It took a defiant gesture to reignite the debate on one of Italian sport's biggest demons, but the fight to rid football of racism in Serie A could be just beginning.

Football was a vehicle for national pride in the former Yugoslavia, enjoying support from the political elite and state policies designed to create competitive teams and world-class players.

UEFA on Monday said it will hear Paris Saint Germain's appeal against the Champions League ban for star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on March 26, as the French club battle to be able to play him in their quarter-final against Barcelona.

Frank Lampard scored his 200th Chelsea goal as his side beat West Ham United 2-0 to snatch third place in the Premier League from faltering London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is confident his side can hold on to a top-four position in the Premier League for the rest of the season despite suffering a third successive defeat.

Bayern Munich continue to break Bundesliga records and are now just two more wins from the title while Eintracht Frankfurt's slump continued on Sunday with a 2-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart.

A goal from former player Dimitar Berbatov saw Tottenham Hotspur sink to a third straight defeat on Sunday, as they lost 1-0 to a Fulham side who earned a rare away win in the Premier League.

Eden Hazard admits Chelsea have no margin for error as the Blues try to remain in control of the race to qualify for the Champions League.

Fulham manager Martin Jol has urged Gareth Bale to remain at Tottenham and become a White Hart Lane legend.

Spain was once again the most represented nation as Friday's Champions League draw took place in Nyon, but alongside the familiar names of Real Madrid and Barcelona there was a newcomer - Malaga.

Juventus's hopes of taking another step towards a successful defence of their Serie A title could be kept in check by resurgent Bologna on Saturday.

English trio Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle all managed to avoid one another as the Europa League quarter-final draw was held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday.

Players who suffer racist abuse during matches should not walk off the pitch, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday, after Tottenham Hotspur's Europa League game at Inter Milan was marred by abusive chanting.

Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti is confident that the Russian champions can bounce back from European disappointment, amid calls for him to go and rumours that club bosses are looking for a replacement.

Manchester City must reduce the 12-point deficit at the top of the Premier League before the upcoming Manchester derby to have any hope of keeping their title, Roberto Mancini said on Friday.

Tottenham suffered a fright before sneaking past Inter Milan to reach the Europa League quarter-finals as they, Chelsea and Newcastle restored national pride following England's Champions League misery.

England manager Roy Hodgson says he has no fears about asking Rio Ferdinand to play alongside Ashley Cole for the national team, despite concerns about their relationship.

Tottenham suffered a fright before sneaking past Inter Milan to reach the Europa League quarter-finals as they, Chelsea and Newcastle restored national pride following England's Champions League misery.

Tottenham suffered a fright before sneaking past Inter Milan to reach the Europa League quarter-finals and restore some national pride following England's Champions League misery.

A Tottenham side missing Gareth Bale and fellow Londoners Chelsea will be seeking to book quarter-final berths in the Europa League on Thursday, but the Blues will have to do things the hard way after a first-leg defeat at Steaua Bucharest.