UEFA unveil plans for EURO 2020

Euro 2020 will be held in 13 cities across the continent and the semi-finals and final will be played in the same stadium, UEFA said this weekend. 

UEFA Secretary General Gianni Infantino said no more than one venue per country would be permitted, no host nation would be guaranteed qualification and that venues would be chosen in September next year. 

"Ideally, we would like to keep travelling times down to a two-hour flight between matches for the teams and their fans," said UEFA President Michel Platini, adding that supporters could make use of low-cost airlines. 

UEFA said that 12 cities would be awarded a package of three group games plus one knockout-stage game, either from the round-of-16 or quarter-finals. 

A special 13th package would be awarded, consisting of the two semi-finals and final. Countries could present up to two bids each, one for the knockout matches and one for the final package. 

Platini said that in his opinion Turkey, which had planned to bid as sole host for the tournament until December's decision, would be favourite to stage the semi-finals and final. 

Infantino said no teams would qualify automatically for the tournament, potentially meaning that some host nations would not be taking part. 

Those host nations which did qualify would be guaranteed two home games in their group but it would be pot luck in the knockout stages. Each six-team group would include a maximum of two host nations. 

The decision to stage the semi-finals and final in the same venue takes the competition back to its early days when a four-team final stage was played. The full tournament format was started at the 1980 championship held in Italy. 

The minimum stadium capacities would be 70,000 for the semi-finals and final, 60,000 for the quarter-finals and 50,000 for the group stage and round of 16 matches, although two exceptions would be made where 30,000 capacity stadiums would be permitted. 

FA Cup: Chelsea held by Brentford

Defending champions Chelsea were held to a 2-2 tie at Brentford in the fourth round of FA Cup yesterday as they twice rallied from a goal behind. 

Marcello Trotta and Harry Forrester, with a penalty, got goals at Griffin Park in west London for Brentford, which plays in the third-tier League One. Oscar and Fernando Torres replied for the Blues. 

The teams will now face a replay at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge to advance in the competition, which Chelsea has won four times in the past six seasons. 

Chelsea had most of the possession early on, although it was the home team that had an opportunity to take the lead on 12 minutes when Blues goalkeeper Ross Turnbull picked up a backpass from John Terry. 

Brentford was awarded a free kick within the penalty area, but Forrester was unable to get his shot on target. The hosts started to gain confidence against their Premier League opposition and Forrester fired just wide from long-range in the 29th minute. Adam Forshaw came close four minutes later. 

The opening goal game three minutes before halftime. Frank Lampard lost the ball and Forrester tested Turnbull with a shot that he could only parry to Trotta to tap into the net. 

Chelsea was level after 55 minutes. Oscar collected the ball just outside the penalty area, turned and then placed a shot into the top corner. 

With 17 minutes remaining, Brentford regained the lead with a penalty, awarded when Turnbull fouled Tom Adeyemi as he burst into the area. Adeyemi had replaced Trotta less than a minute earlier. Forrester stepped up and placed the ball past Turnbull, who dived the correct way. 

Ryan Bertrand missed an opportunity for Chelsea late in the game when he headed over from close range and was then replaced by Demba Ba. 
Moments later, Ba crossed for Torres to tie the game on 83 minutes. 

Brentford held on for the replay, even as Chelsea's players appealed vociferously for a penalty in injury time when the ball hit the hand of Harlee Dean. 

Traore helps Burkina Faso extend unbeaten run in AFCON

Alain Traore equalized in the last minute of stoppage time to help Burkina Faso snatch a point against Nigeria. 

It was a major disappointment for Nigeria, as they had dominated the game a red card to Efe Ambrose in the 74th minute let them down. 

After the opening goal by Emmanuel Emenike in the 23rd-minute, Nigeria wasted a lot of chances to increase their lead. 

The result extended Burkina Faso's winless run in the African Nations Cup to 18 matches, you could hardly tell by the way they celebrated the final whistle. 

Nigeria dominated the first half, with almost one-way traffic towards Abdoulaye Soulama's goal. 

Brown Ideye wanted a penalty early on after a fine long ball from Jon Obi Mikel found him in the area and he tumbled under the challenge of Bakary Kone, although there was a fairly obvious use of the hand by Ideye as he controlled the ball and the referee waved play on. 

