csconstantine.com

NYON, Switzerland (AP)—UEFA has banned AS Roma captain Daniele De Rossi for three matches after he struck Shakhtar Donetsk captain Dario Srna in the face during a Champions League match.

UEFA’s disciplinary panel sanctioned De Rossi on Friday after he was charged with improper conduct.

De Rossi will serve the ban in future Champions League or Europa League matches. He can appeal the punishment within three days.

UEFA acted after English referee Howard Webb missed the incident during Roma’s 3-0 loss and elimination in Ukraine last week. Webb then showed Srna a yellow card for protesting that De Rossi used his elbow.

Shakhtar advanced to the quarterfinals 6-2 on aggregate.

Labels: clash, elbowing, Rossi

By Iain Rogers

MADRID, March 15 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo’s participation in Real Madrid’s Champions League last-16, second leg at home to Olympique Lyon on Wednesday still hangs in the balance, coach Jose Mourinho said.

The joint La Liga top scorer has missed Real’s last two matches with a leg muscle strain and Mourinho said he would decide after training later on Tuesday whether to include his Portuguese compatriot in the squad.

Lyon, who have not lost to the nine-times European champions in seven meetings and knocked them out at the same stage last season, fought back to draw 1-1 in last month’s first leg in France, although Real will be firm favourites to advance having won all their home games this term.

“I need to consult the medical department for a final opinion and to hear how the player himself feels, his final feelings in training,” Mourinho said at a news conference at Real’s vast facility outside Madrid.

“I am not going to wait until tomorrow,” the former Inter Milan and Chelsea manager added.

“I don’t like deciding the day of the match. I like to have everything clear in my head the day before. If he is fine he’ll obviously play but we have to wait a bit longer to see.”

Real hired Mourinho at the end of last season after he led Serie A side Inter to an unprecedented treble of domestic Italian league and cup and Champions League.

A 10th European crown has remained out of reach since their last title in 2002 and they have failed to progress to the quarter-finals of the continent’s elite competition the past six seasons.

They limped out of last year’s edition when Lyon snatched a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu to progress 2-1 on aggregate.

Mourinho said Real should not obsess about winning their 10th title as even if they failed in the competition this season there was always next year.

“You have to remain calm,” he said. “We have to fight hard to make it this year of course but if not then next.

“It’s not a serious problem. A serious problem is what is happening in Japan, not getting to the Champions League final.”

(Editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: clash, Fitness, Reuters, Ronaldo, sweating

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP)—Police say several people have been injured in overnight clashes between football fans and police after the Sofia derby between archrivals CSKA and Levski.

Sofia police chief Valeri Yordanov said Sunday that 16 police officers were among those injured. Several buses and trolleys have been damaged and many shop and car windows smashed.

Riot police had stormed the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium at halftime of the derby and forced 3,500 CSKA fans to leave after crowd trouble had marred the game. CSKA won 3-1.

Sofia deputy mayor Ivan Sotirov said 27 fans had been detained for hooliganism. He added that city officials were considering scheduling all future football games in daylight to reduce violence.

Labels: Bulgarian, clash, Football, police

Rangers midfielder Jamie Ness has backed new signing El-Hadji Diouf to be a strong force for the Ibrox side and hopes the forward can have big part to play in the Old Firm derby on Sunday.

Diouf, who joined on loan from Blackburn on the transfer deadline day, made his debut for Rangers when he was brought on from the bench after 20 minutes in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Hearts.

Ness admitted he was impressed by the Senegalese’s performance and expects big things from his new team mate.

"It was difficult for him as I don't think he expected to come on so early," said the 19-year-old.

"But he showed some good touches and I think he will only get better and be a really good player for us."

Diouf, who was widely criticised for spitting at a Celtic fan in 2003, could feature in the fifth round match against the Hoops and Ness believes he has the potential to have a huge impact on the match.

He added: “[Diouf's] obviously got the quality so, if he's playing, hopefully he will be able to do something for us."

Ness is looking to secure a foothold in Walter Smith’s side himself after making his starting debut in the New Year Old Firm game. He hopes his recent performance have done enough to feature in Smith’s plans.

"Hopefully I'll be involved. I always want to play and hopefully the gaffer will think I've done enough to merit a place,” he said.

"I've trained with the first team boys regularly for almost two years so I know everyone really well and I know everyone's game well and I think that has helped me a lot."

RANGERS NEWS:

Labels: Celtic, clash, Diouf, hopes, Rangersapos, shine, stvtv

The 24-year-old was involved in a car crash in December after which the first signs of a hamstring problem appeared and has been plagued by the problem since.

Naismith has already been ruled out of games in January and could well be sidelined for the next Europa League tie.

