Middlesbrough fans clash with Italians in Rome (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

Middlesbrough fans clashed with Italians in central Rome before baton-wielding police restored order late on Tuesday, witnesses said.

Soccer-Villarreal will not be easy, says Inter coach (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

In MILAN dateline story "Soccer-Villarreal will not be easy, says Inter coach" please correct last para to show that first leg between Inter and Villarreal is on March 29, not next Tuesday as previously sent.

Manchester City advances to FA Cup quarterfinals (AP)

March 14, 2006

Darius Vassell helped eliminate Aston Villa from The Football Association Cup, scoring against his former club Tuesday night to lead Manchester City to a 2-1 victory and a berth in the quarterfinals. Georgios Samaras put City ahead in the 17th minute and Vassell, who left Villa at the start of the season, made it 2-0 four minutes into the second half.

Super PSG sub Pauleta sinks French minnows (AFP)

March 14, 2006

A double from Portuguese striker Pedro Pauleta sunk French minnows Lyon-La Duchere as Paris Saint Germain advanced to the quarter-finals of the French Cup.

FA Cup Roundup, Mar. 14

March 14, 2006

FA Cup: Darius Vassell knocked former club Aston Villa out of the FA Cup on Tuesday, scoring to lead Manchester City to a 2-1 victory in a fifth-round replay and into the quarterfinals. After Greek striker Georgios Samaras put City ahead, Vassell made it 2-0 four minutes into the second half.

FA Cup gallery, Mar. 14

March 14, 2006

CL: Inter beats Ajax to reach quarterfinals

March 14, 2006

Champions League: Dejan Stankovic scored in the 57th minute and Inter Milan beat Ajax 1-0 Tuesday to take the last spot in the Champions League quarterfinals. Inter advanced on 3-2 aggregate and will face Spain's Villarreal in the last eight.

Champions League Gallery, Mar. 14

March 14, 2006

UC: Roma struggling to reach quarterfinal

March 14, 2006

UEFA Cup Preview: AS Roma's winning streak of 11 games is history and Luciano Spalletti's team can't afford a third loss in a row when it faces Middlesbrough for a place in the UEFA Cup quarterfinals. Roma lost the first leg 1-0 at Middlesbrough.

Canizares set for World Cup comeback

March 14, 2006

Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares looks set to be included in Spain's World Cup squad in what would be his first national call-up in nearly a year. Spain coach Luis Aragones described the 36-year-old's recent form as "phenomenal" and said if it continued he would be selected as the squad's third goalkeeper.

FIFA: Stadium safety is poor

March 14, 2006

Soccer stadiums in many countries fail to meet minimum safety standards, according to the sport's governing body. FIFA's technical and development committee, in reviewing stadium safety, said "basic security criteria were simply being ignored" in many regions around the world, citing Africa and certain areas in South America, Central America and Asia. "FIFA has decided to take strong action to rectify this intolerable situation," FIFA said in a statement Tuesday.

Convicted player gets coaching job

March 14, 2006

The former Borussia Dortmund player convicted of accepting a bribe in Germany's match-fixing scandal was named coach of a fifth-division club Tuesday. Steffen Karl, who received a nine-month suspended sentence in Germany's worst soccer scandal in 40 years, will take over at VfB Fortuna Chemnitz.

Gorgeous Giorgios sends City into last eight (AFP)

March 14, 2006

Giorgios Samaras repaid another chunk of his six million pounds (10.5m dollars) transfer fee to help Manchester City into the last eight of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in a 5th round replay.

Spartak sign Austria defender Stranzl from Stuttgart (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

Spartak Moscow have signed Austria defender Martin Stranzl from Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart on a four-year contract, the Russian premier league side said on Tuesday.

Bulgarian referee Genov banned after mistakes (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

Bulgarian referee Anton Genov has been banned until the end of April after a string of errors in a domestic premier league match on Sunday, a Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) official said on Tuesday.

Benfica's Alcides likely to miss Barcelona first leg (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

Benfica's injured defender Alcides is almost certain to miss this month's Champions League quarter-final, first leg at home to Barcelona.

Inter Milan 1-0 Ajax Amsterdam: Deadly Dejan

March 14, 2006

Inter Milan 1-0 Ajax Amsterdam: Deadly Dejan

by UEFA Champions League

Man City 2-1 Aston Villa: Blue moon rising

March 14, 2006

Man City 2-1 Aston Villa: Blue moon rising

by England

Fabregas Madrid move a no-go, insists agent

March 14, 2006

Fabregas Madrid move a no-go - agent

by England

Safety first for cautious McClaren

March 14, 2006

Safety first for cautious McClaren

by Europe

Addicks boss would reluctantly let Curbs go

March 14, 2006

Addicks boss would let Curbs go

by England

Adriano's blushes saved as Inter reach last eight (AFP)

March 14, 2006

Inter Milan became the third Italian team to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after they beat Ajax 1-0.

Inter beat Ajax 1-0 to set up Villarreal clash (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

(adds detail, byline)

Pauleta double puts PSG in French Cup quarter-finals (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

Striker Pedro Pauleta netted twice in two minutes to steer Paris St Germain to a 3-0 victory at amateur club Lyon-La-Duchere in the French Cup third round on Tuesday.

Bundesliga profits soar

March 14, 2006

The Bundesliga's income rose by 19.1 percent last season even as the number of foreign players in the league fell to its lowest level in five years, figures released Tuesday revealed.