Ideye then blazed over from Ahmed Musa's cross before the breakthrough came in the 23rd minute. 

A long ball over the top was brilliantly flicked on by Ideye and Emenike got his toe to the ball first under pressure from two defenders. 

Burkina Faso were barely registering as an attacking force, but almost had a penalty just after the half-hour mark when Elderson Echiejile handled, but the referee ruled it just outside and they bungled the free-kick. 

They were much improved in the second half and Moumouni Dagano should have levelled in the 49th minute, but totally mistimed his header from Florent Rouamba's cross as the ball rolled off his shoulder. 

Eden Hazard apologises to ballboy after League Cup fiasco

In a stray encounter, Chelsea's Eden Hazard finds himself in the midst of controversy. 

The Football Association's disciplinary body is set to open a fresh file on his club after he was sent off for kicking a 17-year-old ball boy while attempting to retrieve the ball toward the end of a League Cup semi-final match against Swansea. 

The Belgium winger has apologized to the ball boy - and will not face criminal charges - but will be handed a minimum three-match ban for violent conduct, depriving Chelsea of one of its top players. 

Worse for the European champions, however, is having face up to further accusations that its millionaire players are out of control, soon after the racism scandals involving John Terry, Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel that blighted 2012. 

"It is an extraordinary incident," former referee Dermot Gallagher said. "There's no defence for that. Someone said it was borne out of frustration but you have to accept it . It was an extreme but you can't have that at a football match." 

The incident sparked a flurry of activity on social networking sites and induced imaginative headlines in British newspapers, such as "Ed Case," "Occupational Hazard" and "Boots of Hazard." BBC radio has already been referring to it as "Ballboygate." 

Many ex-professionals have reacted with sympathy for Hazard, who was attempting to get the ball back into play as quickly as possible with Chelsea needing two late goals to force extra time in the second leg. The match finished 0-0, with Swansea progressing to the final 2-0 on aggregate. 

"I'm not saying its the correct thing 2 do but when in the heat of the moment u just want the ball," Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar wrote on Twitter. 

"I do not know what you expect from me," Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez said. "Do you think we are not disappointed with the situation, that we do not regret what happened? 

"Do you want to change things? We cannot." 

Tottenham salvage draw with an injury time equaliser

Clint Dempsey's stoppage time equalizer helped Tottenham Hotspur salvage a point against Manchester United at White Hart Lane yesterday. 

In frosty conditions in north London Robin van Persie's first-half goal appeared to have secured the points for United until Dempsey slid home an equaliser with virtually the final kick of the game. 

The leaders have 56 points from 23 games with Manchester City following them on 51. 

Robin van Persie took his league tally for the season to 18 with a header from Tom Cleverley's cross midway through the opening period of an absorbing game. 

Tottenham, whose strong recent run had seen them establish themselves in the top four, were twice denied equalisers by the outstretched legs of United keeper David De Gea as they attempted a rare league double over Alex Ferguson's side. 

Gareth Bale thought he had equalised shortly before halftime but De Gea performed marvels to keep out his deflected shot and after the break Dempsey wriggled through only to see the keeper again come to United's rescue. 

United, who began with Wayne Rooney on the bench, showed another side to their character. With resolute defending rather than fluent attacking play, they were content to absorb pressure and the policy seemed to have earned an important victory. 

As the snow poured down, Bale also went agonisingly close to a late equaliser with a shot deflected past the post. However, the hosts kept plugging away and Dempsey was on hand to equalise after De Gea could only punch a clearance to Aaron Lennon and the winger threaded a pass to the American. 

Chelsea sneak past Arsenal

Chelsea enjoyed a much needed home win with goals from Juan Mata and Frank Lampard securing a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League yesterday. 

Arsenal staged a second-half revival with Theo Walcott halving the deficit at a snowy Stamford Bridge but Chelsea hung on for only their second win in six home league games since Rafa Benitez was hired as interim manager. 

Mata scored after six minutes after Cesar Azpilicueta's lofted ball put him through on goal, although Arsenal were seething at the referee's failure to award a free kick their way in the initial stages of the move. 

