Chelsea to appeal FIFA’s player-transfer ban

English Premier League side Chelsea have said they will mount the “strongest appeal possible” following the transfer ban placed on the club by world football’s governing body FIFA. The punishment, which would prevent any new member joining the squad until 2011, was dished out after the club were found to have “induced” Gael Kukuta to breach his contract in a transfer from French league side Lens in 2007

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Football: Gerrard admits punching man in bar

English football star Steven Gerrard has admitted punching a man in a bar, but the Liverpool captain insisted in his court testimony that it was in self-defense. The 29-year-old is facing a charge of affray after an incident in the early hours of December 29, when he attacked businessman Marcus McGee following a dispute about the music that was being played. If found guilty, Gerrard faces a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine of $7,200.

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Manchester Utd edge closer to Valencia deal

Wigan Athletic have confirmed that negotiations over the transfer of winger Antonio Valencia to Manchester United are expected to start "very shortly". United have indentified 23-year-old Valencia as one of the players they want to bring in as a replacement to Real-Madrid bound Cristiano Ronaldo with a fee in the region of £17 million ($28m) being mooted. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told Press Association Sport that the Premier League champions have made their interest in the Ecuadorian international winger known for “the last two or three months”.

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Man Utd net reported $131M sponsorship

Manchester United have netted a sponsorship deal with American insurance giants Aon Corporation that will reportedly earn the Premier League champions a staggering $131 million over four years. That would send United to the top of football’s sponsorship income league ahead of the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Chelsea

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Bolt fit for Manchester street race

Usain Bolt, who was involved in a high speed car smash in his native Jamaica last month, will be fit to run in a special street race in Manchester this weekend. Bolt had surgery to remove thorns from his left foot after crashing his BMW sports car on April 29 and missed an international meeting in Kingston the following weekend. There had been doubt that the world’s fastest man would be able to take part in a special 150 meter race in the city center of the north-west of England city on Sunday

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Man Utd quintuple bid ends in penalty drama

Manchester United’s quintuple bid ended with defeat by Everton in a penalty shootout at Wembley in their FA Cup semifinal on Sunday. The match finished goalless after normal and extra time and United took an early advantage in the shootout as Australian international Tim Cahill blazed over

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