Tottenham forward HEUNG-MIN SON has been given permission to play for South Korea at the Olympic Games, according to the 23-year-old. Son wants to represent his country in Rio in August "as one of the three permitted over-age players, but his participation in Brazil would see him miss much of Tottenham's pre-season and the first few weeks of the season." Clubs are "not required to release players over 23 for the Olympics" because the tournament is not organized by FIFA (SKY SPORTS, 6/7). ... Sauber F1 driver FELIPE NASR "is not denying reports he is on the search for an alternate team" for the '17 season. Frustrated with "stalled car development and worrying financial problems," the Brazilian driver and teammate MARCUS ERICSSON incurred Team Principal MONISHA KALTENBORN's wrath in Monaco when they collided. He said, "I do not want to let my opportunities pass" (GRAND PRIX, 6/6). ... Former Australia rugby player BENN ROBINSON has retired from rugby due to "complications with a serious eye injury when playing for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby." The 72-test forward suffered an "accidental poke in the eye during a line-out against the ACT Brumbies in April" and had developed a condition called microscopic hyphema, in which blood cells "appear in front of the lens, affecting vision" (REUTERS, 6/7).
MAKING ROOM: CRISTIANO RONALDO's museum on his home island of Madeira "is to move to a bigger building to accommodate the trophies he hopes to win in the future." The original museum building was opened in Dec. '13 on the seafront in Funchal -- where Ronaldo was born. The museum currently reportedly attracts 200,000 visitors a year. The new building is to be officially opened on July 1, "with the display space now to be spread" over two stories and 1,400 square meters (ESPN, 6/7).
MESSI WINS CASE: Barcelona forward LIONEL MESSI has been awarded nearly €65,000 ($74,00) in damages in a "libel action" and donated the money to the Doctors Without Borders charity. The case was taken after a Madrid-based journalist, ALFONSO USSIA, wrote an article in La Razon after Messi's Argentina lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. Ussia had criticized Messi's form and "made reference to the hormone treatment the forward received as a youngster." The Audiencia Provincial de Barcelona court found that the article went "outside the bounds of an opinion piece" (ESPN, 6/7).
SETTLEMENT REACHED: EVA CARNEIRO has reached a confidential agreement with JOSÉ MOURINHO and Chelsea to settle the "employment tribunal regarding her departure" from the Premier League club last September. A statement was posted on the club’s official website immediately after news of the settlement was revealed, in which the Premier League outfit apologized "unreservedly to her and her family for the distress caused." The statement said, "The club regrets the circumstances which led to Dr Carneiro leaving the club and apologises unreservedly to her and her family for the distress caused. We wish to place on record that in running onto the pitch Dr Carneiro was following both the rules of the game and fulfilling her responsibility to the players as a doctor, putting their safety first. ... Jose Mourinho also thanks Dr Carneiro for the excellent and dedicated support she provided as First Team Doctor and he wishes her a successful career." Carneiro released a statement of her own shortly afterward, in which she admitted that the ordeal had been both "extremely difficult and distressing" to deal with for her and her loved ones (London INDEPENDENT, 6/7).
PELE AUCTION: The boots worn by PELE in football film Escape to Victory have sold at auction for £8,025 ($11,700) in L.A. The boots had an estimated price between £4,200 ($6,100) and £5,600 ($8,100). Pele, 75, "is selling more than 2,000 items of personal memorabilia." Other early items sold included a "Pele 2015 best in the world wood plaque" (£1,225) ($1,800), a "Pele 2014 Brazilian Football Confederation 100th anniversary medal" (£425) ($618) and a "50 years of the first Intercontinental Cup title plaque" (£225) ($327) (BBC, 6/7).
BERLUSCONI HOSPITALIZED: AC Milan Honorary President SILVIO BERLUSCONI "has been taken to hospital with a heart problem." The former Italian PM was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, but a spokesperson "has said that his condition is not life-threatening." Berlusconi, 79, had a pacemaker implanted nine years ago and is set to remain in hospital for a few days as he undergoes tests (ESPN, 6/7).
