AFC Champions League kicks off amid controversy (AFP)

March 5, 2006

Asia's premier football competition, the AFC Champions League, kicks off on Wednesday shrouded in controversy after four teams were thrown out, reducing the tournament to 24 clubs.

PREVIEW-Soccer-Barca wary of wounded Chelsea in Nou Camp clash (Reuters)

March 5, 2006

By Simon Baskett

Juventus face injury worries before Werder showdown (Reuters)

March 5, 2006

Juventus coach Fabio Capello is sweating on the fitness of strike pair David Trezeguet and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as they prepare for Tuesday's Champions League showdown with Werder Bremen.

PREVIEW-Soccer-Villarreal target famous Glasgow double (Reuters)

March 5, 2006

By Simon Baskett

Roma's record run ends after 1-1 draw with Inter (Reuters)

March 5, 2006

(adds Roma quotes)

Tottenham 3-2 Blackburn: Mido nicks thriller

March 5, 2006

Tottenham 3-2 Blackburn: Mido nicks thriller

by England

La Liga: Classy Celta close gap in Euro race

March 5, 2006

Classy Celta close gap in Euro race

by Europe

Ligue 1: Marseille's second-string hold rivals PSG

March 5, 2006

Marseille's second-string hold rivals PSG

by Europe

Serie A Roundup, Mar. 5

March 5, 2006

Serie A Wrap: Substitute Gianpaolo Pazzini scored the winning goal in the 90th minute Sunday to help Fiorentina beat Siena 2-1. Pazzini scored following a melee near the Siena net, giving Fiorentina its second straight win and 56 points in the standings.

English Premier League Roundup, Mar. 5

March 5, 2006

EPL Wrap: Robbie Keane struck twice and Mido scored the winner for Tottenham in a 3-2 victory over Blackburn on Sunday. Elsewhere, Man City shoved sorry Sunderland even closer to the Premiership trap door.

EPL Action, Mar. 5

March 5, 2006

La Liga Roundup, Mar. 5

March 5, 2006

La Liga Wrap: Fernando Baiano and Fabian Canobbio scored a goal in each half Sunday to help Celta Vigo beat fourth-place Osasuna 2-0 in the Spanish league. FC Barcelona still leads the league with 61 points, while Real Madrid has 51 and Valencia has 50.

Eredivisie Roundup, Mar. 5

March 5, 2006

Salomon Kalou scored twice and Feyenoord continued chasing leader PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league with a 3-0 win over FC Utrecht.

Bundesliga Roundup, Mar. 5

March 5, 2006

Borussia Moenchengladbach beat Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 Sunday to rise to sixth place in the Bundesliga. Eintracht Frankfurt wasted several opportunities and had to settle for a 1-1 draw against visiting Wolfsburg. Defender Marcell Jansen, hoping to secure a place in Germany's World Cup squad, crowned a stellar performance by scoring Moenchengladbach's first goal in the 34th minute. Wesley Sonck pounced on a rebound to score the second in the 65th.

Scottish Premier League Roundup, Mar. 5

March 5, 2006

Roman Bednar scored the winner for Hearts in a 3-2 victory over Livingston in the Scottish Premier League on Sunday. Hearts twice took the lead only for Livingston to level each time before Bednar's decider in the 87th minute. Bruno Aguiar and Edgaras Jankauskas also scored for Hearts, with Richard Brittain and David Mackay netting for Livingston. Hearts stayed second, 13 points behind leader Celtic. Livingston is at the bottom of the standings.

