North America

+ Paul James: TFC not to blame for lack of Canadian talent.

+ The 2010 schedule has been released for the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact.

+ The Maple Leaf Forever: The Vancouver Whitecaps, and why they will murder me.

+ Red Bull sporting director Erik Soler has said the team plans to sign a Designated Player after this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

+ Out of contract striker Ante Razov – who did not play all of last year – is not expected in camp any time soon, said Chivas USA coach Martin Vasquez.

+ Vasquez is considering playing Jonathan Bornstein at center back and Canadian Ante Jazic at left back this season.

+ Galaxy midfielder Clint Mathis will be out 4-6 weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

+ The Fire have re-signed forward Calen Carr.

+ D.C. United has invited center defenders Quiarol Arzu of Honduras and Jermaine Taylor of Jamaica to the second phase of training camp.

+ The San Jose Earthquakes will spend ten days in north London at the training grounds of Tottenham Hotspur beginning March 4th. While in England, the team hopes to get in some scrimmages with local teams, but nothing has been finalized at this time.

+ The Seattle Sounders are expected to introduce Arlo White as their new broadcaster.

+ Red Nation: MLS’ best investment? (on media relations)

+ Haiti hero: The heartwarming story of Hull star Jozy Altidore.

England

+ West Ham’s players will be asked to take a 25 per cent pay cut by the club’s new owners, David Sullivan and David Gold.

+ David Sullivan fears "Armageddon" if West Ham are relegated from the Barclays Premier League.

+ Henry Winter: West Ham’s leading light Scott Parker can halt descent into relegation darkness.

+ Mark Hughes is in the frame for a rapid return to football as manager of the Turkish national side, though West Ham’s new owners also believe he could be the man to take over if Gianfranco Zola fails to persuade them he can move the club forward.

+ West Ham owner David Sullivan fears Gianfranco Zola may be "too nice" for Premier League management.

+ Kieron Dyer’s West Ham United nightmare will cost the east London club close to a staggering £30million over the course of his four-year contract at Upton Park.

+ Portsmouth will today offer Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs an immediate ­payment £1.8m on an outstanding VAT bill of about £7.5m in the hope of being granted more time to find the remaining money to avoid administration.

+ Chief executive Peter Storrie has confirmed Portsmouth are in talks with potential new owners as Balram Chainrai looks to sell his interest.

+ Arsenal were closing in on the signature of Marouane Chamakh last night after the Bordeaux striker’s proposed move to Liverpool collapsed amid some acrimony.

+ Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has responded to Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack’s remarks that the Frenchman is a bad loser and blamed the media for focusing on his negative comments following their defeat at Stamford Bridge.

+ Arsene Wenger maintains no deal has yet been done to sign Marouane Chamakh.

+ Kevin McCarra: Arsene Wenger’s will to win on his own terms is leading to mediocrity.

+ James Lawton: Arrogant Wenger has lost the plot in his quest for perfect football.

+ Matt Dickinson: Arsène Wenger’s moralising is hard to defend.

+ Rio Ferdinand may withdraw his appeal against a four-match ban as a gesture of goodwill to the FA.

+ A court case in which Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen are being sued for £4.3million was abruptly adjourned on Monday.

+ Alan Smith rates Wayne Rooney vs Didier Drogba.

+ Manchester City face an anxious wait over the fitness of Craig Bellamy after the forward suffered another knee injury. Bellamy will miss City’s Barclays Premier League match at home to Bolton Wanderers tonight with a medial ligament strain to his right knee and the club are unlikely to know the full extent of the problem for another couple of days.

+ India’s wealthiest man, Mukesh Ambani, says there is "no truth" to reports he will purchase a stake in Liverpool.

+ Steve Bruce fears his desire to subject Sunderland to rapid root-and-branch reform may be behind the team’s slide towards a relegation battle.

+ Burnley have unveiled ambitious plans for the redevelopment of Turf Moor as part of a project which also includes England’s first "Football University".

+ The Guardian’s photoshop gallery of 3D football was particularly hilarious yesterday.

+ The administrators in charge of Crystal Palace have taken out an advert in today’s Financial Times in a bid to sell the Coca-Cola Championship club.

+ West Brom have signed West Ham striker Frank Nouble on an initial month-long loan, with the deal set to be completed when the emergency window reopens on Tuesday.

+ Paul Gascoigne has been arrested for the second time in two days. The former Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was taken into custody along with another man by police called to the Blackwell Grange Hotel in Darlington last night.

+ The FA yesterday defended its decision to delay the launch of a film aimed at tackling homophobia in football.

Spain

+ Sergio Canales’ move to Real Madrid is expected to be confirmed by Racing Santander this week. According to Marca, Real Madrid have beaten off competition from Barcelona and Manchester United to secure a deal with Racing to sign the wonderkid for £4 million. It is also reported that Canales will still play for Racing next season on-loan but he will attend preseason training with Real.

