Anderlecht wins 28th Belgian title
May 5, 2006Anderlecht won its 28th Belgian league title by beating Zulte-Waregem 3-0 on Friday. Second-placed Standard Liege's title challenge ended when it lost 2-0 at home to AA Ghent.
Spain again ignores Guti for pre-World Cup gathering (AP)
May 5, 2006Midfielder Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez was left off Spain's roster for a pre-World Cup gathering of players on Tuesday. Spain coach Luis Aragones selected 27 players, a group that included Andres Iniesta. Aragones also bypassed Ivan de la Pena and Vicente Rodriguez. Aragones will announce his final 23-player squad on May 15, the day rosters must be submitted to FIFA.
Lewis scores as Leeds ties Preston in promotion playoffs (AP)
May 5, 2006Eddie Lewis scored on a curling free kick against his former club, giving Leeds a 1-1 tie against Preston North End on Friday in the first round of the promotion playoffs for a spot in England's Premier League next season. On Tuesday, Leeds was selected for the U.S. World Cup roster. If Leeds advances from Monday's second leg at Preston, he would miss most of the Americans' pre-World Cup training...
Leeds held by Preston in playoff semi-final (Reuters)
May 5, 2006Leeds United's hopes of returning to the Premier League hang in the balance after they were held 1-1 by Preston North End in the first leg of their second division promotion playoff on Friday.
Spurs face injury crisis for crunch game (Reuters)
May 5, 2006(adds more Jol quotes, background)
Vicente returns to Valencia squad after injury layoff (Reuters)
May 5, 2006Spain winger Vicente is back in Valencia's squad to face Atletico Madrid in the Primera Liga on Saturday after almost four months out with an ankle injury.
Spain criticised for picking Del Horno ahead of Pernia (Reuters)
May 5, 2006Getafe coach Bernd Schuster has criticised Spain's Luis Aragones for picking Chelsea left back Asier Del Horno ahead of Mariano Pernia for next week's World Cup get-together.
CAF to inspect Ghana's Nations Cup facilities again (Reuters)
May 5, 2006A third inspection of Ghana's facilities for the 2008 African Nations Cup finals will be made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later this month, the Ghana Football Association said on Friday.
Setanta gets a third of live EPL games
May 5, 2006Irish sports channel Setanta will be the first broadcaster other then BSkyB to air English Premier League games in the United Kingdom. Setanta won two of the final three packages Friday, allowing it to begin airing live games in the summer of 2007. The deal runs through 2010. BSkyB held onto the other three packages last Friday. In March, the European Union ruled that the Premier League had to stop selling the rights to its live soccer matches to one TV channel.
WC: Spain again ignores Guti
May 5, 2006Spain coach Luis Aragones again left Real Madrid midfielder Jose Maria 'Guti' Gutierrez off his roster for next week's second pre-World Cup gathering. Aragones named his 27-man group Friday, preferring FC Barcelona's Andres Iniesta for the May 8 meeting, and also dropping Espanyol midfielder Ivan de la Pena and Valencia winger Vicente Rodriguez.
Injured trio a blow for Spurs
May 5, 2006EPL Preview: Tottenham will go into their vital final Premiership match of the season against West Ham on Sunday with a mini injury crisis. Robbie Keane, Paul Stalteri and Michael Carrick are all carrying injuries.
Germans fear their own hooligans most at World Cup (AP)
May 5, 2006Forget the once-notorious English or Dutch hooligans ruining the World Cup, or a new threat from violent Polish or Ukrainian fans. The top police officer in charge of keeping hooligans under control at soccer's showcase event said Friday he most fears troublemakers living in host Germany. "What gives me headaches sometimes is thinking about how we are going to keep our own 10,000 hooligans in...
Klinsmann calls up nine players for fitness checks (Reuters)
May 5, 2006Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann has called up nine World Cup candidates for fitness tests next week after they all missed out on checks last month.
Arsenal's Highbury stadium closes after 93 years (AP)
May 5, 2006Arsenal's 93-year-old Highbury stadium has been featured in two movies. Muhammad Ali fought Henry Cooper there 40 years ago, and its Art Deco East Stand is a registered historic building. Highbury even survived a bomb in World War II. Now it's time to say goodbye to the 38,500-seat north London landmark, which closes after Sunday's game against Wigan.
