Barcelona have lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after Fifa ruled the club must release Lionel Messi for the Olympic Games, reports BBC.

The Catalan side are reluctant to let the 21-year-old Argentine forward go but Messi is keen to play in Beijing.

Blackburn have signed midfielder Carlos Villanueva on an initial one-year loan deal from Chilean club Audax Italiano, reports BBC.

Talks to sign Deportivo defender at an 'advanced stage'

Sky Sports

Newcastle United have confirmed talks to sign Fabricio Coloccini are at an 'advanced stage'.

Reports in Spain have claimed that the Magpies have already agreed a deal to bring in the Deportivo La Coruna defender.

REUTERS, PARIS- Former France defender Lilian Thuram, a member of his country's 1998 World Cup-winning team, announced his retirement from football on Friday.

AFP, GALLE, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka grabbed three big wickets in the closing session to throw the second Test against India wide open on the third day on Saturday.

Fed Cup

Desk Report

Dhaka Wanderers Club, Victoria Sporting Club and Sunrise Sporting Club moved into the finals of the Citycell Federation Cup after winning their respective matches Saturday.

Sports Correspondent

A swashbuckling century from Roqibul Hasan helped the Bangladesh A team thrash the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) by 80 runs at Durham University ground, England Friday.

AFP, SINGAPORE - A despondent Maria Sharapova pulled out of the Beijing Olympics on Friday with a shoulder injury, depriving the Games of one of its biggest stars.

Arsenal were handed an intriguing tie against former England boss Steve McClaren's FC Twente in the Champions League third qualifying round, reports BBC.

AFP, HONG KONG - Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou said Friday a good performance in his side's final game in a pre-Olympic tournament in Hong Kong was vital going into next week's Beijing Games.

SW, GLASGOW  - Rangers have signed Algerian international defender Madjid Bougherra, paying a 2.5 million Pounds transfer fee to Charlton Athletic. Thursday's announcement puts to rest rumors that Charlton had agreed a 2 million transfer with West Brom.

The 25 year old has been capped 22 times by Algeria since his debut in 2004. He began his professional career in 2002 with Ligue 2's Guegnon before moving to England to play for Crew Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday, and Charlton.

Aston Villa and Manchester City were handed ties against little-known opponents in the Uefa Cup second qualifying round draw on Friday, reports BBC.

Mexican star stays put

Sky Sports

Mexican giants America claim to have rejected an Everton bid for goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

REUTERS, GALLE, Sri Lanka - Opener Virender Sehwag scored an aggressive 91 to help India to 151 without loss on the first day of the second test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Sehwag's explosive innings, which came from 82 balls and included 14 fours and a six, was supported by Gautam Gambhir, who reached lunch on 50 not out.

REUTERS, MUMBAI- India, Australia and South Africa will go ahead with a $6 million (3 million pounds) Champions Twenty20 League despite objections from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

REUTERS, BIRMINGHAM - England coach Peter Moores publicly backed Paul Collingwood on Wednesday despite another failure on the first day of the third test against South Africa at Edgbaston.

Blackburn's David Bentley could be a Tottenham player by the weekend after having a medical on Wednesday, reports BBC.

AFP, BERLIN - Portugal midfielder Petit is set to sign a two-year contract with newly-promoted Bundesliga side Cologne from Portuguese giants Benfica for an undisclosed amount, according to a report here on Wednesday.

Russian keen on White Hart Lane switch

Sky Sports

Andrei Arshavin's agent has confirmed Tottenham are in talks to sign the Russian star, but says a deal is still a way off.

AFP, LONDON - Fulham signed Sweden defender Fredrik Stoor from Norwegian side Rosenborg on Wednesday, the English Premier League club announced.