Barcelona are in talks with Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol and Rafael Marquez on renewing their contracts, sporting director Txiki Begiristain said yesterday. The European and Spanish champions have already agreed new contracts with other key players including goalkeeper Victor Valdes and midfielders Xavi and Yaya Toure and Begiristain said it was important to […]
Italian Premier and AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi made some very interesting comments earlier this week about why football needs a salary cap. “Footballers’ salaries are outside reality. It is necessary to introduce a salary cap,” Berlusconi was quoted as saying by Italian media on Tuesday. “They are unacceptable, distant from the real economy in […]
Strikes from Maxi Rodríguez, Diego Forlán and Sergio Agüero left Club Atlético de Madrid in firm command of their UEFA Champions League play-off round tie against Panathinaikos after a thrilling 3-2 win in Athens. Maxi had given the visitors a first-half lead and although Dimitris Salpingidis equalised just after the break, the Spanish side hit […]
The American takeover of European sports teams continues as American businessman Timothy Barton has agreed to buy Serie A club AS Bari. The transfer of ownership is to be completed by Oct. 31, at which time Barton will become club president, Bari said in a statement posted on its Web site Tuesday. Vincenzo Matarrese will […]
Burnley had the first big shock of the new Premier League season as they beat Manchester United for the first time in 41 years 1-0. Robbie Blake scored for newly promoted Burnley in the 19th minute with a volley to the near post that beat goalkeeper Ben Foster. Manchester United missed a host of chances […]
According to a recent report from Ansa.it, it seems the plans to implement a membership scheme in Italy have taken a controversial turn with the news that any supporters who refuse to sign up will be denied access to away fixtures from January. With the new ‘fans membership card’ set to be introduced in 2010, […]
For those of you who do not get Fox Soccer Channel, you can now catch Premier League games on ESPN2 this season. ESPN2 is going to show up to 48 live matches this season, including 12 Monday afternoon matches. ESPN2 will feature one match each Saturday at 7:45 a.m. Eastern time and select Saturday matches […]
It is advantage Fiorentina at the midway point of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie against Sporting Lisbon after they gained a 2-2 first-leg draw in Lisbon. Juan Manuel Vargas sent Fiorentina on their way by opening the scoring and Alberto Gilardino’s goal eleven minutes from time gave Cesare Prandelli’s team a great finish after […]
It was not pretty but a deflected William Gallas opener and second-half own goal from Gary Caldwell put Arsenal firmly in the driving seat in this UEFA Champions League play-off tie as the visitors earned a 2-0 victory against Celtic. The home team had more than matched Arsène Wenger’s side for the best part of […]