PHIL NEVILLE has "turned down an approach to join Aston Villa’s new backroom staff and is focused on becoming a manager." Neville, the former ManU and Everton defender, was "targeted by Villa as a potential No. 2 for the new manager, with STEVE BRUCE still believed to be the leading contender." But Neville is "determined to become a No. 1 in his own right and has declined the opportunity to make his return to the game at Villa Park" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/10). ... Kricket’s Spero cricket academy will celebrate its first anniversary by flying in "one of India’s most successful captains," MOHAMMAD AZHARUDDINB, "to conduct a camp" from Thursday until Saturday.
The academy "also announced expansion plans" (GULF NEWS, 10/11). ... Four-time Olympic Medalist LOUIS SMITH may face "suspension or expulsion" by British Gymnastics "over a video in which he apparently mocks Islam."
The video, filmed by Smith and obtained by a newspaper, "appears to show him laughing" while retired gymnast LUKE CARSON "mimics Islamic prayer practices."
Smith, who won pommel horse Silver at the 2016 Rio Games, later said he was "deeply sorry" for his "thoughtless actions" (BBC, 10/11).
NOT DONE YET: ManU striker WAYNE ROONEY "has insisted he will not contemplate retiring from international football despite being dropped from a competitive England fixture for the first time in his career and a tacit admission from the Manchester United player that he was experiencing the most difficult period of his professional life." Rooney: "It is something which I have to go through. I am big enough to deal with it. I believe I can come back from this. I am 30 years of age. I am not 35 or 36 where you are thinking: ‘Can you get back from it?’" (London GUARDIAN, 10/10).
PAYING THE PRICE: Bangladesh cricket captain MASHRAFE MORTAZA and batsman SABBIR RAHMAN were fined 20% of their match fees on Monday "for an altercation with rival skipper JOS BUTTLER in their team’s victory over England in the second ODI."
The Int'l Cricket Council also gave Buttler "an official warning for his reaction to Mortaza and Sabbir’s celebrations following his dismissal after a TV review which proved to be pivotal in Sunday night’s match in Dhaka." Match referee JAVAGAL SRINATH: "The Bangladesh players overstepped in their celebration of Jos Buttler’s wicket, which prompted an inappropriate reaction from the dismissed batsman" (AFP, 10/10). Mortaza on Tuesday refused to apologize to England "for his team’s celebrations." Mortaza: "Actually we didn’t do anything wrong so we shouldn’t apologize. We just celebrated what we’ve felt. We don’t have to say sorry for that. Whatever happened, match referee was there (to judge it)” (AFP, 10/11).
