Reuters Football - European Football

Benfica take stride towards Champions League playoff spot

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:46:59 GMT

LONDON, July 27 (Reuters) - Twice European champions Benfica earned an important two-goal cushion in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Turkish side Trabzonspor on Wednesday, winning 2-0 in Lisbon.

Olympiakos Volos and Kavala relegated in Greece

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:10:49 GMT

ATHENS, July 28 (Reuters) - Olympiakos Volos and Kavala have been relegated from the Greek Super League, the disciplinary committee announced on Thursday.

Spartak Moscow fine Argentine duo over late arrival

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:31:19 GMT

MOSCOW, July 27 (Reuters) - Spartak Moscow have fined Argentina internationals Marcos Rojo and Nicolas Pareja half their monthly wages after the duo arrived late back from the Copa America, the Russian Premier League side said on Wednesday.

Bulgarian FA blocks Marquinhos move over unpaid debts

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:50:08 GMT

SOFIA, July 27 (Reuters) - The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) has blocked Brazilian-born midfielder Marquinhos's move from CSKA Sofia to Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta over unpaid debts to several clubs.

Rubin score shock win at Shevchenko-less Dynamo

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:25:01 GMT

LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) - Dynamo Kiev, who left out former European footballer of the year Andriy Shevchenko, slumped to a 2-0 home defeat against Rubin Kazan in a Champions League third qualifying round first-leg tie on Tuesday.

ANALYSIS-Unusual Bojan Krkic 'loan' deal may catch on

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:08:24 GMT

MADRID, July 25 (Reuters) - Barcelona's unusual deal with AS Roma for the transfer of forward Bojan Krkic to the Italian capital, according to which the La Liga club must buy him back in two years, is the kind of innovative loan agreement that could catch on.

Turkish Federation delays soccer season due to scandal

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:15:27 GMT

ISTANBUL, July 25 (Reuters) - Turkey's soccer federation decided on Monday to delay the start of the new season until Sept. 9 from Aug. 5 amid an investigation into match-fixing allegations involving some of the country's major clubs, CNN-Turk news channel reported.

Bulgaria midfielder Marquinhos joins Anorthosis

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 09:47:05 GMT

SOFIA, July 25 (Reuters) - Midfielder Marquinhos has joined Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta from CSKA Sofia on a three-year contract, the Bulgarian club said on Monday.

Norwegian FA cancels matches after shooting, bomb attack

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:09:21 GMT

OSLO, July 23 (Reuters) - All top-flight Norwegian soccer matches this weekend have been cancelled after gun and bomb attacks that killed at least 91 people, the Norwegian FA (NFF) said in a statement on Saturday.

Benfica sign Spain's Capdevila from Villarreal

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:41:54 GMT

LISBON, July 21 (Reuters) - Spanish defender Joan Capdevila has agreed to join Benfica on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee from Villarreal, the Portuguese club said on their website on Thursday.

Switzerland's Neuchatel fire keeper after one match

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:04:58 GMT

ZURICH, July 22 (Reuters) - Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax's turbulent start under new Chechen owner Bulat Chagaev continued on Friday when goalkeeper Rodrigo Galatto was fired after one game and one week at the club.

Match-fixers in Bulgaria face up to six years in jail

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 05:26:18 GMT

SOFIA, July 21 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's parliament has approved legal amendments under which anyone convicted of attempting to fix sports events will face up to six years in jail.

Galatasaray sign Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:52:24 GMT

ISTANBUL, July 20 (Reuters) - Galatasaray have signed Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera from Lazio in a five-year deal, the Turkish club said on Wednesday.

Helsinki enjoy record 13-0 aggregate win over Bangor

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:00:50 GMT

ZURICH, July 19 - HJK Helsinki swept to a 10-0 win over Bangor City of Wales to complete a record 13-0 aggregate victory in the Champions League era on Tuesday while former European Cup runners-up Malmo advanced after scraping a last-gasp draw at HB Torshavn.

Turkish football federation postpone Super Cup

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:39:56 GMT

ISTANBUL, July 19 (Reuters) - The Turkish Super Cup match between league champions Fenerbahce and cup winners Besiktas has been postponed due to a court investigation into match-fixing allegations which have hit some of the country's major clubs, Turkey's football federation said on Tuesday.

Porto striker Falcao extends contract until 2015

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:05:35 GMT

LISBON, July 14 (Reuters) - Porto's prolific Colombian striker Radamel Falcao has agreed to extend his contract until 2015 and now has a release clause of 45 million euros, the Portuguese club said on Thursday.

Top Besiktas figures jailed in match-fixing probe

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:10:20 GMT

ISTANBUL, July 13 - A Turkish court jailed the coach and deputy chairman of Istanbul club Besiktas pending trial on Wednesday in a match-fixing investigation which has overshadowed preparations for the new soccer season, media reports said.

No reason to ban Turkish clubs from Europe, say UEFA

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:45:27 GMT

- BERNE, July 12 (Reuters) - UEFA has no reason on current evidence to ban any of the Turkish clubs involved in match-fixing investigations from European competition at this stage, European soccer's governing body said on Tuesday.

Turkey federation defers match-fixing probe move

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:52:14 GMT

ISTANBUL, July 12 - Turkish police questioned more footballers and officials in a major match-fixing investigation on Tuesday while the soccer federation said last season's results would stand because it lacked evidence to launch its own inquiry.

Trabzonspor chairman held in match-fixing probe

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 09:59:55 GMT

ISTANBUL, July 11 (Reuters) - Turkish police detained 22 people including the chairman of Trabzonspor on Monday in a widening match-fixing investigation which has already put 26 people in jail pending trial, broadcasters said.

Spain still riding high a year on from World Cup glory

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:08:39 GMT

MADRID, July 11 (Reuters) - Spain have stuttered in a couple of friendlies since their first World Cup triumph a year ago but Vicente del Bosque's side are cruising through Euro 2012 qualifying and will be firm favourites to retain their title.

Fenerbahce chairman jailed in match fixing probe

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:08:39 GMT

ISTANBUL, July 10 (Reuters) - An Istanbul court jailed the chairman of league champions Fenerbahce on Sunday pending trial on charges of match-fixing, in an investigation which could result in the club being stripped of their title.

One dead, 14 injured in Dutch stadium roof collapse

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:45:46 GMT

AMSTERDAM, July 7 (Reuters) - One construction worker was killed and 14 others injured by falling steel and rubble when part of a Dutch soccer stadium's roof in the city of Enschede collapsed during renovation work on Thursday.

Italy World Cup winner Cannavaro retires

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:56:56 GMT

DUBAI, July 9 (Reuters) - Former World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro retired on Saturday five years to the day since captaining Italy to World Cup glory.

Prosecutor seeks jail for Fenerbahce chairman

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:35:09 GMT

ISTANBUL, July 8 (Reuters) - A Turkish prosecutor requested a court jail the chairman of league champions Fenerbahce pending trial on charges of match-fixing on Friday, TV reports said, in an investigation which could result in the club being stripped of its title.