Reading between the lines

March 27, 2006

Behind two of America's brightest young talents, Bobby Convey (R) and Marcus Hahnemann (L), Reading and its owner John Madejski (center) achieved promotion to the top division of English football for the first time in 135 years on Saturday. Jamie Trecker introduces the new lads ...

Robson fumes at West Brom's last gasp defeat

March 27, 2006

Robson fumes at West Brom's last gasp defeat

by England

Former Brazil coach Santana in intensive care (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

(updates with detail, quotes)

Keane double does for Baggies (AFP)

March 27, 2006

Robbie Keane scored twice as Tottenham came from behind to stay in the Champions League qualification driving seat with a 2-1 win at home to West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane.

U.S. to meet Angola in closed soccer scrimmage (AP)

March 27, 2006

The U.S. soccer team will play Angola in a closed scrimmage in Hamburg, Germany, on June 5, a week before the Americans' opener in the World Cup. The Angola Football Federation announced Monday it would play an exhibition game on that day against the United States, but the U.S. Soccer Federation said it would not be an official match and no spectators would attend.

CSKA Sofia duo Silva, Dimitrov to miss Levski derby (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

CSKA Sofia defender Tiago Silva and midfielder Velizar Dimitrov have been ruled out injured from Sunday's Bulgarian Premier League derby against Levski, officials said.

Tottenham 2-1 West Brom: 50-up for hotshot Keane

March 27, 2006

Tottenham 2-1 West Brom: 50-up for hotshot Keane

by England

Late Keane penalty gives Spurs 2-1 victory

March 27, 2006

EPL: Robbie Keane converted a penalty with two minutes remaining to rally Tottenham past relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion 2-1 on Monday.

U.S. to meet Angola in closed scrimmage

March 27, 2006

The U.S. soccer team will play Angola in a closed scrimmage in Hamburg, Germany, on June 5, a week before the Americans' opener in the World Cup. The Angola Football Federation announced Monday it would play an exhibition game on that day against the United States.

Several injured, arrests in Tunisia

March 27, 2006

Stone-throwing and club-wielding fans of rival soccer clubs clashed over the weekend, injuring several people - including a young girl, Tunisia's official news agency reported Monday. The clashes Sunday outside the capital city of Tunis between supporters of Etoile Sportive du Sahel (ESS) and Esperance Sportive de Tunis (EST) also damaged numerous vehicles, the TAP news agency said.

Inter unimpressed by Adriano

March 27, 2006

Adriano's Inter Milan future could be in doubt as he looks set to be dropped for their UEFA Champions League clash with Villarreal.

Wenger defends Vieira sale (AFP)

March 27, 2006

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted selling Patrick Vieira was the right move for the long-term future of the club.

No regrets for Vieira over Juve move (AFP)

March 27, 2006

Patrick Vieira returned to Highbury insisting he'd no regrets regarding his pre-season move from Arsenal to Juventus.

Owen says he'll be fit for World Cup (SportsTicker)

March 27, 2006

LONDON (Ticker) - England striker Michael Owen expects to go to the World Cup "100 percent fit."

Spanish referee strike threatens El Classico

March 27, 2006

Spanish referee strike threatens El Classico

by Europe

Wenger justifies Vieira departure

March 27, 2006

Wenger justifies Vieira departure

by UEFA Champions League

Wenger speaks up for Drogba

March 27, 2006

Wenger speaks up for Drogba

by England

Real deny decision made on new coach

March 27, 2006

Real deny decision made on new coach

by Europe

Prosecutor demands jail for ex-Marseille coach

March 27, 2006

Prosecutor demands jail for ex-Marseille coach

by Europe

Ex-Leverkusen official probed over match fixing

March 27, 2006

Ex-Leverkusen official probed over match fixing

by Europe

Man U's Gill says G14 wants format change

March 27, 2006

Manchester United chief executive David Gill said Monday that G14 would like the Champions League to revert to its former 17-match schedule. The tournament was restructured after the 2003-04 event because of concerns too many games were being played.

Prosecutors interrogate ex-Leverkusen boss

March 27, 2006

Prosecutors investigating suspected fraud and possible match-fixing interrogated a former general manager of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen on Monday. "It's a complicated situation and a lot is still just speculation," said Guenter Feld, spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

Dortmund keeping tabs on Jarosik

March 27, 2006

Borussia Dortmund are keeping an eye on Birmingham's on-loan midfielder Jiri Jarosik.

Russian man sentenced for threats against referee's life (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

A man was handed an 18-month suspended sentence on Monday for threatening to kill a referee in a Russian premier league match last season.

Midfield supremacy the key: Wenger (AFP)

March 27, 2006

Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger said the battle for supremacy in midfield will be the key in Arsenal's home Champions League match against Juventus on Tuesday.

Ex-Leverkusen official asked to explain financial dealings (AFP)

March 27, 2006

Cologne prosecutors started their investigation into the finanical dealings of former Bayer Leverkusen general manager Reiner Calmund amid speculation that players were bribed to stop the club being relegated from the Bundesliga in the 2002/03 season.

Shevchenko insists Chelsea is not an option (AFP)

March 27, 2006

AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko has scuppered Chelsea's hopes of securing his services for next season by claiming he is happy to finish his career with the Milan giants.

World Cup tickets now on sale via online portal (AFP)

March 27, 2006

The 2006 World Cup Organising Committee opened the internet ticket portal providing fans with the chance to return match tickets or legally transfer them to other supporters.

