Fiorentina centre-back Alessandro Gamberini said Friday his team would not be overawed when they travel to Turin to face Juventus on Sunday. . . . more . . .
Argentina is beginning to take notice of a once-forgotten striker who, with eight goals in seven matches for French league giants Bordeaux, is hoping for a dream call-up to the national squad. . . . more . . .
Liverpool on Friday secured the services of Javier Mascherano on a long-term basis with the Argentinian midfielder signing a four-year contract with the club. . . . more . . .
Arsene Wenger insists he should not have to take responsibility for the death threats sent to Martin Taylor after the Birmingham defender's tackle on Eduardo. . . . more . . .
FIFA on Friday signed an agreement with WADA that will see football's world ruling body working more closely with the World Anti Doping Agency in a bid to stamp out drugs cheats. . . . more . . .
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has dismissed claims that he has attempted to unsettle the Lyon striker Karim Benzema. . . . more . . .
Werder Bremen's Croatian international Jurica Vranjes has extended his contract with the German side for three years to June 2011, the club said Friday. . . . more . . .
UEFA said Friday it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Atletico Madrid and Bolton Wanderers after clashes between the sides' fans during their UEFA Cup meeting on February 21. . . . more . . .
Derby boss Paul Jewell has set his players the target of avoiding the humiliation of the club finishing the season with a record low points total in the Premier League. . . . more . . .
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani re-iterated on Friday calls for players such as Kaka to be given more protection from referees. . . . more . . .
Newcastle skipper Michael Owen has admitted that the club's confidence is low as the Magpies look to secure a first win under Kevin Keegan at home to Blackburn on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Real Madrid are interested in snapping up Lyon's French international striker Karim Benzema, even if the Spanish champions know the young talent will be difficult to prise away, Marca sports daily reported Friday. . . . more . . .
Hong Kong's football authorities confirmed Friday that they had given the go-ahead for David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy to play in the city. . . . more . . .
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung claims that the Premier League champions are ready go full throttle in a bid to snatch top spot from Arsenal ahead of their crucial head-to-head at Old Trafford on April 2. . . . more . . .
Birmingham defender Martin Taylor said on Friday that he'll be a happy man when Arsenal striker Eduardo returns to action. . . . more . . .
Getafe, Spanish Cup runners-up in 2007, took a step closer to a return to the final when they defeated Racing Santander 3-1 in their semi-final first leg on Thursday. . . . more . . .
Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believes owner Thaksin Shinawatra, who has returned to his native Thailand to face corruption charges, will continue to support the Premier League club. . . . more . . .
Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano said Thursday that he is "really close" to finalising a permanent deal with Liverpool. . . . more . . .
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has named its top technical department official James Peters to take temporary charge of the country's national team following the resignation of Berti Vogts. . . . more . . .
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been cautioned by police for common assault in connection with a roadside bust-up with a man earlier this week. . . . more . . .
FIFA president Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart, Michel Platini, will make the draw for the Scottish Cup semi-finals, the Scottish Football Association announced here Thursday. . . . more . . .
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said the pressure is always on him to succeed in the national team's top post regardless of past triumphs. . . . more . . .
European football's governing body UEFA on Thursday handed a three-match touchline ban to Dick Advocaat, Dutch coach of Russian side Zenit St. . . . more . . .
Sunderland midfielder Liam Miller has been punished for poor time-keeping by being placed on the struggling Premier League club's transfer list, manager Roy Keane confirmed Thursday. . . . more . . .
Alisher Usmanov, the Russian metals billionaire behind leading Arsenal shareholder Red and White Holdings, said Thursday he had no plans to launch a takeover of the English Premier League leaders within the next six months. . . . more . . .
Spanish coach Javier Clemente is being courted a second time as Iran continue their search for a national team coach, according to press reports Thursday. . . . more . . .
Alex Ferguson has revealed how only the special pull of Manchester United prevented him from managing a club abroad. . . . more . . .
Bayern Munich's dramatic German Cup quarter-final win over bitter rivals 1860 Munich was marred by 12 arrests, with four fans taken into police custody and two people injured. . . . more . . .
