FIFA have apparently demanded (http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=740894) that British newspaper, The Guardian, retract a claim that FIFA have established a £400 million insurance fund to assist South Africa if they fail to complete in time for the 2010 World Cup. The story, written by 'Digger' columnist Matt Scott was published online on April 2nd and can be read here (http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,2270176,00.html).

Possibly the biggest surprise of the first leg games in the UEFA Cup quarter finals was Zenit St. Petersburg's crushing of Bayer Leverkusen.

Daniel Levy would consider an offer to buy Tottenham only if the deal was right for shareholders and fans - but nothing of that nature has yet been tabled

Rangers midfielder Lee McCulloch insists the Ibrox club remain favourites to progress to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, despite drawing a blank in the home leg of their quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon

Didier Drogba still believes Chelsea will overcome Fenerbahce to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League despite their setback in Turkey

Cesc Fabregas maintains rejuvenated Arsenal are still very much in the race for the Barclays Premier League title but accepts there is now little margin for error

Xavi Hernández moved into fourth place in the FC Barcelona all-time record appearance list when he placed in the Champions League encounter against Schalke 04 in midweek

Whether PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Gómes will form part of the first team during the next few weeks remains to be seen. The Brazilian will be undergoing medical tests on Friday.

German Berti Vogts, former coach of Germany, Scotland and Nigeria, was confirmed Friday as the new coach of Azerbaijan for World Cup 2010 qualifiers.

Barnsley manager Simon Davey has ordered his players to savour Sunday´s FA Cup semi-final against Cardiff and forget about the possibility of slipping deeper in the Coca-Cola Championship relegation mire

Javier Mascherano has publicly apologised for the furious reaction to his sending-off at Manchester United which saw him handed an additional two-game ban

Deco limped out of training on Thursday evening with some pain in his right leg after working with the first team for the last few days, despite not yet being given a clean bill of health

After Getafe’s last-minute equaliser to seal a 1-1 draw in the UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg, Bayern must now win the return or draw while scoring at least twice to make the semi-finals

The draw of the Under-17 European Championship had title defenders Spain share a group with former champions Switzerland and France.

Chelsea will look to bounce back from an unexpected Champions League defeat at the hands of Fenerbahce by keeping their bid for the Premier League title on track at Manchester City on Saturday.

Wolfsburg´s Brazilian striker Grafite has been suspended for five matches after a clash with Hamburg´s Dutch defender Joris Mathijsen.

Sol Campbell admits he will have to dig deep into his well of defensive experience if he is to prevent West Brom striker Kevin Phillips from wrecking Portsmouth´s FA Cup dream in Saturday´s semi-final at Wembley.

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Rio Ferdinand is close to agreeing a new contract at Manchester United.

Rafael Benitez looks set to gamble on fielding a weakened Liverpool side for Saturday´s League clash with Arsenal, three days before the two sides face each other in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Barcelona´s Brazilian forward Ronaldinho will be sidelined for about six weeks after he pulled a muscle in his right leg during a training session, the Spanish club said Friday.