Soccer Capsules: Banfield draws 2-2 with Nacional, stays on top
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — James Rodriguez scored twice as Argentine league champion Banfield played to a 2-2 draw at Nacional of Uruguay on Wednesday to stay in control of Group 4 of the Copa Libertadores.
In other matches, Alianza Lima and Flamengo of Brazil both claimed victories, while Independiente Medellin vs. Corinthins and Once Caldas vs. Monterrey ended in draws.
Rodriguez scored in the 18th and 37th minutes for Banfield, in between goals from Gustavo Varela in the 6th and Mario Regueiro in the 41st for the hosts.
Banfield moved to seven points, two points ahead of Nacional with three games played.
In Group 1, Cesar Valoyes gave Colombian club Independiente Medellin the lead against Corinthians in the 76th minute and threaten a surprise win over a Brazilian club lineup containing Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo.
But Dentinho equalized in the 85th to salvage a draw and keep Corinthians a point ahead of Racing of Uruguay at the top of the group.
Jose Fernandez and Giancarlo Tragodara scored either side of half time to give Alianza a home victory against fellow Peruvian club Juan Aurich. Alianza has three straight wins and tops Group 3.
Vagner Love scored twice for Flamengo in the 3-1 away win over Caracas of Venezuela. Rafael Castellin pulled Caracas level after Love's opening goal. But Love scored again and Rodrigo Alvim sealed the result in the last minutes to put Flamengo atop Group 8 after two matches.
Hector Morales put Monterrey of Mexico ahead against Once Caldas, but John Valencia equalized on the hour after Jesus Zavala had been sent off for the Mexican club.
Monterrey finished with nine men after Gerardo Galindo was red carded in the 84th.
Once Caldas tops Group 2 with seven points, three clear of Monterrey. Sao Paulo of Brazil has a game in hand and can move into second place with a victory away against Nacional of Paraguay on Thursday.
Marathon wins in CONCACAF Champions League
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — Honduran club Marathon defeated Mexico's UNAM Pumas 2-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal.
In the other quarterfinal first leg, Comunicaciones of Guatemala secured a 1-1 home draw against Mexico's Pachuca.
Marathon forward Walter Martinez scored a 17th minute penalty, and Carlos Will Mejia also scored from the spot in the 52nd.
Pumas, winners of three straight games in Mexico's Clausura tournament, rested five regulars starters ahead of their match against league-leading Guadalajara Chivas this weekend.
In Guatemala City, Paul Aguilar gave Pachuca a 1-0 lead in the opening minute before Comunicaciones' Rolando Fonseca equalized in the 72nd. A draw was an improvement for Pachuca, which has lost its past two league matches by identical 3-0 scores.
In another quarterfinal first leg on Tuesday, Columbus Crew was held 2-2 by Mexico's Toluca. On Thursday, Mexico's Cruz Azul plays at Arabe Unido in Panama.
U.S. Soccer
MLS management and union end 2 days of talks
WASHINGTON — Negotiators for Major League Soccer management and players have ended two days of talks and agreed to keep up discussions with the federal mediation service.
George H. Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, convened talks Tuesday and Wednesday. The next session has not been set.
The league's first labor contract expired Feb. 25 after the MLS Players Union refused a third extension to the five-year deal.
Unhappy with the single-entity structure that has the league negotiate all contracts, players want greater free-agent rights and a higher percentage of guaranteed deals.
MF Victorine retires after 10-year career
CARSON, Calif. — Chivas USA midfielder Sasha Victorine has retired from Major League Soccer after 10 seasons because of recurring injuries.
Chivas USA made the announcement Wednesday. He joined the team at the trade deadline in 2008, and had two goals and two assists in 2008 and last season.
Victorine also played for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Kansas City during his MLS career, with 32 goals and 41 assists in 242 matches.
Victorine helped UCLA win a NCAA championship in 1997, and he played in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He made four appearances with the U.S. national team.
He has accepted a front office job with the Kansas City Wizards, and will also serve as the team's color commentator on TV broadcasts.
World Cup
SAfrican politican hits out at World Cup critics
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A South African politician hit out at the criticism of South Africa's readiness to host the football World Cup on Wednesday, saying it's only because it's an African country.
With three months to go until the tournament kicks off, chairman of the parliament committee on sport and recreation Butana Komphela said the country's preparations have come under unfair scrutiny.
"In the last World Cup in Germany, three weeks before the tournament started a (rail) station was still being completed yet there was no noise about that," Komphela said at a local organizers' media briefing in Cape Town.
