Eredivisie side Ajax midfielder ABDELHAK NOURI suffered "serious and permanent brain damage" after collapsing in a friendly match on Saturday. The 20-year-old had "cardiac arrhythmias" during the game against Bundesliga side Werder Bremen. Ajax said that the chance of recovery from the damage is "nil" (BBC, 7/13). ... Former footballer DENIS LAW opened Scotland's first Cruyff Court in Aberdeen. The community sports facility in the city center "offers free sessions, including football, hockey and tennis, and is accessible 24 hours a day." There are almost 200 of the courts around the world, named after Dutch footballer JOHAN CRUYFF, who died last year (BBC, 7/13). ... Bangladesh cricketer TAMIM IQBAL denied media reports that his "abrupt departure from English county cricket was prompted by a hate crime against his family." The 28-year-old left English side Essex after one match on Tuesday, "just four days after joining to play eight matches in the T20 Bash." On Wednesday, media reports in Bangladesh and Britain said that Iqbal's wife, who wears a hijab, and child had been "chased out of a local restaurant and had acid thrown at them." However, Iqbal said on his Facebook page that the reports were "really not true" and added that his departure was for "personal reasons" (STUFF, 7/13). ... Former FIFA World Player of the Year RONALDINHO will "visit India on Friday and explore his future with Premier Futsal." The World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner will be in Mumbai "where he will make an announcement regarding Premier Futsal" (PTI, 7/12).
ROONEY MANIA: EPL club Everton's WAYNE ROONEY "mania has gripped" East Africa as England's record goal-scorer made his first appearance for Everton since his return to the side at a match in Tanzania. Rooney has been the center of attention "since Everton flew into Tanzania on Wednesday for a friendly." Tanzania VP SAMIA SULUHU said that "she was not sure whether to switch allegiance" from his old club, ManU (BBC, 7/13).
