Football

Defending Italian champions AC Milan begin a crucial phase of their season when they travel to third-placed Udinese this weekend.

Endorsed by a growing number of England players, Harry Redknapp should move closer to becoming the new coach of the national team today when plans to recruit Fabio Capello's replacement are finalized by Football Association executives.

Stuart Pearce will manage England for this month's friendly against Netherlands while it searches for a permanent successor to Fabio Capello, FA chairman David Bernstein told a news conference today.

Cesc Fabregas scored one goal and set up another as Barcelona beat Valencia 2-0 to advance to the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic Club Bilbao assured their place in the final of the Copa del Rey football for the 36th time in the club's history with a comfortable 6-2 win at home to Mirandes.

Fifa will move quickly to investigate allegations that friendlies in South Africa were fixed in the buildup to the 2010 World Cup, the country's football association said Tuesday.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp was cleared by a London court on Wednesday of tax evasion after a long investigation into allegations of financial corruption in British soccer.

England football great Sir Bobby Charlton underwent "minor surgery" after being taken ill before the Laureus World Sports Awards in London, organisers said.

Luis Suarez's return from an eight-match suspension failed to inspire Liverpool as they were held to a goalless draw by Tottenham at Anfield on Monday.

Fabio Borini struck twice to help AS Roma to a 4-0 home thrashing of Inter Milan and former coach Claudio Ranieri on Sunday. The game was scheduled for Saturday but the snow which has crippled Italy forced a one-day postponement.

Anyone who's assiduously followed the English Premier League since the early days of it beaming into Indian households would be familiar with Denis Irwin. Tomojit Basu reports.

The New York Giants captured their second Super Bowl in the last four years with a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in the National Football League's championship game.

Manchester United staged a stunning fightback from three goals down as Javier Hernandez's late equaliser rescued a dramatic 3-3 draw against Chelsea in one of the games of the season at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse enjoyed a dream debut for Newcastle as his second-half strike secured a 2-1 win against Aston Villa at St James' Park on Sunday.