"But when an African country is putting final touches to its preparations more than 90 days before a tournament then we are declared not ready."
Komphela said it is "shocking" what South Africa had to endure and that every World Cup host should now have to endure a similar process.
"This must not only happen to South Africa," he said. "The media can't just subject (us) to such pain, as if we are incompetent."
Komphela also said the fact that there was no longer a plan B was proof that South Africa was ready to host the best World Cup ever.
Komphela's comments came ahead of a planned ticket update from the local organizing committee. Chief executive Danny Jordaan said he was happy with the progress made with ticket sales.
"We are now just over 90 days before kick off and I have to thank the committee for its wonderful work," Jordaan said. "So far 3,030,077 tickets have been sold to locals and foreigners."
Jordaan also said that even if ticket sales to locals reached one million, fan parks and public viewing areas were crucial to "make people feel part of this World Cup."
Executive chairman of ticket agent Match, Jaime Byrom, defended the host's use of the online ticket system. Byrom said it was the best way to avoid fake tickets, despite concerns that low income local football fans in South Africa are unlikely to use the system.
Byrom also said 311,000 tickets were still available and would go on sale from April 15.
Organizers would not comment on a report by a United Nations human rights investigator that criticized FIFA for failing to protect housing rights in World Cup host cities.
Raquel Rolnik, an independent investigator appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council, said on Monday people have complained to her of being forced from their homes or priced out of the housing market as a result of large events such as the World Cup.
She said FIFA still hasn't responded to demands to make housing rights part of the World Cup bidding process.
"It's a much less transparent and clear process of bidding and selecting as compared to the Olympic Committee," she said.
Rolnik cited reports that more than 20,000 residents were being moved from a makeshift settlement near Cape Town to impoverished areas at the edge of the city before the June 11-July 11 World Cup.
-- Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
Report: Hiddink to coach Ivory Coast at World Cup
AMSTERDAM — Guus Hiddink has agreed to coach Ivory Coast at this year's World Cup, Dutch national broadcaster NOS reported Wednesday.
NOS said the Dutchman will lead Ivory Coast from May 15-July 15 before taking over as Turkey coach in August.
NOS said that before signing with Ivory Coast, Hiddink must confirm that his contract with Russia has been ended.
Dutch daily De Telegraaf quoted Hiddink's agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen as saying that the negotiations with Russia are a barrier to the Ivory Coast deal. Hiddink's contract with Russia expires in June. He took Russia to the semifinals of the 2008 European Championship but failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Hiddink coached the Netherlands to the World Cup semifinals in 1998, South Korea to the same stage four years later and led Australia at the World Cup in Germany four years ago.
Van Nieuwenhuizen did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Vahid Halilhodzic was fired as coach last week after Ivory Coast failed to reach the semifinals at the African Cup of Nations earlier this year.
The Elephants will play in the same group as Brazil, Portugal and North Korea at the June 11-July 11 World Cup tournament.
In Tokyo, media reported that former Japan coach Philippe Troussier also could take over as Ivory Coach's coach.
The 54-year-old Troussier has also been in charge of Nigeria, Qatar and Morocco and currently serves as general manager of Japan Football League team FC Ryukyu.
On Tuesday, Sven-Goran Eriksson's agent said the former England coach was unlikely to take charge of the Ivory Coast team at the World Cup.
Champions League Roundups
Lyon knocks Real Madrid out of Champions League
LONDON — Big-spending Real Madrid was knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon on Wednesday and Manchester United spoiled David Beckham's return to Old Trafford with a 4-0 victory over AC Milan.
Madrid was held 1-1 at home by Lyon which meant it went out 2-1 on aggregate and failed to reach the last eight for the sixth season in a row. In Manchester, two more goals by Wayne Rooney — who also scored twice in the first leg in Milan and now has 30 league and cup goals this season — helped United triumph 7-2 overall and join Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
Nine-time European champion Madrid spent $250 million ($340 million) on new players to try and win the trophy for the first time since 2002 and now will have to wait at least one more season.
"We didn't score enough goals in the first half to be able to play calmly in the second half," said Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini. "We didn't try to get the second goal collectively, we were making too many individual plays."
To make it worse for Madrid, the May 22 final is at its Bernabeu Stadium, which is now a realistic target for Lyon.
"It was a nice night out," Lyon coach Claude Puel said. "In the first half Real Madrid posed plenty of problems for us. ... In the second half we deserved to qualify."
