Sports

With 331 million euros, China's spending in the January-February window outstripped the English Premier League's 253-million-euro outlay in January, according to figures compiled by industry website Transfermarkt.

Real trail Atletico by a point and are nine adrift of Barca with just 13 games remaining, but can move up to second place should they beat Diego Simeone's men for the first time in six league games.

Real Madrid star striker Ronaldo has made social media history by becoming the first athlete to reach 200 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham has urged Louis van Gaal's critics to be patient by giving the Dutch coach time to spark a turnaround in his old club's fortunes.

Guardiola is determined to win the Champions League for a third time but will not be judged a failure even if he leaves at the end of the season without lifting Europe's biggest prize again.

Barcelona, who won 2-1 at Las Palmas on Saturday, have 63 points to Real's 54 with 13 matches of the season remaining. Atletico Madrid, who play at home to Villarreal on Sunday, are level on points with city rivals Real.

Expressing satisfaction over the work done at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, a FIFA inspection team on Thursday proposed few minor changes to turn the facility into a world class stadium.

Ronaldo has been linked with a move to several top clubs this year.

Rio Ferdinand has said comments from Cristiano Ronaldo that the Portuguese forward did not speak to him during Manchester United's Champions League-winning season were "unbelievable".

Brazilian striker Jonas, Benfica's and the Portuguese league's top scorer, netted for the 26th time this season with a glancing header from a free kick in 91st minute.

Platini was banned for eight years in December along with FIFA President Sepp Blatter over a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2 million) made to the Frenchman in 2011 by FIFA with Blatter's approval for work done a decade earlier.

Christian Eriksen celebrated his 24th birthday with the winning goal for Tottenham Hotspur when they beat City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to stay second in the Premier League table.

"There was a lot of tiki-taka and I was thinking that without a lot of space to play in, I'd find it more difficult. I worried about that," said Suarez.

England international Adam Johnson has been sacked by Premier League Sunderland after he pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child, the club said on Thursday.

Nasri was initially expected to miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury he picked up in October but the France international said last month that he hoped to return to action by the end of March.

A high-powered FIFA delegation led by Head Of Competitions Jamie Yarza will be visiting India between February 14 to 20 to evaluate the preparations for next year's U-17 World Cup.