Michel Platini s bid to become FIFA president will remain on hold while the UEFA chief is suspended by world football s world governing body.
The Frenchman is subject to a 90-day ban relating to an alleged disloyal payment he received from current FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter in 2011 for work carried out between 1999 and 2002
Platini has already formally submitted his candidacy for FIFA presidency, with an election set for February 26, although his ban will end just six days prior to that date provided FIFA s Ethics Committee do not exercise their option to extend the suspension by 45 days.
Candidacies for the FIFA Presidency that are submitted in due time and form, but which relate to candidates who are subject to a (provisional or definite) ban from taking part…
Vincent Kompany does not believe Manchester City will be able to count themselves among Europe s elite until they lift the Champions League trophy.
The Premier League leaders are chasing a third English title in five seasons, with Kompany captaining them to top spot domestically in 2011-12 and 2013-14.
They were unable to replicate that success on the continent under Roberto Mancini and the Italian s successor Manuel Pellegrini has fared little better to date – consecutive losses to Barcelona in the round of 16 in the past two seasons standing as City s best efforts to date in the competition.
Successive late wins over Borussia Monchengladbach and Sevilla in their previous two matches means Kompany and his team-mates can secure progression from Group D with two…
FIFA has promised to strengthen its member associations financial governance and management following criticisms in a damning report by anti-corruption group Transparency International.
The report slammed the lack of availability of financial records from FIFA s 209 member associations, which it claims received more than $1million each in 2014.
According to Transparency International, 81 per cent of FAs have no financial records publicly available, and 85 per cent publish no activity accounts of what they do.
Cobus de Swardt, managing director of Transparency International, said: The risk of corruption at too many football associations around the world is high. This problem is made worse by the lack of information such as audited financial statements by many asso…
Jose Mourinho s future as Chelsea manager could be on the line when his former club Porto arrive at Stamford Bridge on Champions League matchday six.
Group G is poised for a dramatic finale on Wednesday, with Porto and Chelsea tied on 10 points at the top the Portuguese side edging their English rivals thanks to a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture.
Dynamo Kiev are third on eight points and all three teams are still able to progress to the round of 16.
The Premier League title-holders will secure top spot in the group and a potentially favourable opponent in the first knockout stage with victory in West London.
If Porto and Chelsea draw and Dynamo win at home to eliminated Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Ukrainian side will claim first place on goal difference as p…
Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a fifth Ligue 1 title in six years thanks to an astonishing 7-1 win over defending champions Monaco at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
Leonardo Jardim s young team caused an upset in winning the title last term, but PSG responded with significant investment in the form of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and have been in charge for the majority of the campaign, ultimately regaining their crown in emphatic style with five games to spare.
A stunning six-minute spell in the first half put PSG in complete control as they scored three times through Giovani Lo Celso, Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria, before former got his second of the day and the team s 100th this season just before the half-hour mark.
Rony Lopes at least prevented PSG from cl…
that they have signed a contract extension with Julian Brandt.
The winger has been the subject of much speculations in recent transfer windows, but last summer he reportedly rejected all interest and decided to remain at Leverkusen. His decision to remain was explained by the reports as one he made in order not to disturb his game in a season leading up to the World Cup by changing surroundings and potentially struggling to adapt.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, who had been linked with Brandt the most, signed Mohamed Salah and never looked back. There were still plenty of clubs interested in his services, but the 21-year-old has now recommitted his immediate future to Bayer Leverkusen. The new deal is set to run until 2021.
Brandt has been a Leverkusen player since the …
Diego Alonso blamed Uruguay s World Cup exit on Portugal s last-gasp penalty in their second Group H game.
La Celeste looked on course to reach the knockout stage on Friday with a 2-0 win over Ghana, yet South Korea s late winner against Portugal saw them progress at Uruguay s expense.
Uruguay and South Korea had the same goal difference, but the latter went through courtesy of having scored more goals.
However, Alonso does not think it should have come to that and lamented a contentious late penalty in their 2-0 defeat to Portugal, given against Jose Gimenez for handball.
We are out because of the penalty that Portugal got and the goals scored, he said.
We are not out because of the point against South Korea; we are out because of Portugal s pe…
Competition: Premier League
Market: Arsenal win Gabriel Martinelli to score anytime
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Smelling a golden chance to extend on their recent purple patch, Arsenal will make the trip to a struggling Norwich on Boxing Day afternoon.
Starting with the hosts, while Norwich might have thought they had found an immediate boost under new boss Dean Smith, the Canaries are in the midst of another struggle. Last seen prior to their enforced break with a 2-0 defeat against Norwich on home soil, the east Anglia outfit have lost each of their last three Premier League contests on the spin. Once again tipped as a landslide pick to be hit with another Championship return this season, the Yellows will be more than aware that they face another stern test at Carrow…
Raul Garcia insists he will not let the occasion of his return to the Vicente Calderon get the better of him when Athletic Bilbao visit Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Atletico host Athletic aiming to keep place with La Liga leaders Barcelona at the top of the table. Diego Simeone s men trail the defending champions by two points going into this weekend s fixtures.
Meanwhile, Athletic are just four points adrift of the top four and head into the game having lost just one of their last nine league matches.
Athletic sealed top spot in their Europa League group with a 2-2 draw with AZ on Thursday, 48 hours after Atletico won at Benfica to top their Champions League pool.
But it is Garcia s reunion with the team he left for San Mames just over three months ago th…
Wolfsburg star Diego believes his side will improve on their poor showing in the Bundesliga last season.
The 2008/09 league champions suffered a surprise 2-1 loss to FC Copenhagen in a pre-season friendly on Friday.
Diego said Wolfsburg would be much better this season after finishing a disappointing 11th in the league last campaign.
Much better, much better, I think, but we still have some things to improve with the ball and without the ball also, he said.
We feel better and I hope in the future we can play better because I think we made some mistakes and that should not be normal for us but in the moment I think we are on the right way.
Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking is likely to rely on Brazilian attacker Diego for creativity in the attackin…