Football news

FC Porto clinched a fourth successive Portuguese league title on Sunday night when they defeated Nacional Madere 1-0. It was Porto's 24th championship triumph and was watched by 50,000 fans.

The only goal of the game was scored by defender and Portugal skipper Bruno Alves in the 48th minute.

Porto have 66 points, six ahead of Sporting Lisbon with two games left, but have a better head-to-head record. Sunday's win was Porto's 21st consecutive match without defeat this season.

They can still wrap up a domestic double on May 31 when they meet Pacos de Ferreira in the Portuguese Cup final.

Buffon pledges future to Juventus

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will not leave Juventus after being told by top officials at the club that there will be new signings and the squad strengthened.

Buffon had been linked with a move elsewhere this year as Juve will end the season empty handed for a second consecutive year.

"There is no possibility that at the end of the season I will leave Juve," Buffon said.

"I've had meetings with (club administrator) Jean-Claude Blanc and now I am calmer."

Juve were knocked out early in the Coppa Italia and eliminated by Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League.

"I feared for Juve and their future," Buffon said. "I wanted some answers and I got them."

Extra Europa League berths

UEFA granted Scotland, Denmark and Norway additional berths in next season's Europa League after they topped the 2008-2009 European fair play ranking for clubs and national sides.

One additional club from each country will be allowed into the first qualifying round of the revamped UEFA Cup later this year. The clubs will normally be those that headed domestic fair play competitions.

Norway came ahead of Denmark and Scotland respectively in the UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking between May 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009.

The assessments by official UEFA match delegates are based on criteria like "positive" play, respect for the opponent, the referee, crowd behaviour as well as cautions and dismissals by national and club sides.

It's Rangers for me - Bougherra

Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra has said he wants to stay in Scotland with Rangers after helping Walter Smith's men to a 1-0 victory over Celtic which puts them in sight of the Premier League title.

The 26-year-old former Charlton centre-half had indicated he might want to leave should they not claim the crown, but now insists he wants to stay on.

"It's too early for me to think about leaving because I need stability. In the past, I have been moving every year. I'm comfortable at Rangers and I want to stay," Bougherra said.

"After the Scottish Cup semi-final, I spoke with the radio people but didn't properly translate what I was thinking. I was speaking about the mentality, nothing else."

Bogdanovic deal makes top 50

Daniel Bogdanovic's transfer to Barnsley has been selected as one the best signings of the season by tabloid Daily Mail.

In a list of the best 50 deals across all four divisions in English football, Bogdanovic's move from Bulgarian club Lokomotiv Sofia was ranked 49th.

Bogdanovic scored five goals since joining Barnsley on an 18-month deal last January. The Malta forward announced himself to English football with a goal on his debut against Ipswich Town.

The 29-year-old has played a prominent role in Barnley's successful bid to keep their Championship status.

Van Gaal move may fall through

Bayern Munich are close to a deal with AZ Alkmaar coach Louis van Gaal but the move could fall through because of his contract with the Dutch champions, Bayern manager Uli Hoeness said.

"Between him and us everything is more or less clear," Hoeness said.

"But if it is correct what I am reading then he will not be coming."

The Dutch club, who won the championship with three matches to spare in April, are eager to hold on to Van Gaal, the former Barcelona coach they have under contract until 2010.

Hoeness said Van Gaal had told Bayern "he does not break contracts".

"I see this transfer as highly threatened," Hoeness added.

Naples trial: jail terms requested

Prosecutors demanded jail terms yesterday for the first wave of defendants in the criminal trial linked to Italy's 2006 match-fixing scandal.

Former Juventus director Antonio Giraudo, whose side were demoted for trying to procure favourable referees, could face a five-year sentence while six referees risk 16 months to three-and-a-half years if found guilty, judicial sources said.

The accused, who deny the charges, will probably not have to serve jail time if convicted because of a general pardon.

Former Juve general manager Luciano Moggi will be among the next group of match-fixing defendants to come before the Naples court.