Sporting briefs

Fabiano: Sevilla sporting director Ramon Rodriguez believes Luis Fabiano will remain at the club next season, despite strong speculation the striker will join Milan. "I spoke to Luis almost every day when he was in South Africa and his main, and I believe only, idea is to remain at Sevilla," he said.

Benayoun: Yossi Benayoun has singled out Rafael Benitez as the reason he left Liverpool for Chelsea. "I made up my mind to leave a long time ago because of Benitez," he said. "He never treated me with the respect I deserved. If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit. And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn't understand why."

Etherington: Stoke's pre-season preparations have been boosted after winger Matthew Etherington signed a new four-year contract at the Britannia Stadium. The 28-year-old joined the Potters from West Ham in January 2009 and has gone on to have a major impact, helping Tony Pulis' side to an 11th place Premier League finish last season.

Park Offer: Monaco coach Guy Lacombe has hinted he would be prepared to allow South Korea forward Park Chu-young to leave the club for a move to the Premier League if the right offer was made. The 25-year-old impressed at the World Cup and his performances have seen the former FC Seoul star linked with a move to the likes of Fulham, Aston Villa and Everton.

Smeltz: New Zealand international striker Shane Smeltz is to leave his A League club Gold Coast United to join Chinese outfit Shandong Luneng. Smeltz was the A League's leading goal scorer last season, finding the net 19 times. The 28-year-old also had an impressive World Cup, including a goal in New Zealand's 1-1 draw with Italy.

Basket, NBA: As Miami fans celebrated the arrival of LeBron James, the image of the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player was being slowly erased in Cleveland. Workers began taking down the 10-storey-tall image of James on a mural in downtown Cleveland yesterday. James announced his decision to leave Cleveland on Thursday night, sparking some angry fans to burn his jersey.

Athletics: USA Track and Field chief executive Doug Logan paid tribute to 1996 Olympic champion hurdler Allen Johnson as a class act, after Johnson announced his retirement from athletics. "Allen Johnson is an inspiration for competition as lifelong pursuit," Logan said. Johnson, who won Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996 in 110m hurdles, said that at the age of 39 his body "can't take it anymore."

Rugby Union: South African lock Bakkies Botha was banned for nine weeks for head-butting All Blacks half-back Jimmy Cowan in the opening clash of this year's Tri-Nations tournament. The ban runs up to and including September 4. The 68-Test veteran was cited for striking the back of Cowan's head in the opening minute of the All Blacks' 32-12 win in Saturday's Test.

Sumo: One of Japan's top tournaments began in Nagoya yesterday without live TV coverage and with fans staying away in disgust at a scandal over illegal gambling. The 15-day event opened only days after police raided 13 sumo stables and dozens of offices and houses for evidence linking wrestlers to gambling on baseball. In Japan, betting is permitted only on horse racing, bicycle races and some motor sports.

Cricket: England have added Ravi Bopara to their squad as a replacement for injured batsman Ian Bell ahead of the third and final one-day international against Bangladesh at Edgbaston today. Bell broke his foot while fielding during Bangladesh's dramatic win in the second match of the series on Saturday. Bangladesh wrapped up a sensational victory - their first against England in any format - with three balls to spare.