A threat by footballers in Spain to strike in a dispute over the sharing of riches from television rights harms the game and its precious revenues, the government warned Friday.
Players from top teams, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, on Thursday joined in a threat to boycott the last games of the season if the government does not renegotiate a reform of football broadcasting rights.
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Ukrainian side Dnipro equalized late in the second half for a 1-1 draw at Napoli in the opening leg of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday.
Napoli midfielder David Lopez headed in a corner from Lorenzo Insigne in the 50th minute at San Paolo Stadium, and it was all Napoli until substitute forward Yevhen Seleznyov redirected in a cross at the far post nine minutes from time.
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Sevilla right back Aleix Vidal scored two goals and set up another to lead the titleholders to a 3-0 win over Fiorentina in their Europa League semifinal first leg on Thursday.
Fiorentina had the better share of chances in the first half, but it was Vidal who struck first from long range in the 17th minute at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
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Alberto Contador has been riding a bit slower than usual this season.
That's by design.
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Pele is recovering from prostate surgery in a Sao Paulo hospital.
The 74-year-old football great was in a "stable" condition after the surgery this week, the Albert Einstein Hospital said in a statement on Thursday.
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Thursday night the scandal surrounding his use of deflated footballs in the NFL playoff last season hasn't detracted in any way from his Super Bowl title.
"Absolutely not," Brady told a friendly university crowd in his first public appearance since an NFL investigation concluded Brady likely knew Patriots employees were cheating.
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There is such a thing as being too clever for your own good.
Pep Guardiola is undoubtedly smart, but his reluctance to water down his tactical thinking is one reason why his Bayern Munich team won't win the Champions League this year. That and because he looks out of his depth at the pinnacle in Europe without the unstoppable, match-winning force that is Lionel Messi.
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Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign Dutch international forward Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven, the Premier League giants announced on Thursday.
"#mufc has reached an agreement with PSV Eindhoven and Memphis Depay for the player's transfer, subject to a medical," United announced on their official Twitter account.
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Spain's football federation is suspending all league and cup matches from May 16 in protest at a proposed law on the sale of television rights and the division of the income earned.
The federation said the decision had been taken by its board of directors on Wednesday.
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Two-time Olympic champion Tina Maze of Slovenia has announced a one-year break from ski racing before deciding about continuing her career.
The 32-year-old Maze said on her website, "I feel that my body and my mind need a longer rest than usual. I will allow myself a one year break before taking any further decision."
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