JONNY EVANS, GARETH BARRY, JAKE LIVERMORE and BOAZ MYHILL are "highly unlikely" to face punishment in Spain after a Barcelona court decided not to pursue a case against the four EPL side West Bromwich Albion players after they "allegedly stole a taxi in the city last week." The decision "will come as some relief" to West Brom Manager ALAN PARDEW as he "fights to remain in charge at the Hawthorns." An investigating magistrate decided to archive the case because of a "lack of evidence owing to the taxi driver's decision not to press charges" (London GUARDIAN, 2/19). ... Australian cricket vice-captain ALEX BLACKWELL, 34, announced her retirement from int'l and state cricket. She will, however, "continue captaining" her Women's Big Bash League side, Sydney Thunder. Blackwell is Australia's most-capped player, with 251 int'l appearances (ESPN.com, 2/19).
PROMISING TEENS: AC Milan goalkeeper GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA has the "best future career prospects of any teenager in Europe based on his appearances over the past two years." The CIES Football Observatory report said that Donnarumma has "come out on top" ahead of Ligue 1 side Toulouse goalkeeper ALBAN LAFONT and Paris St. Germain striker KYLIAN MBAPPÉ. Borussia Dortmund's 19-year-old American winger CHRISTIAN PULISIC is ranked fourth. Everton midfielder TOM DAVIES, in seventh, is the highest-ranked English player (London DAILY MAIL, 2/19).