It all looked hopeful for Madrid when it wiped out Lyon's 1-0 first-leg lead within six minutes of the kickoff.
A long pass by Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez' released Cristiano Ronaldo down the left and the winger, who left United for Real Madrid at the end of last season, fired an angled shot through the legs of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for his seventh Champions League goal of the season.
It should have been 2-0 in the 26th when Gonzalo Higuain got clear and rounded the goalkeeper but fired against the post when faced by an empty net.
Jean II Makoun, who scored Lyon's spectacular goal in the first leg, squandered a rare chance for the visitor when a cross found him unmarked in front of goal as he miskicked the ball from 10 meters out.
Sidney Govou missed a similar chance early in the second half but Miralem Pjanic made it 1-1 in the 75th minute when he got clear down the left and fired past goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Madrid then needed two more goals to avoid going out, but surprisingly took off one of its big signings, Kaka, and replaced him with veteran striker Raul Gonzalez.
At Old Trafford, Rooney scored United's first two and Park Ji-sung and Darren Fletcher added two more to send United into the last eight.
"When we play at that tempo, we're difficult to play against and it was a really solid performance," said United manager Alex Ferguson, who has guided the team to the last two finals. "With that kind of team I've got it doesn't matter who we play."
Ferguson expected to see Madrid in the March 19 draw for the last eight.
"I was surprised at Real Madrid's result tonight, particularly with them winning 1-0 at half time. European football is very tough now. The last few years English clubs have done very well and I think they will be there again."
It was 3-0 by the time Beckham went on as a substitute to a big ovation from the United fans and the former England captain, on loan to Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, could do little to stop his team going out of the competition.
"It was nice to be back and obviously a disappointing night," Beckham said. "When you don't start in a game it's one of those things when you always want to play.
"But it was an unbelievable reception and I have to say thank you."
The results meant that Madrid and Milan, winners of 16 titles between them in European football's biggest competition, are out early yet again.
In Tuesday's games, Arsenal outplayed FC Porto 5-0 to reach the quarterfinal 6-2 overall and four-time European champion Bayern Munich made it on away goals despite losing 3-2 at Fiorentina. The two teams finished 4-4 on aggregate.
Next week's games are Chelsea-Inter Milan (1-2), CSKA Moscow-Sevilla (1-1), Barcelona-Stuttgart (1-1) and Bordeaux-Olympiakos (1-0).
-- Robert Millward
Defending champions Pohang score 1st win
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Defending Asian Champions League title holders Pohang Steelers overcame a first-match loss to beat Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 Wednesday on Almir's goal two minutes into injury time.
The South Korea side was beaten 1-0 by Adelaide United of Australia's A-League last week in its opening Group H match.
Adelaide made it two wins in a row with a 2-0 victory away over China's Shandong Luneng, with goals from Sergio van Dijk and Matthew Leckie.
Gamba Osaka, the 2008 champions from Japan, drew 1-1 at home to Chinese side Henan Jianye while Suwon Bluewings of South Korea beat a 10-man Singapore Armed Forces 2-0.
Suwon got goals from Brazilians Juninho and Jose Mota and lead Group G on four points, two ahead of Gamba and Henan.
Gamba's Lucas equalized with a penalty in the 35th minute after Zhang Lu gave Henan the lead after four minutes.
"Our players kept going until the very end and I am satisfied as they all gave their best. I think the fans could also see that the players put in a lot of effort," Pohang coach Waldemar Lemos told the Asian Champions League Web site.
Hwang Jae-won gave Pohang the lead early in the second half before Ilian Stoyanov's penalty leveled for Hiroshima.
In the west section, Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab had a 3-1 victory over Pakhtakor in Tashkent to lead Group C with four points, one ahead of the Uzbekistan side, and two more than Iran's Sepahan, which drew 0-0 at home with 2003 champions Al Ain.
Flavio scored twice for Shabab in the second half before Alisher Azizov scored for the home side. Ahmed Al Kaabi sealed victory for the Saudis in stoppage time.
Brazilian striker Leandro scored three goals for Al Sadd of Qatar in its 5-0 away win over Al Ahli in Group D.
"We didn't expect to win so easily because Al Ahli have lot of young players," Al Sadd coach Cosmin Olaroui said. "It does not matter whether it is by four or five goals."
The next round of matches is scheduled for March 23 and 24. The top two teams from each of the eight groups, after a double round-robin, advance to the last 16.
