Ireland want to be 'team No 33' at World Cup
Ireland have appealed to world governing body FIFA to be allowed to compete as a 33rd team in next year's World Cup finals, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Monday. Ibrahimovic gives 10-man Barca 1-0 win over Real
Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to volley 10-man Barcelona to a 1-0 home victory over Real Madrid on Sunday which put them back on top of La Liga. Late penalty gives Inter victory, Juve lose
Diego Milito's penalty five minutes from time gave Inter Milan a deserved 1-0 home win over Fiorentina on Sunday and extended their Serie A lead to eight points. Pantelic hat-trick sees Ajax speed past Vitesse
Marko Pantelic struck a hat-trick to help Ajax Amsterdam thrash Vitesse Arnhem 5-1 in the Dutch league on Sunday, while Feyenoord also enjoyed a good away win, 2-0 at ADO Den Haag. Chelsea take charge after trouncing Arsenal
Chelsea regained their dominant place in the Premier League title race with a 3-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday that restored their five-point lead over Manchester United. Messi, Ronaldo in race for Ballon d'Or award
The list of candidates to win the 2009 Ballon d'Or award was reduced to 10 men on Sunday, with Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi the overwhelming favourite. Gawli, Naik suspended for skipping national camp
The All India Football Federation on Sunday suspended Mahesh Gawli and Sameer Naik for missing a national camp on a direction from their I-League club Dempo. Their fate will be decided by a disciplinary committee before the start of the Federation Cup next month. Lowly Paris end Auxerre's dream run
Lowly Paris St Germain ended Auxerre's surprise Ligue 1 run by beating the leaders 1-0 at Parc des Princes on Saturday. Bremen draw with Wolfsburg, lead table
Werder Bremen battled back with a stoppage-time goal from defender Per Mertesacker to draw 2-2 with champions VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday and go top of the Bundesliga table on goal difference. 10-man Genoa crush Sampdoria in derby tie
A vibrant 10-man Genoa outclassed city rivals Sampdoria 3-0 in a fast and furious Serie A derby on Saturday in which three players were sent off. Fabiano brace helps Sevilla to face-saving draw
Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano scored twice in the second-half to give his side a 2-2 draw at home to struggling Malaga in La Liga on Saturday. Van Persie to undergo ankle surgery
Dutch striker Robin van Persie's ankle injury is worse than first feared and he will be out of Arsenal's team for at least four months. Rooney hat-trick seals United win
Wayne Rooney scored a two-penalty hat-trick as Manchester United won 4-1 at Portsmouth on Saturday to trim Chelsea's Premier League lead to two points. Ronaldo's return boosts Real for Barca trip
Cristiano Ronaldo's return to fitness has strengthened Real Madrid in time for their eagerly anticipated trip to face Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Sunday. Roma's Totti has fresh chance to woo Lippi
AS Roma striker Francesco Totti will be aiming for another hat-trick at Atalanta on Sunday as speculation mounts about an Italy comeback, something Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano can only dream of. France files complaint against racist Juve fans
A French anti-racist body said on Friday it would file a legal complaint after racist chanting by Juventus fans at a Champions League match at Girondins Bordeaux. Former France coach criticises Domenech
France should have changed their coach after their Euro 2008 flop instead of leaving Raymond Domenech in charge, former France coach Aime Jacquet was quoted as saying on Friday. Anelka comes home to find joy at Chelsea
Nicolas Anelka's arrival at Chelsea in January last year hardly had the fans buzzing amid all the big-money signings since Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich transformed the fortunes of the west London club. Avram Grant named Portsmouth manager
Avram Grant has been named manager of Portsmouth to replace Paul Hart who was sacked earlier this week, the Premier League club said on Thursday. Banned Maradona picks squad for friendly
Argentina coach Diego Maradona named a squad on Thursday for a friendly he is banned from taking part in. Churchill to play in AFC Champions League play-off
I-League champions Churchill Brothers was on Thursday included among seven Asian clubs who will feature in play-off matches for a berth in the prestigious AFC Champions League 2010. Seven games under match-fixing microscope: UEFA
Seven European club matches, including one Champions League qualifier, are under investigation after last week's exposure of a match-fixing ring, UEFA said on Wednesday. World Cup draw to map out familiar path
Whatever surprises the draw for South Africa 2010 provides in Cape Town on December 4, the path to glory at the first African World Cup will be a familiar one. Bayern revive hopes as Juventus lose
Bayern Munich, facing an early Champions League exit, revived their chances of reaching the last 16 on Wednesday as they beat Maccabi Haifa 1-0 and rivals Juventus lost at Girondins Bordeaux. AC Milan missed a chance to qualify when they were held 1-1 at home by Olympique Marseille and Real Madrid produced an uninspiring 1-0 win over Swiss champions FC Zurich in the same group. Liverpool assure Benitez his job is secure
Liverpool have assured Rafa Benitez that his job is secure despite the club joining the Champions League also-rans.