Jerome Valcke has been sacked from his position as FIFA secretary general, world football s governing body has confirmed.
The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA s Ethics Committee recently opened formal proceedings against the 55-year-old who was also provisionally suspended from all football-related activities over allegations of corruption and they have now decided to cancel the Frenchman’s contract.
Valcke is alleged to have been linked to a scheme that intended to sell tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at above their face value, prior to the contract being cancelled before any were sold.
The former right-hand man to suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter has denied the allegations, but world football’s governing body has decided to take action against hi…
Former Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan says he is indebted to Australian coach Graham Arnold, as his Valencia dream continues.
Ryan swapped Club Brugge for La Liga giants Valencia on a six-year contract in July but the Australia international is not one to forget his roots, having been handed his debut by Arnold five years ago.
It was a cold and wet night in Sydney in 2010, when Arnold Mariners coach at the time handed Ryan his A-League debut against Sydney FC as a baby-faced 18-year-old.
Ryan was thrust into the limelight after former Juventus keeper Jess Vanstrattan suffered a serious knee injury three matches into the season, and the New South Welshman seized the opportunity with both hands.
The 23-year-old went on to win the A-League cha…
Douglas Costa has wrapped up a permanent switch to Juventus, who have paid €40million to sign the Brazil international from Bayern Munich.
Bayern announced in November a €46m deal had been agreed with Juve for the forward, who starred on loan as Massimiliano Allegri s men secured a domestic double in the 2017-18 season.
With €6m paid for Costa s initial loan, Juventus confirmed the remainder of Costa s fee will be paid over the next two financial years, with a further €1m owed depending on performances.
Costa, who is preparing for the World Cup with Brazil, has signed a four-year deal with the Serie A champions that will run until 2022.
OFFICIAL: stays Bianconero through 2022 on a permanent deal from
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen…
Jermain Defoe has posted an emotional tribute to young Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, who died following a battle with cancer on Friday.
Bradley, aged six, was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma in 2013 and the Lowery family were informed their son s condition was terminal in December 2016.
Following this news, he appeared as mascot for his beloved Sunderland on numerous occasions and also for England in March s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, when he entered the field alongside his favourite player, Defoe.
Defoe struck up an incredible bond with Bradley, regularly visiting him and continuing to do so after moving from Sunderland to Bournemouth.
The 34-year-old described Bradley as his best friend in an emotional tribute posted on Twitter.
Slee…
Mehdi Taremi scored after only 61 seconds as Porto caught lacklustre Juventus cold twice to seize the initiative with a 2-1 first-leg win in the Champions League round of 16.
Porto had never beaten Juve in five European matches, but the Primeira Liga champions made it a miserable return to his homeland for Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday.
Ronaldo was starved of service as Sergio Conceicao s side showed a far bigger appetite for the fight at Estadio do Dragao, with Taremi gifted a first Champions League goal by a terrible mistake from Rodrigo Bentancur.
Moussa Marega doubled Porto s lead right at the start of the second half, but Federico Chiesa struck eight minutes from time to leave the tie well poised ahead of the second leg on March 9.
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Davide Zappacosta has joined Roma on loan from Chelsea on an initial six-month loan deal.
Roma have confirmed the move and also hold the option to prolong Zappacosta s temporary stay at Stadio Olimpico until the end of the season, while the Blues have extended the full-back s contract at Stamford Bridge until June 2022.
I am pleased to join Roma after an experience overseas that helped me progress as both a player and a person, Zappacosta told Roma s official website.
Being able to play for a great club like this is a huge motivation – I cannot wait to start training alongside my new team-mates.
Italian international Davide Zappacosta has joined Roma on loan
This summer is supporting charities like , in helping to search for missing ki…
The futures of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, arguably the two most sought-after players in world football, could be determined by the end of the January transfer window.
While the forwards look set to stay at Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain respectively this month, moves away at the end of the campaign look increasingly likely.
And despite intense competition from fellow heavyweight clubs, Real Madrid are determined to win the race for both players.
TOP STORY – MADRID TO PUT ASIDE €350m FOR HAALAND
Madrid had two bids knocked back for Mbappe last year but, according to Marca, they remain in pole position to sign the France international in six months time.
Landing Haaland could prove to be a little more complicated, t…
Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri admits this season has not been an easy time for his side but that Tuesday s 2-0 win over Salernitana was about re-paying the club.
Allegri conceded the Bianconeri were out of the title race after Saturday s 1-0 home loss to Atalanta, with Juventus sitting well off the pace.
Juve claimed their seventh league win of the season at Salernitana to move up to seventh spot with 24 points from 15 games.
“It hasn’t been an easy time, we lost to Atalanta and could’ve scored more goals this evening, Allegri told reporters after the Salernitana win.
I said Juventus have given us so much and it is time we have a sense of responsibility and give back to this club. We need to focus, because we’ve failed too many times a…
Atalanta captain Marten de Roon believes they have what it takes to end Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten season in the Europa League final.
De Roon will not be available for La Dea in Dublin on Wednesday due to injury but has joined up with the squad to offer his support.
Atalanta have had a memorable campaign, reaching their first European final and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, claimed their first-ever Bundesliga title without losing a single game and are aiming to complete a treble.
Despite coming up against a tough opponent, De Roon is confident that his side will be able to end their 61-year drought without a major trophy.
Every team is beatable. At the moment, [Leverkusen] seem unbeatable, but maybe we…
Real Madrid are willing to sell Marco Asensio in the January transfer window, according to . The report in the Spanish publication has claimed that, with Asensio out of contract at the end of the season, last season’s La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners are willing to listen to offers for the 26-year-old Spain international, who can operate as a winger or as an attacking midfielder.
Asensio is struggling for playing time at the moment and does not appear to be in Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s plans. The 26-year-old has made one start and eight substitute appearances in L Liga for Los Blancos so far this season, scoring one goal and providing two assists in the process. The Spain international has scored two goals and given one assist in six UEFA Champions League…