Henry awaits Vieira arrival

March 14, 2006

Two-goal hero Thierry Henry cannot wait for Patrick Vieira's return to Highbury in the Champions League - because he knows the Arsenal fans will give him an amazing welcome.

Celtic to pay tribute to Johnstone

March 14, 2006

All Celtic players will have the No. 7 on their shorts in Sunday's League Cup final against Dunfermline as a tribute to former star Jimmy Johnstone. Both teams will wear black armbands out of respect to the former Scotland winger who died Monday. Johnstone played for Celtic when the "Lisbon Lions" became the first British team to win the European Cup in 1967.

Mourinho confident of coaching Portugal (AFP)

March 14, 2006

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has claimed he is sure to manage his own Portuguese national team one day in an interview published by the Bild newspaper.

Brazilian rivals bicker over tunnel (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

Brazilian arch-rivals Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro have become involved in a row over who uses which tunnel in next Sunday's derby in Belo Horizonte.

Marquez wants to stay with Barcelona (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

Barcelona's Mexican international Rafael Marquez said on Tuesday he hoped to end his career with the Primera Liga leaders and dismissed reports linking him with Chelsea.

Rafa tells Reds to snap out of slump (AFP)

March 14, 2006

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has challenged his faltering side to drag themselves out of a mini-slump that has knocked their season off track.

Uncapped Friedrich called up by Germany (AFP)

March 14, 2006

Manuel Friedrich has been called up by Germany for the first time for their World Cup warm-up against the USA in Dortmund on March 22.

Uruguay championship still suspended after fan's death (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

The Uruguayan championship remained indefinitely suspended on Tuesday after the death of a fan who was beaten and stabbed at a bus stop following a match on Saturday.

Uruguayan championship suspended (AFP)

March 14, 2006

The Uruguayan football league championship has been suspended by the national federation (AUF) for an unspecified time after the death of a supporter.

New Peru coach says door is open for Solano (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

Peru's new coach Franco Navarro says the door is open for midfielder Nolberto Solano who quit the team last year after falling out with his predecessor Freddy Ternero.

Fabregas Madrid move a no-go, insists agent

March 14, 2006

Fabregas Madrid move a no-go - agent

by England

Ballack eyes early move to Stamford Bridge

March 14, 2006

Ballack eyes early Chelsea switch

by England

Ferdinand attacks UEFA over racist fans

March 14, 2006

Ferdinand attacks UEFA over racist fans

by Europe

In-form Ljungberg suffers injury setback

March 14, 2006

In-form Ljungberg suffers injury setback

by England

West Ham out for replay revenge warns Mullins

March 14, 2006

West Ham out for replay revenge

by England

UEFA eye Welsh, Irish, Scottish bid for Euro finals

March 14, 2006

UEFA eye Welsh, Irish, Scottish bid for Euro finals

by Europe

Striker Villa extends Valencia contract until 2013

March 14, 2006

Striker Villa extends Valencia contract until 2013

by Europe

Bundesliga clubs remain heavily in debt

March 14, 2006

German clubs remain heavily in debt

by Europe

Gunners reject Beckham talk

March 14, 2006

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has rubbished media speculation linking David Beckham with the London club. "It is absolute nonsense. Beckham's name has never come up at boardroom level and I would be very surprised if Arsene is interested."

Murder charges filed after stabbing

March 14, 2006

Prosecutors have filed murder charges against a man for killing a rival soccer fan after a match in southern Poland.

The Rather Ruud Gossip

March 14, 2006

Ruud van Nistelrooy will be given a 'sign or be sold' ultimatum this summer, while Michael Ballack fancies Chelsea and more...

Ferdinand attacks UEFA over racist fans

March 14, 2006

Ferdinand attacks UEFA over racist fans

by Europe

Mourinho targets Lampard-Ballack dream team

March 14, 2006

Mourinho targets Lampard-Ballack dream team

by England

Arsenal will not swoop for Beckham

March 14, 2006

Arsenal will not swoop for Beckham

by England

Curbs 'taken aback' but still wants England job

March 14, 2006

Curbs 'taken aback' but still wants England job

by England

Benitez can't understand Alonso red card

March 14, 2006

Benitez can't understand Alonso red card

by England

O'Leary surprised by Barry England snub

March 14, 2006

O'Leary surprised by Barry England snub

by England

Milner ruled out of cup clash with stomach bug

March 14, 2006

Milner ruled out of cup clash with stomach bug

by England

Celtic plan tribute to legend Johnstone

March 14, 2006

Celtic plan tribute to legend Johnstone

by Europe

Depor to throw off cautious approach in Copa

March 14, 2006

Depor to throw off cautious approach in Copa

by Europe

Mourinho is a fan of beleaguered Klinsmann

March 14, 2006

Mourinho is a fan of beleaguered Klinsmann

by World Cup

Australia line up friendly in Liechtenstein

March 14, 2006

Australia line up friendly in Liechtenstein

by World Cup

Ghana fix up March friendly against Iran

March 14, 2006

Ghana fix up March friendly against Iran

by World Cup

Don't write off Chelsea just yet ...

March 14, 2006

After exiting the Champions League in ignominious fashion, the critics have quickly pounced on Jose Mourinho and Chelsea's fallibility. Bobby McMahon warns those eager to write the Blues off that this season's numbers are even better than their championship run last season.

African soccer digest (Reuters)

March 14, 2006

A digest of soccer stories from around Africa in recent days: