Sportsday - breaking football news

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Schalke boss Jens Keller faces a defensive headache ahead of the Champions League Group G opener at Chelsea on Wednesday with World Cup-winning Germany defender and captain Benedikt Howedes ruled out.

Howedes did not travel to London due to a hip problem and Keller said: "Of course it's very difficult if you lose your captain.

"I don't know how long he'll be missing, but he is a very important player for us. He's very confident now, having won the World Cup."

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France great Zinedine Zidane, who helped Les Bleus win the 1998 World Cup on home soil, has hinted he could be interested in coaching the national team.

"I am ambitious. I am a coach now, and I tell myself 'why not be national coach?'" the Real Madrid youth coach told French newspaper La Provence.

Zidane was Carlo Ancelotti's assistant when Real won the Champions League last season.

Alan Hutton has spoken about his new three-year deal at Aston Villa.

The right-back had previously been frozen out for two years and had not played under boss Paul Lambert until this season.

"I kept my head down, worked hard, came in every day and it has paid off," Hutton told the club's website. "Now I just want to take this opportunity given me by the manager."

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Sir Alex Ferguson believes Hampden's history and its record of staging several European finals stands it in good stead to be chosen as one of the venues for the 2020 European Championships.

Scotland's national stadium hopes to be selected by Uefa on Friday as one of the 13 host city venues for Euro 2020.

"Everyone involved in the decision making of this only has to look back at the six finals," said Ferguson. "The clubs in these particular games will have fond memories of it."

In case you hadn't noticed, the Champions League returns tonight with Liverpool and Arsenal both in action.

There's build-up and commentary on Arsenal's match at Borussia Dortmund (kick off 19:45 BST) over on BBC Radio 5 live with Mark Pougatch from 19:00 BST, plus regular updates as Liverpool take on Ludogorets Razgrad at Anfield.

We'll also be asking for you views on whether England's Champions League representatives have any chance of winning the competition this season.

You'll also find text updates on all tonight's Champions League action on the BBC Sport website.

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Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea believes Premiership clubs have "little alternative" but to ratify a second salary cap increase in two years to keep pace with big-spending French counterparts.

League chiefs will vote through a £500,000 salary cap increase for next season in a board meeting on Wednesday.

The competition's board will also allow each squad to have a second marquee player for 2015/16 - to be recruited from overseas and not have played in the Premiership for at least 12 months.

"Wages are accelerating all the time in France and Japan, and we want to keep home-grown players at home for as long as possible," O'Shea said.

Six-time German champions Hamburg have sacked coach Mirko Slomka after a poor start to the Bundesliga campaign.

The former European champions have one point from three games after narrowly avoiding relegation last season.

Slomka, 47, only took charge in February but Hamburg have acted ahead of Saturday's home match with reigning champions Bayern Munich.

In the week that has seen the serialisation of Rio Ferdinand's autobiography, BBC Sport has pulled together some of the best quotes from the life stories of other leading sports stars.

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Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola believes the absence of Manchester United from this season's Champions League serves as a warning to all elite clubs.

United are sitting out the competition for the first time since 1995 after finishing seventh in the Premier League last season.

"It is a good lesson for the big clubs if we think we are unbeatable, that we are so strong," Guardiola said ahead of his side's Champions League tie with Manchester City on Wednesday.

"Every year we need to make the good things or maybe next season you could be out. That is why football is magnificent. Every single week you have to be ready."

Liverpool's Under-19s provided an encouraging prologue to tonight's Champions League match at Anfield as they comfortably saw off their Ludogorets Razgrad counterparts 4-0.

The hosts marked their Uefa Youth League debut with a one-sided win at Langtree Park with Jerome Sinclair (2), Daniel Cleary and Alex O'Hanlon on target.

Liverpool's senior stars play Champions League group-stage debutants Ludogorets later today. The Group B clash kicks off at 19:45 BST.

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South Africa flanker Francois Louw has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby Championship with a pinched nerve in his neck.

Louw will be sidelined for two months after seeing a specialist on Tuesday. South Africa have not yet called up a replacement for the loose forward.

South Africa also lost scrum-half Ruan Pienaar for up to six weeks to a right knee ligament injury.

Both were injured in the 14-10 loss to New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.

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Head coach Laurent Frayssinous has no reservations about the prospect of bringing Australian stand-off Todd Carney to Catalan Dragons, despite his sacking by NRL side Cronulla Sharks.

Carney, 28, was released from the southern hemisphere competition in June after he appeared to be photographed committing a lewd act.

Catalans are interested but face competition from Super League rivals.

"Todd knows what our expectations are," Frayssinous told BBC Sport. "I know what I could expect of him because he wants to be recognised on the footy field and not off it."

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Striker David Nugent feels Leicester are already benefiting from having former Inter Milan player and Argentina international Esteban Cambiasso in the dressing room.