+ Gonzalo Higuain is set to be rewarded with a new long-term deal with Real Madrid.

+ Real Madrid playmaker Kaka believes he has shaken off a lingering groin injury and his form is improving after an unspectacular start to life in the Spanish capital.

+ Sid Lowe: Valencia grateful for the awe-inspiring improvement of Ever Banega.

+ Juventus midfielder Tiago has revealed he would like to make his loan move to Atletico Madrid permanent.

Italy

+ Edy Reja has confirmed he is in talks with Lazio to replace under-fire coach Davide Ballardini. Former Napoli boss Reja is under contract with Hajduk Split until June 2011 but is trying to sever ties with the club.

+ Cristian Ledesma says he is ready to play for Lazio after being frozen out of the first team for the last six months.

+ Tuttosport understands Juventus are planning to completely change the structure of the club with Marcello Lippi becoming President in October.

+ Juventus will launch a summer bid for Liverpool striker Martin Skrtel to shore up their ageing defence.

+ Dubai government-owned Emirates airline is to sponsor AC Milan from next season in a four-year shirt deal worth around 50 million euros, a source close to the Italian club said on Monday.

+ David Beckham has promised he will not celebrate if he scores against Manchester United.

+ Napoli fans will wears masks showing Pierluigi Collina’s face against Inter on Sunday in protest at the refereeing decisions going against their team

France

+ Scans confirmed that Bordeaux captain Alou Diarra’s thigh injury is less severe than had been feared and that he could be fit for the trip to Greece to face Olympiakos as the Champions League continues on February 23.

+ Toulouse have been hit by the news star striker Andre-Pierre Gignac will be sidelined for at least three weeks.

Germany

+ Jack Bell: Bundesliga keeps financial house in order.

+ Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert was at Sun Life Stadium in Miami attending his first Super Bowl — not so much as a fan but as businessman observing the NFL spectacle.

Turkey

+ Guus Hiddink looks set to edge former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes out of the running to be the new boss of the Turkey national team.

Scotland

+ Barry Ferguson will take plenty of time before deciding whether to make an international return for Scotland under Craig Levein.

+ Madjid Bougherra is being lined up for a dream summer move to Spain that could net Rangers a small fortune.

+ Ewing Grahame: Celtic reject Michael McGlinchey (ex-Toronto FC trialist) has point to prove to SPL.

Wales

+ Wales manager John Toshack will consult his players before deciding whether to play their home Euro 2012 qualifier with England in the Millennium Stadium or a smaller and more intimidating ground.

Brazil

+ Robinho has criticised Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini for not giving him the freedom to express himself.

Benin

+ Benin coach Michel Dussuyer has been sacked along with his technical and playing staff following their failure at the recently-concluded African Nations Cup.

North America

+ Gareth Wheeler: TFC heads south with big changes on its mind.

+ Paul James: Toronto’s release of Adrian Serioux – just the start.

+ Red Nations speaks to Toronto Fc forward O’Brian White.

+ Kaiserslautern and Alemannia Aachen are reportedly after Roda JC’s Canadian left back Marcel de Jong.

+ Red Nation speaks to Whitecaps Director of Soccer Tom Soehn.

+ The Crew have signed Colombian forward Sergio Herrera. (11 caps for his national team)

+ There is no truth to the Paolo Maldini to New York rumours.

+ New England goalkeeper Matt Reis is expected to be sidelined for approximately the next 12-16 weeks while he continues to rehabilitate his shoulder and knee injuries.

+ Kyle McCarthy: Revs begin rebuilding process.

+ Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch has officially announced his retirement, and will joins the U.S. national team coaching staff.

+ D.C. United midfielder Danny Szetela underwent surgery for damaged meniscus in his right knee and will be sidelined about six weeks.

+ Ridge Mahoney: Mexican influence grows in Chicago.

+ David Beckham’s California soccer academy has shut down.

John Terry/England Captaincy

+ Fabio Capello broke his silence on the John Terry scandal on Sunday night by insisting that the disgraced Chelsea defender remains an integral part of his World Cup plans.

+ Duncan White: Fabio Capello sacked John Terry as England captain for his own protection after growing concerned about the impact the continued media exposure would have on the player.

+ Owen Gibson: John Terry fears further lurid stories in World Cup ‘open season’.

+ Paul Hayward: Fabio Capello a man of consequence who makes hard decisions look simple.

+ Jimmy Greaves: ‘John Terry sleeps with some bird and everyone’s up in arms‘

+ Tom Kington: Italians amused and bewildered by English hypocrisy over John Terry.

+ Did I say that? A collection of John Terry quotations.

+ Off The Post: John Terry holds up a very prophetic copy of The Sun.

+ Martin Samuel: Judge Rio Ferdinand on what he does now, not what he did then.

+ Oliver Kay: Rio Ferdinand is a torch-bearer for black footballers.