On Tuesday, substitute Yasushi Endoh scored a last-minute goal for Japan's Kashima Antlers in a 2-1 win over South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors in a match between domestic league winners.
The victory kept Kashima unbeaten in Group F.
Beijing Guoan and South Korean club Seongnam Ilhwa won again to make an early break in Group E.
Beijing defeated Kawasaki Frontale 3-1, and Seongnam beat Melbourne Victory 2-0. Both winners have six points from two matches, while both losers have no points.
In West Asia, Uzbek club Bunyodkor had a 2-1 win over United Arab Emirates club Al Wahda with Brazilian Denilson scoring two valuable away goals on either side of half time in their Group B clash.
The Uzbek club leads the group with six points, two ahead of Iran's Zob Ahan, which held 2009 runnerup Al Ittihad to a 2-2 draw.
League News
Auxerre wins 2-1 at Bordeaux in French League
BORDEAUX, France — Ireneusz Jelen scored twice in the second half Wednesday to give Auxerre a 2-1 away win over French league leader Bordeaux.
Defending champion Bordeaux, which has one game in hand, still tops the standings on goal difference. Bordeaux and Montpellier have 52 points each, just one more than Auxerre which moved up to third place.
Following a 1-1 draw at home against Montpellier last weekend, Laurent Blanc's team was looking to bounce back and move three points clear at the top of the league but instead conceded its second loss at home this season.
"This is a bad evening for us," Blanc said. "The players gave everything they had against Montpellier at 10 against 11 and we ran out of fuel."
Going through a poor run of results, Bordeaux has managed just one win in its last five league matches.
Benoit Tremoulinas' lucky goal in the first half had given the home side a 1-0 lead but Laurent Blanc's side was overwhelmed after the interval, in a game that was rescheduled from the 25th round.
Having recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out for a month, Bordeaux captain Alou Diarra started the game, while Jaroslav Plasil and Geraldo Wendel were replaced by Gregory Sertic and Jussie in Laurent Blanc's starting lineup. Diarra asked to be replaced at halftime because of pains in his left thigh.
Bordeaux started strongly and quickly opened the scoring when Tremoulinas' cross from the left was deflected by Pedretti, who lobbed his own goalkeeper Olivier Sorin in the seventh minute.
The Auxerre players looked demoralized and struggled to recover, failing to keep possession for long periods.
France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff served up Gregory Sertic with a beautiful pass in the 16th minute but Sorin palmed the midfielder's powerful strike onto the bar.
Auxerre improved in the second half and Jelen leveled in the 63rd with a clinical left-foot strike after being set up by Daniel Niculae.
The Poland striker struck his ninth goal of the season six minutes before the end, sending the ball onto the bar before scoring from the rebound.
Burnley draws 1-1 with Stoke in Premier League
LONDON — David Nugent captured a 1-1 draw for relegation-threatened Burnley against Stoke on Wednesday to lift the club one place to 18th in the 20-club Premier League.
Turkish star Tuncay Sanli headed Stoke into a 23rd-minute lead at Turf Moor after one of Rory Delap's trademark long throws and Burnley appeared set for another defeat.
But Nugent equalized in the 52nd minute when he headed home Martin Paterson's cross to salvage a point for the club, which was promoted last season.
Although Burnley had hoped for a win to improve its survival chances, the point lifted the team above Hull on goal difference. Both are level on 24 points with Wolves and all three are five ahead of last-place Portsmouth.
Elsewhere
Beckham dons anti-Glazer scarf on Man U homecoming
MANCHESTER, England — David Beckham earned his most rousing applause as he left the pitch at Old Trafford on Wednesday, simply for wearing a green and gold scarf that symbolizes the protest by Manchester United fans against the club's American owners.
Beckham, who played 394 matches for Manchester United before leaving for Real Madrid in 2003, was back at Old Trafford for the first time.
Now on loan at AC Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy, the 34-year-old Beckham only played the last 25 minutes in a 4-0 Champions League loss to Manchester United that ended the Italian club's run in the European competition.
Manchester United fans are trying to force the Glazer family into selling the club, which has debts of around $1.1 billion. As part of that push, the protesters are encouraging fans to wear the scarves.
While Beckham has distanced himself from the motives behind the campaign, he picked up a scarf from the pitch as he walked off.
"I saw the scarf there. I put it round my neck," Beckham said. "It's nothing to do with me the way everything is run, that's to do with other people, but I'm a Manchester United fan and I support the team.