The Republic of Ireland will face Colombia in a friendly at English Premier League Fulham's Craven Cottage ground on May 29, the Football Associaction of Ireland has announced The game will be new manager Giovanni Trapattoni's second in charge and will conclude what officials hope will be an "intensive" period of preparation in the run-up to the Republic's 2010 World Cup qualifying programme. . . . more . . .
UEFA president Michel Platini admitted Thursday he has been forced to tell the joint hosts of the 2012 European Championships to speed up their preparations for the event. . . . more . . .
Gordon Strachan has admitted he is desperate to stop Celtic's blundering performances before they wreck their Scottish Premier League title ambitions. . . . more . . .
Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini couldn't contain his joy after his side scraped a 1-1 home draw against AS Roma to maintain their nine-point lead at the top of Serie A. . . . more . . .
A goal well into injury-time by Xavi gave Barcelona a 1-1 draw at home to Valencia in their Spanish Cup semi-final first leg clash here on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Lens will face fellow relegation candidates Paris Saint Germain in the French League Cup final after they won an astonishing semi-final 5-4 over Le Mans on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate admitted his side had enjoyed a huge slice of luck after a freakish extra-time winner sent them into the last eight of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United. . . . more . . .
French midfielder Franck Ribery booked Bayern Munich's place in the last four of the German Cup with a dramatic penalty in the 122nd minute of their quarter-final win over neighbours 1860 Munich. . . . more . . .
Fallen Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona suffered another blow to his prestige on Wednesday when it was revealed that playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme was leading him convincingly in a poll of Boca Junior fans. . . . more . . .
Celtic struggled to a 2-1 win at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle to cling onto the tails of Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Inter Milan's Argentine captain Javier Zanetti saved the champions and league leaders' unbeaten start to the season as he rifled home a stunning late volley to earn a 1-1 draw against AS Roma on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Not even a sixth European Cup will make up for the disappointment of Liverpool's failure to mount a serious challenge in this season's Premier League title race, Reds captain Steven Gerrard has admitted. . . . more . . .
Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva has been released from hospital following the broken leg he suffered in a tackle last weekend, the English Premier League side said Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Sunderland midfielder Liam Miller has been told he can leave the English Premier League strugglers. . . . more . . .
Germany striker Mario Gomez escaped a ban but has been hit with an 8,000-euro fine (12,000 US dollars) for insulting Karlsruhe defender Maik Franz after a Bundesliga match on the weekend. . . . more . . .
A company controlled by the Russian billionaire who partly owns English Premier League side Arsenal will sponsor Russian team team Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo's web site announced Wednesday. . . . more . . .
The fate of Leeds United's appeal against a 15-point penalty imposed over the club's handling of its bankruptcy last year looks set to be placed in the hands of a senior judge. . . . more . . .
Bayern Munich's bosses have ruled out any repeat of last summer's massive spending spree, despite the high-profile arrival of coach Jurgen Klinsmann this July. . . . more . . .
David Beckham, who is just one match away from winning his coveted 100th England cap, admitted Wednesday he has his work cut out to be fit enough to play for his country again. . . . more . . .
British bookmakers on Wednesday slashed the odds on Chelsea boss Avram Grant becoming the next Premier League manager to leave his job as his assistant Henk ten Cate confirmed reports of a training ground bust-up with captain John Terry. . . . more . . .
German coach Joachim Loew will name his 23-man squad for this June's Euro 2008 championships on May 16, according to the German Football Federation (DFB). . . . more . . .
Hong Kong's legion of David Beckham fans may be in for a disappointment after the city's football authorities said Wednesday they had not given approval for the star and his club to play here. . . . more . . .
Newcastle Jets striker Joel Griffiths was named player of the year in Australia's A-League Wednesday, adding to his Grand Final winners medal and the league's Golden Boot award. . . . more . . .
David Beckham, who is just one match away from winning his coveted 100th England cap, admitted Wednesday he has his work cut out to be fit enough to play for his country again. . . . more . . .
Opponents of the English Premier League's global expansion plans have won a major victory in their fight to prevent regular season matches being played in cities around the world. . . . more . . .
