Rome - A sports judge Monday sentenced Serie A side Juventus to play a home game behind closed doors because of the racist slurs and chants that their fans aimed at Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli, Italian media reported.

Balotelli, 18, is an Italian footballer born in Palermo to a Ghanaian family. He was adopted at the age of 3 by an Italian family.

Rome - The agent of Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro has confirmed that the Italian veteran is considering a return to Juventus after three seasons in the Spanish Liga.

Gaetano Fedele Monday told the website calciomercato. it that negotiations have begun and have progressed well, thus validating rumours circulated earlier this week.

Sinsheim, Germany - Bundesliga newcomers Hoffenheim were told Monday by their billionaire investor to enjoy the rest of the season, saying there was no more pressure on the team.

The promoted side, who took the German league by storm in the first half of the season, have now slipped to eighth after 10 games without a win.

London - The All-Party Parliamentary Football Group accused Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool of "financial doping" in a report published on Monday.

After a year long inquiry, the group made 27 recommendations, including backing FIFA's six-plus-five rule, which would impose limits on the number of foreign players a club could field.

Bucharest - Romania's anti-corruption prosecutors' office (DNA) arrested football referees and the owner of first division side FC Arges on suspicion of bribery, the Mediafax news agency reported Monday.

Porto Alegre, Brazil - Brazil obtained Wednesday a long-awaited home win against Peru in the South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

A brace from Luis Fabiano and handsome personal effort from Felipe Melo settled things for the home side in Porto Alegre. Robinho put on an impressive first-half performance.

Madrid - Barcelona will be trying to keep the goals flowing on Sunday - away to unpredictable Almeria.

Barca recovered their stupendous early season form on Wednesday by thrashing hapless Lyon 5-2 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Soweto, South Africa - Tickets for the 2010 football World Cup went on sale Friday but in host country South Africa, there was little evidence of cup fever 475 days before kick-off in the opening game.

Rome - Los Angeles Galaxy chief executive Tim Leiweke has denied a deal was imminent to allow David Beckham to join AC Milan.

"We are not close. Two weeks ago, Milan made a ridiculous offer, to which I replied 'no' in a few seconds," Leiweke told the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport published Friday.

Rome - AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has said that his club is close to convincing Los Angeles Galaxy to switch the loan deal of English veteran David Beckham to full ownership, Italian media reported Thursday.

"Some important and concrete steps forward have been made with Galaxy to complete the buying of Beckham," Galliani was quoted as saying.