English football enjoyed the most heart-stopping climax to a top-flight season ever in 2012, and yet a spate of racism cases drew a pall over the Premier League as the year came to a close.

The London Olympics led to 150 million tweets -- more than the US elections and Super Bowl combined, Twitter said Tuesday.

UEFA president Michel Platini stood firm against the use of goal-line technology in Europe despite FIFA tests of Hawk-Eye and GoalRef at the ongoing Club World Cup in Japan.

France international third choice goalkeeper Mickael Landreau has taken a payoff to "amicably" break his contract with Ligue 1 side Lille, the French club confirmed on Friday.

FIFA called it a "revolution" but without a Geoff Hurst moment, goal-line technology's grand introduction to football passed almost unnoticed -- and with few clues of success or failure.

UEFA chief Michel Platini and his executive council will make a decision here on Thursday whether to push ahead with the concept of changing tradition and hosting Euro 2020 across a number of European cities.

Russia hopes its hosting of the 2018 World Cup will dispel negative stereotypes about the country by showcasing modern stadiums and transport networks, the head of the Russian organising committee said.

Hosts Brazil will face Japan in the opening match of the Confederations Cup on June 15 next year in Brasilia following Saturday's draw in Sao Paulo.

The coach of Spain's world champions on Friday insisted hosts Brazil are the team to beat at next year's Confederations Cup, the testbed for a World Cup also on Brazilian soil in 2014.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta were on Thursday shortlisted for this year's Ballon d'Or, football's world governing body FIFA and sponsors France Football magazine said.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will discover who his rivals are for this year's Ballon d'Or on Thursday when FIFA and France Football announce the three finalists for the prestigious award in Sao Paulo.

Nearly five months after the final whistle at the European football championships, economists and officials say that Poland is reaping the benefits.

Bayern Munich needed a late Thomas Mueller goal to come from behind and seal a 1-1 draw at ten-man Valencia on Tuesday which put both teams in the Champions League's knock-out phase.

Former France coach Raymond Domenech said he felt a "relieved" man on the eve of the publication of his memoirs from six years at the helm of a tumultuous reign as national coach.

Portugal international Miguel Veloso, who moved to Ukraine's flagship side Dynamo Kiev from Italy's Genoa on a four-year deal this summer, says he is happy with life at the club despite a troubled early season.

Roma sporting director Franco Baldini says the Serie A club have no intention of selling unsettled Italian international midfielder Daniele De Rossi, according to reports Sunday.

France midfielder Yann Mvila of Ligue 1 outfit Rennes will appeal his 18-month international ban which rules him out of the 2014 World Cup finals, his lawyer told AFP on Friday.

Germany coach Joachim Loew has said his side must mature in the wake of their drab goalless draw with neighbours Netherlands as they look to challenge for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic lit up a night of friendlies most club coaches had castigated as an unnecessary intrusion into their domestic campaigns as the Swedish star scored four times to give his side a 4-2 win over England on Wednesday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored all four goals as Sweden celebrated the opening of their new national stadium by coming from behind to beat England 4-2 in a friendly on Wednesday.