3 fans arrested after Italian Cup final; questions raised over Champions League safety

ROME — Three fans have been arrested and five police officers injured in disturbances connected to an Italian Cup soccer final between Sampdoria and Lazio.

Soccer administrators get it wrong again: Asian vote for FIFA post casts sport in bad light

Tick a box, pick a candidate to represent Asian soccer on the world stage. You’d think it would be clean and simple.

Champions League referee who faced death threats after Chelsea game ready for next match

OSLO — The Norwegian referee who faced death threats after a Champions league semifinal between Chelsea and Barcelona said he is eager to get back on the pitch.

UEFA names 4 Euro 2012 host cities in Poland, but only 1 so far in Ukraine

BUCHAREST, Romania — UEFA chose four cities in Poland to host matches at the 2012 European Championship on Wednesday but said tournament co-host Ukraine could wind up with only two venues unless it makes major infrastructure improvements in the next six months.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard voted Footballer of the Year by England’s journalists

LONDON — Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been voted Footballer of the Year by England’s Football Writer’s Association after the midfielder’s efforts helped put the Reds in contention for their first Premier League title since 1990.

Mazzei, Pele’s confidant and former Cosmos coach, dies in Brazil at 78

SAO PAULO — Julio Mazzei, who helped persuade Pele to play in the United States and coached the Cosmos to a North American Soccer League title in 1982, has died. He was 78.

Premier League to address British government concerns by enforcing new financial rules

LONDON — England’s Premier League will address British government concerns over the finances and ownership of top clubs by enforcing new rules, including a more stringent examination of those running teams.

Frantisek Straka to replace Petr Rada as Czech Republic soccer coach

PRAGUE — Frantisek Straka was selected as the Czech Republic’s new soccer coach on Tuesday, replacing Petr Rada, who was fired last month because of poor results in World Cup qualifying.

Malaysia cancels Intercontinental Cup youth soccer tournament over swine flu threat

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian soccer officials have canceled next month’s Intercontinental Cup under-23 tournament due to the threat of the spread of swine flu, local media reported Tuesday.

FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala out 4-6 weeks with injury to left knee

FRISCO, Texas — FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala will miss the next four to six weeks with a knee injury.

Fletcher, Abidal, Alves set to miss Champions League final after UEFA rejects appeals

NYON, Switzerland — European soccer’s governing body has upheld the decisions that ruled out Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher and Barcelona’s Eric Abidal and Dani Alves from the Champions League final.

Norway, Denmark and Scotland win extra spots in next season’s Europa League

GENEVA — Norway, Denmark and Scotland have earned extra places in the qualifying round for next season’s Europa League.

Pep Guardiola wins appeal against positive test for nandrolone as a Serie A player in 2001

ROME — Pep Guardiola has won his appeal against a positive test for the steroid nandrolone when he played for Brescia in the Serie A in 2001.

Mexican soccer returns to normal, with a few notable exceptions

MEXICO CITY — Mexican soccer returned to normal this weekend, with a few glaring differences.

Joseph, Reis lift Revolution into draw with Fire

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Shalrie Joseph’s goal in the 49th minute and Matt Reis’ diving save in the closing seconds allowed the New England Revolution to escape with a 1-all draw against the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.

Moreno enters game as substitute, hits late penalty kick to earn 3-3 draw against Toronto FC

WASHINGTON — Jaime Moreno connected on a penalty kick past goalkeeper Stefan Frei in injury time to help D.C. United earn a 3-3 tie Saturday night with Toronto FC.

Liverpool wins 3-0 at West Ham to keep pressure on Premier League leader Manchester United

LONDON — Liverpool kept some pressure on Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title with a 3-0 win at West Ham on Saturday.

Rojas’ 2 goals lead Red Bulls, 4-1 over Earthquakes

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jorge Rojas scored his first two MLS goals within a six-minute span of the first half and Macoumba Kandji had a goal and two assists, leading the New York Red Bulls to a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday night.

Mexican clubs Chivas, San Luis withdraw from tourney; opponents decline to play in Mexico

MEXICO CITY — Two Mexican soccer teams have withdrawn from the Copa Libertadores after their third-round opponents declined to play in Mexico because of swine flu.

German sportswear company Puma says first quarter net profit falls to €5.6 million

FRANKFURT — German sportswear company Puma AG said Friday net profit fell substantially in the first quarter as the global recession and restructuring charges hurt sales and earnings.

German sportswear company Puma says first quarter net profit falls to euro5.6 million

FRANKFURT — German sportswear company Puma AG said Friday net profit fell substantially in the first quarter as the global recession and restructuring charges hurt sales and earnings.

Mexican soccer stadiums open to fans _ with unusual twists following swine flu outbreak

MEXICO CITY — Soccer in Mexico will look nearly normal this weekend. Fans will be in the stands, with no repeat from a week ago when every stadium was shuttered and only players, reporters and officials were allowed inside.

Barcelona advances to European Champions League final against Manchester United

LONDON — Barcelona advanced to the European Champions League final against Manchester United in dramatic fashion, tying Chelsea 1-1 Wednesday night when Andres Iniesta scored in the third minute of second-half injury time.

Man United manager Alex Ferguson not optimistic about Darren Fletcher red card appeal

MANCHESTER, England — UEFA will rule Monday on Manchester United’s appeal against a red card that has ruled Darren Fletcher out of the Champions League final, although manager Alex Ferguson says he thinks the decision will stand.

FIFA official says Asian soccer chief acting like lunatic crime boss ahead of key election

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The enmity between the two most powerful men in Asian soccer plunged into new depths Thursday when FIFA’s vice president said his rival was suffering mental problems and acting like a criminal.

UEFA receives referee’s report from Chelsea’s semifinal elimination by Barcelona

LONDON — UEFA will decide next week whether to take action against Chelsea players for their behavior toward the referee after Wednesday’s contentious Champions League semifinal against Barcelona.

Barcelona can prove itself best in world by beating Man United in Champions League final

LONDON — Barcelona is out to do much more than take the Champions League title away from Manchester United when they meet in the final in Rome.

Galaxy scramble to 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake

SANDY, Utah — Mike Magee scored the third goal of stoppage time to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night.

David Beckham wants return to AC Milan ‘as soon as possible’ after MLS season

MILAN — David Beckham wants to return to AC Milan “as soon as possible” after the Major League Soccer season ends in November.

Defending champion Manchester United reaches Champions League final with 3-1 win at Arsenal

LONDON — Defending champion Manchester United advanced to the European Champions League final, winning 3-1 at Arsenal on Tuesday night as world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals and set up another.