Paris Saint Germain gained a much needed morale boost to their traumatic season here on Tuesday when they reached the League Cup final thanks to a 3-2 victory over Auxerre. . . . more . . .
Middlesbrough reacted angrily after striker Jeremie Aliadiere's appeal against his sending off at Liverpool was dismissed by a disciplinary panel on Tuesday as "frivolous". . . . more . . .
Juventus' battle to take second place in Serie A suffered a fresh blow on Tuesday as they were held 0-0 in the Turin derby by Torino and had former Czech international midfielder Pavel Nedved sent-off. . . . more . . .
After two consecutive Bundesliga defeats, Schalke 04 coach Mirko Slomka is under pressure despite having led his side to the brink of a Champions League quarter-final berth. . . . more . . .
VfB Stuttgart coach Armin Veh admitted he was gutted after his side crashed out of the German Cup at the hands of second-division strugglers Carl Zeiss Jena on penalties. . . . more . . .
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan saw his four-match touchline ban for a row with a steward at Aberdeen halved on appeal here on Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Scottish Premier League surprise package Motherwell announced the signature of former Rangers defender Bob Malcolm on Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Italian coach Giuseppe Materazzi said on Tuesday he had been approached by the Iranian Football Federation about taking the national coaching post and added he would be keen to do so. . . . more . . .
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks insisted here on Tuesday he was not planning to sell his stake in the club after reports in the British press said the American had been in talks with Dubai Investment Capital (DIC) about a takeover at Anfield. . . . more . . .
AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti has called on his players to prove their status as realistic contenders for the Italian league title when they face Inter Milan on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
The English Premier League on Tuesday put plans to take matches around the world on hold, admitting they needed more time to develop a proposal that has provoked fierce opposition among fans and football authorities. . . . more . . .
The English Premier League on Tuesday put plans to stage matches overseas on hold, admitting they needed more time to develop a plan that has provoked fierce opposition among fans and football authorities. . . . more . . .
AC Milan have complained that Brazilian playmaker Kaka's career is in danger as he is being targeted by opposing teams for what appears to be a strategy to foul him. . . . more . . .
Germany head coach Joachim Loew says he has some sympathy for Bundesliga bad-boys Mario Gomez and Diego after two of the league's stars landed in hot water for separate outbursts last weekend. . . . more . . .
Footballers who attack referees should be banned for life, French Minister for Sport Bernard Laporte said Tuesday in reaction to a violent incident at a game in French Guiana on the weekend. . . . more . . .
Phil Jagielka believes a convincing defeat of Manchester City was evidence that Everton have what it takes to pip Liverpool in the battle for the final Champions League qualifying spot. . . . more . . .
David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy will play an exhibition match March 9 against Hong Kong Union at Hong Kong Stadium, the Major League Soccer club announced Monday. . . . more . . .
Everton piled the pressure on to Liverpool in the battle for next season's final Champions League spot with a convincing 2-0 win over Manchester City here on Monday. . . . more . . .
AC Milan's world player of the year Kaka said on Monday he was hoping to be fit for the Champions League second round second leg match with English Premiership leaders Arsenal on March 4. . . . more . . .
Arsenal said on Monday they expect Eduardo da Silva to make a full recovery from his horrendous broken leg this year, as it was revealed the player who caused the injury has received death threats. . . . more . . .
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) will on Thursday name a replacement for German coach Berti Vogts, who quit his post after the team's disappointing display at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this month in Ghana. . . . more . . .
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes insists he feels under no pressure to sort out a contract extension for South African striker Benni McCarthy. . . . more . . .
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster should have known better, after all he was the coach at Getafe last season, but he paid the price for not taking his old club seriously on Sunday. . . . more . . .
Reading boss Steve Coppell admits he'll be forced to make wholesale changes if his struggling team are to salvage their Premier League status. . . . more . . .
Arsenal striker Eduardo said Sunday the memory of the horror tackle which left him with a broken leg and ruled him out of Euro 2008 was just a blur. . . . more . . .
High-flying Bordeaux slipped up in their bid to overhaul champions' Lyon, being held to a goalless draw at home by Lille in French league action on Sunday. . . . more . . .
