■ SOCCER
Villa rejects bid for Barry
Aston Villa rejected a “renewed offer” from Liverpool for Gareth Barry on Wednesday night after disciplining its captain for giving an unauthorized interview to a British newspaper in which he said he wanted to join the Premier League rival. Barry told Sunday’s News of the World that he wanted to leave Villa, where he has played for 10 years, and join Liverpool so he can get Champions League experience. He also criticized manager Martin O’Neill for appearing as an on-screen commentator for the BBC during last month’s European Championship, saying that O’Neill should have been spending his time trying to persuade him to stay. Several British papers reported on Wednesday that Liverpool had offered an initial bid of £15 million (US$29.9 million), with a further £2 million to follow. “The club have received a renewed offer from Liverpool for the player but that still falls well short of Aston Villa’s evaluation, and has subsequently been rejected,” Villa said on Wednesday night.
■ CRICKET
Kirsten warned over site
India’s cricket board has told coach Gary Kirsten not to comment on the team on his personal Web site. “Kirsten cannot write post-match comments or columns as per our policy,” Ratnakar Shetty, the board’s chief administrator officer, said yesterday, adding that only the team captains were allowed to write newspaper or Web site columns. On the site, garykirsten.com, the South African, who took over in March, said there was a need to introduce a rotation policy, adding that one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was in need of rest.
■RUGBY
Rent-a-quote’ Krige rebuked
Former Springbok captain Corne Krige was publicly rebuked by current skipper John Smit yesterday for questioning the credentials of stand-in All Blacks skipper Rodney So’oialo. Smit labeled Krige a “rent-a-quote” for voicing surprise that So’oialo, the All Blacks regular backrower, should be captain and openside flanker in place of the injured Richie McCaw for tomorrow’s opening Tri-Nations Test. “As far as McCaw goes, he’s a massive loss from both a playing and leadership perspective. I’m not sure So’oialo commands the same respect,” Krige told the South African rugby Web site keo.co.za. “I thought it was just nothing talk when they were touting So’oialo as a possible openside. His best position is clearly No. 8 and I don’t think his strength is playing toward the ball.” But So’oialo, the All Blacks regular backrower in recent seasons, found a ready ally in Smit who was quick to rubbish Krige, a loose forward and his predecessor as the Springboks captain until retiring in 2004. “I can’t see how much Corne has had to do with Rodney or the experience he’s had of playing against him,” Smit said. “We seem to have a company in South Africa called rent-a-quote and Corne’s at the top of the list at the moment.”
■TENNIS
Mauresmo to skip Olympics
Amelie Mauresmo, who won the women’s singles silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, yesterday announced her withdrawal from the French team for the Beijing Olympics. The former Wimbledon and Australian Open champion was selected only in the doubles as her world ranking has slumped this year due to loss of form and injuries. “Having not been selected in the singles and with a view to maintaining my fitness in the face of a punishing schedule, I have decided not to take part in the Olympic Games and instead focus on the US Open,” Mauresmo said.
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