Former Sunderland and England footballer ADAM JOHNSON has "lost an appeal against his conviction for child sex offences." Johnson, 28, is "currently serving a six-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of grooming and sexual activity with a 15-year-old fan in March" (London INDEPENDENT, 7/12). ... The shirt worn by GEOFF HURST in England's 1966 World Cup final victory has "failed to sell at auction." The striker was wearing the red No. 10 shirt as he "scored his famous Wembley hat-trick against West Germany." It was expected to fetch up to £500,000 ($663,485), but Sotheby's said that the bidding failed to meet the reserve price despite "a great deal of interest" (BBC, 7/12). ... Real Madrid midfielder LUKA MODRIC has been questioned by Croatian prosecutors "over a multi-million euros corruption case involving former high-ranking Dinamo Zagreb officials, a report said on Tuesday." Modric -- who is not suspected of any wrongdoing -- "had already been questioned by anti-graft prosecutors" in Zagreb in Sept. '15 and his testimony was considered key in the case. There were reportedly "no details about the latest meeting with prosecutors, which took place in the Croatian capital on Monday" (AFP, 7/12).
EVERTON RENAMES STANDS: EPL side Everton is to rename two stands at Goodison Park after former player and manager HOWARD KENDALL and former Chair PHILIP CARTER. The stands behind the goals at the stadium "will now be known as the Howard Kendall Gwladys Street End and the Sir Philip Carter Park Stand," in honor of the pair who died last year. Kendall, "the most successful manager in the club’s history, had three stints in charge," winning two league titles and a championship winners’ medal as an Everton player too. Carter was chair "throughout that successful period" in the '80s (PA, 7/12).
CONTADOR PULLS OUT: Cyclist ALBERTO CONTADOR said that it will be "practically impossible" for him to compete at the Rio Olympics next month. The 33-year-old "had to pull out of the Tour de France on Sunday after sustaining injuries in crashes on stages one and two and then developing a fever." He "does not believe he will be fit enough to take part at the Olympics," which get under way on Aug. 5, "with the road race scheduled for the following day." He has been told by doctors that it will "take about four weeks to recover from his injuries" (SKY SPORTS, 7/12).