"Obviously, you hear it week in and week out about the protests. There's always protests going on. Let's hope it gets sorted out."
While much has changed behind the scenes since Beckham left United — the Glazers' takeover came two years after his departure — the team's ability to ruthlessly dismantle opponents has not.
United advanced 7-2 on aggregate with the lopsided win at Old Trafford following a 3-2 win in Italy over Milan.
"Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say you have been beaten by a better team," Beckham said.
Even so, the fans showed their appreciation for Beckham.
"Coming back home to Old Trafford was a really emotional night," Beckham said. "I never underestimate the Manchester United fans. The way they supported me through my whole career is incredible and tonight surprised me even more. It was an unbelievable reception.
"I didn't think I'd get here again. After a few years you think it's not going to happen seven years on, first time back. As much as it was disappointing (for Milan to lose) it was really an incredible night."
Now the Italian league offers Beckham's only chance of ending his second loan spell at Milan with a trophy. Leonardo's side is four points behind Inter Milan.
-- Rob Harris
Campbell ready to do all he can to help Arsenal
LONDON — A short time after his first game at the Emirates Stadium since his return to Arsenal, 35-year-old Sol Campbell was asked about the prospect of playing twice a week to fill in for the injured William Gallas.
"If that's required, I'll have to do something about it and keep on playing really," Campbell said after the Gunners beat FC Porto 5-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Campbell has made five appearances since signing for Arsenal, and the defender even scored an away goal against Porto last month.
With Gallas, Arsenal's regular central defender, still troubled by a lingering calf injury, Campbell may be called on by manager Arsene Wenger to play a bigger role in the club's quest for both the Premier League and Champions League titles.
"I'm levelheaded. I'm not going to get carried away or anything. It's great to be back and in this type of environment," said Campbell, who rejoined Arsenal after a brief stint at League Two club Notts County. "I relish the moments. I respect the situation I'm in and I'm going to give everything I've got every time I play for Arsenal."
On Tuesday, Campbell received a rapturous reception from the fans at the Emirates.
"It was great. It's a fantastic stadium. It's just good to be out there with the lads," Campbell said. "It's nice to be recognized and be loved by the fans."
Wenger has a policy of not bringing back players he has released. But he made an exception for Campbell because the defender was a free agent and Wenger felt he needed more experience at the back.
And Campbell brings plenty of experience, last playing for the Gunners in the 2006 Champions League final loss to Barcelona.
"You have to take every game as it comes. But every time you play, you put a good shift in and go from there," Campbell said. "Every game is like a cup final now for us, from now until the end of the season."
-- Frank Griffiths
Verbeek report: he won't sign again with Socceroos
SYDNEY — Former Socceroos goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac says he thinks Pim Verbeek will walk away from his job as Australia's head coach after the World Cup in South Africa.
Kalac, who played for Australia at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, said Verbeek doesn't think there's enough talent coming through to the national team and that a number of key players are unlikely to be available for 2014.
"I think he knows what is coming," Kalac told The Australian newspaper on Thursday. "He has nothing left to prove. Verbeek got us to the World Cup and Asian Cup finals again, but, reading between the lines, I don't think he really believes there is much (talent) coming through.
"Once the World Cup is over, we are going to lose a fair slice of the squad that has produced so many great results for the national team over the last six to eight years. We are going to have to have a major rebuilding process."
Verbeek told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday that no decision has been made.
He was sitting beside Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley at a news conference when he said: Ben and I, we have some discussions and I think it's better (then) to come out and say everything to the media. At the moment we have to make a final decision, I think we should leave it until then.
"Everything you read or hear is just speculation and the only people who know what's going on are the two people sitting here."
Verbeek said an announcement would be imminent.
"We're going to make a final decision sooner, as soon as possible."
The Australian said "there are clear indications" Verbeek will take up a club coaching position either in Japan or in his native Netherlands.
Mark Schwarzer, Scott Chipperfield and Craig Moore plan to retire from the national team after South Africa, where Australia will play in Group D against Germany, Serbia and Ghana.
Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton, Mark Bresciano and Vincenzo Grella also have not committed to any plans to play in Brazil 2014.
Kalac, who has played in Europe for 15 years, says he thinks the FFA will not deviate from the Dutch football philosophy. Guus Hiddink guided the Socceroos to the World Cup finals in 2006.
Hiddink guided South Korea to the World Cup semifinals in 2002, before his stint in Australia. Verbeek was an assistant to Hiddink at South Korea, then became head coach of the Korean national team before also moving to Australia.
