LONDON (SE) - Liverpool welcome back captain Steven Gerrard for the rescheduled match against Fulham at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

Sevilla are planning special security measures to ensure no Real Madrid official is allowed near the referee at halftime during Wednesday's King's Cup semi-final first leg.

A top Asian soccer executive says Sepp Blatter has been at FIFA too long and needs to be replaced as president of the sport's governing body. Less than two months ago, Mohamed bin Hammam helped Qatar surprisingly land the 2022 World Cup following a voting process marred by accusations of bribery.

Dimitar Berbatov's home town club Pirin Blagoevgrad, for whom the in-form Manchester United striker first played as a teenager, is facing expulsion from the Bulgarian first division if it cannot clear its debts.

Marseille winger Mathieu Valbuena will be sidelined for up to six weeks after injuring his left leg in a training incident. Club doctor Christophe Baudot told Marseille's website on Monday that Valbuena underwent medical tests that revealed the France international partially tore knee ligaments and damaged a cartilage in his ankle from Saturday's incident.

Two of Britain's leading soccer commentators were reprimanded by their TV network and taken off the air Monday after making sexist remarks about two female game officials and a team executive. Andy Gray and Richard Keys were disciplined Monday for derogatory comments about Sian Massey's suitability as a lineswoman for a Premier League game the commentators were working Saturday for Sky...

Lazio striker Mauro Zarate was banned for three Serie A games on Monday for hurling a ball at an opponent and being involved in a brawl at the end of Sunday's 3-1 loss at Bologna.

April Heinrichs was blunt. Gone are the days when the U.S. women's team could count on easily beating most of the world. The former U.S. women's coach returned to the U.S. Soccer Federation on Thursday as technical director of women's national teams, just two months after the Americans' shocking loss to Mexico forced them to win a pair of playoffs to reach this year's World Cup.

* Betis overturn 2-1 deficit to progress 4-3 on aggregate

* Milan expecting fee, says Italian club

Former Netherlands midfielder Aron Winter was unveiled as manager and technical director of Toronto FC on Thursday and said he faced a big test in his first head coaching job but wanted to play attractive football.

Both teams will be desperate to get off to a winning start in what should be a tightly contested group.

As Ariel Ortega's latest absence from training appears to spell the end for River's talented yet troubled playmaker, Daniel Edwards looks back on the career of a player whose ability on the field was only matched by his ability for self-destruction...

Spartak Moscow's Champions League Group F match with Slovakians Zilina was suspended after three minutes on Wednesday when fans let off a fire cracker on to the pitch at MSK Zilina Stadium.

* Benitez faces World Club Cup ultimatum

Teams for Wednesday's Champions League Group H game between Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga at the Donbass Arena:

Teams for Wednesday's Champions League Group F match between Zilina and Spartak Moscow at MSK Zilina Stadium in Zilina:

* Brazilians steer home side to 3-0 win

Teams for Wednesday's Champions League Group H match between Arsenal and Partizan Belgrade at Emirates Stadium.