"Steven's problem has been a difficult one for everyone at the club to treat and diagnose," Rangers' boss Walter Smith told his side's official website.

"There are times when he starts to feel better and it seems he is able to play but then it flares up again.

"Obviously we'll have to give enough time this time to make sure he fully recovers from the problem.

"I would say it is more than likely he will miss the trip to Portugal now and that's a setback with us.

"Without having spoken to the doctor or the physios about it, I'd imagine he will have to take a fair amount of time out before he can come back."

The Hoops now have an eight point SPL lead over their fierce rivals, although Walter Smith's side have two games in hand.

Labels: clash, Goalcom, Lisbon, Naismith, Rangers, ruled, Sporting, Steven, winger

* Gignac and Remy could be doubtful for United game

* Lucho Gonzalez and Remy goals seal victory

(adds details, byline)

By Mark Meadows

PARIS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Olympique Marseille beat St Etienne 2-1 on Saturday but their preparations for the midweek Champions League clash with Manchester United were hit by injuries to forwards Andre-Pierre Gignac and Loic Remy.

The win sent Didier Deschamps’s side up to second in Ligue 1, three points behind leaders Lille who visit Montpellier on Sunday (1600 GMT).

Lucho Gonzalez finally broke the deadlock for the frustrated champions on 68 minutes when he slotted in Gignac’s pull back and Remy netted the second 10 minutes later from close range.

Christophe Landrin grabbed a goal back for Les Verts in stoppage time.

France striker Gignac, who scored twice in last weekend’s 2-1 win at Sochaux, hobbled off on 74 minutes and the grimace on his face suggested he could be doubtful for Wednesday’s last-16 first leg at home to United.

Remy followed him down the tunnel with what appeared to be an ankle knock soon after scoring his goal.

A third forward, Brandao, was substituted midway through the second half and media reports said he may also be injured.

St Etienne, beaten 4-1 by Olympique Lyon last weekend, had started the brighter at the Stade Velodrome with Gabriel Heinze almost scoring an own goal before the visitors had the ball in the net on 13 minutes only to be thwarted by the offside flag.

Marseille then had two shots cleared off the line straight after each other before finding the breakthrough.

MONACO LOSE

Lyon, who take on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, are third in the table after defeating AS Nancy 4-0 on Friday but could be overtaken on Sunday when Stade Rennes and Paris St Germain travel to Toulouse and Nice respectively.

Monaco’s hopes of a revival after last Saturday’s win over FC Lorient proved shortlived as they lost 2-0 at Stade Brest to remain third from bottom and in the relegation zone.

Racing Lens are a place below them after a 3-2 home defeat by Sochaux which featured a red card apiece.

Auxerre, in 16th position, and bottom side AC Arles-Avignon did nothing to ease their drop fears by sharing a 1-1 draw while Caen were held 2-2 at home by Valenciennes.

Girondins Bordeaux were playing at Lorient at 2000 GMT with the pressure still on coach Jean Tigana given the 2009 champions’s mid-table malaise.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Before, clash, injured, Marseille, Reuters, United

Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik is not downtrodden by the 0-0 draw with Villarreal in the first-leg of their Europa League tie and believes qualification to the last 16 is still up for grabs.

The 23-year-old came on a substitute in the scoreless stalemate at the Stadio San Paolo on Thursday evening, as the Yellow Submarine took a fairly cautious approach.

"Villarreal defended very well, it was difficult to create chances," admitted the Slovakian international to CalcioNapoli24.it.

"I entered the match in progress, but there were no spaces to exploit. That tied us down a bit, but qualification [to the next round] is still open."

The second-leg takes place on February 24 at El Madrigal. Prior to that, Napoli will face Catania in Serie A action on Sunday night.

Follow Goal.com on to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's

Labels: clash, Europa, Goalcom, Hamsik, league, Marek, Napoli, Qualify, still, Villarreal

Get the inside track on 'Sky Track Cycling', the team formerly known as 'Team Sky+HD'.

Visit our microsite for news, live scores, features, video and opinion from the Sky Sports cricket experts.

Our new feature continues to bookmark the finest sporting banter possible in 140 characters.

Check out the latest from the written press with all the gossip and speculation from today's newspapers.

We speak to FA Head of Coaching John Peacock about the new youth football programme.

Fabregas: Barca admiration

Barca took the lead at the Emirates but the Gunners stunned the tournament favourites by snatching victory with two late goals.

Arsene Wenger's men will now take a 2-1 lead to the Camp Nou as they aim to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

And World Cup winner Fabregas believes Arsenal were worthy winners from a memorable clash of two sides famed for their attacking styles.

"It's a massive victory," said the Spanish midfielder. "It's the best game I've experienced in terms of quality and intensity.

