Funny old round-up

Big hair

He is known for his bizarre hairstyle and eccentric ways but now former Colombian international Carlos Valderrama has been immortalised in bronze.

A 33ft tall statue (presumably to accommodate his barnet) has been unveiled outside a football stadium in his home town of Santa Maria.

The work, by artist Amilkar Ariza is believed to be the biggest ever statue dedicated to a sports personality

According to his spokesperson, Valderrama is delighted with it.

Mind you, the 41-year-old - currently playing with US side Colorado Rapids - apparently needed time to mullet over.

Spanish dreams

A kick-about on a Spanish beach has led to a young Scottish player getting a trial with Real Mallorca.

Jamie Stevenson initially believed it was a hoax when a man called Paco approached him on a beach and asked in broken English if he'd like a trial and took his name and phone number.

The Alloa Athletic player thought the man was joking, but three weeks later he received a call and in October had an initial period at the club.

Now Jamie, who was told by Aberdeen when he was a 16-year-old that he was too small, will go over for trials over Christmas.

But the 18-year-old came down to earth on his first visit to the club's training ground in Mallorca.

"I remember arriving at the training ground and seeing the first-team players drive up in their Ferraris and thinking, 'what is a guy from Alloa who drives a poxy Astra doing here?'"

Foxes have a ball

Leicester City's ball boys have fallen foul of the Football League and the club have now been balled out by the authorities.

According to a League spokesman, some opponents were complaining about the new multi-ball system that the club were using at their home games to speed up play.

There were claims that if City were winning five minutes from time, someone would go around cleaning the balls.

It was also alleged that the ball boys would only dry the ball for Leicester throw-ins and not for their opponents.

Micky Adams' side will now use just one match ball at home games for the remainder of the season.

The referee will also stop his watch every time the ball goes out of play.