Lampard made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after 16 minutes after Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny escaped a red card for bringing down Ramires in the area. 

The midfielder's calm finish was his 195th goal for the club and he is now just seven behind Chelsea's all-time record goalscorer Bobby Tambling. 

Walcott's superb finish just before the hour gave Arsenal hope and Chelsea enjoyed a nervy final half hour as the Gunners pressed for an equaliser but the hosts held on. 

Arsenal remain in sixth place with 34 points. 

Darren Fletcher ruled out for the season

Manchester United & British midfielder Darren Fletcher has been ruled out of action for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to resolve his ulcerative colitis condition. 

The Scotland international was diagnosed with the illness in December 2011 and did not play for the remainder of the campaign, but the 28-year-old made a welcome return to action in Manchester United's Champions League tie with Galatasaray in September and has since featured in 12 games for club and country. 

But Fletcher has elected to write-off the rest of the season in order to have the operation which should benefit his long-term career and overall health. 

A statement on the Manchester United website said: 'We wish to stress this was a planned procedure undertaken at the optimal time having achieved a period of sustained good general health, as illustrated by the fact that Darren has trained with the team regularly this season and been available for selection right up to the operation. 

'Whilst it is frustrating for both Darren and the Club that he won't be able to contribute further during this campaign, this decision has been taken with our full support in the best interests of his long-term health and we look forward to him returning next season with this problem firmly behind him.' 

Guardiola explains Bayern move

Pep Guardiola in a recent statement to the media said he agreed to take charge of Bayern Munich at the end of the season because he missed football. The Spaniard moved to New York after leaving Barcelona in the summer of 2012 to take a break from football, and he said he was looking forward to making his comeback. 


"I've missed the game itself. All the stuff that surrounds it, not so much. But I have missed (figuring out) the way a certain team plays and how you can beat them, deciding on which players to select to try and win a match," Guardiola told the media. 

"For me at least, that's the only reason I'm in this game. If it wasn't for that...

"Everything else, well, they're not things that I have a constant need for. I can live perfectly well without them. In fact I'd say you can have a much better life without them. But the game itself, that's what draws you in." 

The 41-year-old then went on to discuss Barcelona's title chances, and stressed that something special would have to happen for the Catalans to miss out on La Liga success. 

"Too many things, far too many things, would have to go wrong for Barcelona to lose this Liga title. I don't see it happening, the gap's virtually insurmountable. Not because Madrid aren't capable of winning all their games, but because I don't see Barcelona losing enough matches either. 

"It's too big an ask. The Barcelona players are used to success and they've got so many qualities. I think that this La Liga race is pretty much over." 

Barcelona hold an 11-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid.

United scrape past Liverpool

Manchester United sealed a needlessly nervy 2-1 home win over eighth-placed Liverpool to maintain their seven-point lead after Van Persie with a goal and Patrice Evra with two assists put rival Luis Suarez in the shade. 

In contrast, the game in London was never in doubt with City winning 2-0 for their first league win at Arsenal in 38 years. 

City were given a helping hand by the 10th-minute dismissal of Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny for wrestling Edin Dzeko to the ground before James Milner and Dzeko netted before the break. 

Liverpool have had to watch with horror over the last two decades as big rivals United undisputedly crowned themselves kings of the English game, trampling over the Anfield side's legacy after they had shone the brightest in the 1970s and 80s. 

The first half at Old Trafford, which followed United's 2-1 win at Liverpool in September, suggested talk of the balance of power should be replaced by whisperings of the huge gulf in class such was the ineptitude of Brendan Rodgers' side. 

Dutchman Van Persie, English football's in-form striker along with Liverpool's Suarez, grabbed a 19th-minute opener when he swept in Evra's cross in inimitable style. 

"Robin van Persie is different class. He produces moments in the game others can't do and we are glad he is on our side," man of the match Danny Welbeck told Sky. 

"We had our gameplan and it worked really well in the first half. They came into it more in the second half but we got the three points and showed our character." 

Match Report: Manchester City vs Arsenal

Manchester City remained seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United after a 2-0 win away to Arsenal. 