Man City 2-1 Sunderland: Samaras double

March 5, 2006

Man City 2-1 Sunderland: Samaras double

by England

Hyypia set for all-clear to face Benfica at Anfield

March 5, 2006

Hyypia set for all-clear to face Benfica at Anfield

by UEFA Champions League

Fulham 0-4 Arsenal: Inspirational Henry

March 5, 2006

Fulham 0-4 Arsenal: Inspirational Henry

by England

Cheats posper most in Britain, claim UEFA

March 5, 2006

Cheats posper most in Britain, claim UEFA

by Europe

Serie A: Late Pazzini strike sends Fiorentina fourth

March 5, 2006

Serie A: Late Pazzini strike sends Fiorentina fourth

by Europe

Eredivisie: Kalou inspires Feyenoord, Ajax hit six

March 5, 2006

Eredivisie: Kalou inspires Feyenoord, Ajax hit six

by Europe

Livingston 2-3 Hearts: Bednar saves Hearts blushes

March 5, 2006

Livingston 2-3 Hearts: Bednar saves Hearts blushes

by Europe

Andrade likely to miss World Cup with knee injury

March 5, 2006

Andrade likely to miss World Cup with knee injury

by World Cup

Germany rejects report Lehmann beats Kahn for keeper job (Reuters)

March 5, 2006

Germany rejected a Focus magazine report on Sunday that coach Juergen Klinsmann has picked Arsenal's Jens Lehmann over Bayern Munich captain Oliver Kahn as his starting goalkeeper for the World Cup.

Arab Champions League semi-final draw (Reuters)

March 5, 2006

The draw for the Arab Champions League semi-final, released by the Arab Football Union on Sunday:

Iliev steps down as Cherno More coach (Reuters)

March 5, 2006

Ilian Iliev resigned as coach of Bulgarian Premier league club Cherno More Varna following Saturday's home defeat by Rodopa Smolyan.

Andrade set to miss World Cup after knee injury (Reuters)

March 5, 2006

(Adds details)

Sissoko planning return this season (AFP)

March 5, 2006

Mohamed Sissoko has insisted he will return this season despite suffering an injury he labelled the "scariest moment of my life" last month.

Blatter: FIFA to take over ticketing for 2010 WC

March 5, 2006

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says his organization should take over ticketing arrangements for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Yanagisawa marks Japan return with hat-trick (Reuters)

March 5, 2006

Atsushi Yanagisawa marked his return to Japan after an unhappy spell in Italy with a hat-trick for Kashima Antlers in their J-League opener on Sunday.

FIFA chief criticises World Cup 2006 ticketing (AFP)

March 5, 2006

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has criticised ticketing arrangements for the forthcoming World Cup finals in Germany, saying the Germans still had to prove they could hold a successful competition.

United target Lille duo (AFP)

March 5, 2006

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has targetted Lille midfield duo Mathieu Bodmer and Jean Makoun.

Hiddink unlikely to stay Australian coach after World Cup: FFA (AFP)

March 5, 2006

Dutchman Guus Hiddink is unlikely to remain in charge of the Australian team after June's World Cup finals in Germany, the Australian football federation.

Ronaldinho scoffs at Chelsea move rumours

March 5, 2006

Ronaldinho scoffs at Chelsea move rumours

by England

Charlton sideline Smertin as Russia return nears

March 5, 2006

Charlton sideline Smertin as Russia return nears

by England

UEFA could dock points for racist chanting

March 5, 2006

UEFA could dock points for racist chanting

by Europe

Marseille send B team to Paris over safety fears

March 5, 2006

Marseille send B team to Paris over safety fears

by Patrick Vignal

Sydney edge Central Coast to win first A-League title

March 5, 2006

Sydney edge Central Coast to win first A-League title

by Global

Yanagisawa marks J-League return with hat-trick

March 5, 2006

Yanagisawa marks J-League return with hat-trick

by Global

Sydney FC wins A-League grand final

March 5, 2006

Steve Corica's goal in the 62nd minute, set up by former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke, gave Sydney FC a 1-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners and the inaugural grand final championship in Australian soccer's A-League.

FIFA will not exclude Iran over nuclear row

March 5, 2006

FIFA will ignore calls for Iran to be expelled from of this summer's World Cup because of the controversy over its nuclear activities, a top official from world soccer's governing body said Sunday.