Police on high alert for Rapid v Steaua UEFA Cup clash (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

Romanian police are gearing themselves up for what they expect to be an explosive UEFA Cup quarter-final between Rapid Bucharest and Steaua Bucharest, as the fierce rivals meet in the first leg on Thursday. "We plan to employ 1,000 policemen in and around Giulesti arena in order to prevent public order offences during the first leg match," a Bucharest Police statement said on Monday.

Van Nistelrooy could end exile against Hammers (AFP)

March 27, 2006

Dutch international Ruud van Nistelrooy could end his spell of warming the substitutes' bench on Wednesday when Manchester United face West Ham.

Real deny decision made on new coach

March 27, 2006

Real deny decision made on new coach

by Europe

Bruised toe Euro KO for Gunner Campbell

March 27, 2006

Bruised toe Euro KO for Gunner Campbell

by England

Spanish tycoon Villalonga circles Liverpool

March 27, 2006

Spanish tycoon Villalonga circles Liverpool

by England

Roeder gives £9m misfit Luque a lifeline

March 27, 2006

Roeder gives £9m misfit Luque a lifeline

by England

Seaman heavily praises successor Robinson

March 27, 2006

Seaman heavily praises successor Robinson

by World Cup

Dortmund express interest in signing Jarosik

March 27, 2006

Dortmund express interest in signing Jarosik

by England

Sheva: Lyon's Juninho is the king of free-kicks

March 27, 2006

Sheva: Lyon's Juninho is the king of free-kicks

by UEFA Champions League

Cops on alert for Bucharest UEFA Cup derby

March 27, 2006

Cops on alert for Bucharest UEFA Cup derby

by Europe

Kiev keeper killed by carbon monoxide

March 27, 2006

Kiev keeper killed by carbon monoxide

by Europe

The Buy Buy Liverpool Gossip

March 27, 2006

Takeover talk in the North West, Steed to leave Fulham and the rest...

CL: Vieira returns to face Arsenal

March 27, 2006

Champions League Preview: Patrick Vieira is returning to play in London for the first time since Arsenal sold him to Juventus. Since Vieira was sold for US$24 million last summer, Cesc Fabregas has taken over in midfield and Thierry Henry has become captain.

Stubbs: Foreigners to blame

March 27, 2006

Alan Stubbs holds the Premiership's foreign legion chiefly responsible for the diving malaise which is increasingly afflicting English football.

La Liga Roundup, Mar. 26

March 27, 2006

La Liga Wrap: Ronaldo scored his 12th goal of the season Sunday to help Real Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 and move into second place. The win stretched Madrid's unbeaten run to five matches and maintained its slender chance of winning the title.

Euro Action, Mar. 26

March 27, 2006

Eastern European round-up (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

By Zoran Milosavljevic

African leagues round-up (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

By Mark Gleeson

Strachan poised for first SPL success (AFP)

March 27, 2006

Gordon Strachan is preparing to uncork another bottle of champagne as manager of Celtic, who need just one more win to take back the Scottish Premier League title from Rangers.

Vietnamese journalists attacked while reporting on graft scandal (AFP)

March 27, 2006

Vietnamese journalists have been beaten while covering a corruption scandal over the looting of state funds in which the deputy transport minister has been questioned.

Struggling Messina sack Mutti (AFP)

March 27, 2006

Struggling Serie A side Messina have sacked their coach Bortolo Mutti.

Juninho better than Ronaldinho at free kicks - Shevchenko (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

Brazil and Olympique Lyon midfielder Juninho is better at free kicks than compatriot Ronaldinho, says AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko.

Police plan megaphone diplomacy for World Cup fans (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

By John O'Donnell

Bolton's Giannokopoulos still keen on Liverpool (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

By Barney Spender

Spanish tycoon Villalonga circles Liverpool

March 27, 2006

Spanish tycoon Villalonga circles Liverpool

by England

Vieira expects warm welcome at Highbury

March 27, 2006

Vieira expects warm welcome at Highbury

by UEFA Champions League

Setback won't deter Owen from World Cup

March 27, 2006

Setback won't deter Owen from World Cup

by World Cup

Stubbs lashes out at diving foreigners

March 27, 2006

Stubbs lashes out at diving foreigners

by England

Eriksson for Chelsea claims 'totally false'

March 27, 2006

Eriksson for Chelsea claims 'totally false'

by England

Stelios would 'give everything' for Anfield move

March 27, 2006

Stelios would 'give everything' for Anfield move

by England

Injured Figo may miss Inter-Villareal clash

March 27, 2006

Injured Figo may miss Inter-Villareal clash

by UEFA Champions League

Sicilians strugglers Messina sack coach

March 27, 2006

Sicilians strugglers Messina sack coach

by Europe

Learning from the 'Managerial Master'

March 27, 2006

Sir Alex Ferguson has his critics but there's no denying his success as a manager. Nick Webster looks at four of SAF's former students, now EPL managers, to see what each has learned from the master.

Brazilian Roundup, Mar. 26

March 27, 2006

Corinthians held rival Palmeiras to 1-1 in a Sao Paulo state championship match marked by a disallowed goal that ignited a brawl at Morumbi stadium on Sunday.

Germany's match-fixing scandal hits Bundesliga

March 27, 2006

Germany's match-fixing scandal reached the Bundesliga for the first time this weekend, 10 weeks before the country hosts the World Cup.

PREVIEW-Soccer-Upbeat Koeman plans surprise for Barca at Benfica (Reuters)

March 27, 2006

By Carlos Pontes