First-half goals from James Milner and Edin Dzeko put City in a commanding position against Arsenal, already reduced to 10 men after Laurent Koscielny was sent off in the 10th minute for bringing down Dzeko inside the box. 

Although Dzeko's penalty following Koscielny's red card was turned onto the post by Wojciech Szczesny, with the Arsenal goalkeeper gathering the rebound, it was not long before Milner and Dzeko himself made the man advantage count. 

"I don't know about the sending off, but it was a penalty 100 per cent. I told myself after missing the penalty I had to score," said Dzeko. 

The visitors too were a man down at the Emirates Stadium when, 15 minutes from time, City captain Vincent Kompany was dismissed by referee Mike Dean for a challenge on Jack Wilshere. 

"It was a good result for us because to play here is always difficult," said City manager Roberto Mancini. 

"Today, we started the game well with a good attitude, but the sending-off (of Koscielny) made a difference." 

The Italian confirmed City would appeal Kompany's red card, saying: "It was not a sending-off, he went in with his left foot in front and I think the referee made a mistake." 

Arsenal, without a major trophy since 2005, remained sixth in the table as City enjoyed their first league win away to the Gunners since 1975. 

Swansea upset Chelsea in League Cup

Swansea beat Chelsea 2-0 in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal on Wednesday, thus inching closer to their first major final in the club's 100-year history. 

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic was to blame for both goals at Stamford Bridge. His poor control in the 39th minute allowed prolific forward Michu to curl home his 16th goal of the season, before a lazy back-pass was seized upon emphatically by Danny Graham in injury time. 

With its attacking options, Chelsea cannot be discounted in the second leg on Jan. 23, but Swansea is in full control - especially with Michu in its ranks.

"It was the bargain of the season," said Swansea manager Michael Laudrup, who signed Michu for just 2 million pounds (3.2 million Dollar) from Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in the offseason. "Only a few clubs can afford to buy him (now)." 

"There is still a mountain to climb,"Laudrup said. "Chelsea have so much quality." 

Chelsea were greeted with jeers and boos by the home crowd. Most of them were directed at interim manager Rafael Benitez, still as unpopular as ever six weeks into his tenure, but the whole club seems in disarray. Even chairman Bruce Buck was booed before kickoff as he came onto the pitch to present an award. 

"We made two mistakes and we paid for them,"Benitez said. "If you play this game 10 times, you win nine of them." 

Swansea's defense - marshalled superbly by center back Ashley Williams - held firm and in the second minute of injury time, Ivanovic failed to spot Graham lurking behind him as he passed the ball back to Turnbull. The substitute pounced to round the keeper and slot home. 

"We have had some historic results in the first half of the season,"Laudrup said, "but to win at the European champions is something very special." 

Ronaldo's hattrick takes Real past Celta Vigo

Ronaldo's three goals, and one from Sami Khedira, gave Real Madrid a 4-0 win on Wednesday night when they played the last 20 minutes with just 10 men in the last-16 stage of the tournament. 

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho decided to start with Iker Casillas in goal ahead of Antonio Adan, who had been first choice in the last two matches. 

Casillas earned a round of applause from the fans in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium who, nevertheless, booed and whistled Mourinho when his name was given on the stadium PA system. 

Two goals from Ronaldo were enough to see Madrid into the last eight. His first after just two minutes was a spectacular effort from 25 yards, which dipped and curled away from Celta keeper, Sergio Alvarez. 

The visitors paid the price for leaving several key players, such as striker Iago Aspes, out of their starting 11 when Ronaldo doubled Madrid's lead after 22 minutes and it was not until the second half, with Aspes on the pitch that Celta began to threaten the Madrid goal. 

Sergio Ramos was sent off for two yellow cards with 20 minutes remaining and Celta began to pressure the Madrid goal, but were denied by several good saves from Casillas. 

Ronaldo completed his hat-trick after 87 minutes and Khedira rounded off the scoring a minute later and Real Madrid will now face Valencia for a place in the semi finals. 

Liverpool scramble past Mansfield in FA Cup

Liverpool avoided an upset in the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Mansfield Town at Field Mill on Sunday. 