"They had the ball, they went for it. We had the ball, we went for it.

"I've never experienced a game with so much quality on the pitch from both teams. Of course it was the right result."

Fabregas came through the Barca youth ranks before joining Arsenal at just 16 and reckons the current Barca side is the "best team in football history".

They won an unprecedented treble in 2009, claiming a third European crown, and Arsenal are eager to capture their first Champions League title after enjoying their first win over Barca in six attempts.

"We want to prove we can win a trophy like this one," Fabregas added. "There are 90 minutes to go and we're playing against a big team.

"If you want to beat them you have to give everything. We will have to give our hearts.

"The second leg will be very difficult. We have to perform very well. They will go out to win and we want to attack.

"You never know what can happen in this type of game."

While Fabregas admits there is plenty of work to be done to knock out Barca, he felt it was important to maintain the feel good factor at the Emirates.

"Winning last night is definitely uplifting," he said.

"We are in the final of the Carling Cup, we have an FA Cup match coming on Sunday and two Premier League games coming up before the second leg against Barcelona.

"I'm hoping this win will be good for the team because since the New Year we've only lost one game and we've won most of our games.

"At the moment we're on a good run and we want to keep it going."

Ian Watson meets Andy Barr to hear how NBA life differs from his roles at Bolton, Saints and Man City.

Our new feature continues to bookmark the finest sporting banter possible in 140 characters.

Touchline tantrums are the order of the day as Gattuso and Jordan go head-to-head (literally) at the San Siro.

Read the thoughts and opinions of Paul Merson with skysports.com

Spurs have confirmed Vedran Corluka will return to light training next week after damaging his ankle against AC Milan.

Liverpool's owners and Sir Martin Broughton remain confident Tom Hicks' threat to sue will fail after the Texan lost another court battle.

Shaun Wright-Phillips has accepted that he is likely to leave Man City at the end of the season.

Alex McLeish has played down calls for contract talks to be opened with Scott Dann and Roger Johnson.

Cesc Fabregas reckons Arsenal's win over Barcelona on Wednesday is the greatest match he has played in.

Labels: Barca, clash, Fabregas, hails, SkySports

* Crouch winner gives Spurs first-leg lead

* Gattuso flare up mars win (writes through)

By Antonella Ciancio

MILAN, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur’s debut season in the Champions League continued to gather momentum after a Peter Crouch goal sank below-par AC Milan in a 1-0 last 16 first-leg victory on Tuesday.

England striker Crouch struck 10 minutes from time following a swift counter-attack at a rain-soaked San Siro, extending Milan’s poor recent home record in European competition to just one win in 10 games.

Serie A leaders Milan, seven-times European champions, struggled to impose themselves in a niggly encounter that flared up at various stages.

Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini was lucky just to be booked for a crude two-footed lunge that forced Vedran Corluka out of the game and Gennaro Gattuso is likely to face UEFA repercussions after appearing to headbutt Spurs assistant manager Joe Jordan after the final whistle.

Gattuso had to be pulled away from Jordan and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp branded the Italian firebrand “crazy”.

“I lost control,” Gattuso told reporters. “There is no excuse for what I have done. I take my responsibilities for that. I was nervous. I didn’t want to argue with players and I did it with him, but I was wrong to do what I have done.”

Redknapp also blasted Flamini, calling his challenge on Corluka a “horrendous”.

“It was a deliberate tackle. He could have broken his leg. A referee should have red-carded him,” an angry Redknapp told a news conference.

Crouch, who finished with aplomb from 10 metres after a lightning break from Aaron Lennon, said Spurs were the better side.

“I thought we deserved to win, we limited them to a few chances… defended magnificently.

“It was a great win, it’s a fantastic achievement to beat Milan in the San Siro but the job is not finished.”

The Premier League side, who lost 4-3 at the San Siro to Milan’s city rivals Inter in the group stage in October, were the better side in the first half before Milan improved after the break.

Spurs had an early shout for a penalty turned down when the fit-again Rafael van der Vaart’s effort appeared to strike Alessandro Nesta on the arm.

HEAD INJURY

The home side lost goalkeeper Christian Abbiati after 18 minutes with a head injury. Abbiati went to hospital for checks on concussion and his replacement Marco Amelia had to touch a fierce Van der Vaart shot over the bar after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had fired a free kick wide in Milan’s first meaningful chance.

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri, with several midfielders such as Andrea Pirlo injured and the likes of Antonio Cassano ineligible, sent out a defensive-looking team with centre back Thiago Silva in midfield and in the first half it showed.

He threw on Brazil forward Alexandre Pato at the break and Milan’s Mario Yepes had two headers well-saved by Heurelho Gomes.