The Argentine came off the bench and inspired the Foxes to victory at Stoke at the weekend.

Nugent told the club website: "He is a quality player. He can see the passes before he plays them.

"He is also an excellent talker. We are a young squad with not much experience of playing in the Premier League so Esteban coming in from Inter Milan, a Champions League winner, is a great coup."

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Nottingham Forest winger Chris Burke has warned against underestimating floundering Fulham when the sides meet at the City Ground on Wednesday night.

"We have to show them respect. In the Championship anything can happen so we have to be at it," Burke said. "But with the crowd behind us, and if we approach the game in the right manner, I'm sure we can challenge for the three points."

Felix Magath's Fulham have lost five of their six games and are bottom of the division while Forest sit top after four wins and two draws.

The Scottish Football Association has contacted Aberdeen over claims that Celtic winger Aleksandar Tonev racially abused Dons full-back Shay Logan.

An Aberdeen statement reads: "The club confirms it has been contacted by the SFA regarding the alleged racist comment during the Premiership game with Celtic on Saturday. The club will co-operate fully with this investigation.

"As an employer we support unconditionally any employee who is the subject of any form of abuse and as such believe it is appropriate to allow the SFA the time necessary to carry out a full investigation."

Celtic say Bulgarian winger Tonev, 24, who was making his Celtic debut after arriving on a one-year loan deal from Aston Villa, denies the accusation.

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Bayern Munich will be without the experienced Franck Ribery when they meet Manchester City in their Champions League Group E opener tomorrow, and fellow winger Arjen Robben is also a doubt.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said: "Franck is not here, he is at home. He went to the doctor on Monday and today they told me he cannot play."

We asked which you prefer to watch on TV and why - Premier or Champions League? Here are some of your replies so far and seems the Premier League is coming out on top...

Gary Timms: Can't be doing with all the hype around the Champions League. Its a self perpetuating club for greedy business types. Premier League every day.

Lewis Powell: Has to be Premier League, can be so unpredictable and entertaining. Watching Italian or French teams in Europe is so boring.

Antti Valtiala: To me it's the Premier League. League system is more fair and the winner is the best team

Rezaa Sait: Definitely the Premier League. 760 games of controversy, great goals and let's not forget about the Fantasy Premier League!

Keep them coming on Twitter using #myfootymusic or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Manchester United TwitterCopyright: Manchester United Twitter

Manchester United have tweeted their official squad photo, which was taken at Old Trafford today. The big question is can you name them all?

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Huddersfield will be without captain Danny Brough for Thursday's qualifying Super League play-off at Wigan.

The reigning Man of Steel was forced to sit out the Giants' final match of the regular season against St Helens last Friday after taking a blow to his testicles in the previous game against Hull.

Brough, who was forced to spend a night in hospital, has made progress in his recovery but will not be risked against the defending champions.

"Broughy is a tough old bloke and it takes something pretty bad to sideline him or put him down but he has improved and we will put him back in when the time is right," said Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson.

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Angel Di Maria has set his sights on following in the footsteps of some of the famous former owners of the Manchester United number seven shirt, including George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "It is very nice to use this number. Many important players have worn this shirt and I am going to do all that is possible to not let down this shirt."

The 26-year-old scored and produced a man-of-the match performance on his home debut against QPR on Sunday.

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Manchester City have arrived in Munich ahead of their Champions League clash against Bayern.

The German club tweeted this photo of Blues striker Edin Dzeko stopping to sign autographs, with the caption: "Welcome to Munich".

Bayern are as unlikely to be as welcoming on the pitch tomorrow.

The Davis Cup will remain an annual tournament despite complaints from some players that it adds to an already-crowded schedule..

Double Davis Cup champion Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic has called for it be a biennial event, while other top players have suggested replacing it altogether.

But president of the International Tennis Federation, Francesco Ricci Bitti, said: "We don't agree with this becoming a biennial event because the calendar of tennis is annual - if you take something away, it's very difficult the year after."

Bitti did concede some leading players were suffering from fatigue but said their absence was only highlighted when it was the Davis Cup, rather than regular season tournaments.

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Adnan Januzaj hopes he's impressed manager Louis van Gaal after scoring a hat-trick for Manchester United Under-21s today.

The 19-year-old, who came off the bench against QPR on Sunday, said: "I played a lot of games last season and I'm trying to impress the manager once again and get games again this year as well.

"Even if it's reserves level, I always have to show myself and improve. I got a hat-trick but I think I worked hard defensively as well and these are the kind of things I have to do now and at first-team level."

As if things couldn't get any worse for Alan Pardew, he has been told two of his players are going to be on the sidelines for a while.

The Newcastle Chronicle is reporting that England under-20 winger Rolando Aarons could be out until November after scans from his hamstring injury revealed it could take six weeks to heal.

