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■ SOCCER
Reo-Coker set to move
West Ham United captain Nigel Reo-Coker is to sign for Aston Villa, his agent Tony Finnigan said on Wednesday. The news comes the same day that the Hammers paid out ?7 million (US$13.9 million) to capture Newcastle's combative midfielder Scott Parker, seen as a natural replacement for Reo-Coker. "He will sign for Villa once their offer has been accepted," Finnigan told Sky Sports. Villa, managed by former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, are also interested in Scottish player of the year, Japan's Shunsuke Nakamura, of Celtic.

■ SOCCER
Kingston moves to Hearts
Controversial Ghanaian midfielder Laryea Kingston has made his loan move from Russia's Terek Grozny to Hearts permanent, his agent Alexander Fedoseev said on Wednesday. He originally joined the Edinburgh club in the January transfer window and was once suspended for three matches after accusing a referee who sent him off of being a racist. He has signed a deal until 2010.

■ SOCCER
Olympic draw spots booked
Australia, Vietnam, Qatar and Uzbekistan have booked their places in the final crucial qualifying round for the soccer competition at the Beijing Olympics, with 12 teams set for next week's draw. Joining them are Japan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Iraq, South Korea, Syria and Bahrain. The teams will be split into three groups of four at the draw on Wednesday, with only the group toppers representing Asia in Beijing. China qualify automatically as hosts.

■ RUGBY UNION
Two Fijians denied visas
The assistant manager and a key player in Fiji's national rugby team have been barred from Australia ahead of tomorrow's test against the Wallabies because of links to the Fijian military, which took power in a coup last year. Manager Semi Rogoyawa and prop Alefoso Yalayalatabua, who serve in the Fijian navy, have been denied visas under travel sanctions imposed by Australia against members of the Fijian armed forces and their families. "That is in accordance with Australia's travel restrictions on the Fiji military and other supporters of the coup," a spokesman for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said. "Military personnel who are members of Fiji teams are covered by our policy on visas."

■ SOCCER
Nations seek Pele's support
Andean countries appealed on Wednesday to Brazilian soccer legend Pele to support their efforts to overturn a FIFA ban on international matches played above 2,500m. Bolivian President Evo Morales -- whose presidential palace in La Paz is 3,600m above sea level -- called on Pele not to support those who he said were discriminating against high-altitude countries. "I am your admirer and I want to ask you to defend your brothers," Morales said. Pele has expressed support for the ban, recalling how he and his Brazilian teammates suffered when playing high altitude matches and questioning why soccer authorities did not issue the ban earlier. Bolivia, along with Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, agreed on Wednesday to work together against the ban, issuing a declaration saying the new FIFA policy "violates the sovereignty of our nations."


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