Lennon, Barkley secure Everton victory over Newcastle

Ross Barkley celebrates scoring the second goal for Everton from the penalty

Aaron Lennon's first-half goal and two late Ross Barkley penalties earned Everton a 3-0 Premier League win over Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Lennon fired Everton ahead with a low shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area midway through the first half and Barkley stroked home two late spot-kicks to keep Newcastle in the relegation zone.

Everton, who climbed to 11th in the table, hit the woodwork twice in the second half and Newcastle striker Alexsandar Mitrovic missed a great chance to equalise when he volleyed wide from close range.

Barkley slotted home a penalty two minutes from the end of the game after Lennon was tripped in the area and he repeated the feat in stoppage time having been fouled by Newcastle's Jamaal Lascelles, who was sent off for the offence. 

Bayern's Martinez says injury 'not serious'

Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez

Bayern Munich defender Javi Martinez, out for four weeks with meniscus damage, said the injury was "not too serious" with his knee surgery having gone well.

The Spain international underwent surgery in Barcelona on Tuesday, joining fellow central defender Jerorme Boateng, out for three months, on the sidelines at Bayern.

"Thank you all for caring. Fortunately it is not a serious injury," Martinez said on Twitter.

Bayern, chasing a treble of titles in coach Pep Guardiola's last season at the club, are struggling with their central defenders, with Medhi Benatia also out and still working on his comeback from injury.

The German champions signed central defender Serdar Tasci on loan from Spartak Moscow on Monday in an effort to plug the gaps left by the injured players.

Bayern are top of the Bundesliga with an eight-point lead and are also in the running for the Champions League, where they face Juventus in the round of 16 later this month, and the German Cup.

Juventus midfielder Khedira out for 2-3 weeks

Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira

Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira will be sidelined for two to three weeks after medical tests revealed a muscle tear in his right thigh, the Serie A club said on their website (www.juventus.it).

The German international missed the first two months of the season with a thigh injury.

Khedira faces a race to be fit for Juve's Champions league round of 16 first leg clash with Bayern Munich on Feb. 23.

Juve attempt to win their 13th Serie A match in a row when they host Genoa later on Wednesday.

Prince Ali slams FIFA cash move against Americas confederations

Prince Ali slams FIFA cash move against Americas confederations

  FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan has criticised the global body's decision to cut off funding to corruption hit Americas confederations, calling it "collective punishment".

In a statement on Wednesday, Prince Ali questioned Monday's announcement by FIFA that they had put on hold payments to CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, the two confederations that have been most affected by the corruption scandal engulfing football governance.

CONMEBOL is responsible for the sport in South America while CONCACAF covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. Officials from the Americas make up the overwhelming majority of the 41 individuals and entities that have been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

"I have read reports that a FIFA spokesperson has announced that funding to CONCACAF and CONMEBOL has been suspended with immediate effect," wrote Ali in a statement issued to media.

"Who is the spokesman; which FIFA committee does he represent; who decided that 45 Member Associations should suffer collective punishment as a result of individuals' bad actions; who decided to hold these votes to ransom less than three weeks before the election and who exactly will decide when the funding will be reinstated?" concluded the statement.

A spokesman for FIFA's Audit and Compliance Committee told Reuters that they had made the decision to stop the payments to the two confederations but declined to comment on Ali's statement.

FIFA's media department declined to comment beyond reissuing the statement they had released on Monday.

"We can confirm that in light of current proceedings involving individuals related to CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, FIFA has put contributions towards these two Confederations on hold until further notice.

"We are currently assessing further steps to be taken to increase the level of assurance which may again enable FIFA to release such funds in the future."

CONCACAF has seen its last three presidents indicted by the Department of Justice with Trinidad and Tobago's Jack Warner, Cayman Islander Jeffrey Webb and Honduran Alfred Hawit all facing charges.

CONMEBOL has had former president Nicolas Leoz and their most recent leader Jan Angel Napout, both of Paraguay, indicted along with several other leading officials.

The two organizations are due to hold a joint 'Copa America' tournament in the United States in June to celebrate CONMEBOL's centenary.

Prince Ali is hoping to be elected FIFA president in the vote on Feb. 26.

Also standing are Asian Football Confederation (AFC)President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne of France, South African businessman and politician Tokyo Sexwale and UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino.

Chelsea held to goalless stalemate by Watford

Chelsea's Diego Costa shoots at goal as Watford's Heurelho Gomes looks

 Watford put the brakes on Chelsea's resurgence by holding the champions to a 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road on Wednesday.

Chelsea, who remain unbeaten since Guus Hiddink took over from Jose Mourinho in December, were unable to find a way through a rock-solid Watford rearguard, with the hosts creating the better opportunities on a night of few chances.

Watford's Odion Ighalo passed up the best opening in the first half when he misjudged the flight of a cross and completely fluffed a header when three metres from goal.

Diego Costa flashed a first-half shot wide and had a late header superbly saved by Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes, who also reacted quickly to parry an effort from Branislav Ivanovic as Chelsea applied late pressure.

Falcao left out of Chelsea's Champions League squad

Chelsea's Radamel Falcao

  Radamel Falcao has been left out of Chelsea's Champions League squad having suffered a miserable first half of the season.

Chelsea published their squad lists for the remainder of the Champions League and Premier League campaigns on Wednesday and there was no place for the Colombian in their European lineup.

New signing Pato, who joined on loan from Corinthians in January, was included as was Matt Miazga, who signed from New York Red Bulls.

Falcao was one of the most feared strikers in the world when he joined Monaco from Atletico Madrid for around 60 million euros in 2013, but he suffered a serious knee injury months later and has struggled to regain his best.

He made little impact during a loan spell at Manchester United last season and since arriving at Stamford Bridge in the close season, also on loan, he has scored just once in 11 appearances.

Chelsea, who are 14th in the Premier League, face Paris St Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Bayern newcomer Tasci suffers head injury in first team training

 Bayern Munich's new player Serdar Tasci

 Newly-hired Serdar Tasci suffered a head injury in his
first team training at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, forcing him to
miss his official presentation at the Bundesliga champions and
leaders.
Sports director Matthias Sammer said that the defender Tasci was
undergoing medical examinations on suspected light concussion after
colliding with a teammate.
The former Germany defender Tasci, 28, was signed by Munich on loan
Monday from Spartak Moscow until the end of the season. The move came
after Munich were running out of central defenders after injuries
sidelined Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez.
Bayern hold an eight-point Bundesliga lead and next play at Bayer
Leverkusen on Saturday