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Barcelona coach Xavi applauded the decision by a court to overrule LaLiga s refusal to register Gavi as a first-team player.

The Blaugrana midfielder, who has been in superb form for the club this term, signed a new contract in September that saw him recognised as a first-team player rather than a member of the B team.

But LaLiga denied the registration of the new deal due to the club s financial situation, with Barca exceeding their salary cap.

While Gavi could continue playing this season for the senior side as a B team player, he would have been registered in LaLiga on a contract that expires in 2024 and has a €50million release clause – the agreement he signed in September is until 2026 with a €1billion release clause.

LaLiga president Javier Te…

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the one-match bans handed to both Germany coach Joachim Loew and Austria s Josef Hickersberger by UEFA during a Euro 2008 group game were unjustified.

Loew and Hickersberger were both banned after being sent to the stands in the first-half of Germany s 1-0 win over Austria in Vienna on June 16 by referee Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez for arguing with fourth official Damir Skomina from Slovenia.

Loew was then allowed no contact with his team during the 3-2 quarter-final win over Portugal in Basel where he had to watch the game from the stands, while Hickersberger would have also served a ban had he stayed on as coach.

But Blatter says UEFA should have not banned the pair, saying coaches should be allowed to get on with their job and …

Antoine Griezmann continued his recent goalscoring form as Barcelona eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Ferencvaros in Champions League Group G on Wednesday.

France striker Griezmann struck early on as he netted in three consecutive games for the first time in a Barca shirt.

Martin Braithwaite and Ousmane Dembele were also on the scoresheet for Barcelona, who had already qualified for the competition s knockout phase.

The victory also ensured Barca won their first five Champions League group stage games for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign and they lead second-placed Juventus by three points with one match remaining.

Lionel Messi was rested by Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman for the trip to Hungary but without the influential Argentina intern…

Bayern Munich s new coach Jurgen Klinsmann revealed Thursday that the Bavarian giants have finished their recruitment drive for 2008-09 and that coveted German international striker Mario Gomez will not among their newcomers.

Our group is fixed, we have 24 players and I would have enough work keeping them all happy, said Klinsmann, who took over from Ottmar Hitzfeld earlier this month.

Compared to last season s spending spree where Bayern spent 70 million euros to sign Franck Ribery, Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose, the club have been relatively frugal this time round.

The champions recruited Germany international midfielder Tim Borowski, who was out of contract at Werder Bremen, and goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt, who will stand in for Michael Rensing.

But …

Leicester City boss Clause Puel hopes to keep both Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani until at least the end of the season.

Winger Mahrez has been linked with a possible move to Liverpool to replace Philippe Coutinho, who has joined Barcelona for a fee that reportedly could reach £142million.

Club-record signing Slimani, who is said to have cost close to £28m after agreeing to leave Sporting CP in 2016, has managed only two Premier League starts this season and cut a frustrated figure in Saturday s 0-0 FA Cup draw with Fleetwood Town.

However, Puel says the 29-year-old still has a role to play at the club, telling reporters:  This period is always a difficult period with speculation about different players.

I am happy with Slim. We have a lot of strikers …

Eduardo Vargas believes Chile s come-from-behind win over Panama on Tuesday will give them the confidence boost they need in their Copa America title defence. 

Vargas scored twice in the first half to overturn an early deficit at the Centenario tournament, after Miguel Camargo gave Panama the lead in Philadelphia. 

Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez scored a double of his own in the second half, either side of an Abdiel Arroyo header, to seal Chile s passage to the quarter-finals with a 4-2 win. 

Vargas acknowledged Chile s performances have been severely lacking in quality compared to their 2015 title win, but believes the victory over Panama will provide the push they need. 

It s been a very important game not just for me but for the team as well, the 26-…

Russian newspaper that Anzhi winger Mbark Boussoufa has been placed on the transfer list.

The Moroccan midfielder has established himself as a key member of Guus Hiddink’s squad, but he is, nonetheless, expected to leave the club in the near future.

Anzhi officials are willing to part ways with the 28-year-old in order to accommodate new signing Willian.

Lifesports understands that a €20 million price tag has been placed on the Morocco international, with Anzhi chiefs hoping Boussoufa will leave before the transfer window in Russia closes.

Liverpool and Zenit have so far been keeping tabs on the experienced midfielder, but it remains to be seen whether they will be prepared to splash the cash on the Moroccan.

Mbark Boussoufa joined Anzhi in …

Aston Villa youngster Ashley Westwood has hailed Charles N Zogbia s recent performances as the club continue to fight against relegation.

Aston Villa youngster Ashley Westwood has hailed Charles N Zogbia s recent performances as the club continue to fight against relegation.

The Frenchman has failed to replicate his form for Wigan which prompted the Villa Park outfit to part with nine million pounds to sign the winger in 2011.

However, a goal and an assist from N Zogbia in the recent 2-1 win over West Ham pushed Villa out of the Premier League relegation zone, and Westwood has backed the winger to continue to shine for the rest of the season.

I have been really impressed with Charles, Westwood said.

You just give him the ball and even if he s…

Pep Guardiola remains convinced Phil Foden has the ability to become the heartbeat of the Manchester City team after David Silva leaves the club.

Silva, 33, has already confirmed his intention to depart City at the end of the season when his contract expires, bringing a 10-year spell at the club to a close.

The Spaniard has become a City icon, with many of the opinion he has been the Premier League s greatest foreign import, enjoying great success and consistency.

He has mostly been kept back for Premier League action this term, making only two appearances in the Champions League, and he will be missing again for Wednesday s trip to Dinamo Zagreb, with Sergio Aguero and John Stones also absent.

All three are injured, Guardiola confirmed to reporters on …

Nemanja Matic is set to play for Manchester United against AZ in the Europa League on Thursday but Paul Pogba is not yet ready to return, according to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Matic, 31, has been sidelined with injury since a 0-0 draw with the Eredivisie side back in October.

The former Chelsea midfielder has been tipped to leave United in January, having found his place in Solskjaer s first-team plans come under threat during the opening weeks of the season, with Serie A clubs including Milan and Inter said to be interested.

Matic is due to be given a chance to impress at Old Trafford, though, as United go in search of the draw they need to secure their place as winners of Group L.

He s fit, Solskjaer said on Wednesday.  He s due to be involved. <…