Robinho had a close-range shot deflected wide and Milan thought they had equalised late in stoppage time but Ibrahimovic’s spectacular overhead strike was ruled out for a push.

(Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: badtempered, clash, Crouch, Milan, Reuters, sinks

By Sportsbeat staff

THE curtain raiser to next year's Premier League season will kick-off on the final day of the London 2012 Olympics - but a compromise has kept the match out of the capital.

CLASH: The 2012 Community Shield will be staged during the Olympics - but it won't be played at Wembley (Reuters)

A condition of London 2012's host city contract with the International Olympic Committee forces organisers to work with other sporting bodies to ensure the Games takes place in an uncluttered calendar.

Organising committee chief executive Paul Deighton had already negotiated for the FA Premier League season to start one week later than usual but it appeared there was no other way to accommodate the annual Community Shield, between the top flight champions and FA Cup winners.

It was suggested the match could be played one or two days after the Olympics conclude but feedback from clubs suggested they wanted more time between the fixture and their opening league games on Sunday August 19th.

Wembley will stage the final of the Olympic men's football tournament on Saturday August 11th and therefore won't be available to stage showpiece curtain raiser.

Football Association officials had considered taking the match aboard but again there was opposition from the majority of teams consulted - who all wanted the game played on Sunday August 12th.

Manchester's Old Trafford - which will host a men's Olympic semi-final five days earlier - is considered the frontrunner to stage the game, although Manchester United have featured in 14 of the last 18 Community Shield matches. 

Labels: clash, curtain, Games, league, London, Olympics, Premier, raiser

WALES midfielder Andy King believes victory in tonight’s Carling Nations Cup opener against the Republic of Ireland would be the perfect boost ahead of next month’s eagerly-anticipated meeting with England.

New manager Gary Speed will take charge of Wales for the first time at the Aviva Stadium with Wales having endured a miserable run of three defeats at the start of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign that means their record of failing to reach a major finals since 1958 is likely to continue.

Their next qualifier is the Millennium Stadium meeting with Fabio Capello’s men on March 26, and Leicester playmaker King believes a win over Giovanni Trapattoni’s men will tee Wales up nicely.

He said: “Confidence is a massive thing in football and if we can get a win it will be a huge boost for us. We are up against a strong Republic of Ireland side, they have Premier League players with lots of caps all the way through their squad and it would be a massive boost if we can win.

“This is a massively important competition and there is a trophy to be had.

“Every time you go out to play you want to do well and that’s why you have to work hard and everyone is going to be working hard to get the call up for England.

“I think some people see this as a warm up for the England game but it’s a different tournament and it’s important we get the three points and start the tournament well.

“The England game will be on people’s minds but we are 100% focused on Ireland.”

But Speed’s preparations for his first game since succeeding John Toshack as full-time boss in December have been hit by a number of injury withdrawals.

Tottenham’s Gareth Bale and Cardiff striker Craig Bellamy were not named in the original party and last night the names of Aaron Ramsey, David Edwards and Ched Evans were added to an absentee list which also included Boaz Myhill, Craig Morgan, Danny Gabbidon and Steve Morison.

Speed has also not been helped by the positioning of the fixture between two full league weekend programmes, with yesterday’s South Wales derby also depriving him of more time with his squad.

But King says that will be no excuse if Wales fail to perform.

“We do have a short preparation time and even more so for the people who played in the derby,” he said. “But at this time of the season it is hard and there are always a lot of games and it’s something Ireland will have to cope with as well.”

Labels: clash, England, Ireland, nicely, WalesOnline

By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 6:18 PM on 6th February 2011

Robbie Keane looks to be out of the Republic of Ireland's Carling Nations Cup opener against Wales after picking up a calf injury in West Ham's 1-0 defeat to Birmingham.

Keane, who scored on his Hammers debut at Blackpool on Wednesday, had to come off with 15 minutes of Sunday's match at Upton Park remaining after feeling his calf tighten.

West Ham boss Avram Grant said that he believes the 30-year-old is out of Tuesday's game in Dublin and could miss next weekend's crucial match at West Brom.

Grant said: 'Robbie Keane is injured. His calf has tightened. We will have to wait and see. I hope he will be fit for next weekend but he will not be fit for the international.'

Celtic's Anthony Stokes was placed on standby for a call-up when Giovanni Trapattoni named his squad last week and could replace Keane if he is pulled out.

Bristol City striker Andy Keogh had to be drafted into the Republic squad on Saturday after Newcastle striker Leon Best was injured in his side`s remarkable 4-4 draw with Arsenal.

Labels: after, clash, Daily, injury, Irelandaposs, Keane, picking, Wales