Fenerbahce slapped with European ban

Inter have completed the signing of midfielder Ever Banega on a three-year contract.

The 28-year-old joins from Sevilla, where he spent two seasons  winning the Europa League in both campaigns.

FC Internazionale is delighted to confirm that Ever Banega will wear the Nerazzurri shirt for the next three seasons, read the Serie A club s statement.

The Argentina international was long expected to sign for Inter as a free agent, although the deal was initially held up over a dispute, with Sevilla believing he had automatically triggered an extension to his contract with them.

The playmaker was sent off in Sevilla s tempestuous Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona in May, which turned out to be his final match in the club s colours as then-boss Unai Emery…

Lee Wai-sze claimed Hong Kong s first gold of the Asian Games with victory in the women s keirin on Sunday.

The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist positioned herself well going into the final lap of the race and reacted well to overtake Tianshi Zhong of China to take gold.

Zhong s push for the line cost her silver too as Malaysia s Fatenhah Binti Mustapha came through to finish 0.07 seconds behind Lee.

In the other final at the velodrome, China s men claimed victory in the team pursuit, beating hosts South Korea in the gold medal race, with Japan sealing bronze ahead of Kazakhstan.

There were more golds for the hosts in Incheon in the judo competition with wins in three finals while Japan also tasted success with Anzu Yamamoto and Hiroyuki Akimoto winning the w…

Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez has stressed that winning the Bundesliga title is an absolute must for his side this term.

The Bavarians have not won a major trophy since claiming the domestic double in 2010, and Gomez has insisted that they have to keep up their current form in order to win silverware again this season.

The important thing is that we continue our run through to Christmas and don t let up, Gomez told reporters in the wake of Bayern s 5-0 win over Hannover.

We ve won nothing for two seasons, so we have to win the league. We re on track, provided we keep it up.

We were on track last year as well, only to veer off course. That mustn t happen this season.

Bayern sit atop of the Bundesliga table and hold a nine-point lead over s…

Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar s agent Arnold Oosterveer believes a switch to Inter would present a great opportunity for his client.

The former AC Milan forward is rumoured to be in talks with Premier League outfits Arsenal and Liverpool, but his representative thinks that Serie A could be a more attractive destination for the 29-year-old.

He would not mind playing in Milan again, especially because Inter would give him the chance to show he is a great player, Oosterveer told Metro.

Before playing for Schalke, Huntelaar struggled to make an impact at Milan, who eventually sold him to the German side during the 2010 summer window for a fee of 14 million euros.

The Netherlands international has appeared 16 times in Bundesliga so far this season, sc…

Carlo Ancelotti is saddened by Chelsea s struggles this season but expects his former side to bounce back under Frank Lampard.

The Real Madrid head coach faces off against the Blues in the Champions League quarter-finals, the first leg taking place at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

While domestic form has not been the best for Madrid, heading into the tie on the back of a 3-2 reverse against Villarreal at the weekend, their form in Europe in recent years has been devastating.

Los Blancos have won the Champions League in five of the last nine seasons, the most recent of which was last year, and boast vast experience.

However, Ancelotti does not believe that will have an impact in the two legs against Chelsea, where he expects the Blues to provide a stern …

Greek champions Olympiakos on Wednesday asked for a court freeze on the assets of their Brazilian former star Rivaldo after he reportedly cast doubt about their recent championship victory and past title wins, the club said.

The motion is designed to secure the payment of damages from a five-million-euro (7.8-million-dollar) defamation suit filed against the player and the chairman of his current club AEK Athens last week.

An injunction application has been filed against Rivaldo, a club spokesperson told AFP.

It asks for the freeze of his property up to the sum of five million euros to cover the compensation demanded by Olympiakos, the spokesperson said.

The injunction will be examined on July 2. The defamation case is slated for a 2009 hearing.

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Andrea Stramaccioni says that Jose Mourinho will always be part of Inter s history following his spell in charge of the club.

The 50-year-old left the Giuseppe Meazza side for Real Madrid in the summer of 2010 after guiding them to a historic treble.

And Stramaccioni has stressed that the current Madrid coach s performances will always be remembered by the fans.

Jose will always remain embedded in Inter s history, forever remembered and honoured by club and fans alike, just as he deserves, the Inter boss said.

I think the same way myself, because for all of us Interisti, he will still be special in 100 years time.

The Madrid boss turned 50 on Saturday, and Stramaccioni did not pass up on the opportunity to congratulate the Portuguese on his bi…

Dimitri Payet says he is not closing the door to anything when questioned on a possible January exit from West Ham.

The playmaker was an outstanding performer during his first season in England, helping the Hammers to finish seventh and earning a prominent role in France s run to the final of Euro 2016 on home soil.

West Ham have struggled to recapture their best form since moving to London Stadium, failing to qualify for the group stage of the Europa League and winning just three of 11 Premier League matches so far this season.

That has led some observers to suggest Payet could target a switch to a club competing for major honours.

And during an appearance on French television programme Telefoot, the 29-year-old was asked directly if he might leave West …

Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli denied suggestions he was underestimating Iceland after naming his starting XI for Saturday s World Cup clash in his pre-match press conference.

The former Chile boss read out his team in an unexpected move, but explained he had made up his mind on Wednesday and saw no point in concealing it further.

Marcos Rojo and Maxi Meza were the only question marks, but have been given the nod to start at Spartak Stadium against the Euro 2016 quarter-finalists.

Asked if he had revealed his team early because he did not think Iceland were particularly strong, Sampaoli responded: No, no, no, the reason why we have named our team in advance is because we knew since Wednesday what we wanted to do.

I ve told you today because we have tr…

Cristiano Ronaldo will be in peak condition for the World Cup and Portugal can rest easy about what he will bring at Qatar 2022, says Selecao legend Luis Figo.

Superstar forward Ronaldo has found himself out of the team at Manchester United in recent weeks, following on from a pre-season of uncertainty.

The 37-year-old reportedly wanted to depart Old Trafford just 12 months after returning in order to find a move to a club playing in the Champions League.

A move failed to materialise, though, and Ronaldo s only start this season under new boss Erik ten Hag came in the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brentford.

That is partly explained by the fact Ronaldo missed much of United s pre-season due to personal reasons, but the Red Devils have chalked up four straigh…