JOAO HAVELANGE turned 100 on Sunday, and his spokesperson SERGIO MARTINS said that the former head of FIFA "plans to attend Mass on Monday in his Ipanema neighborhood to celebrate the milestone." Martins said, "President Havelange is in good health and, yes, he expects to go to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games" (ESPN, 5/6). ... Game of Thrones actor ALFIE ALLEN joined Britain's America's Cup sailors in N.Y. as they prepare to do battle in the next Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series. Allen took time out from a busy schedule of rehearsals for his West End debut in JESSE EISENBERG's play The Spoils to join BEN AINSLIE and the Land Rover BAR team on the Hudson River (TVC Group). ... Disgraced shuttler KENICHI TAGO said that "he is looking to continue his career overseas after receiving an indefinite suspension by the Nippon Badminton Association for gambling at illegal casinos in Japan." Tago: "I only have myself to blame for no longer being able to play in Japan. But I have again come to realize that badminton is the only way for me." Tago lost a total of around 10M yen ($93,400) "over 60 visits to casinos in Tokyo and Yokohama from October 2014 to January" (KYODO, 5/6).
POOR ATTITUDES: Tennis players BERNARD TOMIC and NICK KYRGIOS could "miss out on representing Australia at the Olympic Games in Rio if their behaviour on and off the tennis court does not improve." Both players "have been put on notice" by Australian Chef de Mission KITTY CHILLER after Tomic "drew heavy criticism following his exit from the Madrid Open when, on match point against FABIO FOGNINI, he held the racquet by the strings and did not offer a return to the Italian's serve." Asked about the incident, Tomic responded, "I don't care about the match point -- would you care if you were 23 and worth over $10M?" (SKY SPORTS, 5/7).
Newcastle midfielder JACK COLBACK is being investigated by the FA "for an alleged breach of betting regulations." Colback "is under suspicion for allegedly gambling" on the Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich Champions League semifinal last week and although the game had no connection with Newcastle, or the Premier League, it is still not permitted by the FA. At this stage, the FA is only investigating an Internet betting exchange, but if Colback is found to have bet on the game, even though it was a European fixture, he "will be formally charged with an offence and is likely to face a heavy fine" (London TELEGRAPH, 5/8).
