Sports

Hanif Khan has returned to the national squad as its manager and head coach nearly two and half years after he was sacked from the same role by the national hockey federation.

Manchester City are expecting a strong response from shock Premier League leaders Leicester City after the Foxes slipped to only their second league defeat of the season against Liverpool.

"The injury situation is better - we'll have the complete squad recovered apart from Samir Nasri. Pablo Zabaleta, Fernando and Vincent Kompany have all worked with the squad normally," Pellegrini said.

Watford should not get carried away with their recent strong run and be on their toes when they travel to Stamford Bridge to take on champions Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, defender Nathan Ake has said.

"I have no idea why these three Japanese guys, they have all the strength and power to referee these three important games. I know by the palm of my hand, the thinking of the Japanese referees," Zico said.

Arsenal's defence do not fear Barcelona's prolific front three, Messi, Suarez and Neymar, and are keen to test themselves against the world's best players in the last 16 of the Champions League, Ozil said.

The pair, who were also fined, had been suspended for 90 days in October while an investigation was carried out into a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.02 million) payment by FIFA to Platini in 2011. Both men denied any wrongdoing.

Barcelona's Club World Cup title is a victory for the club's unique and stylish way of doing things, coach Luis Enrique said after they beat River Plate 3-0 in the final on Sunday.

Gareth Bale's four goals, Karim Benzema's three and Cristiano Ronaldo's two helped Real Madrid to rout nine-man Rayo Vallecano 10-2 to temporarily get within two points of Spanish league leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Mourinho said that his players had "betrayed" his work after Monday's 2-1 defeat at Leicester City -- his last game in charge -- and Emenalo confirmed that relations between the Portuguese and his squad had broken down.

Thomas Partey scored his first goal for Atletico Madrid as they reached the last 16 of the King’s Cup with a 1-0 home victory over third-tier Reus on Thursday that secured a 3-1 aggregate success.

Goalkeeper David de Gea has dismissed reports of discontent in the Manchester United dressing room and credited captain Wayne Rooney with keeping the squad together and pulling in the same direction.

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has told his team mates that they need a "one million percent" improvement if they are to come away from Monday's Premier League trip to Arsenal with a win.

Michel Platini has decided not to attend his hearing before FIFA's ethics committee in Zurich, scheduled for Friday, his lawyers told AFP on Wednesday.

Sepp Blatter expects to be either barred for two years and fined 160,000 Swiss francs ($161,591) or be given a lifetime ban for alleged corruption.

Napout, president of the South American Football Confederation, had been detained in Zurich this month on a U.S. warrant, accusing him of accepting bribes in connection with the sale of marketing rights to football tournaments in Latin America.