4:02 AM ET Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Karim Benzema did not attend the three-day trial in France. Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images Karim Benzema has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and a €75,000 fine for his involvement in the attempted blackmail of former teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape. Benzema’s lawyer told
Football
6:17 AM ET A FIFA proposal for a World Cup every two years and changes to the Club World Cup could cost the big domestic football leagues and UEFA around €8 billion ($9bn) per season in lost TV rights and match day and commercial agreements, according to a report commissioned by the leagues. More frequent
2:52 AM ET UEFA has welcomed a European parliament resolution opposing “breakaway competitions,” but the backers of the proposed European Super League defended their project, saying the EU needed to ensure “fair and open competition.” Twelve of Europe’s leading clubs announced in April that they intended to create a new Super League and break away
7:05 PM ET Luke Thrower The summer transfer window was unlike any other; see all the major deals and check out how we graded the biggest signings. And just because the window is shut until January, that doesn’t mean the rumours won’t keep coming. Here’s the latest gossip and speculation. TOP STORY: Barca, Liverpool in
5:58 PM ET LONDON — Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James set Chelsea on their way to a commanding 4-0 victory over Juventus and a Champions League last-16 spot, but the pair’s ongoing emergence is strengthening the club in other notable ways. The serenity with which the Blues have negotiated the formative months of this season
4:16 PM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Manchester United have held discussions with former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde about the possibility of becoming interim manager, sources have told ESPN. United began their search for a short-term appointment to take the team until the end of the season on Sunday after dismissing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Valverde, who led
5:48 PM ET Chelsea claimed a thumping 4-0 victory over Juventus thanks to goals from home-grown trio Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi and a fourth by Timo Werner to top Champions League Group H and cruise into the knockout stage. European champions Chelsea took control from the outset and never relaxed as they
4:49 PM ET Barcelona and Benfica drew 0-0 at Camp Nou on UCL matchday five. Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Barcelona and Benfica played out a thrilling goalless draw in the Champions League in Xavi Hernandez’s second match in charge on a rainy night at the Camp Nou. – What every team needs to get out
7:01 PM ET Xavi Hernandez is optimistic Barcelona can beat Bayern Munich next month after a goalless draw with Benfica on Wednesday left their Champions League hopes hanging in the balance. Barca will have to win at the Allianz Arena on Dec. 8 to make sure of their place in the last 16 if Benfica
4:17 PM ET LA Galaxy general manager Dennis te Kloese is traveling to the Netherlands in a bid to finalize a deal to become the sporting director at Dutch heavyweights Feyenoord Rotterdam, a source confirmed to ESPN. Overseas reports indicated that Te Kloese will indeed take over starting in January, but a source confirmed a