir "was sentenced to six months in a young offenders’ institute in 2011 after pleading guilty to corruption charges for his role in spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test of 2010."
Immigration lawyers said that his case "will depend on whether his admission into the country would be contrary to the public good." The decision "will be at the discretion of the immigration officer dealing with his visa application" (London TELEGRAPH, 4/21). ... Liverpool confirmed MAMADOU SAKHO "is being investigated" by UEFA after failing a drugs test. UEFA informed the Merseyside club that it is "investigating a possible anti-doping violation by Sakho on Friday."
The 26-year-old defender "was not included in the matchday squad for Saturday’s game against Newcastle."
Sakho and the club "agreed that he will not be selected for the first-team while the process is ongoing" (London INDEPENDENT, 4/23). ... After the Ligue 1 match between Nantes and Olympique de Marseille (1-1), Nantes Manager MICHEL DER ZAKARIAN said, “I am at the end of my contract. I want to be clear: I will not be the coach of Nantes next season.” Der Zakarian: “I am very happy with the work of my staff, and very happy to have promoted the club to Ligue 1 and maintained it for three straight seasons” (L’ÉQUIPE, 4/24).
OVER AND OUT: KEVIN PIETERSEN was "ruled out for the rest of the Indian Premier League season with a calf injury."
His announcement "comes three days after he suffered a game-ending injury after taking a quick single for the Pune Supergiants against the Royal Challengers Bangalore." Pietersen said on his Instagram account,
"Over & out, India! Injuries are all part of the job! Horrible tear in my calf! Sad to be leaving a really great bunch of boys but looking forward to being back with my family!" (AAP, 4/24).
