Sweden's postal service on Thursday "began selling stamps" featuring Paris St. Germain striker ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC, "drawing strong interest from fans as well as collectors." Posten head of stamps BRITT-INGER HAHNE said, "We have sold five million stamps in advance and that is a lot" (AFP, 3/27). ... Uganda distance runner MOSES KIPSIRO was "dropped from the squad seemingly as punishment for speaking out after female runners complained of being subjected to sex abuse and harassment by a national coach." Kipsiro: "I have been given a funny excuse. If I am being punished for trying to save careers and lives of young athletes, it's unfair. But God is my judge" (AFP, 3/27). ... The FA of Zambia has banned veteran football adiministrator SIMATAA SIMATAA for life for "allegedly uttering remarks that demeaned officials at the soccer governing body and for dragging some of the officials to court" (XINHUA, 3/27).
MARADONA RSVP: Pakistan’s football chiefs invited Argentine DIEGO MARADONA "to visit the country" after the he "disparagingly compared his own association to the South Asian." Maradona accused the Argentine FA of “understanding as much about football as Pakistan does.” Pakistan Football Federation senior official NAVEED HAIDER "welcomed the fact Maradona was talking about his country and urged him to visit" to lift the game's profile. Haider: “I would love Maradona to come to Pakistan and help Pakistan. He plays a very effective role and we welcome him to come and develop football here” (PAKISTAN TODAY, 3/27).
NEW AUSSIE ERA: The new era of Australian cricket "could be heading for a major shake-up" with selection boss JOHN INVERARITY "strongly considering stepping down from the powerful position." Inverarity, 70, "is weighing up his future and is not certain to renew his contract when it expires on June 30." Inverarity’s potential successor "is not clear," but wicketkeeping great ROD MARSH, a current selector, "would be the favourite if he wants the job" (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 3/27).