The Reds raced into an early lead with Daniel Sturridge running on to Jonjo Shelvey's superb pass before calmly curling an effort into the bottom corner, leaving Mansfield goalkeeper Alan Marriott with no chance. They stretched their lead near the hour mark, with Luis Suarez tapping home after some good work by Stewart Downing down the right, with the Uruguayan forward handling the ball in the box before stroking it home into an empty net for a hugely contentious goal. 

With time running out and their hopes fading, Mansfield grabbed a goal back through Matt Green after his strike inside the box took two deflections on its way into the net. 

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers made eight changes from the side that beat Sunderland in their last outing, with only Andre Wisdom, Lucas and Downing retaining their places while new signing Sturridge was handed his debut for the club, with Suarez dropped to the bench and captain Steven Gerrard rested completely. 

Liverpool took the lead in the seventh minute after Sturridge latched on to Shelvey's defence-splitting through-ball before coolly slotting past the on-rushing Marriott. 

The hosts had their best chance just after the half-hour mark when striker Green forced Brad Jones into a smart stop with a dipping strike from outside the box. 

With the hosts chasing an equaliser, substitute Suarez grabbed the second goal in the 58th minute in controversial circumstances, after appearing to use his hand to knock the ball past Marriott after seeing his initial effort rebound up and into his path, leaving him a simple tap-in. 

Mansfield responded and kept their hopes of an upset alive by grabbing a goal back in the 80th minute through Green after his deflected effort flew in when Liverpool failed to clear their lines after a routine cross into the box. 

FIFA under pressure to act over the 'Boateng' issue

AC Milan have called for FIFA to take an official stand against racism in the sport as the controversy surrounding Kevin-Prince Boateng's walk-off continued. Boateng hit the headlines last week when he responded to racist chants by a small group of fans during a friendly against fourth division side Pro Patria by storming off the pitch. 

He was followed by his teammates, prompting a global outpouring of applause for the German-born Ghanaian international's decision. 

World football's ruling FIFA had yet to make an official statement about the incident but in an interview from the United Arab Emirates FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Boateng was "wrong" to have walked off the pitch. 

Both FIFA and UEFA have previously warned against players walking off the pitch in protest, and Blatter told The National newspaper: "Walk off? No. I don't think that is the solution. 

"I don't think you can run away. This issue is a very touchy subject, but I repeat there is zero tolerance of racism in the stadium; we have to go against that." 

Milan reacted quickly, declaring: "AC Milan reiterates its firm stance against racism, in whatever shape or form, and calls on the national and international sports bodies to adopt and implement necessary and effective measures." 

In the wake of the Boateng incident some observers, including former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf, had warned that the decision to leave the pitch threatened to "empower" a racist minority. 

At Rome's Olympic stadium on Saturday Seedorf's fears rung true when some sections of Lazio's crowd were heard making monkey noises at Cagliari's Colombian striker Victor Ibarbo. 

Although the majority of the home crowd jeered and whistled to drown out the racists, Cagliari's director general Francesco Marroccu was forced eventually to inform the fourth official. The referee halted play momentarily to speak to both team captains and order a message to be relayed over the loudspeaker to warn fans the game would be suspended if the chants continued. 

Lazio went on to win 2-1, but this latest incident threatens to reinforce the Rome-based side's reputation for harbouring fans with far right sympathies. 

Pato completes move to Corinthians

Alexandre Pato has confirmed his return to Brazil after his current club- AC Milan confirmed that they had reached an agreement with Corinthians over the forward's transfer. 

The 23-year-old has reportedly signed a four-year deal with the recently-crowned Club World Cup champions after revealing his desire to return to his homeland last month. 

Milan confirmed Pato's departure, after five years at San Siro, in a brief statement on their website. 

"AC Milan can announce that Alexandre Pato has been sold outright to Sporting Club Corinthians Paulista," the statement read. 

Pato told Milan's official website: "I wish to say goodbye, but especially thank you to everyone from the president to the big number of people with whom I worked in these unforgettable years in Milan. 

"I go to Brazil, at Corinthians, to have the possibility to play regularly. It won't be easy, anyway, forgetting Milan. 

"I am and I always will be bound to this jersey, to its colours and to the whole supporters. Especially in this moment, my thoughts and thanks go to them."