Footy News

Champions League: Qualifying draw

Arsenal will face former England boss Steve McClaren’s FC Twente in the Champions League third qualifying round this month.
McClaren took the reins at the Dutch side earlier this summer and the Eredivisie outfit will make their Champions League debut after beating Ajax in a play-off last season.
Liverpool were paired with Belgian former European powerhouse Standard [...]

Platini proposes player salaries cap

Clubs could face limits on the amount they spend on players’ salaries under proposals outlined to European ministers by UEFA president Michel Platini.
In the keynote speech to the council of ministers for European affairs in Brest, Platini also called for curbs on transfer of players under 18 and greater power for team sports to [...]

Ronaldo denies Madrid claim

Cristiano Ronaldo says there is no agreement to join Real Madrid and expects to be out for up to 12 weeks after an ankle operation.
The Manchester United winger’s future has been a fervent source of conjecture since the club’s UEFA Champions League final win over Chelsea in May.
Real Madrid have repeatedly stated their interest in [...]

Blatter entering Ronaldo saga

Manchester United have taken issue with Sepp Blatter after the FIFA president claimed Cristiano Ronaldo should be allowed to leave Old Trafford if he wants.
The FIFA president’s remarks in a Sky News interview, in which he criticised a trend towards “modern slavery” in football, surprised the Champions League winners and the game at large.
United are [...]

UEFA Cup could get new name

Liverpool chief executive Parry joined his Chelsea counterpart Peter Kenyon on a 15-man board and will have a crucial voice in running the European game over the next two years.
One innovation could see the UEFA Cup being rebranded the Europa Cup from the start of the 2009-10 season, and given a greater push to raise [...]

Champions League draw

First Qualifying Round draw
First leg: 15/16 July
Second leg: 22/23 July

Linfield FC (NIR) v NK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Valetta FC (MLT) v FC Artmedia Petr~alka (SVK)
FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
FC Santa Coloma (AND) v FBK Kaunus (LTU)
S.S. Murata (SMR) v IFK Göteborg (SWE)
Llanelli AFC (WAL) v FK Ventspils (LVA)
Anorthosis Famugusta (CYP) v FC Pyunik [...]

Lippi get Italian job

The Italian Football Federation have moved quickly to plug the hole left by departed Italy coach Roberto Donadoni by re-appointing Marcello Lippi to the position he vacated two years ago.
Lippi led the Azzurri to World Cup glory in 2006 but has now returned to lead the team in their defence of their title in South [...]

The preview to EURO semis

Turkey and Russia will be missing key men through suspension for their respective semi-finals against Germany and Spain after the lineup for the last four was completed on Sunday night.
Two out
None of the three Spain players already on a booking – Álvaro Arbeloa, Daniel Güiza or Carlos Marchena – picked up another yellow card in the shoot-out win against [...]