News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to pay Spain's tax authorities 14.7 million Euros ($16.39 million) -- the amount he has been accused of defrauding by a prosecutor -- ahead of a court hearing next month, Spanish state TV said on Wednesday.
Broadcaster TVE said, without identifying its sources, the 32-year-old would make this payment as a gesture of good will.
The report added Rolando will reiterate at a hearing on July 31 that he is innocent and has never hidden any income from the taxman or committed any tax fraud in Spain.
Representatives for Ronaldo declined to comment.
The Spanish prosecutor says the Real Madrid forward knowingly used a business structure to hide his image rights income in Spain between 2011 and 2014. Ronaldo has denied the charges.
Dani Alves 'free to leave' Juventus
Dani Alves has asked to leave Juventus, the Italian champions' chief Giuseppe Marotta said on Wednesday, as reports gather pace that the Brazilian is set to reunite with former coach Pep Guardiola at ManchesterCity.
Alves, 34, had a spectacular impact in his only campaign in Serie A after eight trophy-laden seasons at Barcelona, helping the Italian team to a league and cup double and playing a crucial role in driving them to the Champions League final, where they lost 4-1 to Real Madrid.
The flamboyant Brazilian's relationship with the club began to deteriorate after the defeat in Cardiff, however, and his recent behaviour has angered supporters.
Last week Alves said in an interview with Brazilian TV that Juventus forward Paolo Dybala needs to leave the Serie A giants one day in order to improve as a player.
On Monday he further baffled fans by posting a picture of his boots from Barcelona's 3-1 win over Juve in the 2015 Champions League final on his Instagram account, and Marotta revealed Alves had asked for a way out of his two-year contract with the club.
"Dani Alves has decided that he wants to change his surroundings, so we will come to a mutual agreement and we wish him luck," Marotta told reporters on Wednesday, quoted in daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
"There has been no break-up with Dani, but motivation is fundamental for any footballer."
Oscar gets eight-match ban for sparking CSL brawl
Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar was handed an eight-match ban by Chinese football authorities on Thursday for his role in a brawl that broke out during Shanghai SIPG's draw with Guangzhou R&F at the weekend.
The Brazilian, who moved to China for a record transfer fee in January, was also fined 40,000 yuan ($5,855) by the Chinese Football Association in the latest move by the country's authorities to stamp out indiscipline.
"According to the referee's report, video evidence and a written explanation from the parties involved... Oscar offended opposing players in an immoral manner, leading to a massive brawl which has had a very bad influence on the Chinese Super League's reputation," an official statement said.
The incident occurred in the dying seconds of the first half of Sunday's game after Oscar had set up Hulk to score his side's equaliser, with Guangzhou players complaining to officials the strike should have been ruled out for offside.
Soon after the restart, Oscar deliberately kicked the ball at two Guangzhou players, provoking a response that led to a scuffle on the halfway line.
Oscar was pushed to the ground by Guangzhou's Chen Zhizhao, while R&F's Li Tixiang and Fu Huan of SIPG were sent off for their part in the ensuing altercation.
Juventus set to sign striker Schick from Sampdoria
Striker Patrik Schick is undergoing medical tests at Juventus ahead of his move there from Sampdoria, the Serie A champions said on Thursday (www.juventus.com).
"A formal confirmation of the move is expected later in the afternoon," the club said in a statement.
The Czech Republic international, who scored 11 goals in 32 league appearances last season, is set to join Juventus for 30.5 million euros ($34.07 million), Italian Sky Sport reports.
The 21-year-old joined Genoa-based Sampdoria in 2016 from Sparta Praha, where he made his professional debut, after a one year loan at Czech rivals Bohemians 1905.
English FA ends sponsorship deals with betting companies
The English Football Association has ended its sponsorship deals with betting company Ladbrokes and confirmed it was ceasing all commercial agreements with gambling firms.
The move comes after the FA was criticised for punishing players for betting violations while having deals in place with gambling companies.
"At May's board meeting, it was agreed that The FA would end all sponsorships with betting companies starting from the end of the 2016-17 season," the FA said in a statement on Thursday.
"The decision was made following a three-month review of The FA's approach to it as a governing body taking betting sponsorship, whilst being responsible for the regulation of sports betting within the sport's rules.
"As a consequence, The FA has mutually agreed with Ladbrokes that its current partnership will be terminated from June 2017," concluded the statement.
FA rules ban players from betting on any football matches.
In April, former ManchesterCity and Burnley midfielder Joey Barton was banned for 18 months after he was found to have made more than 1,200 bets on football matches.
Barton, who said he had a gambling addiction, had pointed out the heavy involvement of the gambling industry in British football where bookmakers act as sponsors at several levels.