Henry named Premiership Player of Year (SportsTicker)
May 5, 2006LONDON (Ticker) - Arsenal captain Thierry Henry on Friday was named Barclays Player of the Year.
No hard feelings with Corinthians, says Passarella (Reuters)
May 5, 2006River Plate coach Daniel Passarella said there were no hard feelings after they knocked Brazilian champions Corinthians out of the Libertadores Cup.
Henry scoops Player of the Year award
May 5, 2006Henry scoops Player of the Year award
by England
Delighted Fowler determined to repay the faith
May 5, 2006Delighted Fowler determined to repay the faith
by England
Robben not concerned by Ballack arrival
May 5, 2006Robben not concerned by Ballack arrival
by England
Collins outburst puts Wales future in doubt
May 5, 2006Collins outburst puts Wales future in doubt
by Europe
Liverpool gives Fowler one-year contract
May 5, 2006Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler got a new one-year contract Friday after impressing while on a short-term deal at the club. Fowler, who spent 15 years at the club before leaving in 2001, rejoined in January on a contract until the end of the season. He scored four goals in eight league starts - to add to the 171 goals he scored in his first spell - and earned a longer stay.
Spain call upon magnificent seven
May 5, 2006Spain coach Luis Aragones has named seven Premiership-based players in his provisional 27-man squad for the World Cup.
No big sale for Birmingham
May 5, 2006Co-owner David Sullivan insists Birmingham may only have to sell one star player after being relegated from the Barclays Premiership.
Bruce: Whole team to blame
May 5, 2006Steve Bruce has insisted it would be unfair to pin all of the blame for Birmingham's relegation on Emile Heskey and his fellow strikers.
Arsenal's Highbury stadium to close down
May 5, 2006Arsenal's 93-year-old Highbury stadium has been featured in two movies. Muhammad Ali fought Henry Cooper there 40 years ago, and its Art Deco East Stand is a registered historic building.
Lampard bemoans 'diving' tag
May 5, 2006Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard believes the 'diving' tag labelled on some of the club's players this season may be affecting the judgement of officials.
Terry 'fine' for World Cup
May 5, 2006England defender John Terry has been given the all-clear for the World Cup after a scan on his injured ankle showed no major damage.
Fowler to sign new one-year deal at Anfield
May 5, 2006Fowler to sign new one-year deal at Anfield
by England
Relegated Birmingham in no rush to sell star men
May 5, 2006Relegated Birmingham in no rush to sell star men
by England
Etherington ankle injury blow for Hammers
May 5, 2006Etherington ankle injury blow for Hammers
by England
Newcastle confident over Roeder appointment
May 5, 2006Newcastle confident over Roeder appointment
by England
Italian FA to investigate Juventus phone tapes
May 5, 2006Italian FA to investigate Juventus phone tapes
by Europe
Big-name trio out of Spain WC training party
May 5, 2006Big-name trio out of Spain WC training party
by World Cup
Ligue 1: Lille host Lyon in 'most important game'
May 5, 2006Ligue 1: Lille host Lyon in 'most important game'
by Europe
Bundesliga: Bayern set for unique double-double
May 5, 2006Bundesliga: Bayern set for unique double-double
by Europe
Serie A: Juventus close in on 29th title
May 5, 2006Serie A: Juventus close in on 29th title
by Europe
Briegel to coach Albania for two more years (Reuters)
May 5, 2006Former Germany international Hans-Peter Briegel has extended his coaching contract with Albania for two years.
Robben expects to stay at Chelsea and improve (Reuters)
May 5, 2006By Chris Hatherall
Sevilla include Kanoute and Dragutinovic for Malaga game (Reuters)
May 5, 2006UEFA Cup finalists Sevilla have included striker Frederic Kanoute and defender Ivica Dragutinovic in their squad to face relegated Malaga in the Primera Liga on Saturday.
Fowler set to sign new one-year Liverpool contract (Reuters)
May 5, 2006Robbie Fowler is to sign a new one-year contract with Liverpool, the club said on Friday.
