FOOTBALL NEWS

Gesture costs Ancelotti €5 000 Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti will not be punished for showing Hertha Berlin fans his middle finger but must make a donation to charity, the German Federation (DFB) said on Tuesday. The Italian coach had made the explicit gesture after being spat at by Hertha fans during Bayern's 1-1 draw in Berlin on Saturday. The DFB said it had closed the case against Ancelotti "on condition the Bayern Munich coach makes a 5 000-euros ($5 270) donation to the Sepp-Herberger Foundation", the federation said in a statement on its website. The foundation – named after the coach of the West Germany team that won the 1...

Five things we learned from La Liga Gareth Bale made his return from a three-month injury layoff in style as Real Madrid maintained their one-point lead over Barcelona in the La Liga title race. Barca, meanwhile, had to rely on a last gasp Lionel Messi penalty to see off Leganes, while Kevin Gameiro netted one of the fastest hat-tricks in La Liga history for Atletico Madrid. Here, AFP Sports looks at five things we learned from week 23 in La Liga. Barca fail to convince Barcelona got back to winning ways by the skin of their teeth against lowly Leganes. However, another poor performance following a 4-0 thrashing at the hands...

Iniesta backs coach after fans vent frustration Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta and the club's president have rallied behind coach Luis Enrique after fans vented their frustration at a tough week with boos during their 2-1 home win in La Liga on Sunday. Just days after a 4-0 drubbing by Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in France in the Champions League last 16, Barcelona needed Lionel Messi to convert a 90th minute penalty to beat struggling Leganes. Iniesta acknowledged the defending Spanish league champions were rattled after the defeat to PSG but backed the coach and team to restore the side's winning mentality. "We have not lost confidence in ourselves or in the manager," Iniesta to...

Court rejects Neymar, Barca appeal A Spanish court on Monday dismissed appeals from Neymar and Barcelona over alleged fraud and corruption in the Brazilian star's transfer from Santos in 2013. The decision brings the possibility of the player and club facing trial a step closer. Neymar's arrival from Brazil's Santos has been a huge success for the Spanish champions on the pitch but a judicial nightmare off it. The 25-year-old Brazilian striker is being investigated in Brazil and Spain over his headline move to La Liga. Barcelona originally published the transfer figure as €57.1 million, with €40 million of that given to the player's family...

'Barca don't know how to treat players' Brazilian right back Dani Alves has slammed Barcelona directors for their treatment of him during his final seasons with the Spanish club. The former Barcelona star signed for Serie A champions Juventus on a free transfer last summer after eight years with the Catalan giants. "Those who run Barcelona today have no idea how to treat their players," Alves told Spanish daily ABC on Monday. "I like to feel wanted, and if they don't want me, I leave. Leaving Barca on a free was a classy punch. During my final three seasons I always heard that Alves was leaving, but the directors never said a...

Lallana signs new Liverpool deal Midfielder Adam Lallana has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, the Premier League club said on their website (www.liverpoolfc.com) on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Lallana, who joined Liverpool from Southampton for £25 million in June 2014, has made 23 appearances so far this season, scoring seven goals and contributing seven assists. "I'm very proud and feel quite humbled by the show of faith from the club and the manager in particular," Lallana told the website. "Signing for a club like Liverpool is obviously a big thing but to re-sign shows you've obviously contr...

Valencia early show stuns Real Madrid Two goals in the opening eight minutes from Simone Zaza and Fabian Orellana blew the La Liga title race wide open as Valencia beat leaders Real Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday. The defeat leaves Madrid just a single point clear of Barcelona and three points ahead of Sevilla and now enjoy just one game in hand over their title rivals. "We lost this match in the opening ten minutes, ten bad minutes where we let two goals in," Eeal coach Zinedine zidane told Spanish TV. "I'm not worried, I'm angry more than anything, because we only have ourselves to blame." Italian striker Zaza had broken do...