News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Hamburg led a trio of former European champions into the UEFA Cup knockout phase on Thursday and previous winners Valencia also secured a last 32 place. Aston Villa and Ajax Amsterdam progressed from Group F along with Hamburg, whose 2-0 victory at Slavia Prague meant Villa qualified despite a 2-1 home defeat by Slovakia's Zilina.
West Ham United have condemned the behaviour of some of their fans after Fiorentina's Cristiano Biraghi was hit by a cup during the Europa Conference League final.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
Middlesbrough beat AS Roma to reach the UEFA Cup quarterfinals for the first time
Former England centre-back Sol Campbell says European football's governing body UEFA should introduce points deductions as a deterrent to stop racism rather than fining national associations when it happens.
UEFA has fined England, Poland, Scotland and Lithuania for failing to control their fans in recent European Championship qualifying matches, the governing body said in a statement on Friday.
UEFA's executive committee will discuss the precise definition of own goals on Friday in an issue of huge importance to Europe's top strikers and defenders. European soccer's governing body is keen to end confusion over whether a goal should be credited to an attacking player, even when it has been diverted into the net by a member of the defending team.
They were charged for the improper conduct of one of their supporters during their 2-0 defeat by hosts Portugal.
Disgraced former UEFA president Michel Platini insisted he had done nothing wrong and said his conscience was clear as he gave a farewell speech to European soccer's governing body at their extraordinary Congress on Wednesday.
Television footage showed the Italian spitting at Denmark's Christian Poulsen during their Euro 2004 match.
France will host Euro 2016 after finishing ahead of close rivals Turkey and rank outsiders Italy in a UEFA vote on Friday. France President Nicolas Sarkozy appeared at the ceremony to support his country's bid as the French, who have also hosted two World Cups, were awarded the tournament for the third time.
However, the EFL, which manages the three divisions below the Premier League, said that matches will return as scheduled from Tuesday while the Premier League resumes this weekend.
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for 2012/13 ahead of the usual contenders Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Two superb goals from striker Didier Drogba knocked Newcastle United out of the UEFA Cup.
La Liga players dominate this year's Best Player in Europe shortlist, announced by the continent's governing body UEFA on Monday, with seven of the top 10 contenders for the prestigious award currently plying their trade in Spain.
There were crowd problems during the match including a crush caused by apparent overcrowding in the United end.
Two clinical finishes from Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov took twice winners Tottenham Hotspur through to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney will not face disciplinary action over an alleged "stamping" in last week's Champions League match against AaB Aalborg, UEFA said on Monday. Rooney tangled with Kasper Risgard and his foot made contact with the Aalborg player's chest during the game at Old Trafford, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Ukraine's Metalist Kharkiv, due to play Schalke 04 in the Champions League playoff round later this month, have been kicked out of the competition, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on Wednesday.
Olympique Marseille let 10-man Ajax Amsterdam off the hook in a UEFA Cup first leg meeting of former European champions on Thursday, while holders Zenit St Petersburg suffered a 2-0 defeat at Udinese. The only other emphatic victory in the first legs came from ambitious Manchester City, 2-0 winners at home to Danish club AaB Aalborg.
IMAGES from the Europa League matches played on Thursday.
AC Milan's place in the Champions League is not a foregone conclusion and could be blocked by UEFA's emergency panel.
Former European champions Ajax Amsterdam made a shock exit from the UEFA Cup on Thursday after a 3-2 home defeat by Dinamo Zagreb gave the Croatians victory on the away goals rule.
Cyprus inflicted more soccer pain on neighbours Greece on Thursday when Omonia Nicosia knocked out AEK Athens in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round.
Manchester City are in danger of an early exit from Europe after a shock 1-0 home defeat by Danish side Midtjylland in their UEFA Cup second qualifying round first-leg match on Thursday.
Sweden's Helsingborg and Greek side Panathinaikos became the first clubs to reach the knockout phase of the UEFA Cup on Thursday while former European champions Bayern Munich missed their chance to reach the last 32, a 1-1 draw in Portugal against Braga ensuring the Bundesliga leaders still have work to do to qualify from the group stage.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Bayern Munich were held to a 2-2 draw by Aberdeen, while Atletico Madrid lost 1-0 at Bolton Wanderers in the UEFA Cup last 32 first-leg matches.
The Spanish Government mistakenly honoured celebrity Ivana Icardi, sister of Argentinian footballer Mauro Icardi, instead of Women's World Cup winning captain Ivana Andres, with the country's Royal Order of Sports Merit, Spain's National Sports Council (CSD) confirmed on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Andres Palop emerged as Sevilla's hero by saving three penalties in the shootout to give his side victory over Espanyol.
Racing Strasbourg, bottom of Ligue 1 and without a league win this season, secured their place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup on Thursday with a 1-1 draw at AS Roma.
Schalke 04 have asked UEFA to check whether Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba was eligible to participate in Wednesday's 1-1 Champions League draw in Istanbul, the German club said.
UEFA has reduced on appeal a fine and two-match ban given to coach Jose Mourinho after allegations that two of his Real Madrid players engineered deliberate red cards in last month's Champions League game with Ajax Amsterdam.
Not only the senior team but the young Blue Colts also emerged victorious in the SAFF Men's U-19 champions after hammering Pakistan in the final and clinching a vigorous 3-0 victory.
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