Spanish leaders Real Madrid saw their advantage over bitter rivals Barcelona slashed to just two points in La Liga after they were surprisingly beaten 1-0 at home in bizarre fashion by Getafe on Sunday. . . . more . . .
Brazilian striker Bare scored four goals as Gamba Osaka won the inaugural Pan Pacific Championship football crown with a 6-1 victory over Major League Soccer champion Houston Dynamo. . . . more . . .
Filippo Inzaghi pounced to head home an injury-time winner as AC Milan beat Palermo 2-1 at the San Siro to move up to fourth in Serie A on Sunday. The European champions came into the match on the back of three successive draws but substitute 'Superpippo' stooped to head home French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff's cross after he was left alone six yards out by Palermo's sleepy defence. . . . more . . .
Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto scored a second-half equaliser as ten-man Bayern Munich came from behind to draw 1-1 with Hamburg on Sunday and open a four-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga. . . . more . . .
Rangers maintained their four point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 4-2 victory at home to bottom of the table Gretna - to hand manager Walter Smith the perfect 60th birthday gift. . . . more . . .
Jonathan Woodgate's extra-time header settled a pulsating League Cup final on Sunday as Tottenham came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 and claim their first trophy in nine years. . . . more . . .
South African international Benni McCarthy scored two penalties as Blackburn Rovers eased to a 4-1 Premier League win over neighbours Bolton on Sunday. . . . more . . .
Hernan Crespo saved Inter Milan's unbeaten start to the season by scoring a header 19 minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw for the leaders at Sampdoria on Sunday. . . . more . . .
Juventus have hit out at the Italian league and federation after a controversial late penalty handed them a 2-1 defeat at Reggina and hit their hopes of overhauling Roma in second place in Serie A. . . . more . . .
Shinobu Ohno scored twice as Japan beat China 3-0 to win the East Asian women's championship Sunday, as a big boost to their preparations for the Beijing Olympics in August. . . . more . . .
Avram Grant will never hog the headlines like Jose Mourinho, but the Chelsea manager is developing a ruthless streak to match his predecessor and it could prove the decisive factor in Sunday's League Cup final against Tottenham. . . . more . . .
Kim Yong-Ae struck twice as Asia number one North Korea overwhelmed South Korea 4-0 for their first win on the final day of the East Asian women's championship Sunday. . . . more . . .
The Australian Government said Sunday it will formally support the country's bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd leading the tilt for football's premier event. . . . more . . .
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could not contain his anger at Birmingham's Martin Taylor after the defender's horror tackle left Eduardo fighting to save his career. . . . more . . .
Rafa Benitez admitted that he is still prepared to rest Fernando Torres despite seeing the Spanish striker rescue Liverpool with a hat-trick in Saturday's 3-2 win against Middlesbrough. . . . more . . .
Manchester United have cut Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League back to three points after a Saturday filled with pain for the Gunners. . . . more . . .
A controversial penalty in the third minute of injury time gave relegation-threatened Reggina a shock 2-1 win over Juventus on Saturday and dented the Turin giants' push for a Champions League place. . . . more . . .
A brace from Brazilian striker Fred kept Lyon's push for a seventh straight domestic title on track Saturday with a 2-0 win at home to bottom-of-the-table Metz. . . . more . . .
Two early goals from the Spanish first division's leading scorer Luis Fabiano put Champions League contenders Sevilla on their way to a 5-0 thrashing of a hapless Real Zaragoza on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Wonderboy Amine Chermiti scored twice but was then sent off as Etoile Sahel edged fellow Tunisian club CS Sfaxien 2-1 to lift the African Super Cup Saturday. . . . more . . .
Premier League high flyers Everton want South African midfielder Steven Pienaar to stay at Goodison Park. . . . more . . .
Manchester United have cut Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League back to three points after a Saturday filled with pain for the Gunners. . . . more . . .
Fulham's chances of retaining their Premier League status suffered a cruel late blow on Saturday when substitute Nolberto Solano's 87th-minute strike gave West Ham a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage. . . . more . . .
