The lawyer of Gianluigi Buffon has dismissed the suggestion that the Italy captain is guilty of illegal gambling.
According to a document produced by the country s financial law enforcement agency on Thursday, the Juventus goalkeeper made out 14 cheques, worth approximately 1.5 million euros, to a Parma betting shop over a nine-month period.
But Buffon s lawyer Marco Valerio Corini said that one of the payments Buffon made to the owner of the tobacconist was for 20 Rolex watches.
As a member of the Italian Football Federation, Buffon is forbidden from gambling on any games sanctioned by the FIGC, FIFA or UEFA, but Corini has stated that there is absolutely no evidence that his client placed bets of any variety.
The most significant bank transfer, dating…
Bournemouth have completed the signing of versatile midfielder Marcus Tavernier from Middlesbrough ahead of their Premier League return.
Tavernier follows Ryan Fredericks and Joe Rothwell in joining Bournemouth, who begin their campaign at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who made 155 appearances for Boro, has signed a five-year deal at the Vitality Stadium for a reported upfront fee of £10million.
Bournemouth confirmed the transfer on their website on Monday and chief executive Neill Blake said: He was one of the standout performers in the Championship last season.
He has a great pedigree, tremendous energy and is a versatile young player who can play a number of different positions.
Marcus was attracting a great deal of inter…
Paris Saint-Germain s Champions League clash with Istanbul Basaksehir will resume on Wednesday after Tuesday s meeting was abandoned following allegations of racism against the fourth official.
The game was initially stopped after 13 minutes at Parc des Princes, with both sets of players gathering on the sidelines for more than 10 minutes
Basaksehir substitute Demba Ba remonstrated with fourth official Sebastian Coltescu, saying: You never said this white guy . Why, when you mention a black guy, do you have to say this black guy ?
Basaksehir s players then walked down the tunnel, where they were followed by PSG s players and the match officials.
NO
— Presnel Kimpembe (@kimpembe_3)
UEFA issued a statement during the delay stating b…
In a League Cup semi-final full of controversy, Branislav Ivanovic s header sent Chelsea to Wembley with a 2-1 aggregate win over Liverpool.
Branislav Ivanovic s thumping extra-time header sealed Chelsea s spot in the League Cup final after an incident-packed 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Neither side could be separated after 90 pulsating minutes in the semi-final second leg before Ivanovic leapt highest to meet Willian s free-kick in the 94th minute to wrap up a 2-1 aggregate win and a trip to Wembley in March.
However, the match was noteworthy for a series of flashpoints involving Diego Costa, including a stamping incident in each half on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel.
The Spain international was at the heart of more contentio…
Veteran striker Antonio Di Natale will bring the curtain down on an 11-year association with Udinese at the end of the season.
Antonio Di Natale has confirmed he will leave Udinese at the end of the season after 11 years with the Serie A outfit.
Since moving to the Stadio Friuli in 2004 the veteran striker has become one of Italy s top marksmen with 184 league goals for the club.
He became one of a select group in November when he notched up the 200th Serie A goal of his career, Di Natale firing Udinese into a lead against Chievo to reach the milestone in what was his 400th league appearance.
His domestic form has earned him 42 Italy caps and plenty of admirers around Europe including Liverpool and Milan but he has remained loyal to Udinese.
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Hot team
Sixth place in the league, eleven points from six games and a 2-1 at the Emirates. They already have as many points as Derby County managed to get in the whole of last season. Hull City fans must think they are dreaming.
It will still be a long hard season for the Tigers, but they have made an absolutely wonderful start. Good luck to them. They are well organised, they try to play some decent football and they have a great team spirit.
Not hot team
I tend to get really cross when I hear fans complaining that the players weren’t trying. “That’s ridiculous†I think, “of course the players are giving it everything.â€Â
After the Portsmouth against Tott…
Egypt international striker Amr Zaki, along with compatriot Mohamed Aboutrika, leads three other African stars nominated for the 2008 CAF African Player of the Year Award.
At a press briefing here Tuesday, CAF director of communications, Suleiman Habuba, also listed Emmanuel Adebayor of Togo, Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast and Ghana s Michael Essien for the prestigious annual award.
Zaki has been among the goals in England where he is on loan from Zamalek to Wigan and along with Aboutrika was instrumental in Egypt s successful defense of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana earlier this year.
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Zinedine Zidane vowed to respect Paris Saint-Germain s relationship with Kylian Mbappe amid rumours of disharmony at Parc des Princes.
Mbappe, 20, was publicly told by Thomas Tuchel to respect coaching decisions after seemingly ignoring the PSG boss when substituted late in last weekend s Ligue 1 win at Montpellier.
French newspaper L Equipe then claimed the World Cup winner has at times questioned his importance and treatment in comparison to team-mate Neymar.
The report fuelled speculation Mbappe could seek a move to Real Madrid in future but Zidane, who recently admitted to being in love with the talented France forward, tried to avoid driving a wedge between player and coach.
Mbappe plays for PSG. I can t comment on what goes on there behind the sce…
Jesus made his first start for City since New Year s Eve on Wednesday following another enforced spell on the sidelines, this time with medial knee ligament damage.
He opened the scoring and completed 90 minutes as Pep Guardiola s side went down to a 2-1 Champions League defeat at home to Basel – a last-16 result rendered academic by a 4-0 first-leg romp.
Competitive action is likely to be at a premium for Neymar before Russia 2018 and, although he was pleased to get minutes and a goal under his belt, Jesus conceded there are mental scars to address when it comes to finding out whether a freshly healed injury will stand up to the rigours of top-level competition.
When you are in the game, without wanting to, you end up thinking about the previous game where yo…
Incoming Manchester United manager David Moyes has labelled the sacking of Roberto Mancini at Manchester City as harsh .
Mancini was removed from his post at City on Monday, just two days after the club lost the FA Cup Final to Wigan, and exactly one year since he led the club to their maiden Premier League title.
The Italian was also at the helm when the Etihad Stadium outfit broke their 35-year trophy drought, beating Stoke City 1-0 in the 2011 FA Cup Final.
City have failed to keep the pace with United this season, and although they sit second in the table, the club s mega-rich owners from the Middle East decided to dispense with Mancini s services.
Moyes – who will take over at Old Trafford from Alex Ferguson at season s end – believes that the 48-year-old has been unfai…