And rookie striker Adam Campbell has also gone under the knife to cure a long-standing hernia niggle which first started troubling him during a loan stint at St Mirren last season.

We asked which you prefer to watch on TV and why - Premier or Champions League? Here are some of your replies so far...

Martin McHugh: Always the Premier League. Anything that reeks of Uefa or Fifa is to be avoided. FA Cup the king of trophies.

Joseph Drane: For the trips Champions League; for the football the Premier League.

Vimal Karpoor: It's got be the Champions League obviously, because that brings every club together and we get to know the best.

Parthe: If only the Premier League had a theme song before each match to get you psyched. The winner has to be the CL.

Keep them coming on Twitter using #myfootymusic or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

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England wing Jack Nowell has made a successful return to action after being sidelined since March.

Nowell scored two tries for Exeter in a 45-7 A League victory over London Welsh.

The 21-year-old, who made his England debut in last season's RBS 6 Nations campaign, had been out of action with shoulder and knee injuries.

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Alan Hutton has signed a new three-year deal with Aston Villa, completing an amazing U-turn by the club.

The right-back had previously been frozen out for two years and had not played under boss Paul Lambert until this season.

The Scotland international was loaned out to Nottingham Forest, Real Mallorca and Bolton Wanderers and looked to have no future at Villa Park.

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Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is relishing his Champions League managerial debut against Cypriot champions APOEL Nicosia at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Enrique has started his Barcelona reign with three consecutive La Liga wins and is now looking to transfer that form to Europe.

"The first game is special because it is an attractive competition. I think the team is approaching the game in good shape and is in good form," he said. "We are just at the start of the season with many things to improve, but in general I think we are in a good moment."

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Hamilton Academical midfielder Darian MacKinnon will be suspended for four matches after accepting a charge of violent conduct against Dundee United.

The 28-year-old was sent off for receiving two yellow cards during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Tannadice.

He received an automatic one-match ban, plus another for being sent off a second time in the same season. He has also accepted a two-game suspension for separately "striking an opponent with an arm or elbow".

A Swiss goalkeeper has threatened legal action after fans of a rival lower-league team urinated in his water bottle and then taunted him when, unawares, he took a sip during a match at the weekend.

FC Muri goalkeeper Reto Felder said he had felt sick after tasting the warm contents of the bottle, which he had left near the goalpost during the third-tier 1. Liga game at FC Baden near Zurich.

Felder, 34, called the incident "simply intolerable" in quotes on the Aargauer Zeitung website, adding that he was waiting for an analysis of video evidence before deciding what further action to take.

Muri coach Beat Hubeli labelled the incident "bottom-drawer", adding: "I've played football and experienced a lot but that beats everything."

Cardiff Blues chief executive Richard Holland has confirmed his club will be interested in Leigh Halfpenny's future should he become available.

As we reported earlier (12:42 BST), Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has told a French newspaper that Halfpenny's contract may be terminated if it is found the Wales star had injuries when he agreed to sign for the club in January.

Holland said: "If the reports are true, we are keen to explore this.

"We will be speaking to his representatives to find out the state of play regarding his contract situation and we will take things from there."

Time for you to get involved again please.

With the return of Champions League action tonight, we want to know which you prefer to watch on TV and why - Premier or Champions League?

Let us know on Twitter, using #myfootymusic or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

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Daley Blind thinks Louis van Gaal's brutally honest ways will help him become a better player.

The Holland international, who moved to Manchester United from Ajax on deadline day, said: "He is not frightening - he is just honest. That can be frightening, but I like it.

"He knows what he wants and he knows his philosophy. I think he can make me a better player in terms of positioning, where to stand and tactics in games."

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England wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter has vowed not to change his aggressive style of play, despite suffering a horrific facial injury.

Kieswetter broke his nose and fractured his eye socket against Northants in July, but returned with a fluid 69 off 80 balls against Middlesex on Monday.

"I have always taken on the short ball and always will," he told BBC Somerset. "It is one of my strengths but sometimes it can be your downfall, as you saw at Northants."

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Former world number one Martina Hingis and rising star Belinda Bencic made their debut as a doubles team on Tuesday, winning their first match together at the Pan Pacific Open.

Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Hingis, 33, and 17-year-old Bencic, who reached the US Open quarter-finals two weeks ago, combined to oust Rika Fujiwara of Japan and Taiwan's Hsieh Shu-Ying 6-4 6-2 in the first round.

The all-Swiss pairing was announced as a wild card only last week after Hingis's usual partner, Flavia Pennetta of Italy, pulled out with a right-foot injury.

Earlier, the Question of Sport team asked: which five Englishmen have scored a hat-trick in the Champions League group stages?

The answers are: Andy Cole, Mike Newell, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer.

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World number two Simona Halep has become the third player to book her place at the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore next month.

