News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez is facing up to an eight-week spell on the sidelines due to a knee ligament injury, according to the physiotherapist of the Chilean national team.
Sanchez, 30, injured the medial ligament in his right knee during United's 3-2 Premier League victory over Southampton on Saturday but is expected to be fit to represent Chile at the Copa American, which starts on June 14, physio Pedro Onate told Chilean newspaper El Mercurio.
Sanchez could return for United's last two league games against HuddersfieldTown and CardiffCity, but any setback in his rehabilitation would mean he has played his last match this season.
United are already without a host of players for Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second leg at Paris St Germain due to injury, while midfielder Paul Pogba is suspended for the tie.
They trail PSG 2-0 on aggregate after losing the first leg at Old Trafford.
Minerva Punjab to get re-match against Real Kashmir: AIFF
Defending champions Minerva Punjab FC, who pulled out of their I-League clash against Real Kashmir in Srinagar citing security concerns, will get a re-match against the debutants, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has stated .
The game was originally scheduled for February 18 but did not take place after Minerva refused to travel to Srinagar, insisting that their foreign players had been advised against it by their respective embassies in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack.
Minerva said the AIFF failed to give written security assurances that were sought by the club after the terror attack.
"The AIFF Emergency Committee on Monday decided that there will be a re-match of the Real Kashmir and Minerva Punjab match but the date and venue are yet to be decided," I-League CEO Sunando Dhar told PTI.
"We have communicated this to Real Kashmir (since they are the host team) and we will take a decision (on the venue and date) after they reply. The plan is to have the match before the Super Cup preliminary round starts on March 15," he added.
Real Kashmir had turned up for the game last month, asserting that all the security arrangements were in place and said they be awarded the three points after Minerva's no-show.
Minerva went on to argue that their pullout could not be considered a forfeiture as it was done on security grounds. The club refused to forego the three points, taking the matter to the Delhi High Court.
The court asked Minerva to go back to the AIFF I-League Committee for a resolution. The decision to have a re-match was, however, taken by the AIFF's Emergency Committee.
The League Committee had referred the matter to emergency panel, which comprises the AIFF President, five vice-Presidents and the Secretary General.
Asked if there was still a chance of the match being held in Srinagar, Dhar said, "Let us wait for Real Kashmir reply."
Both clubs are out of title contention.
FIFA recommends use of VAR at 2019 Women's World Cup
FIFA has recommended the use of video assistant referee (VAR) technology for the 2019 Women's World Cup in France this year.
The organising committee of world soccer's governing body met on Monday and backed the use of VAR at the tournament after it was introduced at the men's World Cup last year in Russia.
The FIFA council will make a final decision on whether the technology will be used at this year's women's event, which runs from June 7-July 7, when it meets in Miami later this month.
"I can’t see them not having (VAR), I think it would be a little bit insulting if we weren't afforded the same opportunity (as the men)," US coach Jill Ellis said in July.
The technology, which is operating in most of the leading European soccer leagues, has been used in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time this season.
The English Premier League plans to use VAR next season.
‘Courtois was wrong in criticising Bale’
Jermaine Jenas, the former team-mate of Gareth Bale has lashed out at Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after he publicly criticised his fellow team member Gareth Bale and accused him of being an outsider in the dressing room.
"I thought Courtois was bang out of order to say what he said about Gaz in public," goal.com quoted Jenas as saying.
"I got on really well with him and one of the things I loved about him was that he was his own man. If we were going out as a squad, he would often opt out and stay at home with his family, but I never had a problem with that."
"He went back home to spend time with his family in Cardiff all the time and that is him. Is there anything wrong with that? That's Gaz. He has a young family, he likes to spend time with them, so why should he go out partying with the lads every few minutes?"
Earlier Courtois suggested that Bale's nickname in the Real Madrid dressing room is kept as "the golfer" as he rarely socialises with team-mates and prefers to play golf instead of taking part in team dinners.
Bale, who was previously with Tottenham, has enjoyed great deal of success in Spain since leaving for Madrid in 2013, winning the Champions League four times.
There are speculations doing the rounds that Bale's time can come to an end at Madrid after he refused to celebrate with team-mate after scoring for Real Madrid.