Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde has said the instability at the club has convinced him it is best to leave after they lost 4-3 at Sevilla on the final day of the La Liga season on Saturday and missed out on a Champions League place.

FIFA introduced new integrity checks on senior officials and welcomed a woman onto its exclusive ruling board Friday, changes the much-maligned world soccer body said signaled it was close to completing a drawn out and often criticized path to reforming itself.

FIFA has emerged from one of the most troubled periods in its history and is now setting the highest standards for governance in world sport, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Friday.

France's tour of New Zealand will be key to their preparations towards the next rugby World Cup in 2015, coach Phillipe Saint Andre said.

The Brazil-England friendly match on Sunday is set to be played after a judge overruled a previous court order that had suspended the match on safety issues.

Italy will field a team of reserves for its friendly against tiny San Marino on Friday, as the Azzurri prepare for a key World Cup qualifier and the Confederations Cup next month.

Brazilian striker Neymar says he is officially a Barcelona player.

English soccer authorities are going to great lengths to try to prevent Wednesday's celebratory friendly against Ireland being marred by political chanting and abuse.

With minutes left to play and the biggest game in club soccer once again in his hands, Arjen Robben made sure he didn't miss this time.

After the final whistle of his 50th and final game with Chelsea, Rafa Benitez walked toward the visitors' dugout at Yankee Stadium, raised his left hand in a small acknowledgement to someone in the crowd and disappeared into the tunnel.