The Romanian joins world number one and US Open champion Serena Williams and Russian Maria Sharapova in securing places at the $6.5m event for the top eight women over the season.

The 22-year-old has won the Qatar Open and her home Bucharest Open events this year to take her career tally to eight WTA titles. She also finished runner-up to Sharapova at the French Open.

"It has always been a dream of mine to compete in the WTA Finals," Halep said.

The Rugby Football League has confirmed no action will be taken against Leeds Rhinos full-back Zak Hardaker after an investigation into claims he had used homophobic language.

The RFL had been looking into an alleged incident involving the England international, 22, during a Super League defeat by St Helens last month.

Hardaker served a five-match ban for homophobic abuse earlier this season.

The Rhinos had accused the RFL of a "witch-hunt" over the investigation.

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The results are in and, unlike a referendum on Scottish independence, this is one vote that was a long way from being too close to call.

Romping home in first place with a full third of the vote was You'll Never Walk Alone (33.4%), while 20.1% of you shunned our selection entirely and popped your tick in the 'other' category.

Runner-up among the named songs was We Are The Champions (9.2%), while Liquidator (7.9%) just pipped the theme from Z-Cars (7.7%) to the final podium place.

The full results can be seen on the right-hand side of this page.

Popular Irish jump racing trainer Oliver Brady has died at the age of 75 following a long battle with cancer.

Brady, from County Monaghan, was known for his celebrations in the winner's enclosure, when he would often make a rousing speech and lead a sing-song.

Despite being given just six months to live in 2003 and having a quadruple bypass operation five years later, he was a tireless charity fundraiser.

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Tom Youngs has admitted it was a "relief" when Stuart Lancaster confirmed missing England's New Zealand tour would not affect his Rugby World Cup chances.

Leicester hooker Youngs was given dispensation to spend the summer looking after his ill wife Tiffany instead of touring New Zealand.

"He understood the situation I was in, he realised it was best for me to go back and be with my family, and I was extremely appreciative of that," said Youngs.

"For him to say 'we're not going to judge you on this, it's important you stay at home and that's the best thing to do', that was fantastic and a relief."

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Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has admitted the relationship between drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg has changed from amicable to "very intense".

Wolff said: "These boys have been calibrated their whole life that their main priority is to win the drivers' championship in F1. And here they go - they are in the same car, competing against each other for that trophy and one is going to win and one is going to fail.

"This is a new experience for them - a difficult experience maybe.

"It has changed from, let's say, an almost amicable relationship at the beginning of the season to a very intense moment."

BBC London 94.9's Kevin Hand: "Somerset have been fully on top this morning and have reached lunch on 389-6 with James Hildreth completing his first century of the year.

"Relegation-threatened Middlesex are set to face a daunting target on a pitch that offered plenty of assistance yesterday.

"To make matters worse for the visitors, they returned just one bowling point in this innings."

Listen to live coverage on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

BBC Radio Northampton's Chris Egerton: "With moisture in the air and thick cloud cover, there wasn't much surprise around Chester-le-Street that when Northants won the toss, they decided to put the home side into bat.

"Mohammed Azharullah and Neil Wagner bowled the new ball with accuracy and pace, with the South African-born New Zealand international getting immediate reward. He found the edge of Keaton Jennings' bat off the second ball of the match, with Andrew Hall snaffling the chance at first slip.

"Hall removed Michael Richardson with an excellent seaming delivery and in between, Azharullah had Mark Stoneman LBW for 27. A good contest so far."

As we reported earlier (09:55), Marco van Basten has stepped down as AZ Alkmaar coach, saying it was "more and more often causing me physical and mental problems".

The 49-year-old former AC Milan, Ajax and Netherlands striker has now spoken more about why he has decided to quit, saying: "I worked hard at it, because I find being a coach a great and interesting job.

"I tried to put this off for as long as possible, but you reach a point where you say, 'this is something that keeps coming back too often,' and then you have to make a choice.''

Van Basten will stay at the club, which is 12th in the 18-team Dutch top flight, but will concentrate on developing young talent.

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More from Jose Mourinho's press conference, where the Chelsea manager has revealed midfielder Eden Hazard is close to agreeing a contract extension.

Hazard has three years to run on his current deal but Mourinho said: "We have big hopes that he will go from a top player to reach higher levels.

"He's a player we want to keep. It's true Chelsea is trying to have an agreement for a new contract.

"It will be a question of time. It will end with a new contract. He wants to commit to us and we want to commit to him for the future.

Fifa says a member of its financial watchdog has been suspended pending a corruption inquiry centred on the Cayman Islands.

Canover Watson, one of eight members of Fifa's audit and compliance committee and a vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union, was arrested last month on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering.

He has denied the charges and has been released on bail until 29 September.

