Spain's Parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a petition by the powerful northeastern Catalonia region to allow an independence referendum, a decision that is likely to increase the divide between both sides.

The request was voted down, 299-47, with one abstention, after nearly seven hours of debate.

Lazio forward Miroslav Klose has been ruled out for a month with a left thigh muscle tear, damaging his chances of selection for Germany's World Cup squad.

Lazio announced the injury details Tuesday following exams.

Champions League title holder Bayern Munich has not won a match since lifting the Bundesliga title with seven games to spare. That run includes the 1-1 draw at Manchester United in the first quarterfinal leg and Bayern's first Bundesliga defeat this season, a 1-0 loss at Augsburg.

Bayern is seeking its third consecutive semifinal appearance, while United has not been in the last four since 2011.

Vicente del Bosque's calm, composed and assured demeanor doesn't quite reveal the true extent of the stress he has endured in leading Spain to World Cup and European Championship titles.

Spain will be heading to Brazil looking to become the first country to repeat as champion since 1962, and the first European team to win the World Cup in South America.

Chile has assembled the best lineup it has ever taken to the World Cup, and has been placed in one of the toughest groups.

Facing defending champion Spain and 2010 finalist Netherlands in Group B, just reaching the knockout round would be considered a major success.

Roma forward Mattia Destro was banned for three matches Tuesday for punching Cagliari defender Davide Astori, handing the second-place squad a big blow for its faint Serie A title hopes.

The ban could also affect Destro's selection chances for Italy's World Cup squad, due to national team coach Cesare Prandelli's code of ethics.

Derek Kitchen and Moudi Sbeity have become superstars in the gay marriage movement in Utah. Raised in Mormon and Muslim families, they have given speeches at raucous rallies and have appeared in so many media stories that strangers come up to them and thank them for what they've done.

They are one of three gay and lesbian couples who are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the conservative western U.S. state that led a federal judge to overturn Utah's gay marriage ban in December. More than 1,000 gay and lesbian couples were able to marry after the ruling.

Like sunshine and happiness or Lennon and McCartney, football and Brazil go together, each making the other better. So the first World Cup in Brazil in 64 years is bound to be special.

Having cracked open a new continent four years ago in South Africa, the planet's most popular sport now returns to its spiritual home, the country which more than any other has put the wow factor into football.

Lance Stephenson shook his head in disbelief. All-Star starter Paul George repeatedly urged his Indiana teammates to get going, and All-Star center Roy Hibbert sat speechless on the bench during the final 30 minutes on the game.

This wasn't just another bad loss for the Pacers. It was another chapter in their shocking collapse as the NBA regular season comes to a close.

Christian Eriksen scored one goal and set up two more as Tottenham recovered from an early defensive howler to rout Sunderland 5-1, leaving the visitors rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

Tottenham put aside speculation about the manager Tim Sherwood's future and the early mistake to produce a comfortable victory at White Hart Lane to stay in the hunt for a European place.