Sports

Leicester's lethal double act of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy combined again to see off Crystal Palace on Saturday, clinching a 1-0 victory emblematic of the Premier League leaders' astonishing pursuit of the title.

Fallen former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has appealed against a six year-ban from football activities to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the tribunal announced Thursday.

Mane was given his marching orders by referee Lee Mason in the dying minutes for a challenge on Stoke's Erik Pieters, which Southampton boss Ronald Koeman described as an error of judgement on the part of the officials.

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has defended Dimitri Payet after the influential midfielder was accused of diving by Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal during Sunday's 1-1 FA Cup draw.

French forward Martial spared manager Louis van Gaal from another wave of unflattering headlines with a late volleyed equaliser.

Riding on Arjun Tudu's double strike, Services on Sunday retained the Santosh Trophy National Football Championships title after beating hosts Maharashtra 2-1 in the summit clash here.

The Italian striker had gone 12 league matches since the start of November without a goal but a double in the first half-hour of the mid-table clash ensured the end of Stoke's four-game unbeaten run.

Former Manchester United greats Scholes and Ferdinand lambasted their old team after they plunged to a 2-0 defeat at bitter rivals Liverpool in a Europa League last-16 first leg on Thursday.

Arsenal manager Wenger is refusing to write off his side's chances of lifting the Premier League trophy this season after Saturday's 2-2 draw with north London rivals Tottenham left them eight points behind leaders Leicester City.

Novak Djokovic rallied to beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7 (6), 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 as Serbia leveled 2-2 against Kazakhstan in their Davis Cup first-round tie Sunday.

The two teenagers - Marcus Rashford and Timothy Fosu-Mensah - in United's starting line-up in midweek both acquitted themselves well, with the former proving more effective when switched from a central attacking role to the right wing for the second half.

Italy forward Stephen El Shaarawy scored one goal and set up another as Roma enjoyed their seventh successive league win. It was El Shaarawy's fifth goal in six matches for Roma.

Barcelona enter the final stages of the Spanish league with a comfortable eight-point lead and Lionel Messi in ebullient form. The five-time world player of the year is the top-scorer in the last 10 games for his team.

The champions currently lead the league with 61 points after 27 matches, three clear of second-placed Napoli. Roma and Fiorentina, in third and fourth respectively, are eight points behind Juve.

The 64-year-old served half of his three-and-a-half year sentence after being convicted in March 2014 of having evaded paying at least 28.5 million euros ($31.5 million) in taxes.

Alvaro Morata added a penalty in the final minutes to help Juventus beat Inter Milan 2-0 in the Serie A Cup match on Sunday.