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Jose Mourinho can go down in history as the first manager to win the Champions League with three different clubs this season - but speaking at a news conference ahead of Wednesday's opening group stage tie with Schalke, the Chelsea boss says his only aim for now is to avoid dropping into the Europa League.

"The competition is part of my history and I'm part of the tournament's history. To win with three clubs would be unique," said Mourinho.

"Do I want to try to win again? Of course I want to. I have many years ahead of me. But in this moment I only think: don't play Europa League.

"It would be very bad for the evolution of our players to go to Europa League. We have to qualify. We have to do everything to qualify."

You can now vote for your favourite matchday music via Sportsday Live on the right-hand side or via the 'Vote' tab at the top of the page on mobile devices.

The vote will close at 13:30 BST and the results will be available here shortly after.

Terms and conditions are available here.

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Wales star Leigh Halfpenny's contract at Toulon may be terminated due to ongoing injury problems.

Halfpenny moved to Toulon from Cardiff Blues this summer on a lucrative two-year contract. The deal was announced in January but since then he has suffered a dislocated shoulder and a groin injury and is yet to play for the French club.

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal told French newspaper Varmatin: "We think he may have arrived at Toulon with that injury.

"If this is the case, we haven't excluded denouncing (terminating) his contract. We are conducting an investigation."

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Swansea defender Jordi Amat has been ruled out for six weeks after suffering knee ligament damage.

The Spaniard sustained the injury during the 4-2 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and was replaced at half-time by Argentina centre-back Federico Fernandez.

The 22-year-old had started all four of Swansea's Premier League matches.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke has been ruled out of next month's one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates with a hamstring injury, and is doubtful for the Test series to follow.

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Minnesota Vikings have reinstated Adrian Peterson despite the running-back facing charges of allegedly hitting his child with a tree branch.

The 29-year-old was arrested last week and released on bail but was left out of a Vikings game on Sunday.

"We believe he deserves to play while the legal process plays out," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said.

Peterson, who could be jailed for two years if found guilty, said he was disciplining his four-year-old and did not intend to injure him.

Soccer's governing body Fifa is investigating whether any ethics rules were broken when members of its executive committee received commemorative watches from sponsors of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) at the World Cup.

"The CBF distributed commemorative watches at the World Cup in Brazil from their own sponsor (as part of the association's centennial celebrations) to various people, including the members of the Fifa executive committee," said soccer's governing body in a statement.

"The ethics committee was informed about this accordingly and is dealing with the matter."

Queens Park Rangers face growing opposition to their new stadium bid with current landowner Cargiant claiming they "will not enter into any future talks with the club".

The former QPR sponsors hold a 30-acre plot on the Old Oak site where the west London club hope to build a new 40,000-seater stadium.

Rangers have support from all the major bodies required to build the new ground as soon as 2018, but Cargiant said in a statement: "We are very surprised by QPR's PR campaign regarding a proposed new stadium in Old Oak Common and in particular on land owned by Cargiant.

"The company are not in negotiations with QPR and will not enter into any future talks with the club."

We've been asking you which city most deserves to be known as the UK's City of Football after Nottingham got the nod in a recent competition run by Sport England. Here's some of your suggestions:

Name Me King: Liverpool, Mainly because the city shares 84 major trophies between Liverpool & Everton. The city literally runs on football.

Adrian Worton: Sheffield is obviously City of Football. First ever club, Sheffield FC, and we invented half the rules!

KrishMUFC: It has to be Manchester! The two best Premier League teams, Biggest Stadium, Biggest Fan Base, Best Infrastructure!

Keep your suggestions coming in on Twitter using #bbcsportsday or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

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As unlikely career swap as it might seem, former Germany keeper Tim Wiese has been offered a contract to become a wrestler with the WWE.

The 32-year-old has become a bodybuilder since his contract at Hoffenheim was terminated in January and now weighs more than 250 pounds.

"I have an official enquiry from the WWE," Wiese said. "It's about working for them as a wrestler. I will listen. Why should I immediately say no? Wrestling is very popular, especially in the United States."

1937: The first football match to be seen on television was a specially arranged game between Arsenal's first and second teams.

2003: Sebastian Coe was confirmed as one of three vice-chairmen of London's bid for the 2012 Olympics along with former hurdler Alan Pascoe and Granada chairman Charles Allen. Coe was later promoted to chairman.

2010: Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff announced his retirement from all cricket after a long-standing battle with knee problems. Flintoff returned to action for Lancashire in Twenty20 matches in 2014.

2013: Snooker's former world number five Stephen Lee was found guilty of seven match-fixing offences. Lee was subsequently banned for 12 years.

2013: Croatian tennis star Marin Cilic, who won the US Open earlier this month to land his maiden Grand Slam title, was banned for nine months after a positive test earlier in the year for a banned stimulant. Cilic's suspension was later reduced to four months on appeal.

