Former France youth international striker Yassine Benzia has pledged his senior future to Algeria. The Lille striker was born in France and played for them at every youth level from under-16 but is eligible for Algeria through his parents. The Algeria Football Federation said it will immediately begin the process of registering the player with FIFA. The federation added Benzia met its president Mohamed Raouraoua this week to finalise his choice to play for the Desert Foxes. Even though FIFA is yet to receive Benzia’s request for a switch of nationality, the Algerian football authority is confident of a swift approval by the game’s governing body. Benzia has scored 26 goals in 43 appearances during his time playing for France’s youth teams. His capture will come as a morale boost for Algeria after they were snubbed by Lyon striker Nabil Fekir last year. Benzia started his career at Lyon where he progressed from the academy to the senior squad and made his senior debut against Nice in May 2012. He switched to Ligue 1 rivals Lille in August 2015 in search of regular football and has already scored five goals in 20 appearances for the club this season.

Friday’s FIFA presidential election will go ahead as planned after candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein lost a bid to have it suspended. Prince Ali, 40, is unhappy with voting arrangements but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected his case. The Jordanian wanted transparent voting booths to ensure the election, to find Sepp Blatter’s successor, is fair. “I have done all I can. I regret that the system let us down,” he said. “It is now imperative that voters abide by the ban on mobile phones and cameras in the voting booth. “I look forward to Friday’s vote and remain as committed as ever to the goal of reforming FIFA.” World football’s election commission rejected Prince Ali’s original request to suspend it if it could not “ensure that the vote is conducted in secret” and CAS ratified that decision on Wednesday. Ali wants to ensure delegates do not photograph their ballot papers when they choose the next president, claiming they could be put under pressure to produce evidence of their vote to interested parties.

Wednesday 24 February, 2016:

Dynamo Kiev 1 – 3 Manchester City

PSV Eindhoven 0 – 0 Atletico Madrid

Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter and suspended Uefa boss Michel Platini have had bans from all football-related activities upheld. But the suspensions have been reduced from eight to six years by FIFA’s appeals committee. Both were found guilty of breaches surrounding a $2m disloyal payment to Platini. They both deny any wrongdoing and have said they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Blatter and Platini said the payment honoured a verbal or gentleman’s agreement made in 1998 for work carried out by the Frenchman when he was a technical advisor for Blatter. Blatter, 79, added in a statement that he was “very disappointed by the appeal committee of FIFA”. Platini, 60, said it was “insulting and shameful” and a “political decision”. The committee said “activities and services rendered to FIFA, UEFA and football” was a mitigating factor. FIFA’s presidential election is due to take place on Friday to find Swiss Blatter’s replacement. FIFA boss since 1998, Blatter had already announced he was quitting after reports emerged he was under investigation in the United States. Platini had been tipped as a future leader of football’s world governing body and is a three-time European Footballer of the Year.

Nigerian youngster and Manchester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho is pictured with teammate Sergio Aguero as they travelled to Kiev where they have a Champions league game with Dynamo Kiev today. Kelechi once said he is learning a lot from Aguero, Bony and other senior players of his team. All the best to Kelechi and the Man City team.

Tuesday 23 February, 2016:

Arsenal 0 – 2 Barcelona

Juventus 2 – 2 Bayern

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has agreed to coach Zamalek, the Egyptian club have announced. The 57-year-old will take over from former Tottenham striker Mido, who was sacked two weeks ago. A statement on Zamalek’s official website said: “Murtaza Mansour, chairman of the club, has confirmed that Alex McLeish has signed with him in principle to lead the first team.” McLeish left Genk last summer after a season with the Belgian club. The Scotsman parted company with the Pro League outfit after they finished seventh and was linked with Zamalek before Mido started his second spell in charge in January. Mido’s latest spell lasted just 37 days and seven games with Zamalek, who are currently second behind Cairo rivals Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League. He became the third coach sacked by the club this season following the dismissals of Jesualdo Ferreira and Paqueta.

Lawyers for FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein say they have made an official request for Friday’s election to be suspended. Prince Ali, 40, is unhappy with voting arrangements and has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Jordanian wants transparent voting booths to ensure the election is fair and open, but world football’s election commission rejected the request. CAS says it will rule on Prince Ali’s appeal by Thursday morning. Prince Ali is one of five contenders looking to succeed Swiss Sepp Blatter, who is stepping down after 18 years. He is up against South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale, Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne and UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino.

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Celtic have been fined £13,000 after poor behaviour by their supporters and player indiscipline in their Europa League match against Fenerbahce. The Scottish champions had been charged after fans set off fireworks during the 1-1 draw in Group A at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on 10 December. UEFA’s disciplinary body also charged the club with improper conduct after five players were booked. Celtic finished bottom of the group and without a win in their six matches. It is the third match in a calendar year – and the eighth in five years – that has resulted in the Glasgow club being fined by European football’s governing body. Last season, they were disciplined for crowd disturbances against Dinamo Zagreb and then for supporters setting off flares, as well as player indiscipline, against Inter Milan. Five fans were arrested this month in connection with complaints of sectarian singing during Celtic’s Scottish Cup win away to Stranraer. The Scottish FA has written to both clubs and continues to investigate.

