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It is almost three years now since Fifa awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. In that time, world football's governing body has had to withstand numerous allegations of corruption  surrounding the joint vote that decided the hosts of both tournaments. To add to the discontent, there has also been a  purge of Fifa's executive committee,  with eight members either suspended or forced to resign following claims of misconduct. Fifa president  Sepp Blatter,    in England for the Football Association's 150th anniversary gala dinner on Saturday, will tell you that his beleaguered organisation is moving in the right direction. By choosing Russia (above) and Qatar to follow next year's World Cup in Brazil, Fifa has guaranteed itself another decade of problems and negative headlines Or, to borrow one of his favourite analogies, he is steering the ship towards calmer seas. But, in many ways, the waters...

Continue reading the main story LINEUP, BOOKINGS (0) & SUBSTITUTIONS (0) MATCH STATS Possession 50% 50% 0 mins Barcelona Real Madrid Shots 0 0 On target 0 0 Corners 0 0 Fouls 0 0 Messi missed the wins against Celtic and Valladolid, but started Tuesday's  Champions League draw at AC Milan. Coach Gerardo Martino must decide whether to play veteran defender Carles Puyol, with Gerard Pique (hamstring) a slight doubt. Real forward Gareth Bale is fit,  while Diego Lopez is likely to start in goal. Iker Casillas started Wednesday's 2-1 win over Juventus, but he has purely been playing in the Champions League this season, with Lopez the first choice in the league. "He is ready to play a match now," the Italian said while not confirming whether that meant Bale would start or not. Real boss Carlo Ancelotti must decide whether to bring world-record signing Bale into the starting line-up after his  substitute appearanc...

Roma are aiming to become the world's leading club, according to chief executive Italo Zanzi. An American group, led by James Pallotta, took over the club in the summer of 2011 and they lead Serie A after eight wins in eight matches. "We're focused on becoming the best club in the world - both on and off the field," Zanzi told BBC Sport. Continue reading the main story “ "Many clubs at the top of worldwide football weren't there not so many years ago." He added: "We believe all the ingredients are there for Roma to be at that level or past it. "Our ownership saw the potential of a club with a long history going through a challenging period that with proper investment, management and vision has no limits in terms of international football. "Being in a city like Rome and having the ability to play in a league like Serie A is a unique opportunity." Roma appointed Lille boss Rudi Garcia as head coach in t...

Garth Crooks has criticised Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho for their response to the  Yaya Toure racism row. Arsenal manager Wenger wants to wait for "more proof" that Manchester City midfielder Toure was racially abused by CSKA Moscow fans on Wednesday. And Chelsea boss Mourinho has played down talk of black players boycotting the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Continue reading the main story “ Crooks, trustee of anti-racism campaign group Kick It Out, said he was "disappointed" by their comments. "How many more times are black players going to have to suffer this nonsense in order to play football," said BBC football expert Crooks, who played for Stoke and Tottenham. "For Wenger to ask for further evidence is extraordinary given the fact that Yaya heard the evidence reported and his club have backed their captain on the night. "I am equally disappointed with Jose Mourinho's comments, about how he feels that b...

KARACHI: The family of Shahzeb Khan has pardoned Shahrukh Jatoi and three others accused of his murder. The Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) had awarded death sentences to Shahrukh Jatoi and Siraj Talpur while two others had been sentenced to life imprisonment. Shahrukh Jatoi had filed an appeal in the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the sentence. His father DSP Aurangzeb Khan, mother and two sisters submitted separate affidavits in the SHC on July 17 saying that they had pardoned the murderers. According to the affidavits, Shahzeb’s father and family members have pardoned the appellants outside the Honourable Court without any pressure, coercion or interest but in the name of Allah. The rights of Qiasas and Diyat has been waived and there is no objection if the court acquits the appellants in the larger interest of justice. According to sources an out-of-court settlement worth Rs350 million was reached in UAE. Australian residency visas have been issued for Shahzeb’s f...

Manuel Pellegrini had complained about the pitch at the Khimki Arena, and the City boss must have feared the worst when Zoran Tosic put the hosts ahead. The former Manchester United player lobbed Joe Hart before Aguero levelled after David Silva's cross. Aguero capped a gutsy City display by heading home Alvaro Negredo's cross. It was far from comfortable for Pellegrini and his players, who were forced to endure some anxious moments against the Russian champions to record their second away win of the group stage. Indeed City goalkeeper Hart had to produce a fine stop with an outstretched leg to deny Japan international Keisuke Honda an equaliser deep into stoppage time. But victory over CSKA in the return game at the Etihad Stadium on 5 November ought to allow City to start planning for the knockout stages for the first time. City's remaining Group D games 5 November:  v CSKA Moscow (home) 27 November:  v Viktoria Plzen (home) 10 December:...

Fast bowlers you can duck. Spinners you can try to attack. Form? Now there's the real frightener for a Test batsman: illogical and invisible; with you one moment, gone the next. And, when it inexplicably departs, as capable of reducing a man to rubble as any rampaging paceman. "There are times when you don't even want to go to the ground," says  Ian Bell, England's leading man  as they fly to Australia, but in the past sometimes frozen in the spotlight. "It can be that hard. “ Runs. That's what people notice. And that can be frustrating, because you might make 10, and think - that is the best 10 runs I've ever got. ” Ian Bell England batsman "Can it change you as person? 100%. It can obsess you. It did in the early part of my career. There are times when getting to 30 feels a million miles away. And then suddenly you're in form, and getting to 30 just happens." This summer, it just happened. In 16 Test i...

Ian Holloway has left his position as manager of Crystal Palace  by mutual consent    after less than a year in charge at Selhurst Park. Holloway, 50, guided Palace to  the Premier League via the play-offs last season after joining  in November,  but had won only one league game this term. A  4-1 defeat by Fulham  on Monday left the club five points adrift of safety. "Ian felt that a new approach might help keep us in the division," chairman Steve Parish said.   Holloway at Palace From:  4 November, 2012 To:  23 October, 2013 P W D L F A 46 14 14 18 59 64 "It's a completely different challenge for Ian and a completely different challenge for us at the club. "Ian's been very noble and he's come forward and said: 'I can't do it.' I've spent three days trying to get Ian in the frame of mind that he can do it." Assistant manager Keith Millen will  take temporary charge  ...