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It has been a busy month for US golfer Billy Horschel.

The 27-year-old blew a final-hole chance to win the Deutsche Bank Championship on 1 September, followed it up with victory at the BMW Championship a week later and then won the final event of the season - the Tour Championship - on Sunday.

That win secured a £6m bonus and today he takes to Twitter to say his wife is about to give birth. "GameTime! Got home at 930pm from ATL. Brittany Horschel's water broke three hours later at 1230am. At hospital now awaiting arrival of Baby Skylar!," he tweeted.

Horschel is not part of the US Ryder Cup team but it seems his coming weeks will contain plenty to keep him occupied.

Manchester CityCopyright: Manchester City

Want to see some Manchester City players as they queue to board their flight to Germany ahead of tomorrow's Champions League clash at Bayern Munich?

If so, City have put a video on Instagram.

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Didier Drogba trained with Chelsea on the eve of a possible Champions League return.

The final act of Drogba's first spell at Stamford Bridge was scoring the decisive penalty in the 2012 European Cup final win over Bayern Munich.

The 36-year-old, who rejoined the Blues this summer, missed Saturday's win over Swansea with an ankle injury but trained ahead of tomorrow's Group G opener with Schalke at Stamford Bridge.

It's teaser time again and - drum-roll - today's question is:

Which five Englishmen have scored a hat-trick in the Champions League group stages?

We will reveal the answers this afternoon.

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Varun Chopra is to become Jim Troughton's official successor as Warwickshire captain.

The club has confirmed opening batsman Chopra, 27, who has deputised for Troughton for much of a successful summer, will take over as club captain after his predecessor recently announced his injury-enforced retirement.

Chopra led the Bears to the NatWest T20 Blast title last month.

IndependentCopyright: Independent

The Independent back page leads with the story of Arsenal's defensive woes before their Champions League tie at Borussia Dortmund, and also devotes a healthy slab of space to a picture of Hull City new boy Abel Hernandez as he celebrates his debut goal with Nikica Jelavic during last night's 2-2 draw with West Ham United.

Schalke 04 captain Benedikt Hoewedes has not travelled with the team to London for their Champions League opener against Chelsea on Wednesday, staying behind for further tests regarding a hip injury.

Schalke, who have had a bad start to the season having lost two of their three league games, are already without injured defenders Felipe Santana and Joel Matip.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Steven Gerrard says he gets all giddy hearing the Champions League music at Anfield, so we are asking what would be the best and worst songs for your football team to run out to? Here are some of your thoughts so far:

Mark Andrews: Not an Everton fan but Z-Cars theme is just incredible.

Rudi Sertiwan: You'll Never Walk Alone!

Tonksy: London Calling by the Clash gets the Emirates going.

Sam Nevin: All about Hi-Ho Silver Lining for Sheffield Wednesday.

Tom Gratton: I wouldn't change our choice - Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses! Awesome song!

Keep them coming on Twitter, using #myfootymusic or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Aaron Ramsey scored the winner as Arsenal defeated Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in the Champions League group stage last season, and the Wales midfielder has been on Twitter today talking up hopes of a similar outcome when the two sides meet again tonight.

Aaron Ramsey: Hoping for a repeat of last year's result, can't wait for it tonight #championsleague

TimesCopyright: Times

The Times focuses on Arsenal's injury problems at the back ahead of tonight's Champions League meeting with Borussia Dortmund.

Bolton Wanderers manager Dougie Freedman believes the signing of young Crewe Alexandra striker Max Clayton is a real positive for the club.

Freedman told the Bolton News: "I am very happy - he is one for the future but is a wonderful signing for the football club.

"At 19 he is a wonderful player. He has not got experience of the Championship yet, but he is a youth international and has a lot of talent."

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Everton can move forward with a plan to build a new stadium in a Liverpool park, the city's council has said.

Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said the stadium plan for Walton Hall Park would be a "catalyst" to spark regeneration in the nearby area.

A council spokesman said it and the club would create "a new, vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood".

Club chairman Bill Kenwright said the chance to build "a minute away from our beloved Goodison" was too good to miss.

Micky Stewart (cricket)- former Surrey and England opener, born 1932.

Andy Irvine (rugby union) - former Scotland and British Lions full-back, born 1951.

Manuel Pellegrini (football) - Manchester City manager, born 1953.

Neville Southall (football) - former Everton and Wales goalkeeper, born 1958.

Kevin Young (athletics) - 1992 Olympic 400metres hurdles champion from USA, born 1966.

Leon Knight (football) - former Brighton, Swansea and Huddersfield striker, born 1982.

Kyle Lafferty (football) - Norwich and Northern Ireland striker, born 1987.

Skipper Ashley Williams says he and his Swansea team-mates will be "in a better position" next time they take on Chelsea.

The Swans lost 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, their first defeat of the season.

