Brazil, Argentina & Mexico face fine by Fifa

Brazil were hit hardest on Thursday by Fifa for homophobic chanting by its supporters during World Cup qualifying, with Argentina and Mexico also fined.

Nine football associations were punished in all by Fifa's Disciplinary Committee "for incidents involving, among others, unsporting and discriminatory conduct by fans" during recent qualifying matches for Russia 2018.

Brazil were fined 35 000 Swiss francs ($35 000), Argentina 20 000 and Mexico 10 000 for various misdemeanours, including homophobic abuse.

Albania were hit with the biggest fine, a 100 000 Swiss francs punishment for incidents during the match away at Italy in March, which was held up for several minutes when flares were thrown onto the pitch.
Italy were fined a lesser amount, as were Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland and Montenegro.

ACA Rejects Australia's Cricket pay proposal

The festering pay dispute between Cricket Australia (CA) and its players continues to linger after the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) rejected CA's latest pay proposal. Neither of the parties has budged from their earlier positions with CA determined for reforms to end the 20-year-old revenue sharing system.

Last month, CA tabled a deal for total player payments of (AUD) $419 million over five years which would do away with the fixed-revenue sharing model. It has been reported that CA feels spending money to grow the game is being severely restricted under the current revenue sharing model.

The ACA said the pay proposal "disrespects the value of domestic cricketers and the role they play in Australian cricket". "The ACA also expresses frustration that what should be a relatively simple and good faith negotiation has not proceeded in this way," the ACA said in a statement on Friday (April 28). "The fact that CA has, despite various attempts to do so, produced no logical reason to break the successful partnership model and longstanding relationship with players, leaves the players unclear as to CA's objectives.

Sharapova eases past Makarova into Quaters

The 30-year-old Russian, who has won five Grand Slams and is among the highest-paid athletes in the world, returned to action on Wednesday with a straight sets win over Roberta Vinci following her suspension for the use of banned substance meldonium.

She has yet to drop a set in Stuttgart where she has won the title three times.
"I settled down a bit (compared to Wednesday). I executed a great plan today and I was really glad I pulled that off," Sharapova told reporters.
"Practicing is so different to matches, you cannot compare it. You just have to trust the work you have put in. It's great to come out and play matches. Being in the quarter-finals again is special."

Things To Look For In Bundesliga

Bayern Munich could be confirmed German champions for a fifth straight year on Saturday, while Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund battle for a direct Champions League berth.
Here are five things to look out for in this weekend's Bundesliga:

Title in Wolfsburg for Bayern?
Bayern are eight points clear with four games left and a win at relegation-threatened Wolfsburg will confirm their title win if Leipzig fail to beat Ingolstadt at home.
Wolfsburg, the 2009 champions, are 14th, but are only a point away from the bottom three.
Bayern are licking their wounds after being knocked out of both the German Cup and Champions League within a week.
Their 3-2 semifinal defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday leaves them winless in their last five games.
"After giving up a possible cup win, we want a decisive win in Wolfsburg to decide the title," said defender Mats Hummels.
"We'll give it our all to extinguish any flicker of hope (for Bayern's rivals)."
Bayern are hoping to be lucky for a third time in Wolfsburg having won the 2003 and 2008 German league titles there.

Goodnews For Man U Fans, Rooney is Back

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is confident he can play on at the highest level for another two to three years despite spending a significant part of the current campaign either on the bench or out injured.
Rooney has made 31 appearances for United this season, most of which as a substitute, with manager Jose Mourinho relying more on top goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic before a knee injury ended the 35-year-old's season.
Rooney, who played his fourth match in three months in United's 2-0 win over Burnley on Sunday, has also suffered recurring injuries throughout the season.
Asked if he could continue playing for another two to three years, Rooney told SkySports, "Yes. Even longer I think. Everyone mentions that age, I'm 31, not an old person. Of course, I've played a lot of game."
"Who knows, not playing so many games this season might benefit me."

He Is Not My Enemy - Xavi

Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez insisted on Thursday that Mauricio Pochettino was not his "enemy" and said he could even imagine the Tottenham boss one day becoming coach of the Catalan giants.
Xavi was speaking after an apparent spat between the pair, fuelled by comments attributed to the midfielder in an interview the Spaniard vehemently insists he did not give.
Earlier this week, British newspaper The Sun quoted Xavi as saying that his friend and former coach Pep Guardiola wanted to sign Spurs star Dele Alli for Manchester City.
This in turn prompted a response from Pochettino in which he labelled Xavi as his "enemy", because of the pair's rivalry when the Argentinian played and managed Barca's city rivals Espanyol.

