Thuram hits out and calls for closer racial integration (AFP)
March 25, 2006France's World Cup winner Lilian Thuram has called on his country to open up its troubled ghettos to help generate closer bonds between different social and ethnic factions within French society.
Premiership Recap, Mar. 25
March 25, 2006EPL Recap: With Manchester United playing on Sunday, Liverpool moved into second place, beating Everton 3-1 in the Merseyside Derby. Elsewhere, Didier Drogba's two goals lead Chelsea to a 2-0 victory against Manchester City.
Tottenham bring Premier League in to Benitez row
March 25, 2006Tottenham bring Premier League in to Benitez row
by England
Serie A Roundup, Mar. 25
March 25, 2006Serie A Wrap: Fabio Simplicio's (R) first-half goal gave lowly Parma a surprising 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Serie A on Saturday. The Brazilian midfielder kicked in the winner in the 39th minute at Stadio Tardini, taking advantage of a defensive blunder by Pierre Wome.
English Premier League Roundup, Mar. 25
March 25, 2006EPL Wrap: With Manchester United playing on Sunday, Liverpool moved into second place, beating Everton 3-1 in the Merseyside Derby. Elsewhere, Didier Drogba's two goals lead Chelsea to a 2-0 victory against Manchester City.
EPL Gallery, Mar. 25
March 25, 2006
La Liga Roundup, Mar. 25
March 25, 2006Robert scored two first-half goals on Saturday and Real Betis defeated Villarreal 2-1 to ease its fears of relegation from the Spanish league. The Brazilian striker stooped to meet Edu Schmidt's right-side cross with a glancing header in the 11th minute and then fired a rising shot after taking advantage of a mistake by captain Quique Alvarez 12 minutes later.
Leverkusen matches may have been fixed
March 25, 2006Three Bayer Leverkusen victories that saved the Bundesliga club from demotion in 2003 may have been rigged. "We have information with substance, now we have to check it out," Cologne chief district attorney Guenther Feld was quoted as saying by Saturday's edition of the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. The match-fixing investigation stemmed from allegations of fraud against Leverkusen's former general manager Reiner Calmund.
Bundesliga Roundup, Mar. 25
March 25, 2006Bundesliga Wrap: Roy Makaay had a goal and an assist Saturday to lead Bayern Munich to a 3-1 victory at Duisburg that moved it nine points clear in the Bundesliga. Bayern, its lead down to three points eight days ago, reasserted control of the title race further because of second-place Hamburg's 4-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
Ligue One Roundup, Mar. 25
March 25, 2006John Carew scored a goal to earn four-time defending champion Lyon a 1-1 home draw against Toulouse on Saturday, and extended its lead atop of the French first division to 12 points. Lyon had 32 shots on goal during the match, but was denied by wasteful finishing and an outstanding performance from Toulouse goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez. Gerard Houllier's team is chasing a record fifth straight title and has 69 points from 31 games - 12 points more than Bordeaux, which has played a game less.
Scottish Premier League Roundup, Mar. 25
March 25, 2006Hearts and Rangers picked up victories Saturday as they tried to keep up with league-leading Celtic. Second-place Hearts won 2-1 at Falkirk with Edgaras Jankauskas scoring the winner in the 81st. Rangers defeated Dunfermline 1-0, with Sotirios Kyrgiakos scoring in the 70th at Rangers' Ibrox Stadium. In other Premier League games Saturday, it was: Aberdeen 2, Motherwell 2; Dundee United 2, Kilmarnock 2; Hiberian 0, Inverness 2. Celtic plays at Livingston on Sunday.