Wigan earned a lifeline in their fight for Premier League survival as goals from Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia clinched a 2-0 win over Derby on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Fernando Torres claimed his first Premiership hat-trick for Liverpool as Rafa Benitez's team fought from a goal down to claim a 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough that lifts them back into the top four. . . . more . . .
Portsmouth keeper David James's 500th Premier League appearance was marked in fitting fashion when his side carved out a 1-0 win against Sunderland at Fratton Park on Saturday. . . . more . . .
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani insisted Saturday that coach Carlo Ancelotti was guaranteed his job with the European champions next season despite reports linking Marcello Lippi with the post. . . . more . . .
Werder Bremen midfielder Diego admits he lost his head as his red card led to his side losing 1-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday to give Bundesliga leaders Bayern the chance to open a six-point gap. . . . more . . .
Arsene Wenger insisted Martin Taylor should never be allowed to play football again after the Birmingham defender's foul left Eduardo with an horrific leg injury. . . . more . . .
James McFadden's injury-time penalty secured a vital point for ten-man Birmingham City in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal that could have done serious damage to the Gunners' bid to reclaim the Premier League title. . . . more . . .
Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva was taken to hospital after suffering an horrific injury in Saturday's Premier League match at Birmingham. . . . more . . .
South African midfielder Quinton Fortune is hoping to earn a contract with Blackburn after being asked to extend his trial with the Premier League club. . . . more . . .
South Korea clinched their second East Asian championship here Saturday as they fought out a 1-1 draw with Asia's number-ones Japan, giving a boost to their World Cup qualifying campaign. . . . more . . .
Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have been handed a vote of confidence by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the club's bright young talents begin to heap pressure on the two Old Trafford legends. . . . more . . .
Jamie Carragher has told his Liverpool team-mates to carry their Champions League form into the Premier League as they prepare to face Middlesbrough on Saturday. . . . more . . .
Arsene Wenger is not the sort of man to wallow in past misfortunes, but even the determinedly progressive Arsenal manager must be shifting uneasily as his season begins to adopt an ominously familiar pattern. . . . more . . .
China were fined 4,500 dollars on Saturday for picking up excessive yellow cards at the East Asian football championships as Japan formally protested against the hosts' "dangerous" play. . . . more . . .
Claude Le Roy, who took Ghana to third place at the African Nations Cup, was handed a new contract on Friday with the task of leading the Black Stars to the 2010 World Cup finals. . . . more . . .
Marco Van Basten will leave his job as Dutch national team coach after Euro 2008 and take charge of Ajax, the club announced on Friday. . . . more . . .
Arsene Wenger fears Premier League plans to play a round of fixtures in cities across the world have been killed off by the negative response to the proposals. . . . more . . .
Liberian midfielder Francis Doe was released by the New York Red Bulls on Friday, two weeks after the Major League Soccer club signed him for the season. . . . more . . .
Jurgen Klinsmann is determined to prevent highly-rated German international striker Lukas Podolski from being tempted away from Bayern Munich when he takes charge at the end of the season. . . . more . . .
Ryan Giggs could be set for a future role on Manchester United's backroom staff after Sir Alex Ferguson welcomed his decision to do a UEFA coaching course. . . . more . . .
Kevin Keegan has promised troubled former Newcastle star Paul Gascoigne that his club will do everything they can to help get his life back on track. . . . more . . .
US sportswear giant Nike has won the contract to supply the France international football team from 2011-18 at a cost of 42.6 million euros a year, the French football federation announced Friday. . . . more . . .
Chelsea won't try to sign Barcelona star Ronaldinho at the end of the season according to the Premier League club's chairman. . . . more . . .
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that Manchester United cannot afford any more slip-ups between now and the end of the season if they are to retain the Premier League title. . . . more . . .
Three-time former world footballer of the year Ronaldo has shelved thoughts about playing again and is focused on the lengthy and testing physiotherapy sessions needed to recuperate his injured left knee. . . . more . . .
Newcastle chairman Chris Mort insists the Premier League club is not for sale despite reported interest from a consortium led by Alan Shearer and a Dubai investment group. . . . more . . .