Italy Federation investigating Juve phone taps (Reuters)
May 5, 2006(Adds Moggi quote para 8)
Levski Sofia fined again after crowd trouble (Reuters)
May 5, 2006Levski Sofia have been fined 30,000 Swissfrancs ($24,390) by UEFA because of crowd trouble during their UEFA Cup first knockout phase tie against Slovak champions Artmedia Bratislava, the club said on Friday.
Spanish clubs face stiff penalties if season is extended (Reuters)
May 5, 2006A postponed Spanish league match between Barcelona and Sevilla is causing a fixture conflict due to FIFA's directive that the season must end by May 15.
Gibson slams 'kingmaker' Dein
May 5, 2006Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has launched a scathing attack on David Dein's role in the saga which unfolded before Steve McClaren's appointment as England manager.
FIFA threatens to suspend Cambodia
May 5, 2006FIFA has threatened to suspend Cambodia's membership due to alleged political interference in the election of its national soccer federation chief, a newspaper reported Friday. FIFA President Sepp Blatter made the warning in a recent letter to the Cambodian Football Federation, the English language Phnom Penh Post reported.
South Africa name eight uncapped players in squad (Reuters)
May 5, 2006South Africa named eight uncapped players in a 20-man squad for a friendly international against Lesotho on May 10, the South African Football Association said on Friday.
Butcher to swap Motherwell for Sydney?
May 5, 2006Butcher to swap Motherwell for Sydney?
by Global
D'Alessandro wants to stay with Portsmouth
May 5, 2006D'Alessandro wants to stay with Portsmouth
by England
Liverpool closing in on successive victories record
May 5, 2006Liverpool closing in on successive victories record
by England
Boro chief slams 'Kingmaker' Dein over England saga
May 5, 2006Boro chief slams 'Kingmaker' Dein over England saga
by England
McClaren's appointment a 'natural step' - Owen
May 5, 2006McClaren's appointment a 'natural step' - Owen
by England
Disappointment 'very difficult' for Big Sam
May 5, 2006England disappointment 'very difficult' for Big Sam
by England
McClaren seeks to build on Eriksson's work
May 5, 2006McClaren seeks to build on Eriksson's work
by England
Fergie determined England won't risk Rooney
May 5, 2006Ferguson determined England won't risk Rooney
by England
WC: Serbia-Montenegro expects to survive
May 5, 2006Serbia-Montenegro will go to Germany with a primary goal - to pull off a surprise and survive the toughest group at this year's World Cup. Group C also includes two title contenders - Argentina and the Netherlands - plus the Didier Drogba-led Ivory Coast. All are better-placed teams than Serbia-Montenegro in FIFA's world rankings. But Serbia-Montenegro, unbeaten and only conceding one goal in qualifying, is full of confidence after reducing Spain to a playoff spot in European qualifying.
Mexican Playoffs, May 4
May 5, 2006Colombian Luis Gabriel Rey scored two minutes into injury time to lead Morelia over heavily favored Pachuca 2-1 in the opening round of the Mexican league playoffs on Thursday. Pachuca finished with the regular season's best record and appeared to have the first-leg match under control when Uruguayan striker Richard Munez knocked home a free kick from 20 meters to make it 1-0 in just the second minute, silencing a spirited crowd of 40,000 at Morelia's Morelos Stadium.
CTL: Fan rioting halts River, Corinthians
May 5, 2006Copa Libertadores: Argentina's River Plate defeated Brazil's Corinthians 3-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores on Thursday in a match stopped six minutes from the end because of fan rioting.
Beckham likely to lose captaincy
May 5, 2006It looks like David Beckham will no longer be England captain after the World Cup. Steve McClaren will take over and, when the question of Beckham's captaincy was raised at his first news conference, he didn't exactly give the Real Madrid star a ringing endorsement.
FA names Steve McClaren to England job
May 5, 2006Steve McClaren was selected as England soccer coach Thursday, taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup. The Middlesbrough manager was appointed by the FA after a rocky three-month search for a new coach.
Libertadores Cup match abandoned due to crowd riot (Reuters)
May 5, 2006Rioting fans forced the South American Libertadores Cup match between Brazilian champions Corinthians and Argentina's River Plate to be called off on Thursday.
PREVIEW-Soccer-Lille host Lyon in most important game of season (Reuters)
May 5, 2006By Pierre Serisier