Barcelona VP JORDI MESTRE said that the absence of Barcelona players from the finalists for UEFA's Best Player in Europe Award is "scandalous." The likes of LIONEL MESSI, LUIS SUAREZ and NEYMAR "were not included when the finalists were announced on Friday," with the honors instead going to Real Madrid's CRISTIANO RONALDO and GARETH BALE and Atletico's ANTOINE GRIEZMANN. Mestre said, "I don't know what criteria UEFA applied, with all respect to the chosen winners, but I disagree" (ESPN.com, 8/7). ... CHED EVANS scored "on his return to professional football after his conviction for rape was overturned." The 27-year-old was playing his first match in four years -- for his new club Chesterfield at Oxford United -- "after he was jailed for the rape of a 19-year-old woman" in '11. He served half of a five-year sentence "but the conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal back in April" (PA, 8/6). ... England cricketer ALEX HALES has "given a partial refund to a spectator who complained about the slow over-rate" during the ongoing third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston. Upset fan ALEXIS FULLER contacted several England players to ask for a 10% refund after MICHAEL VAUGHAN "pointed out that only 81 overs had been bowled." Fuller: "I want 10% of my money back. Wouldn't go to football and find it ended after 80mins." Hales replied, "Ok DM me your bank details I'll do it now" (AFP, 8/6).
