Football

Racist and homophobic abuse by players in England will carry a minimum five-match ban from next season. The Football Association says the sanction will be the entry-level punishment for the least serious discriminatory offenses, with longer bans possible.

Bayern Munich wrap up their record-breaking Bundesliga season tomorrow at Borussia Moenchengladbach with 20 records in their sights and with coach Jupp Heynckes to end his German league career at the club where he began in 1963.

Tottenham Hotspur hope to turn the tables on bitter rivals Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday by snatching a top-four finish at their expense.

A 93rd-minute header from Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea a stunning 2-1 victory over Benfica in the Europa League final as the London club claimed the trophy for the first time in heart-stopping fashion.

England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand announced his retirement from international soccer today. The FA said the central defender had informed England coach Roy Hodgson of his decision.

Penn Orji is far removed from the big, bustling muscle mass that makes African footballers such sought after properties in Indian football since Chima Okorie exploded in the mid-80s.

Wigan became the first team to be relegated and win the FA Cup in the same season as a 4-1 loss at Arsenal ended an eight-year stay in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Manchester City assistant manager David Platt has left the club just a day after Roberto Mancini was sacked, the English Premier League side announced.

Manchester City fired manager Roberto Mancini on Monday, exactly one year after he delivered the club's first English league title in 44 years. The Italian coach was ditched just as players from rival Manchester United were being cheered through the streets.

The premature end to Chelsea's Champions League defence had threatened to leave a cloud over their entire campaign. Roberto Di Matteo's dismissal as manager created a negative atmosphere that only got worse when the unpopular Rafael Benitez was appointed as his interim successor, but now, salvation is in sight.

Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba has hit out at racist Fenerbahce fans who bombarded him and fellow Ivorian Emmanuel Eboue with monkey chants during the two sides' meeting last weekend.

After a turbulent season, history beckons for Chelsea in tomorrow's Europa League final in Amsterdam, where they will meet a Benfica team reeling from a devastating domestic defeat by arch rivals Porto.

Not even an injury to Lionel Messi in the 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid could dampen Barcelona's celebrations at winning its 22nd Spanish league title. Messi started his first match in six rounds, but he left the field in the 68th minute with Barcelona trailing 1-0.

Alex Ferguson bowed out in triumph following his last Old Trafford match as Manchester United manager only to leave successor David Moyes with the familiar problem of what to do with striker Wayne Rooney.

Real Madrid gifted Barcelona the La Liga title when a second-string side could only draw 1-1 at Espanyol on Saturday to leave Tito Vilanova's leaders seven points clear with their rivals having only two games left.