The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday upheld a one year transfer ban against Spanish football giants Barcelona for breaching rules on signing under-18 players.

The court said in a statement that it had "dismissed" an appeal made by Barcelona. It is now banned from buying players during the transfer window that opens on January 1 and for the summer transfer period before the 2015-16 season. Barcelona was also fined 450,000 Swiss francs ($455,000, 375,000 euros).

Adam Lallana fired Liverpool to their biggest home win of the season as the England midfielder's brace inspired a 4-1 rout of Swansea on Monday.

Brendan Rodgers' side scored four for the first time since March thanks to Lallana's second half double after Alberto Moreno had put the Reds ahead in the first half at Anfield.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has added his voice to calls for changes to the Premier League's breathless festive fixture schedule, in comments reported by several British newspapers on Tuesday.

Rooney scored twice in United's 3-1 win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day, lined up for the 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur less than 48 hours later, and is due to feature against Stoke City on New Year's Day.

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher has entered a second year battling back from a horrific ski accident that has left him a recluse in his Swiss home, his condition a closely guarded secret.

And the race track accident suffered by 25-year-old Jules Bianchi three months ago has only added to anxiety surrounding the motor racing circus.

Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres completed his return to boyhood club Atletico Madrid after his new owners AC Milan agreed a loan deal with the Spanish champions on Monday.

Torres agreed a permanent transfer with the San Siro club from Chelsea on December 27 but was swiftly loaned back to the club where he built his reputation on a deal set to run until the end of the 2015-16 season.

Title favorites Algeria have named a final squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea while Group C rivals Ghana and South Africa are undecided.

New Ghana coach Avram Grant, who guided Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final loss on penalties to Manchester United, chose a 31-man provisional squad.

Supermaxi Wild Oats XI won its eighth line honors in the Sydney to Hobart race Sunday, officials said, to become the most successful yacht in the history of the competition.

The Mark Richards-skippered 100-footer crossed the finish line ahead of American newcomer Comanche in the grueling 628 nautical mile (1,163 kilometer) race down the east coast of southern Australia, organizers said.

Neil Warnock on Saturday became the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season when he was sacked by strugglers Crystal Palace.

"Crystal Palace Football Club can today confirm that Neil Warnock has been relieved of his duties and is no longer first-team manager," a statement on the club's official website announced.

James Harden scored 32 points and Josh Smith came off the bench to contribute 21 in his Houston debut as the Rockets beat Memphis 117-111 in overtime Friday.

Harden and Dwight Howard each scored four points in the extra five-minute period as the Rockets improved to 21-7 to grab the Southwest division lead from the Grizzlies, who fell to 21-8.

Arsene Wenger admits losing Oliver Giroud once again is a body blow to Arsenal's Champions League push.

Giroud is facing three games out after his red card in the 2-1 Boxing Day win against QPR.