The appeals process for French handball int’l NIKOLA KARABATIC and 15 others started on Monday in Montpellier over “bets related to alleged match-fixing in ’12,” which earned Karabatic a fine of €10,000 for fraud in ’15. Karabatic is "accused of placing a €1,500 bet through a companion" on his team to lose (20 MINUTES, 11/21). ... League Championship side side Aston Villa announced the "appointment of COLIN CALDERWOOD as the club's new assistant manager." Former Villa defender Calderwood, 51, "recently quit his role as number two to CHRIS HUGHTON at Brighton and has teamed up with STEVE BRUCE after the two clubs agreed" to a compensation package. Calderwood, who spent just under two years as Hughton's assistant, "joins STEPHEN CLEMENCE and GARY WALSH on Bruce's backroom staff" (PA, 11/21). ... England int'l HARRY KANE has "confirmed he is in talks to sign an improved contract with Tottenham Hotspur and reiterated that he has no intention of agitating for a transfer away from his boyhood club." Kane, the league's top scorer last season, has "struggled with an ankle injury for a part of the current campaign." Kane, whose current contract runs until June '20, said, "We are in talks and I'm sure we will get something sorted. I'm not panicking and I'm not demanding anything as I've read in the paper" (REUTERS, 11/21). ... A-League side Adelaide United Manager GUILLERMO AMOR will be "forced to watch Saturday's clash against Sydney FC from the grandstand after he was sanctioned" by the league's match review panel for touching a referee. Amor has been "issued a one-game touchline ban for grabbing fourth official ADAM FIELDING by the arm in the 68th minute of Adelaide's 3-1 defeat to Perth Glory on Friday night." The incident has also been referred to the A-League's disciplinary and ethics committee, which has "the power to impose a longer suspension" (AAP, 11/21). ... England rugby int'l JOE LAUNCHBURY faces the "prospect of being banned from England’s remaining autumn internationals against Argentina and Australia after he was cited for kicking an opponent in the head." Launchbury, the Wasps captain, will "face a disciplinary hearing in London" on Monday for connecting with ASAELI TIKOIROTUMA after he had tackled the Fiji outside center in the 42nd minute of England’s 58-15 victory. World Rugby’s guideline for a low end kicking offense "is a four-week ban, which would rule Launchbury out of England’s next two internationals and Wasps’ back-to-back European Champions Cup fixtures against Connacht" (LONDON TIMES, 11/21). ... MARCUS ERICSSON will stay at Sauber for the '17 season "after signing a one-year contract extension." The Swede, 26, joined Sauber in '15 but "has not scored a point in this season's drivers' championship." Sauber said that it will announce its second driver for '17 "in due course" (BBC, 11/21). ... LIONEL MESSI should be available for Barcelona's Champions League meeting with Celtic on Wednesday "having returned to training" after sickness. He trained on Monday as the squad was "joined by singer JUSTIN BIEBER." NEYMAR posted on social media photographs of Bieber's visit to the Spanish club's training session (BBC, 11/21). ... PRINCE HARRY "mixed with cricketing royalty as he met three West Indian legends of the game on his visit to Antigua." VIVIAN RICHARDS, CURTLY AMBROSE and ANDY ROBERTS presented the prince with a signed cricket bat "as they greeted him on his arrival at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket stadium" (London TELEGRAPH, 11/21).
