Rooney wins ban appeal

Wayne Rooney's ban has been reduced to two games on appeal, with the third game suspended for four years.

Wayne Rooney: Reduced ban, and can take his place in England's 23-man squad

UEFA's Disciplinary and Control Body handed Rooney a three-match ban after his petulant kick at Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic in England's final Euro 2012 qualifier in October. England had appealed against the severity of the ban.

Warnock talks up Beckham move

Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock has suggested the club could make a move for David Beckham in January after owner Tony Fernandes said he was interested in bringing the player back to England.

Beckham spent five years in the United States with Los Angeles Galaxy but his contract with the Major League Soccer club will ends in two months' time which means he will be free to negotiate a return to the Premier League and he has said that playing for a club other than Manchester United in England's top flight would be difficult for him.
Fernandes stated on Twitter on wednesday that he doesnt think having David Beckham in the club is a bad Idea and it would be great to have him in the club "I think having someone like David in the club would be great. Was always in my thoughts." Said Fernandes.
And now Warnock has followed that up by saying "anything is possible" now Fernandes is in charge at Loftus Road.
Warnock was quoted in the Daily Telegraph as saying: "About three weeks ago I would not have dreamed to sign Joey Barton so I will never write anything off.
"The chairman Tony Fernandes has got such [an opinion] - why accept the average when you can reach for the top? That is how he is.
"It came out of the blue. I think anything is possible. He is a very astute businessman.''
However at a press conference on Thursday, Warnock appeared to try and put distance between himself and a move for Beckham.
"It is not a discussion [Tony and I] have had,'' he said. "I mean obviously it is good news for you lads I suppose and nothing much surprises me at the club but it's not something we've talked about, not myself anyhow.''
Asked what he would do if Fernandes offered him the player, he retorted: "I think you will have to ask me as and when. I've got enough problems worrying about Newcastle (on Monday), I don't want to worry about that (as well).
"We can't sign him anyhow, we can't sign anybody else now until January so why worry? I think he is a fabulous professional. I think he has been a great asset to English football, I like him as a person but ask me in January.''

Real and Barca still want Neymar

Santos forward Neymar says Real Madrid and Barcelona are still battling for his signature but insists he has not yet reached any agreement over his future.

Neymar remains a target for some of Europe's biggest clubs

• No Barca agreement for Neymar
There have been reports in Brazil that both Barcelona and Madrid made bids for Neymar before the close of the transfer window and, after his impressive performance for his country as they beat Ghana 1-0 at Craven Cottage in West London on Monday, the player confirmed the interest.
"Real Madrid and Barcelona are interested in me," he said in AS. "The two clubs are battling for me, I can confirm, but I have not reached an agreement with either.
"The interest from the two big clubs in Spain is good for my self-esteem - it's great to know that two clubs like these are interested in me."
Chelsea appear to have cooled their interest in recent months - ESPNsoccernet understands they were unwilling to meet the player's €45 million release clause - but Brazil defender David Luiz still hopes a deal can de done.
"I would definitely like Neymar in my team but it is up to him to decide where he wants to play," he said in the London Evening Standard. "I hope he signs for Chelsea. Neymar's getting to know London and he likes it very much. I love it here, too. It's one of the best cities in the world - all I miss is the beach."

Santos refute Barca deal for Neymar

Brazilian club Santos have moved to quash speculation that a deal has been done for highly-coveted striker Neymar to join Barcelona in 2013.

Neymar appears certain to remain at Santos until after the Club World Cup

Responding to growing media speculation in Brazil that the 19-year-old's future has already been determined, the recent Copa Libertadores winners issued a lengthy statement refuting the claims.
"Because of the special interest manifested in the last few days by the press related to Neymar, Santos Futebol Clube officially informs that the information that it has sold the economic rights of Neymar is not true," read the statement.
"The club's board of directors always had the intention of keeping Neymar in the team and for that has built a very promising career plan to make his stay in Brazil viable. For months now the board of directors of Santos Futebol Clube has been approached by several foreign clubs interested in Neymar, including clubs from Spain.
"Neymar and his family always mention the intention of making the transfer to Europe at some point in the future as part of the project for the international career of the player.
"The board of directors of Santos Futebol Clube will manifest itself again in the case of any relevant topic emerging in this context and reaffirms its drive to count on Neymar's talent for many more matches, championships and finals."
Neymar had been linked with a number of Europe's biggest clubs this summer including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea.