Sports

The denial came a day after an Argentine football official was quoted as saying that Maradona was a leading candidate to take over as Iraq coach.

Coach Armando Colaco oversaw the team's practice in the morning ahead of team's new assignment but chose not to speak to the media for a change and asked his senior players to do the talking.

Barca announced on Wednesday that Villanova needed a second round of surgery following an operation to remove a tumour in November 2011.

Manchester United brushed aside an overmatched Sunderland in a routine 3-1 victory at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Pune FC ended Dempo's dream run at home when they thrashed them 5-1 in the 11th round of the I-League.

Mancini has questioned Clattenburg's handling of an incident that led to Gareth Barry being given a one match ban.

Vidic underwent an operation on his problematic right knee in September.

Arsenal's 3-2 penalty shootout loss to 4th-tier Bradford is one of the biggest shocks in the competition for many years.

Messi struck in the 16th and 25th minutes to break German great Gerd Mueller's 1972 record of 85 goals and give his team a 2-0 lead in Seville.

Ferdinand was celebrating Robin van Persie's stoppage time winner when he clutched his face and moved away with blood seeping from a wound near his eye.

Steven Piennar and Nikica Jelavic scored in injury time to lead Everton to a 2-1 victory.

Norwich, who won 4-3, provisionally rose one spot to 11th. Swansea dropped a place to eighth in the standings.

Atletico have gone 22 La Liga matches without a win over their city rivals but remain second in the standings behind unbeaten Barcelona, five points ahead of Real in third.

Anderlecht twice came from behind to draw 2-2 against Malaga but failed to earn a Europa League spot because Zenit won.

Sneijder has been sidelined for two months with injury but has now returned to fitness.

United conceded three times in the opening 23 minutes of a rollercoaster first half against Reading.