Rangers have signed Algerian international defender Madjid Bougherra, paying a 2.5 million Pounds transfer fee to Charlton Athletic. Thursday's announcement puts to rest rumors that Charlton had agreed a 2 million transfer with West Brom.

Dutch referee Dick Jol, who recently had his career ended by his domestic FA, reportedly lost his job as result of threats.

Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain claimed Friday that at least "four or five big clubs" were interested in signing Cameroon international Samuel Eto´o.

France´s former World Cup winner Lilian Thuram, who has been diagnosed with a heart defect, announced his retirement from football on Friday.

Brazil, led by AC Milan star Ronaldinho, beat Vietnam 2-0 in a friendly on Friday that served as a pre-Olympic warm-up for the South American giants.

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Manchester United´s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a model of professionalism ahead of the Norwegian´s testimonial against Espanyol at Old Trafford on Saturday.

NORWICH (SW) – Championship side Norwich City are set to sign eighteen year old Portsmouth and Gambian striker Omar 'OJ' Koroma.

WIGAN (SW) – Honduran and Wigan midfielder Wilson Palacios has signed a new deal with Wigan.

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor revealed Friday he has agreed to sign a new contract with the Gunners.

Wigan midfielder Wilson Palacios confirmed Friday he has extended his contract with the Premier League side.

Chelsea once more had a penalty shootout defeat in Moscow, in the Railways Cup tournament on Friday night, following their Champions League final loss to Manchester United in May.

England footballer Wayne Rooney was questioned by police after allegedly spitting at a paparazzi photographer outside a London restaurant, a spokesman confirmed Friday.

Spanish champions Real Madrid have signed Dutch international midfielder Rafael van der Vaart from Bundesliga side Hamburg for nine million euros (14 million dollars), radio Cadena Ser reported Friday.

Former England manager Steve McClaren´s new Dutch side FC Twente will play Arsenal in the Champions League third qualifying round later this month.

Tottenham Hotspur beat Celtic 2-0 while hosts Feyenoord crashed to a 2-1 defeat by Borussia Dortmund at this year's Rotterdam Tournament.

Lilian Thuram´s retirement has meant one of France´s finest players of the past decade, who transcended the sport and made an impact in political and social circles, has finally hung up his boots.

As Luiz Felipe Scolari stepped ashore from Roman Abramovich´s Pelorus yacht the Brazilian was already convinced he had made the right decision to join Chelsea.

Cesc Fabregas will get the chance to test his belief that Arsenal can revolutionise European football when his side take on Juventus and Real Madrid in the Emirates Cup this weekend.