Platini: New rules will target club debt
LONDON: English Premier League clubs and others must stop amassing huge debts and new regulations will be drawn up to regulate team finances, UEFA president Michael Platini said on Tuesday.

Shakhtar all set to progress
PARIS: Sporting Lisbon, Red Bull Salzburg and defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk can all book their places in the Europa League knockout phase with victories today.

Berlusconi: I’ll sell Milan only to the right man
MILAN: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he would sell AC Milan only to someone better for the club than him and nobody suitable has yet emerged.

Strike threat by La Liga over tax hike
MADRID: Spain’s professional soccer league (LFP) are threatening to strike over a tax hike for top earners, arguing the increase will in future discourage leading players like Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo from coming to La Liga.

Emotional night for Kaka on return to San Siro
MILAN: Real Madrid’s Brazil star Kaka said it was an emotional night for him on his first return to the club he graced for six years and with which he won the Champions League and the World Player of the Year title.

Devils, Blues check in; Bordeaux and Porto also join EPL giants in knockout stages
PARIS: English giants Chelsea and Manchester United made hard work of it but ended up coming from behind to both qualify for the Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday.

We weren’t good enough, admits Bayern coach Van Gaal
MUNICH: Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal admitted his side were simply not good enough after they were effectively knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday after suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to Bordeaux.

Falcao the hero in Porto’s passage to next round
NICOSIA: Falcao scored a late goal on Tuesday for Porto to win 1-0 at APOEL Nicosia and progress to the knockout round of the Champions League.

Juve stay alive, thanks to Camoranesi
TEL AVIV: Juventus claimed a 1-0 win over Maccabi Haifa in their Champions League Group A match on Tuesday to stay on course for a spot in the knockout phase.

Drog ready for United after triumphant return
MADRID: Chelsea and in-form striker Didier Drogba go into Sunday’s title showdown with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge with wind in their sails having qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League with a 2-2 Group D draw at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Spurs give trial to Hong Kong striker Siu-ki
HONG KONG: Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have offered a trial to a Hong Kong international striker who scored against the London giants in a pre-season friendly, a news report said yesterday.

Ex-manager Curbishley wins case against Hammers
LONDON: Former West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has won his case for wrongful dismissal against the Premier League club.

Accrington win battle for survival again
LONDON: Accrington Stanley, one of the most famous names in English soccer despite their Fourth Division status, won their latest battle to survive after paying a £308,000 tax debt on Tuesday.

Free burgers for Thailand’s top players
BANGKOK: Thailand’s top soccer players will feast on free burgers as part of a three-year sponsorship deal with American fast food giant McDonald’s worth almost US$900,000, the country’s soccer president said yesterday.