The IAAF has provisionally suspended the chief executive of Athletics Kenya amid allegations he asked athletes for bribes to reduce doping bans. The governing body for athletics said it took the decision concerning Isaac Mwangi “in the interests of the integrity of the sport”. An investigation into “potential subversion of the anti-doping control process in Kenya” will now take place. He denies wrongdoing and said he wanted to leave his post to clear his name. The World Anti-Doping Agency said it was “most disturbed” by the claims. “The allegations have caused me a lot of mental anguish,” Mwangi said in a letter to Athletics Kenya. Continue reading →

The match between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund came to an extraordinary halt after Roger Schmidt, the Leverkusen manager, refused to be sent off. The Bundesliga game was suspended after 65 minutes after protests when Dortmund took the lead at the BayArena. After waving away calls for a foul on Stefan Kiessling, the visitors broke and took the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Dortmund’s goal infuriated Leverkusen and Schmidt was ordered to leave the dugout. He refused and in response the referee, Felix Zwayer, took the players off the pitch. Leverkusen’s official Twitter account posted: “The match is paused at the 65th minute after Roger Schmidt refuses to be sent off the pitch and the referees leave instead.” Dortmund were clearly perplexed by the decision judging by their Twitter post of “??? b04bvb 0-1” and both sets of players returned to the dressing room. After talks, the teams came out without Schmidt and the match resumed around eight minutes after the impromptu break started.

Trabzonspor player Salih Dursun was sent off after showing dissent to the referee by picking up and brandishing his red card, moments after his team-mate has been sent off. The incident left Trabzonspor with just seven players on the pitch, yet Galatasaray still required a last-minute Selcuk Inan penalty to snatch a 2-1 victory. Dursin seized his opportunity after team-mate Luis Cavanda had been dismissed. Trabzonspor’s players, already reduced in number after two earlier red cards, surrounded referee Deniz Bitnel, causing him to drop his red card. Dursin picked it up and waved it at the referee, who took it back and returned the favour, ordering the Turkish utility player off the pitch.

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Reading vs Crystal Palace

Everton vs Chelsea

Arsenal/Hull City vs Watford

Shrewsbury/Man Utd vs West Ham

Games will be played 11-14 March.

Sunday 21 February, 2016:

Blackburn 1 – 5 West Ham

Tottenham 0 – 1 Crystal Palace

Chelsea 5 – 1 Man City

Emmanuel Emenike scored two while Victor Moses scored one in West Ham’s win. Mikel Obi had a nice midfield performance for Chelsea while Kelechi Iheanacho provided the assist for Man City’s goal.

Nigeria international striker Bright Dike is confident he can make an impact at his first European club side, Amkar Perm, in Russia. Dike was released by Toronto FC in August following an injury-ravaged spell with the MLS side. He signed a one-and-a-half-year deal for Amkar after impressing on trial, and is excited about the task ahead. “This is a challenge and I am relishing it,” the 29-year-old told BBC Sport. “Being my first European club I am under no illusion about how competitive this is going to be, but I’m mentally prepared. “European football is highly respected and I am very happy to be here” he added.

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Mercedes have revealed their 2016 challenger, the W07, as they set out in search of a third consecutive championship double. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg pulled the wraps off the new car at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona ahead of the start of pre-season testing. The W07 was given a brief shakedown at Silverstone on Friday with both world champion Lewis Hamilton and team-mate Nico Rosberg sampling the car for the first time. Hamilton will take the W07 for its official debut on Monday when pre-season testing starts in Barcelona. The Silver Arrows have won 32 of the last 38 F1 races but the team’s hierarchy have previously hinted the W07 would be built around an innovative design in order to rebuff the anticipated surge from Ferrari.

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TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo clinched a third African Super Cup when they defeated Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel 2-1 in Lubumbashi on Saturday. African champions Mazembe also won the prestigious annual fixture between the winners of the Champions League and the Confederation Cup in 2010 and 2011. Etoile, who won the 2015 Confederation Cup, have also won the competition twice. Ghanaian striker Daniel Nii Adjei scored twice to set up Mazembe’s win. He opened the scoring for Mazembe after 20 minutes when he powered his header off a Jean Kasusula cross from the left beyond goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi. 27-year-old Adjei doubled his tally in the 45th minute, when he acrobatically finished off a lovely attack after he was set up by strike partner Jonathan Bolingi.

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Saturday 20 February, 2016:

Arsenal 0 – 0 Hull

Reading 3 – 1 West Brom

Watford 1 – 0 Leeds

Bournemouth 0 – 2 Everton

Jose Mourinho has claimed he is not looking for a new job at the moment, but says clubs are pursuing him. The 53-year-old ended his second spell at Chelsea in December following a poor start to the campaign. He has since been heavily linked with a return to the Premier League with Manchester United, who are currently managed by Louis van Gaal. “My next club? I really do not know, but one thing is certain – I love football and I will return with the same passion and ambition I’ve always had,” Mourinho told La Stampa. “Right now I have respect for every coach at every club. I’m not looking for a club, but there are clubs that are looking for me.”

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New Cameroon coach Hugo Broos has made it clear he will not tolerate any interference in his work. The 63-year-old Belgian was officially unveiled by the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) on Thursday as he signed a two-year contract. Broos has not managed at national team level before but insisted he is “not afraid” and demands to be respected. “I will never accept intrusion in my job as a coach. I am the coach and I take the decisions,” he said. “It is the first time I will be training a national team and there is always a beginning but I hope for good results and I am not afraid to take the post. “I have always been passionate about African football and Cameroon has a rich football history having participated at World Cups and won the Africa Cup of Nations. “They have good players and this, coupled with the prospect of qualifying for and playing in two big competitions, was a big attraction.”

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