"It's an interesting call as to who will be the next coach," he said. "My gut feeling is that they won't go far from the Dutch system. It's been proven that we can adapt to that style and that we have played well under the system."
Portsmouth fires 85 members of staff to trim costs
PORTSMOUTH, England — Portsmouth fired 85 members of staff on Wednesday as part of the indebted Premier League club's attempt to avoid the threat of closure.
Club administrator Andrew Andronikou fired almost half the club's 166 full-time employees and said that chief executive Peter Storrie has taken a 40 percent pay cut.
Storrie had attracted the ire of fans furious over their club's drop to the bottom of the Premier League and descent into debt that the government's revenue and customs authority said last week had reached 86 million pounds ($129 million).
Andronikou told a media conference that Storrie will now earn "significantly less than half a million pounds" ($747,869).
Andronikou added that more staff have agreed to work fewer hours and that he will attempt to negotiate salary deferrals with others.
None of the cuts include players, although Andronikou says "one or two" have offered to take pay cuts.
Andronikou added that all prize money from reaching next month's FA Cup semifinals will go direct to the club and denied newspaper reports that the cash could be withheld and given to creditors.
Portsmouth will play Tottenham or Fulham at Wembley on April 11 for a place in the May 15 final.
The British government's revenue and customs authority is chasing Portsmouth for unpaid taxes and is questioning the validity of Andronikou's appointment two weeks ago.
Andronikou said he met with revenue and customs this week and expected to resolve any issues hindering the club's application for legal protection from creditors.
The High Court case has been adjourned until next week.
Indebted club Chester City dissolved over debts
LONDON — Former English league club Chester City has been dissolved in a court case similar to that involving Premier League side Portsmouth.
The indebted northwest England club was relegated from the lowest level of the country's professional leagues last season and then thrown out of the fifth-tier Conference National in February after failing to fulfill fixtures.
The British government's revenue and customs authority chased the club over unpaid taxes and the High Court ordered the company running the 125-year-old club out of business on Wednesday.
David Evans of the Chester City Fans United group says supporters will set up a new club to replace Chester.
Portsmouth is also being pursued by revenue and customs over unpaid taxes.
Ribery expects decision on future by early April
MUNICH — France winger Franck Ribery says he expects to decide on his future within a month.
Ribery's future has been the subject of intense speculation for months, although he has another season on his contract with Bayern Munich, which is eager for him to sign an extension.
After Bayern advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, Ribery said he "should be able to decide at the end of March or beginning of April."
He added that he wants to travel to this summer's World Cup "with a clear head."
Ribery said it's important that Bayern can still win all the competitions it is in and he is "very happy" to be there. The club currently leads the Bundesliga.
Ribery has been linked with many top European clubs, including Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Barcelona candidate mulls controversial shirt deal
BARCELONA, Spain — One of the leading candidates to become president of Barcelona this summer has said he would consider breaking the club's tradition of not selling advertising on players' shirts.
Sandro Rosell, who is expected to run in elections to replace outgoing president Joan Laporta, said that financial issues must be taken into consideration with regard to shirt sponsorship.
Since 2006, Barcelona players have worn the UNICEF logo on their shirts and the club pays the organization €1.5 million ($2.0 million) per year for them to do so. The club has never sold shirt advertising in its 111-year history.
Rosell is a former Barca vice president who left the club in 2005 after a dispute with Laporta.
Egypt footballer Ghaly tests positive for doping
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Egypt football player Hossam Ghaly reportedly tested positive for doping and could be suspended for two years.
Ghaly, who plays for Saudi team Al Nasser, reportedly tested positive for a banned substance last month after his club's cup match against Al Hilal.
Al Riyadh daily reported Wednesday that the Saudi Football Association's disciplinary committee has told Al Nasser to temporarily suspend Ghaly until the end of investigation.
Another newspaper, Al-Riyadhi, said Ghaly did not join the team in Tuesday's training.
Football for Hope social initiative receives award
BARCELONA, Spain — The Football for Hope movement has received the award for Philanthropy and Cooperation through Sports at the Global Sports Forum.
Football for Hope is a social development project led by FIFA and streetfootballworld which has carried out a range of initiatives in areas such as education, children's rights and anti-discrimination since 2005.
Federico Addiechi, the Head of Social Corporate Responsibility at FIFA, and streetfootballworld managing director Jurgen Griesbeck collected the award.
Addiechi praised "the power of football to generate positive social change."