"I think on the whole it's a game for us to see the level that we want to get to," Williams told the club's website.

"We lost to a very good side. At times they were too good for us, but we'll work on things and I'm sure when they come down to us we'll be in a better position for them."

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The Sun go on Liverpool's return to Champions League action and the part Mario Balotelli will play.

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Let's take a look at some of the back pages from today's national newspapers, kicking off with the Mirror, who focus on the growing speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo could be on his way back to Manchester United.

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Heard about the 11-year-old who dismissed former England bowler Gladstone Small in a charity match?

Dee Jarvis, who started secondary school a fortnight ago, only went along to watch a game featuring the likes of Andrew Strauss and Brian Lara but ended up as the star attraction when Matthew Hoggard left the pitch to sign caps for the crowd.

He not only took the wicket of Small but also had former wicketkeeper Keith Piper stumped, then trapped ex-bowler Michael Ball lbw. All three played in Warwickshire's famous 1994 side that won an unprecedented three trophies in one season.

Dee's father Tim told the Daily Telegraph: "When he got home, he was on cloud nine but he still had homework to do. He wasn't very impressed about that."

Formula 1 teams have been forbidden from using coded messages as part of a ban on giving their drivers advice over team radio.

Governing body the FIA wants to prevent "coaching" by radio, including giving advice on how to go faster in corners.

The list of banned and allowed messages - seen by BBC Sport - is two pages long and features nearly 50 items.

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Pakistan have appointed Shahid Afridi as their Twenty20 captain until 2016, three years after he was removed following a falling-out with coach Waqar Younis and the country's cricket board.

The 34-year-old all-rounder led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 in 2010 and then to the same stage of the World Cup a year later. He was removed after the tour of the West Indies in May 2011.

Pakistan's Twenty20 captaincy has been vacant since Mohammad Hafeez stepped down following the team's first-round exit from the World T20 in Bangladesh in April.

EPACopyright: EPA

Marco van Basten has stepped down as AZ Alkmaar coach but will continue at the club as assistant to a new coach.

Van Basten said that being a head coach "is more and more often causing me physical and mental problems", and that he wants to work out of the limelight.

Club director Earnest Stewart says 49-year-old Van Basten will concentrate on developing young talent at the club, which is 12th in the 18-team Dutch top flight.

Following the news that Nottingham has been named the UK's City of Football, we asked you which city most deserves the accolade. Here's what you've told us so far:

Tom Cole: London. Global city with globally renowned/followed teams. Home of English football. Home to Diego Costa.

Ed Hewings: Without William McGregor, who inaugurated the first ever formal football league in Birmingham, who know's where we'd be?

Tion Paul Tyover: London it is, rich football tradition.

Keep your suggestions coming in on Twitter using #bbcsportsday or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Manchester United have paid tribute to Sandy Busby, son of the club's legendary former manager Sir Matt Busby, who has died.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said: "I am shocked and saddened by news of Sandy's death. He was such a genuine person who had a deep and rich love for the club that his father did so much to establish in the hearts of millions around the world."

The Manchester Evening News reported that Sandy sat in his dad's seat at Old Trafford for games and in January, to mark the 20th anniversary of Sir Matt's death, spoke of his pride at hearing United fans sing his father's name.

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It's all happening at Blackpool.

After falling out with manager Jose Riga, then making a failed attempt to replace him with Burton boss Gary Rowett, chairman Karl Oyston has now said he wants Riga to stay after all. Confused? So are we.

"Jose and I have had a really productive chat," Oyston told the Blackpool Gazette.

"We discussed what's right, what's wrong and what we need to do better, particularly between ourselves. It's now about how we both respond to that.

"I'm happy to give him the support he needs and hopefully things can move forward now."

The Seasiders picked up their first Championship point at the weekend and face Watford at home tonight.

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We know how hard it is being a professional athlete - all the training, the sacrifices, the blood, sweat and tears.

But it has its upsides, as this photo posted by Mo Farah on Twitter proves. "Having good times on my break." he wrote.

Looks like it, Mo.

EPACopyright: EPA

Liverpool take on Ludogorets at Anfield tonight on their return to the Champions League after a five-year absence.

Their Bulgarian opponents have a great back-story, not least how defender Cosmin Moti - forced to go in nets after goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov was sent off in the Champions League qualifier against Romanian champions Steaua Bucharest - went on to save two spot-kicks in the penalty shootout and seal his team's passage to the lucrative group stages for the first ever time.

Read the full story here.

So, another chance for you to get involved if you would be so kind.

Nottingham has been named City of Football and will receive £1.6m to get more people playing the sport regularly.

But where do you think is the United Kingdom's city of football? Is it Nottingham, or maybe Manchester, Liverpool, London, Glasgow - or somewhere else?

Let us know where and why on Twitter, using #bbcsportsday or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Take a bow Nottingham, the country's new footballing centre.

