SportsNews

UEFA Cup group stage draw (Reuters)

2008-09 UEFA Cup group stage draw made in Nyon, Switzerland, on Tuesday:

Mikel Obi gets green light to skip Sierra Leone clash (AFP)

Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi has been given the green light by Nigeria to skip Saturday's 2010 World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone, officials said Tuesday.

Italy’s Serie A nudges towards breakaway (Reuters)

Italy’s top flight Serie A could breakaway from the second division Serie B and form a Super League, officials have warned.

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Portuguese championship fixture (Reuters)

Portuguese championship fixture on Tuesday (GMT) Vitoria Setubal v Maritimo (1845)

Subotic will add to America’s loss column (Yahoo! Sports)

Neven Subotic, a budding Bundesliga star, figures to be the next world-class talent to get away from the U.S.

Derby reveals Canadian TV star as main investor (AP)

Canadian businessman Brett Wilson was revealed as Derby’s leading investor by the international consortium that bought the English football club in January. The 51-year-old Wilson is also a panelist on Canadian TV show Dragons’ Den, a program that sees entrepreneurs compete for financing. “I want to use my profile in Canada to promote the club [...]

Zico out to work magic as Japan eyes ACL final (AFP)

Uzbeki giants Kuruvchi are banking on their considerable Brazilian influence to weave some samba magic in the AFC Champion's League semi-finals on Wednesday.

Santoro to coach Independiente for second time this year (Reuters)

Former goalkeeper Miguel Angel Santoro is to take over as coach of Independiente for the second time this year after being named as the replacement for Claudio Borghi, who quit Sunday.

Injured trio to miss Australia World Cup qualifier (Reuters)

Injuries have forced established midfielders Mark Bresciano, Vince Grella and Harry Kewell out of Australia’s squad for their World Cup qualifying clash with Qatar in Brisbane on Oct. 15.

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New World Cup bidding system in the making (AP)

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will propose new World Cup bidding rules that would dash U.S. hopes of hosting the 2018 tournament but put the Americans in prime position to stage soccer’s showcase event in 2022. Blatter said Monday he wants to avoid the World Cup staying in the Americas after Brazil stages it in 2014.