Costa Rica replaces Japan in Copa America

TOKYO – Costa Rica has accepted an invitation to replace Japan in the Copa America, the soccer championship of South America.

Japan withdrew Tuesday because of problems forming a team following March's earthquake and tsunami.

Costa Rica will send a team of players mostly under 23, with five older players.

Andrea Pirlo leaving AC Milan after 10 seasons

MILAN – Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo is leaving AC Milan after 10 seasons with the club.

Pirlo, who turns 32 on Thursday, is expected to join Juventus.

He told reporters outside Milan's downtown offices on Wednesday that "after 10 unforgettable years, I want to thank the club and fans for all their affection."

Inzaghi signs new deal but Pirlo leaving Milan

ROME (AFP) – Veteran forward Filippo Inzaghi on Wednesday signed a new one-year contract with AC Milan tying him to the club until the end of next season when he will be 38.

But midfield playmaker Andrea Pirlo revealed that he would be leaving the champions Milan after 10 years.

"I'm here to say goodbye," Pirlo told reporters when he arrived at the club's headquarters in Milan.

"After 10 unforgettable years I want to thank the club and the fans for their affection."

Porto win Europa League title

DUBLIN (AFP) – Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas insists it would cost Europe's super-powers a fortune to break up his Europa League winners.

Villas-Boas and several of Porto's squad will be highly prized after a triumphant campaign reached a new high with a 1-0 victory over Braga in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

Colombia striker Falcao scored the winner with a superb header on the stroke of half-time at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin as Porto added Europe's second tier trophy to the Portuguese title they won without losing a single match.

FIFA chief Blatter accuses English of sour grapes

ZURICH (AFP) – FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday accused the English of sour grapes over their lost bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA has been rocked by new allegations of graft after a British parliamentary committee last week heard testimony about bribes being offered during the bidding process to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Mancini insists Tevez staying at City

MANCHESTER (AFP) – Carlos Tevez is set to stay at Manchester City, according to manager Roberto Mancini.

The Argentina striker's future has been in doubt since he handed in a transfer request earlier in the season.

Even after captaining City to victory in last weekend's FA Cup final against Stoke at Wembley, Tevez suggested he might have to move back to South America for family reasons.

Quake-hit Japan cancels Copa America plans

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) – Japan has cancelled plans to play the Copa America tournament in July, Argentine Football Federation (AFA) president Julio Grondona has said.

"We are sorry to inform you that the Japanese team cannot participate in the Copa America 2011 in Argentina. We apologize deeply," said a letter from the Japanese football association disclosed by the AFA.

Top Italian football clubs reflect on failures

ROME (AFP) – While a lot of attention has been focussed this Serie A season on the surprisingly positive campaigns of Napoli, Lazio and Udinese, there are three other teams whose failures have been just as notable.

While the other three were surpassing expectations and battling for a place in next season's Champions League, Juventus, Roma and Sampdoria have been the big losers this term.

And each one has staked their claim for the biggest of the under-achievers.

FA silent over Ferguson reply to ref charge

LONDON (AFP) – England's Football Association (FA) have taken the unusual step of refusing to reveal whether or not Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has accepted his latest improper conduct charge.

The matter is now with the governing body's disciplinary committee and normally at such a time the FA announce how those charged have responded.

Rooney clinches Man United's record 19th title

BLACKBURN, England – Wayne Rooney secured Manchester United's record 19th English title on Saturday, scoring on a penalty kick to salvage a 1-1 draw at Blackburn and overshadow rival Manchester City's first major trophy in 35 years.

Yaya Toure scored at Wembley to give Manchester City's expensively assembled side a 1-0 win over Stoke in the FA Cup final, but the victory couldn't eclipse United's accomplishment.

Barca game pics 'worth a thousands words': Mourinho

MADRID (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho vowed to stop talking about the fractious Champions League encounter with Barcelona and his own post-match tirade, saying images of the game will speak for themselves.

