Scott McDonald could face a ban at the start of next season after his controversial challenge on Dundee United defender Lee Wilkie was referred to the Scottish Football Association´s review panel.

Celtic´s Australian striker Scott McDonald has angrily denied trying to injure Lee Wilkie as he faces a potential ban next season for his tackle on the Dundee United defender.

Bayern Munich have recruited the football professor they were looking for, but new coach Louis van Gaal will be expected to get top marks from his first day in charge on July 1.

With one month until the kick-off of the FIFA Confederations Cup, organisers said Thursday that South Africa was ready to host the event, seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup next year.

Argentinian giants Boca Juniors were held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores Round of Sixteen clash with Defensor Sporting of Uruguay.

Brazilian side Cruzeiro are through to the quarter final stage of the Copa Libertadores, beating Universidad de Chile 3-1 on aggregate.

Arsenal's Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky has returned to training after spending no less than 16 months struggling with knee and hamstring injuries. The player admitted to being nervous.

By scoring in Wednesday's Spanish Cup final with Athletic de Bilbao, FC Barcelona striker has entered the top three of players with most goals scored in one season at the Catalan side.

Estudiantes de la Plata made sure that there will be at least one Argentinian representatives in the quarter final stage of the Copa Libertadores.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will be fit for the Champions League Final meeting with Barcelona, according to manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Dutch league giants Ajax are hoping to lure Denmark coach Morten Olsen back to the club following the resignation last week of Marco Van Basten, according to reports Thursday.

Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who helped bring a host of world stars to the club including David Beckham, Thursday announced he hopes to return to the post in elections next month.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek said Thursday he would wait until Mark Viduka decides his future with Newcastle United before deciding whether to include him in the squad for next month´s World Cup qualifiers.

Celtic have failed in an initial bid to lure teenager James McCarthy, the hottest property in Scottish football, to Parkhead from Hamilton.

Arsene Wenger has vowed to wreck Manchester United´s plans for a Premier League title party at Old Trafford on Saturday.

An ambitious programme that aims to finetune the skills of over 300 African football reporters, drawn from 46 countries across the continent in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup, gets underway on Monday.

England and Newcastle striker Michael Owen has strenuously denied he is set to retire at the end of the season.

Werder Bremen´s international goalkeeper Tim Wiese was fined 10,000 euros on Friday after he climbed onto perimeter fencing, grabbed a megaphone and hurled abuse at Hamburg fans.

Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen announced his retirement on Friday after admitting defeat in his battle to return from a knee injury.

Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who helped bring a host of world stars to the club including David Beckham, Thursday announced he hopes to return to the post in elections next month.