Professional soccer

Professional soccer

• Bentley, Malouda and Gallas released by clubs

  David Bentley, Florent Malouda and William Gallas are among the players to have been released by Premier League clubs. The trio head a list of 165 who ... 

• Barca's Cuenca out 3-4 months after 2nd surgery

  Barcelona says winger Isaac Cuenca will be out for between three to four months after undergoing a second operation on his right knee. Barcelona says ... 

• Barca clears Messi to play in World Cup qualifier

  Lionel Messi has been cleared by Barcelona's team doctors to play in Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Ecuador. Messi pulled his ... 

• City signs Fernandinho from Shakhtar

  Manchester City made its first big move in this summer's transfer market on Thursday, signing Brazil international Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk ... 

• Dortmund defender Piszczek out for 5 months

  Borussia Dortmund's Poland defender Lukasz Piszczek is expected to be out for five months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right hip to ... 

• FIFA bans Basel, Ivory Coast player for 4 months

  FIFA has suspended Basel and Ivory Coast midfielder Geoffroy Serey Die for four months over a five-year-old contract dispute, the Swiss champion said ... 

• Reds hope to have Sturridge back for EPL opener

  Liverpool says Daniel Sturridge should be fit for the start of the next English Premier League season after a "high ankle sprain" on England duty last ... 

• Bari, 33 people face match-fixing trial in Italy

  It looks to be another Italian offseason marred by a match-fixing case after 33 people and Serie B club Bari were called to a sports trial before the ... 

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  Neymar wants to 'make history' with Barcelona

  Barcelona striker Neymar said he's ready to "start making history" with the Spanish champions and follow in a long line of Brazilians who have ... 

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  Ribery, Van Buyten extend deals at Bayern Munich

  France winger Franck Ribery and veteran Belgium defender Daniel van Buyten have extended their contracts with Champions League winner Bayern Munich. 

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  Espanyol coach Javier Aguirre agrees new contract

  Former Mexico manager Javier Aguirre will continue at Spanish club Espanyol next season. Aguirre and club president Joan Collet announced on Wednesday ... 

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  Brazil plummets to No. 22 in FIFA rankings

  Five-time World Cup winner Brazil dropped to a historic low of No. 22 in the FIFA rankings on Thursday only one year before hosting the showpiece ... 

• Coach Juan Ignacio Martinez to leave Levante

  Levante has parted ways with coach Juan Ignacio Martinez after two successful seasons ended with an ongoing investigation into alleged match-fixing. 

• FIFA Rankings List

  FIFA rankings for June (May positions in parentheses): 1. Spain (1) 2. Germany (2) 3. Argentina (3) 4. Croatia (4) 5. Netherlands (9) 6. Portugal (5) ... 

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  Study shows clubs getting grip on finances

  Clubs in Europe's top leagues defied challenging economic conditions to improve overall profits by maintaining revenue growth and staying in control ... 

• Fulham signs new goalkeeper Stekelenburg from Roma

  Fulham says it has signed Netherlands international goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg from AS Roma in a four-year deal. No details were given of the fee ... 

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  Everton hires Roberto Martinez as manager

  Roberto Martinez was hired as Everton manager on Wednesday after quitting relegated Wigan and immediately piled the pressure on himself by promising ... 

• Arshavin among players released by Arsenal

  Andrey Arshavin's unhappy spell at Arsenal has come to an end after the Premier League club announced the Russia captain will be one of three players ... 

• Six Pro Patria fans sentenced for racism vs. Milan

  Six fans of lower-division club Pro Patria have been issued jail sentences from 40 days to two months for inciting racial hatred during a January ... 

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  Neymar's first Barcelona match set to be friendly

  Neymar's first outing for Barcelona alongside Lionel Messi looks set to be in a July friendly against Lechia Gdansk in Poland. Barcelona said in a ... 

• Valencia appoints Miroslav Djukic as coach to 2014

  Valencia has appointed former defender Miroslav Djukic as its new coach through 2014. The club said in a statement on Wednesday that the 47-year-old ... 

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  Turkey's tourism industry shrugs off protest fears

  Turkey, a largely Muslim nation that bridges Europe and Asia, has a flourishing tourist industry based on ancient historical sites and ruins, a ... 

• Tottenham winger gets 4-month ban in betting case

  Tottenham winger Andros Townsend has been banned from football for four months for violating betting rules. The Football Association announced the ... 

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  Bolt ready to run his best again at Rome meet

  Usain Bolt is looking forward to performing at his best again after being slowed by a hamstring injury a month ago. The 100-meter world record-holder ...