"A picture is worth a thousands words and as there are so many pictures, I am not going to speak any more about what happened," he told a news conference on Friday.

Bayern demand respect from fans before Neuer visit

BERLIN (AFP) – Bayern Munich have urged their supporters to treat any visiting opponents and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with respect ahead of Saturday's highly-charged league clash against Schalke 04.

Neuer, 25, is widely reported to be set to sign for the Bavarian giants next season and has already told Champions League semi-finalists Schalke he will not extend his contract, which ends in 2012.

Germany to host France in Euro 2012 warm-up

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) – Germany will host France in a pre-Euro 2012 friendly in Bremen on February 29, it was announced on Friday.

"The clashes against France are traditionally attractive duels," said national team manager Oliver Bierhoff.

"We are pleased that we will be able to take on France again after almost six years and that we can offer our fans an attractive game."

Blatter promises FIFA reforms if re-elected

FRANKFURT, Germany – FIFA President Sepp Blatter promises wide-ranging reforms if re-elected, including the way World Cup hosts are chosen.

Blatter told the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine he also will set up a watchdog committee to supervise how FIFA works and "restore the credibility" of soccer's governing body.

The 75-year-old Swiss is seeking a fourth term of office on June 1. His lone opponent is Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed bin Hammam.

Super Falcao sinks Villarreal, Benfica edge Braga in Europa League

PARIS (AFP) – A stunning four goal show by Colombian striker Falcao saw Portuguese champions Porto come from a goal down to overwhelm Spanish side Villarreal 5-1 on Thursday in their Europa League semi-final first leg clash in Oporto.

Falcao's goals took him to a record 16 in the competition, beating Jurgen Klinsmann's total of 15 for Bayern Munich in the 1995/95 competition when it was the UEFA Cup.

UEFA to probe Mourinho outburst

NYON, Switzerland (AFP) – UEFA on Thursday announced it had launched a disciplinary inquiry into events surrounding Wednesday's fractious Champions League semi-final tie between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

One of the incidents being investigated is Real coach Jose Mourinho's post-match outburst in which the Portuguese suggested referees always showed favouritism to Barcelona, who won 2-0 in Madrid to take a huge step towards the final.

The Real question: Why is Mourinho a bad loser?

PARIS – Sounding like a stuck record by a lovesick crooner, Jose Mourinho wailed why, oh, why? In the warped view of Real Madrid's coach, the dice are stacked in Barcelona's favor. "They have got great power. The rest of us have no chance," he said.

And some of Europe's most respected referees — Mourinho rattled off several of them — are seemingly part of some kind of pro-Barca plot.

Well, Jose, here's the real question: Why are you such a bad loser?

Police talk to Rooney over possible phone hacking

LONDON – Police contacted Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney after his mobile phone was apparently hacked into by a British tabloid newspaper.

London police have conducted a high-profile investigation into the News of the World's role in a series of illegal interceptions into celebrities' voicemails.

"Scotland Yard detectives came to see me earlier and showed me some documents, looks like a newspaper have hacked into my phone," Rooney said Thursday on his Twitter account.

Messi double downs Real Madrid in Champions League first leg

MADRID (AFP) – Argentina's two-time world player of the year Lionel Messi scored a superb late brace as Barcelona gained the upper hand in their Champions League semi final with a 2-0 first leg win over arch rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Real were down to ten men after Pepe had been sent off on the hour mark and Barca made the extra man count with Messi converting an Ibrahim Afellay cross on 76 minutes and then scored a mesmerising goal on 86 minutes for his 11th Champions League goal of the season.

Dempsey double helps lift Fulham to Premier League safety

LONDON (AFP) – Fulham look assured of keeping their Premier League status next season after a resounding 3-0 win over Bolton at Craven Cottage on Wednesday.

American international Clint Dempsey scored either side of half time with Brede Hangeland adding a third to earn Fulham a crucial victory which pushed them up five places to ninth, eight points above the relegation zone.