Yaya Toure is receiving treatment in Qatar for an unspecified injury before joining up with his Ivory Coast team-mates at their World Cup training camp in the United States.
He is the only one of the 28 players named in the preliminary squad by coach Sabri Lamouchi to miss the start of World Cup preparations in Dallas.
The midfielder will only fly to the US next Thursday to join up with his colleagues.
The Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Doha confirmed the African Footballer of the Year’s admission for what it called, in a statement, a “minor injury”.
Newcastle release striker Ameobi
Newcastle United have released long-serving striker Shola Ameobi. The 32-year-old made his Newcastle debut in 2000 and made 397 appearances, scoring 79 goals.
“Shola Ameobi has been an incredible servant to Newcastle United,” manager Alan Pardew told the club website.
“Such loyalty and commitment in the modern game is rare and Shola was not just a great player on the pitch but a key figure off it too. He is a leader of men, a great role model for our younger players.”
Ameobi, who played for England at Under-21 level, has played five times for Nigeria and has been included in the African country’s provisional squad for the World Cup.
Faria ban reduced
Chelsea assistant manager Rui Faria has had his punishment reduced by the FA after his appeal against a six-match stadium ban was partly upheld on appeal.
The FA has announced Faria, who admitted two charges following his dismissal during the controversial Premier League loss to Sunderland, will serve a four-match stadium ban, with two games suspended.
It means the Portuguese, Jose Mourinho’s right-hand man, has two games left to serve at the start of next season after missing the final two games of the recently completed campaign.
Willy Sagnol named Bordeaux coach
Willy Sagnol has been named as the new coach of Bordeaux.
The former France international, who has been in charge of France’s youth teams since 2011, has signed a three-year contract at the Ligue 1 club.
Sagnol, a full-back at St Etienne, Monaco and Bayern Munich in his playing days, replaces Francis Gillot, who left Bordeaux earlier this month after three years at the club.
Bordeaux turned to Sagnol, who played 58 times for France between 2000 and 2008 and was a World Cup finalist in 2006, after calling off their pursuit of Real Madrid assistant coach Zinedine Zidane last week.
Lambert would relish penalty test
Rickie Lambert would have no qualms about putting his near-perfect penalty record to the test at the World Cup. England have gone out of six of the last 10 major tournaments via the test of nerve from 12 yards.
Lambert has scored all 34 of his spot-kicks for Southampton. He has only missed two in his entire career.
The pressure in a World Cup shoot-out would be much bigger than Lambert is used to, but he would not hesitate in putting his hand up.
“I would take one, of course I would. I am confident in my ability,” the striker said.
“If the chance comes up I am confident I would score.”
Luiz PSG deal prior to World Cup
Paris St Germain expect to complete a deal for David Luiz prior to the World Cup after agreeing a fee with Chelsea for the transfer of the Brazil defender.
PA Sport understands Luiz will move for £50 million, a world record fee for a defender, subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms.
The French champions suggested the formalities of the deal will be completed on June 10 to ensure Luiz can concentrate on the World Cup.
It is understood that Barcelona and Bayern Munich were also pursuing Luiz, who has spent three-and-a-half seasons at Stamford Bridge.
Villarreal take anti-racism stand
Spanish club Villarreal have announced they will close part of their El Madrigal stadium for August’s Europa League play-off to re-emphasise the club’s stance against racism.
Villarreal were last month fined €12,000 by the country’s football federation after one of their fans threw a banana on the pitch in front of Barcelona defender Dani Alves.
The club, who quickly identified the culprit and handed him a lifetime ban, escaped a stadium sanction for the incident but have nevertheless decided to close the section from where the banana was thrown for the home leg of next season’s Europa League play-offs.
Instead of allowing supporters in the section, Villarreal will put up an anti-racism banner.