Alexander Levy Takes China Lead

China specialist Alexander Levy blitzed the front nine to post a spotless score of nine-under-par 63 to hold a slender advantage over Pablo Larrazabal on day one of China Open at Topwin Golf and Country Club.
The 2014 winner Levy, who shared the eighth spot at Shenzhen last week, was off to a steady start on the back nine but soon found his groove with birdies on the 13th, 15th and 17th to stay in touch with early leader Larrazabal.
Having played the entire weekend without dropping a shot at Genzon Golf Club last week, Larrazabal took control on Thursday morning with birdies on the tenth, 11th, 13th and 15th.
The 26-year-old Frenchman, however, took his game to the next level, holing from 30 feet on the third before putting his approach to three feet on the next hole to open up a two-shot lead over Larrazabal.
Levy made it four birdies in a row on the fifth but the Spaniard came back to stay in touch with the leader on the same hole and eventually remained just one stroke behind the courthouse leader at the end of the day.
"I played great," Levy said. "I hit 18 greens today and had some good putts for birdie, two or three long putts that helped but I played well last week and I am enjoying being back here and at this golf course.
"The golf is different day after day and I will try my best this week to do like what I did today."

England's James Morrison and Swede Peter Hanson were at five-under-par alongside Raphael Jacquelin of France and South African duo George Coetzee and Dean Burmester to share the third spot on the standings.
Jorge Campillo, Yi Cao, Jaco van Zyl and Joost Luiten finished tied eighth on the leaderboard after hitting four-under-par score of 68.
A late eagle on the front nine kept last week's champion Bernd Wiesberger in contention with a score of 69 to climb up to tied-12th alongside defending champion Li Haotong.

Bouchard Against Sharapova Playing, Called her A 'Cheater '

Canadian Eugenie Bouchard has lashed out at the WTA for giving Maria Sharapova the chance to compete in tournaments after serving a 15-month doping ban and said the Russian is a "cheater" who should never be allowed to play again.
Sharapova beat Italian Roberta Vinci in the first round of the Stuttgart Grand Prix on Wednesday after receiving a controversial wild card for the tournament, having lost all her ranking points in the wake of her suspension.
Sharapova was banned for two years after testing positive at the 2016 Australian Open for meldonium, a medication the former world number one had been taking within the rules but which was then reclassified as a banned drug.

Zlatan Not Interested Anymore

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rejected a new £13m-a-year deal to remain at the club, according to reports.
The 35-year-old has been ruled out of action for nine months after injuring his knee ligaments during the Red Devils’ Europa League win over Anderlecht.
Reports in the Sun claim that Manchester United are keen to see Ibrahimovic stay at the Old Trafford and offering the forward a £13m-a-year deal even after his devastating injury.

The report also claim that Ibrahimovic snubbed the offer because he believes he does not deserve the money while he focuses on his rehabilation.

Barca Lodge Compliant To Spanish Sporting Authorities

Barcelona said on Thursday they will make a complaint to Spanish sporting authorities over comments by Malaga's Qatari owner Abdullah Al-Thani on Twitter describing the Catalans as "scum".
"FC Barcelona expresses its rejection and indignation at the content of the tweet published by the president of Malaga, Abdullah Al-Thani, which is counter to the principles of fair-play, ethics and legality," said the Spanish champions in a statement.

Enyeama Out Of Season!

Vincent Enyeama has been ruled out for the rest of the season the goalkeeper’s French club, Lille OSC have announced.
Enyeama has been in great form this season and talk of a return to international football has been making the rounds in the local media following his decision to hang his gloves and concentrate only on club football last year.
The 34-year old Enyeama was injured in Lille’s 0-2 defeat to Rennes at Roazhon Park on April 15 with Mike Maignan taking his place in the 65th minute.