It might not have a Premier League team at the moment, but that hasn't stopped it being named as Sport England's City of Football.

Narrowly beating off competition from Manchester and Portsmouth, Nottingham will receive £1.6m to get more people in the city playing footy regularly.

Explaining the concept, Nigel Cooke, Head of One Nottingham, said: "Over the next two years, we will create new football partnerships, develop new technologies, and encourage more people to play - especially 14 to 25-year-olds and women and girls and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds."

More than 20 cities bid for the title earlier in the year. It was whittled down to a final three before Nottingham was announced as the overall winner.

With Steven Gerrard excited about hearing the Champions League music at Anfield tonight, we asked what would be the best and worst songs for your football team to run out to? Here are some of your thoughts so far:

Jack Evans: Hi Ho Silver Lining. Although the Led Zep connection means Wolves are never short of a song or two.

Liam Craddock: Blitzkrieg Bop closely followed by Local Hero at St James' Park.

Stuart Hurst: Boys are back in Town, Final Countdown, Uprising.

Rob Fullard: Simple Minds' Waterfront always sends shivers down my spine.

Ryan: Banana's in Pyjamas is about right for Oxford United at the moment.

Keep them coming on Twitter, using #myfootymusic or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

PACopyright: PA

So then, it's the return of the Champions League proper tonight when the group stages get under way.

Liverpool and Arsenal are in action, with Manchester City and Chelsea kicking off their campaigns tomorrow.

BBC Sport's Ben Smith has taken a look at what the chances are of an English team lifting the trophy.

Ben writes: "Such was the dominance of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool that one or the other of them reached seven out of eight Champions League finals between 2005 and 2012 and they claimed nine out of the 12 available semi-final places between 2007 and 2009.

"How times change. Over the past three seasons, England has provided just three quarter-finalists - Chelsea twice and United once - although Chelsea did win the trophy in 2011-12."

The full article is here.

Chelsea's Belgium midfielder Eden Hazard is close to signing a new five-year deal worth £200,000-a-week and Manchester United have an offer ready to go for Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

That and more at today's BBC Gossip.

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Bad news for Heather Watson overnight. The Brit has been dumped out of the Korea Open in the first round, beaten by American qualifier Nicole Gibbs.

Watson, seeded eight in the tournament, managed to convert just one of seven break points in the first set before Gibbs - ranked 55 places lower than Watson at 101 in the world - dominated the second in a 7-5 6-2 win.

Watson's swift exit comes on the back of her first-round exit from the US Open in New York last month.

If you missed last night's match, you can listen to the best bits by clicking on the Highlights tab above...

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Hull manager Steve Bruce was delighted with £10m club record buy Abel Hernandez after the striker's debut goal against West Ham.

The Uruguay striker marked the start of his Tigers career with a precise header to open the scoring in the 2-2 draw.

"Hernandez has been waiting for two weeks," said Bruce, who signed the 24-year-old from Palermo on deadline day. "He has been away in Japan and South Korea [with Uruguay] and he was stuck in Rome for the past couple of days waiting for his passport.

"But he was full of life in training and that was what made my mind up to play him - seeing the way he was, I thought just throw him in. He had a wonderful debut."

As always, we want you to get involved - and here's an early one to get the ball rolling.

'Everyone is looking forward to hearing that music,' said Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, referring to the Champions League theme tune, which, as you might know, was written by English composer Tony Britten in 1992 after he was commissioned by Uefa to come up with a piece of music.

It is indeed stirring stuff. But here's the thing - we want to know what you think would be the best and worst songs for your football team to run out to?

Let us know on Twitter, using #myfootymusic or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

A great game Hull v West Ham might have been, but Sam Allardyce was left disappointed with his side's defending.

The Hammers have won only two of their last 10 league games - a run stretching back to the latter part of last season - and have conceded in every game this season.

"That is something we have to think about," said Allardyce. "Attractive football is OK, but you need to have that defensive unit too."

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Hull v West Ham. Might not be a great match? Think again.

Last night's Premier League contest was a corker with the Hammers twice coming from behind in a free-flowing, action-packed game which ended honours even at 2-2.

The Tigers' £10m club record buy Abel Hernandez got on the scoresheet, but goal of the night belonged to West Ham's Enner Valencia, who smashed home a spectacular 25-yard strike.

Full match report here.

It's 08:00 and it's a weekday - must be time for another Sportsday.

Loads going on today. We'll be concentrating on the Champions League, with all the build-up to tonight when Liverpool and Arsenal are in action, and tomorrow's ties involving Manchester City and Chelsea.

We'll also have all the latest breaking football and sports news. Well, you wouldn't expect anything less.

Stay tuned, and get involved too - we'll tell you how shortly.

First up, a look back at last night's Premier League action involving Hull and West Ham...