Fabio Capello has warned England's stars they must adapt to his tactical demands if they want to succeed with the national team. . . . more . . .
Arsene Wenger will stay at Arsenal for at least another eight years, according to the club's managing director Keith Edelman. . . . more . . .
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Wes Brown's decision to reject Manchester United's new contract offer is typical of the way top players let agents run their lives. . . . more . . .
Bolton have complained to European football's governing body, UEFA, at what they dubbed was the heavyhanded policing of its fans in Madrid. . . . more . . .
Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung has nominated his chief aide for election to the Birmingham City board in the latest twist to the protracted power struggle at the Premier League club, his company said Friday. . . . more . . .
English Premier League strugglers Bolton claimed a 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid for a 1-0 aggregate victory and a place in the UEFA Cup last 16 on Thursday. . . . more . . .
Nigerian international Ayegbeni Yakubu became only the third Everton player to hit a European hat-trick as the Merseysiders crushed Brann Bergen 6-1 in the UEFA Cup last 32 on Thursday. . . . more . . .
Tottenham received the perfect confidence booster ahead of Sunday's trip to Wembley when a debut goal from Jamie O'Hara fired Juande Ramos' side past Slavia Prague and into the UEFA Cup last 16. . . . more . . .
Nacho Novo made up for missing a hatful of chances in the first leg to score a late goal in Rangers' 1-1 draw at Panathinaikos to secure a place in the UEFA Cup last 16 on Thursday. . . . more . . .
Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld admitted he was happy to make full use of his squad as his side eased their way into the UEFA Cup's last 16 with a 5-1 win over Aberdeen here Thursday. . . . more . . .
Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez said Thursday he was aware that Spain coach Luis Aragones would likely leave him out of the national squad for Euro 2008. . . . more . . .
Chelsea's financial results show the Premier League club lost 74.8 million pounds for the year before June 2007. . . . more . . .
Inter Milan supremo Massimo Moratti insisted he still believed his team can reach the Champions League quarter-finals despite suffering a 2-0 second round first leg defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday. . . . more . . .
Plans to stage a round of Premier League fixtures in cities across the world suffered another blow on Thursday when the English Football Association said the proposal is "unsustainable" in its current format. . . . more . . .
Rafael Benitez has admitted it is easier to find success as a manager with Liverpool in the Champions League than in the Premier League. . . . more . . .
Manchester United are waiting on a UEFA match report to determine what action can be taken against Lyon after Cristiano Ronaldo was targeted with a laser pen during Wednesday's Champions League game. . . . more . . .
Japan's chief delegate on Thursday said he was considering filing a protest against China over "dangerous acts" during their East Asian championships clash here. . . . more . . .
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is determined to make up for his crucial miss against AC Milan by scoring the goal that sends his side into the Champions League quarter-finals. . . . more . . .
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been arrested and sectioned under the Mental Health Act, police said Thursday. . . . more . . .
Australia midfielder Tim Cahill has backed the Premier League's plans to play a round of fixtures at cities across the world. . . . more . . .
More than a game of two halves, it proved a game of two benches in Lyon on Wednesday, with Manchester United's Alex Ferguson ringing the changes to conjure a vital draw which left the 1999 winners' Champions League dreams alive. . . . more . . .
Celtic crashed to a 3-2 defeat at home after a brilliant Barcelona display swept them away in a five goal Champions League thriller on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Carlos Tevez rescued a 1-1 draw for Manchester United on Wednesday in their Champions League second round first leg match, levelling Karim Benzema's opener right at the death. . . . more . . .
Substitute Semih Senturk's late strike lifted Fenerbahce to a 3-2 win in their Champions League second round first leg tie against Sevilla here on Wednesday. . . . more . . .
Arsenal will have to do it the hard way if they are to advance in the Champions League after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by AC Milan in Wednesday's last 16 first leg. . . . more . . .
Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff has been given the job of reviving the fortunes of his home club Ajax. . . . more . . .
Medical staff in Paris say three-time former world footballer of the year Ronaldo should be able to leave the clinic which operated on his left knee by the end of the week. . . . more . . .