2 http://www.espn.co.uk (c)ESPN UK en-gb Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez has told FIFA.com that he welcomes improved doping controls but does not believe it is an issue in football http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208758.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208758.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Tony Pulis insists he remains proud of the transformation he has achieved as Stoke City manager and will not let his sudden departure from the Britannia Stadium sour his 10-year association with the club http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208753.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208753.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Fernando Torres has thanked Chelsea for standing by him during some difficult times and played down rumours he could be sold this summer http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208751.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208751.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Ryan Palmer was the leader on the opening day of the Crowne Palmer Invitational at Colonial after the American hit an eight-under 62 to hold a one-shot advantage http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/208746.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/208746.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Newcastle United have dismissed speculation over Alan Pardew's future as they seek long-term stability and an instant return to the top half of the Premier League http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208738.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208738.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has dismissed reports that the club are looking to sign Radamel Falcao and Neymar http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208735.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208735.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Franck Ribery says he is concentrating on winning the Champions League before finalising his future with Bayern Munich http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208727.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208727.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Racist abuse by players or officials will carry a minimum 10-match suspension, the UEFA executive committee has confirmed http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208725.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208725.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT UEFA is set to announce on Friday a change to Europa League rules that will award the winners a place in the Champions League - but it is as yet unclear what afftect it could have on teams who qualify via league position http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208724.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208724.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Arsenal have announced that midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has undergone knee surgery and is set to be out for around two months http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208722.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208722.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Former super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe has backed Carl Froch to defeat Mikkel Kessler in their highly-anticipated rematch on Saturday - as the Welshman believes revenge will spur Froch on. http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/208716.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/208716.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT It remains unclear whether Roberto Martinez will still be the Wigan Athletic manager next season, with the Spaniard saying he has yet to make a decision on his future http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208713.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208713.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT European Tour chief executive George O'Grady has managed to reignite the ongoing race controversy surrounding Sergio Garcia by insisting that many of the Spaniard's best friends are "coloured athletes" http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/208710.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/208710.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Rory McIlroy stumbled to an opening round 74 to end day one of the BMW PGA Championship on two-over par http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/208709.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/208709.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT British No. 3 Johanna Konta will not feature at the French Open after suffering a 6-4 3-6 5-7 defeat to Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva in the second qualifying round in Paris http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/208704.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/208704.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT LA Galaxy have allowed Robbie Keane to play in next week's friendly between Ireland and England at Wembley http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208703.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208703.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Defender Rio Ferdinand has signed a new one-year contract extension with Manchester United that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2014 http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208701.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208701.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Atletico Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has denied that Monaco or Chelsea have made official bids for Radamel Falcao http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208700.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208700.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly has hit back at Carl Froch's decision to criticise him for sparring with Mikkel Kessler, branding the Nottingham fighter a "hypocrite" http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/208695.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/208695.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT Mark Taylor believes restoring Shane Watson to the opening position and shifting David Warner down to No.5 or 6 could be the formula Australia need to post challenging totals on the upcoming Ashes tour http://www.espn.co.uk/cricket/sport/story/208692.html?CMP=OTC-RSS http://www.espn.co.uk/cricket/sport/story/208692.html Fri, 24 May 2013 04:33:28 GMT