Ennis Hills Doubtful of Chernova's Apology

Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill does not expect to receive an apology from Tatyana Chernova after the Russian heptathlete was stripped of her 2011 world title for a doping violation but she is eager to get her hands on the gold medal.
Chernova won heptathlon gold ahead of Ennis-Hill at the 2011 World Championships but was stripped of the medal along with her bronze in the 2012 London Olympics by the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in November due to blood doping.
Chernova has not issued a public apology after her ban and Ennis-Hill said she was not counting on getting one.
"If she was to apologise it would make it that bit easier but I don't think it will ever happen," Ennis-Hill was quoted as saying by the Times.
"People who are doing it don't believe they are doing anything wrong. They think everyone's doing it. There are not many cases where people say, 'I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have done that'. It never happens because they are in denial."
The 31-year-old, who also won the world title in 2009 and 2015, retired last year and is hoping she will receive her

Orlando Pirates In Work To Improve

Orlando Pirates and Chippa United will both be looking to improve on their midweek showings when they meet for an Absa Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
Kick-off at 20:15 CAT.
Pirates needed a late Issa Sarr goal to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to bottom-of-the-log Baroka FC on Wednesday. The result flattered the Buccaneers, who put in an underwhelming display which left coach Kjell Jonevret frustrated at his side’s lack of progress.
“We have played a few bad halves, but the first half today it looked like we were still in bed,” the Swede said after the game against Bakgaga.
“We were definitely lucky to get a point from this, they could have scored more than one goal. So I am very disappointed at the overall performance, I have to say that. One point, that’s luck.”
However, Jonevret is already looking forward to the clash against Chippa in the hope that his players are able to redeem themselves.
“It’s a funny thing with football, it’s a new chance already on Saturday and I am sure a few of the boys here want to perform much better.”
Chippa come into the game on the back of a 3-2 home loss at the hands of Maritzburg United on Tuesday. The Chilli Boys put up a fight against an in-form Team of Choice, but ultimately they were made to pay for their lack of concentration in defence.

Manchester Derby

Guardiola oversaw a one-sided 2-1 win when he and Mourinho resumed hostilities in September and was generally felt to have made a bigger impact than the Portuguese in the season's early months.
But having been condemned to a trophy-free first campaign at City by Sunday's FA Cup semifinal loss to Arsenal, Guardiola will lose his hold on a top-four place if United prevail at the Etihad Stadium.
"If we finish fifth and they finish sixth and we are above them, it means nothing," Mourinho said on Wednesday.
"If they finish third and we finish fourth, they are above us, but it means a lot.
"This is not about Pep, this is not about City; it is about fighting for objectives. We want to play Champions League football and we still have two doors open."

Arsenal Hopes For UCL

Left-back Nacho Monreal proved decisive for the second time in four days as Arsenal snatched a late 1-0 victory over champions Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
With a largely sterile game drifting to a goalless draw, Monreal let fly with a shot that was arrowing wide before it struck Robert Huth and diverted past Kasper Schemichel for an own goal.

Monreal had volleyed in a fine equaliser in Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup semifinal win over Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.
His latest intervention took Arsene Wenger's Arsenal up to sixth place in the table, four points off the Champions League berths.
Leicester, meanwhile, are still not yet safe from relegation, despite their six-point cushion above the drop zone.
The goal triggered a lively and tetchy finish to a game that had previously meandered along at a soporific rhythm.
A series of contentious incidents included a 90th-minute clash between Christian Fuchs and Alexis Sanchez, who attempted to prevent the Leicester man from launching one of his trademark long throws.

We Won't Stop Fighting Says Kane

Harry Kane warned Chelsea that Tottenham won't stop fighting for the Premier League title after they closed the gap on the leaders with a gritty 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Wednesday. With just 12 minutes left, Tottenham were in danger of wasting a chance to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea as they laboured to break down Palace.
But Christian Eriksen's superb long-range strike clinched Tottenham's eighth successive league win to move them back within four points of Chelsea with five games remaining.
Rocked by Sunday's FA Cup semifinal defeat against Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino's side took a long time to get going against Palace, but Tottenham striker Kane believes his side's hard-fought win underlined their determination to catch Chelsea.

Barca defeated Osasuna, Real Madrid Crushed Deportivo.

 Real Madrid again made light in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo as they crushed Deportivo la Coruna 6-2 to maintain the upper hand in the La Liga title race on Wednesday.

