PREVIEW-Soccer-Barca-Chelsea tie tops Champions League bill (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Rex Gowar
Benfica's Assis suspended by UEFA after positive test (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Benfica midfielder Nuno Assis has been provisionally suspended by UEFA after allegedly testing positive for a banned substance at a Portuguese Premier League game in December.
Malouda extends contract with Lyon until 2010 (Reuters)
February 17, 2006France midfielder Florent Malouda has extended his Olympique Lyon contract by two years, the club's chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said on Friday.
Ligue One Roundup, Feb. 17
February 17, 2006Lyon defeated Nantes 3-1 and extended its lead to 10 points at the top of the French first division on Friday. After the day's only match, Lyon led the standings with 59 points from 26 matches. Bordeaux, second with 49 points, has an opportunity to narrow the gap against Ajaccio on Saturday. Lyon had collected only draws in its last three games, letting its lead slip from 14 points in January to seven last weekend.
Belgian coach,players fired in match-fixing case (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Darren Ennis
Chairman says Lierse not the only guilty club (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Darren Ennis
Stoking the flames (SI.com)
February 17, 2006It was the defining rivalry of the second half of last season, and it promises to be just as juicy this time...
Mouscron coach Put sacked (AFP)
February 17, 2006Paul Put, the coach of Belgian first division club Mouscron, has been sacked because of his involvement in the match-fixing scandal which has rocked Belgian football.
Cafu leaves hospital
February 17, 2006Brazil captain Cafu was released from the hospital on Friday, a day after undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The 35-year-old defender left the Pasteur Hospital wearing knee protection, but without having to use crutches. Cafu, a veteran of the past three World Cup finals, is expected to return to action in about a month - in time for the last rounds of the Italian league. He is likely to be able to play at the June 9-July 9 World Cup.
FA Cup: Colchester confident against Chelsea
February 17, 2006FA Cup Preview: Colchester soccer club has a yearly budget that's less than Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho earns in two months. But Phil Parkinson believes his team can cause an upset in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Real Madrid captain Gonzalez back from injury
February 17, 2006Real Madrid captain Raul Gonzalez was named Friday in an 18-man squad to play Alaves in the Spanish league this weekend and return from three months out with a knee injury. The Spain striker is likely to start from the bench on Saturday.
FIFA to draft political agreement
February 17, 2006A FIFA panel will draft an agreement on relations between governments and national soccer associations in a bid to prevent political interference. Soccer's world governing body does not allow political interference in the affairs of national federations and has banned countries from international matches because of government involvement.
Anderlecht sack players in match-fixing case
February 17, 2006Anderlecht sack players in match-fixing case
by Europe
Deschamps to sue former team mate Eydelie
February 17, 2006Deschamps to sue former team mate Eydelie
by England
Mourinho laments Chelsea's potato field pitch (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Clare Lovell
Chelsea shrug off Barca pitch claims (AFP)
February 17, 2006Jose Mourinho has said critics of Chelsea's pitch must be "stupid" if they think it is being kept deliberately uneven to gain his team an advantage against Barcelona in the Champions League next week.
Tottenham manager Jol targets seven-point cushion (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Martyn Herman
Benitez says Anfield crowd may sway Man Utd tie (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Jeremy Butler
Arsenal's Bergkamp could make road trip to Real game (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Dennis Bergkamp is prepared to drive to Spain or go by sea for Arsenal's Champions League game at Real Madrid on Tuesday.
Beckham bone breaker interested in United move (AFP)
February 17, 2006Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Aldo Duscher said he would be interested in a move to the English Premiership amid reports of interest from Manchester United, four years after he broke former United star David Beckham's foot in a Champions League encounter.
Vogts to be Germany's World Cup 'spy' (AFP)
February 17, 2006Former Scotland coach Berti Vogts will be Germany's 'spy' at this summer's World Cup making notes on opponents and relaying them to manager Jurgen Klinsmann.
Anderlecht sack corrupt players (AFP)
February 17, 2006Belgian giants Anderlecht dismissed two players who were caught up in the match-fixing scandal which has rocked Belgian football.
Capello offered England job, according to reports
February 17, 2006Capello offered England job, according to reports
by England
Depor midfielder Duscher claims Man Utd interest
February 17, 2006Duscher claims Old Trafford interest
by Europe
Third-time African award win for Eto'o
February 17, 2006Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o won Africa's top player award for the third straight year, beating two Chelsea players - Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast and Michael Essien of Ghana. Eto'o scored 108 points in votes cast by African national team coaches to secure a narrow win over Drogba, with 106 points, in the award organized by the Confederation of African Football. The confederation announced the results in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Thursday night.
Raul returns to Real squad after three-month lay-off (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Spain striker Raul was named in the Real Madrid squad for Saturday's league match against Alaves, three months after suffering a serious knee injury.
Kezman backs Mourinho to plot Barca's downfall (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Mark Elkington
Arsenal tie marks high point of Real career for Beckham (Reuters)
February 17, 2006David Beckham says that returning to England to play for Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League tie against Arsenal will mark the high point of his career since joining the Spanish side in 2003.
Thai factory drafted to make stitchless World Cup footballs (AFP)
February 17, 2006A Thai factory has been drafted in to produce the special stitchless football for the upcoming World Cup.
I made the right decision says Rooney over United move (AFP)
February 17, 2006Wayne Rooney says he has no regrets about joining Manchester United and believes the move to Old Trafford has improved him as a player.
Celtic supremo boosts England's O'Neill hopes
February 17, 2006Celtic supremo boosts England's O'Neill hopes
by England
Reds won't 'do a Neville', insists Anfield star
February 17, 2006We won't 'do a Neville', insists Anfield star
by England
Injured Carroll fears his season could be over
February 17, 2006Carroll fears his season could be over
by England
Pearce: My squad not big enough for Intertoto
February 17, 2006Pearce: My squad not big enough for Intertoto
by England
Trophyless Rooney has no regrets over Utd move
February 17, 2006Trophyless Rooney has no regrets over Utd move
by England
Top four Premiership finish is our spur, says King
February 17, 2006Top four finish is our spur, says King
by England
Veteran Speed wants FA Cup final swansong
February 17, 2006Speed wants FA Cup final swansong
by England
Forest appoint caretaker duo McParland, Barlow
February 17, 2006Forest appoint caretaker duo
by England
Reds aim to end 85-year FA Cup drought v Utd
February 17, 2006Reds aim to end 85-year FA Cup drought v Utd
by England
Kezman backs Mourinho to plot Barca's downfall
February 17, 2006Kezman backs Mourinho to plot Barca's downfall
by UEFA Champions League
Arsenal tie high point of Real career for Becks
February 17, 2006Arsenal tie high point of Real career for Beckham
by UEFA Champions League
Liga: Confident Real see tide turning in their favour
February 17, 2006Confident Real see tide turning in their favour
by Europe
Serie A: Roma eye record and European places
February 17, 2006Roma eye record and Champions League places
by Europe
Bundesliga: Magath relaxed about Euro distraction
February 17, 2006Bayern coach relaxed about European distraction
by Europe
Australia vow to go into Asia with all guns blazing (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Australia have vowed to go on the attack in their opening Asian Cup qualifier in Bahrain next week.
African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Factbox on Samuel Eto'o who was named African Footballer of the Year for a record-equalling third time on Thursday:
PREVIEW-Soccer-Zaki back in action a week after Nations Cup win (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Mark Gleeson
Preview of FA Cup matches, Feb. 18-19 (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Ken Ferris
Liverpool aim to end 85-year FA Cup drought versus United (Reuters)
February 17, 2006By Ken Ferris