Neymar's acrimonious split from Barcelona escalated on Thursday as the Paris St Germain forward announced plans to sue the La Liga club, two days after Barca revealed they were suing the Brazilian over breach of contract.
The reason: Vitaly Mutko has delivered victories on the sports field for the past decade and a half to match Putin's ambition of restoring national pride, and the Russian leader stands by the people who give him loyal service.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
The French taxman is delighted about the prospect of Brazilian soccer star Neymar joining Paris St Germain, the minister in charge of France's public accounts said on Thursday.
'It was not an agreement, this was his proposal and of course it (then) went to the vote at the (FIFA) executive committee'
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field on Saturday
Soccer highlights from across the globe.
New York City coach Patrick Vieira saluted Frank Lampard after the former England and Chelsea midfielder announced on Monday he will be leaving the Major League Soccer team when his contract expires next month.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Police staffing is so stretched in several Russian cities as officers are deployed to bolster security at soccer World Cup venues that one union leader says criminals could benefit.
Brazil, the only bidding country, were named as the host nation of the 2014 World Cup finals by FIFA, world soccer's governing body, on Tuesday.
Real Madrid's Croatia midfielder Luka Modric was named winner of the 2018 Ballon d'Or on Monday, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's and Lionel Messi's decade-long hold on the prestigious award.
LA Galaxy lost 4-5 to New York Red Bulls in the MLS league game.
Portugal's Brazilian-born coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has had his contract extended until 2008.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday.
Egypt's crucial performer has been battling against time to be fit for the Group A encounter since hurting ligaments in an awkward fall in the early stages of last month's Champions League final.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Roger Federer lit up the O2 Arena with a dazzling 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Novak Djokovic to hand the Serb an early ATP Finals exit and wreck his bid to end the year ranked number one on Thursday.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has a goalkeeping dilemma to resolve before ManchesterCity turn up for their Group C Champions League match in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Maverick striker Mario Balotelli has been called up by Italy for the first time since the World Cup in June after being included on Sunday in the squad for next weekend's Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Croatia.
Barcelona lifted the Spanish Super Cup for a record extending 13th time by coming from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 on Sunday thanks to a stunning strike from France winger Ousmane Dembele and a penalty save in stoppage time from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Disgraced FIFA officials, suspended UEFA chief Michel Platini and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi were amongst the names found on Sunday in leaked documents which reveal offshore financial dealings.
Portugal had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to Spain in a heavyweight friendly on Wednesday after hammering the crossbar twice and missing a last-gasp open goal.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
When defending champions Australia compete in the Women's Twenty20 World Cup final in Melbourne on Sunday, they will earn the same as their male counterparts would - in stark contrast to their rivals, India. In cricket-mad India, male players are revered as gods, paid handsomely and showered with lucrative endorsement deals, from watches and shoes to snacks, headphones and even toothbrushes. The women barely get a look-in.
The France captain's head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi is the subject of a song that aims to be a holiday hit.
Chelsea captain John Terry missed the game against Manchester United due to a toe injury and will sit out the next game as well
Mbappe, 18, has scored 18 goals in his last 18 competitive games, including three in the 6-3 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund in the last eight.
England great Frank Lampard will have to wait to make his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut after he was ruled out of New York City FC's match against Toronto FC on Sunday with a calf strain.
US prosecutors may find it difficult to get a number of the people they have charged in the FIFA bribery scandal to face the music.
Akira Nishino's short time in charge of Japan has been defined by a succession of gambles and so it was perhaps fitting that his side departs the World Cup after risking it all in the last 16 against Belgium.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
English cricket's leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson and former England football midfielder Frank Lampard were given the OBE.
Real Madrid on top because of performances, not referees, says coach Zidane.
The win lifted Hamburg, who needed a relegation playoff to stay up last season, to seventh on six points.
Favourites Argentina, one game away from their first Olympic soccer title, are laying the foundations for a new era of international success in Greece.
Factbox on midfielder Roy Keane, who announced his retirement from international soccer on Friday.
India's One-day International cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is among Forbes magazine's 100 highest-paid athletes in the world.
South African prosecutors on Tuesday withdrew the case against a suspect in the killing of national soccer team captain Senzo Meyiwa, the latest high-profile murder in which police and prosecutors have struggled to build an air-tight case.