Reading rise to the top at last (Reuters)
March 25, 2006By Mitch Phillips
Injury setback to Owen's World Cup hopes
March 25, 2006Injury setback for Owen
by England
Prem: Chelsea extend lead, Villa frustrated again
March 25, 2006Chelsea extend lead, Villa frustrated again
by England
Championship: Amazing Reading clinch promotion
March 25, 2006Amazing Reading clinch promotion
by England
Chelsea 2-0 Man City: Drogba controversy
March 25, 2006Chelsea 2-0 Man City: Drogba controversy
by England
Liverpool 3-1 Everton: Hasty exit for Gerrard
March 25, 2006Liverpool 3-1 Everton: Hasty exit for Gerrard
by England
Wigan 1-2 West Ham: Skipper nicks it
March 25, 2006Wigan 1-2 West Ham: Skipper nicks it
by England
Aston Villa 0-0 Fulham: Frustrated fans
March 25, 2006Aston Villa 0-0 Fulham: Frustrated fans
by England
Sunderland 0-1 Blackburn: Rovers march on
March 25, 2006Sunderland 0-1 Blackburn: Rovers march on
by England
Arsenal relief at Fratton Park postponement
March 25, 2006Arsenal relief at Fratton Park postponement
by England
Ref's chief Hackett counts 50 cheating divers
March 25, 2006Referees' chief counts 50 divers
by England
New setback for Woodgate in fitness battle
March 25, 2006New setback for Woodgate in fitness battle
by Europe
English Premier League Roundup, Mar. 25
March 25, 2006EPL Wrap: Liverpool moved into second place in the Premier League on Saturday, beating Everton 3-1 in the Merseyside Derby. Chelsea leads the Premier League with 75 points, followed by Liverpool (64), and Manchester United (63).
Bruce refusing to give up
March 25, 2006Defiant Birmingham boss Steve Bruce has vowed he will not quit, stressing he will do everything he can to guide the club out of the doldrums following the most harrowing week of his managerial career.
Forssell feeling positive
March 25, 2006No-one can accuse Mikael Forssell of being a quitter, and the Birmingham striker will need to draw on all his fighting qualities at Old Trafford.
Lesson time for Boumsong
March 25, 2006Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong has been ordered to learn from his mistakes as he attempts to put his Liverpool debacle behind him.
7,000 troops on call during World Cup
March 25, 2006As many as 7,000 troops will be on call in case of emergency at the World Cup, the German defense minister said in remarks released Saturday.
Spanish officials threaten strike over unpaid wages
March 25, 2006Spain's first and second-division referees say they will strike from Friday if they do not receive two month's unpaid wages.
Report: German minister says 7,000 troops on call during World Cup (AP)
March 25, 2006As many as 7,000 troops will be on call in case of emergency at the World Cup, the German defense minister said in remarks released Saturday. Officials have said troops could be called in to help deal with major incidents such as a terrorist attack during the June 9-July 9 event. "The army will keep up to 7,000 ready in case they are needed to protect our population and our guests," Franz Josef...
Feyenoord extend Koeman's contract to 2009 (Reuters)
March 25, 2006Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman has extended his contract with the Rotterdam-based club until July 2009.
Wenger defends Premiership fat cats (AFP)
March 25, 2006Arsene Wenger has taken issue with this week's attack by Birmingham boss David Sullivan on the vast wages paid out in the Premiership - as long as the players' have the right attitude.
Urawa beat Yokohama 3-1 to take J-League lead (AFP)
March 25, 2006Urawa Red Diamonds skipper Nobuhisa Yamada scored the opening goal in his side's 3-1 victory over Yokohama Marinos to push them to the top of the J-League.
England striker Owen has more surgery on broken foot (Reuters)
March 25, 2006England striker Michael Owen has undergone further surgery on a broken foot raising concerns over his fitness for the World Cup.
Ref's chief Hackett counts 50 cheating divers
March 25, 2006Referees' chief counts 50 divers
by England
Injury setback to Owen's World Cup hopes
March 25, 2006Injury setback for Owen
by England
Levy expects apology from Rafa over Defoe
March 25, 2006Levy expects apology
by England
It's about right attitude, not big money - Wenger
March 25, 2006It's about attitude, not money, says Wenger
by England
FA Cup means more than the league - Reo-Coker
March 25, 2006FA Cup means more than the league - Reo-Coker
by England
Two Leeds youngsters set to join Chelsea
March 25, 2006Leeds youngsters set to join Chelsea
by England
Lopez Caro still hoping he can hang on to Real job
March 25, 2006Lopez Caro still hoping he can hang on to Real job
by Europe
Hiddink confirms PSV exit but denies new job
March 25, 2006Hiddink confirms PSV exit but denies new job
by Europe