Madrid and Barcelona are locked on 78 points at the top of the table, but Real have a game in hand over their title rivals. Barca remain all  thanks to their better head-to-head record as Lionel Messi struck twice to relegate Osasuna in a 7-1 thrashing.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane made nine changes in all from the side that lost 3-2 to Barca on Sunday to reignite the title race.
Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and the injured Gareth Bale were left out the Madrid squad for a third straight away league game.
"It is the hardest job for a coach. When they play like they did today and then maybe they won't play in the next game," said Zidane.
"We know I have a phenomenal group of players and all of them are ready for the challenge between now and the end of the season."

Moreover, Alvaro Morata smashed home at the near post to give the visitors the perfect start after less than a minute. James Rodriguez then added a second from Lucas Vazquez's cross as Madrid threatened to run riot inside the first 20 minutes.
However, the European champions have now kept just one clean sheet in their last 15 games and their defence was breached once more when Florin Andone turned home Gael Kakuta's mishit shot 10 minutes before half-time.
Vazquez, though, restored Real's two-goal lead before half-time and Zidane's men could even have reached double figures in a dominant second period.
Morata unselfishly teed up Rodriguez for his second of the night before Isco sealed a stunning individual display by smashing home 13 minutes from time.
Joselu got another goal back for Deportivo with a fine looping header, but fittingly Real had the final say when Casemiro's piledriver slipped under Deportivo 'keeper Przemyslaw Tyton.


HOMAGE TO MESSI


At the Camp Nou, Barca fans paid homage to Messi's brilliance against Real in scoring the winner and his 500th goal for the club with the last kick of the game in Sunday's El Clasico.
The five-time World Player of the Year responded by opening the scoring two minutes later as he pounced on an error in the Osasuna defence to stroll through on goal and lift the ball over the advancing Salvatore Sirigu. Andre Gomes has been the scapegoat for many of Barca's most disappointing defeats this season.

PSG Defeated Monaco 5 - 0 To French Cup Final

Edinson Cavani celebrated his new contract with his 45th goal of the season as holders Paris Saint-Germain demolished an inexperienced Monaco 5-0 to reach next month's French Cup final against Angers.
Julian Draxler prodded PSG ahead on 26 minutes at the Parc des Princes and Cavani, who on Tuesday signed an extension through to 2020, swiftly doubled the lead as Unai Emery's side dominated their understrength opponents.
Safwan Mbae bundled into his own net just after half-time and Blaise Matuidi tapped in a fourth before Marquinhos rounded out a resounding victory in the final minute.
PSG thrashed Monaco 4-1 at the start of the month to lift their fourth straight League Cup title and are chasing a third successive sweep of the domestic trophies in France.

Herrera as good as Kante

The midfielder received rave reviews for his performance against the Premier League leaders and can use that to inspire his team against rivals City

 

Few teams have managed to contain Chelsea luminary Eden Hazard this season, nor conquered the atomic presence of PFA Player of the Year N'Golo Kante. Ander Herrera, however, succeeded in both in Manchester United's 2-0 Premier League victory over Antonio Conte's table-toppers last week.

The Spain international set up Marcus Rashford for United's first and scored the second, but most impressively smothered Hazard from start to finish and reduced the Belgian's impact in the 90 minutes to nil.

Herrera followed his Man of the Match performance against Chelsea with another majestic display in United's trip to Turf Moor, in which Jose Mourinho's side ran out 2-0 winners at Burnley. Again, the Spaniard made an assist, taking his total for the campaign to six - more than any other United player and the highest return of his career to date.

The 27-year-old is flourishing under Mourinho's guidance, and is presented with another opportunity on Thursday in the Manchester derby to further cement his status as a favourite at Old Trafford.

"I am very thankful to Mourinho. This season has been the most regular one for me at the club and that is with Mourinho on the bench," Herrera recently commented. "I am very happy. He gave me, from the first day, a lot of confidence and he told me I was going to be an important player for him."

Herrera has what it means to be a Mourinho player. His tactical intelligence is coupled with a hard edge, while he is also predominant in United turning defence into attack. Often, it is Herrera who orchestrates the United midfield, positioning his team-mates and communicating throughout. Importantly, too, Herrera is a nuisance. While those associated with United admire the former Athletic midfielder greatly, those who go up against him have few nice things to say.

Few people will be able to predict the starting XI of both Manchester clubs ahead of Thursday's meeting, such is the incalculable nature of both Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. However, Herrera's importance to how United operate means he will almost certainly start in the middle of the pitch for the Old Trafford side, who are looking to overtake City in the Premier League table at the Etihad, should he be able to overcome his ankle injury.