England

+ Bolton defender Gary Cahill is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a blood clot in his arm. The 24-year-old was taken ill on Friday and missed the 0-0 draw with Fulham on Saturday, 

+ Bolton captain Kevin Davies claims referee Mark Clattenburg denied him a legitimate goal on Saturday because of “something personal”.

+ Fulham have confirmed that Andrew Johnson has been ruled out for the rest of the season following surgery on his knee.

+ Stoke City striker Ricardo Fuller has been arrested by police in connection with an incident at a Hanley nightclub.

+ Paul Gascoigne was being questioned by police today after he was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a vehicle.

+ Piers Morgan: High Noon showdown will decide Arsene Wenger’s fate at Arsenal

+ Armand Traoré:The Arsenal full-back on faith, sweets and tattoos.

+ Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that the slowness of Owen Hargreaves’s 16-month recovery from tendinitis is now a serious concern but is hopeful the midfielder can return for the climax of the Premier League season.

+ Tony Cascarino: Sad Owen Hargreaves reaching point of no return.

+ Manchester United supporters are planning an extraordinary boycott of season tickets in the summer to try to finally force the Glazer family out of Old Trafford.

+ A man injured during Saturday’s Premier League match at Stoke City has died in hospital. The 30-year-old fan is thought to have been hit on the head with a bin. He was found unconscious and taken to hospital where he died in the early hours this morning.

+ Roberto Mancini admitted that his players’ ’soft’ attitudes need to change after this poor display after he was so angered that he only gave a three-minute team talk at half-time Saturday against Hull.

+ Morten Gamst Pedersen has been told to stop stringing Blackburn along over his future. The Norwegian is out of contract in the summer and is holding off signing a new deal.

+ Everton striker Louis Saha has agreed a new contract at Goodison Park. The 31-year-old has put pen to paper on a new deal that will earn him around £55,000 a week.

+ David Conn: What’s gone wrong at Portsmouth? Ten reasons for the demise of a club.

+ David James: So I gave up my contract. I’m no mercenary, but neither am I a saint.

+ Erik Edman has left Wigan to rejoin former club Helsingborgs in his native Sweden.

+ Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll has been charged with assault, following an incident at a city-centre nightclub.

+ Stuart McCall has resigned as manager of Bradford City.

+ Sam Wallace: It’s sad that Maidstone miss out on share of £10m Chris Smalling windfall.

+ Kabir Chibber: Emile Heskey, the England striker who doesn’t score.

Spain 

+ Barcelona maintained their impressive home record in the Primera Division with victory over Getafe – despite finishing the game with nine men following the dismissals of Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez.

+ Barcelona duo Dani Alves and Yaya Toure face spells on the sidelines after picking up injuries in Saturday’s win over Getafe.

+ Real Madrid continued their 100% home record in La Liga and kept the gap on leaders Barcelona at five points after recording a comfortable victory over Espanyol.

+ Espanyol captain Ivan de la Pena will undergo leg surgery and could be sidelined for another three months.

+ The president of Sevilla football club, Jose Maria del Nido, has been taken to a hospital in Seville after an accident at home.

Italy

+ Internazionale roared 10 points clear at the top of Serie A after the champions secured a 3-0 home win over Cagliari on Sunday and second-placed AC Milan drew.

+ A late Mirko Vucinic strike gave visitors Roma a 1-0 win at Fiorentina.

+ Milan boss Leonardo is growing increasingly worried Alessandro Nesta and Alexandre Pato won’t be fit in time to face Manchester United.

+ Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says it’s harder to score in Italy even though he has found the net just once in his last nine games in Spain.

France

+ Ligue 1 leaders Bordeaux were stunned by Rennes at the Route de Lorient as the hosts got the better of a six-goal thriller, 4-2.

+ Bordeaux midfielder Alou Diarra will undergo tests on Monday to determine the severity of the thigh injury he sustained at Rennes on Saturday.

+ Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh has confirmed he wants to join Arsenal on a free transfer in the summer.

+ Goals from Souleymane Camara and Colombian striker Victor-Hugo Montanõ handed Montpellier a 2-0 win away to Boulogne on Saturday night that sees them maintain their grip on second place.

+ Lille midfielder Eden Hazard has extended his contract until 2014.

+ Boulogne sporting director Bruno Dupuis has been hit by a five-year ban for breaking the nose of Paris St Germain director of communications Bruno Skropeta.

+ Eidur Gudjohnsen has blamed a lack of atmosphere in Monaco for his poor showings in Ligue 1,

Germany

+ Bayern München wrapped up a 3-1 victory at VfL Wolfsburg to move level on points at the top with Leverkusen after the leaders were held at Bochum. The result also made it eight league wins in a row for the German record champions.

+ Louis van Gaal was enraged with his side despite a win over Wolfsburg.

+ Franck Ribery has yet to make a decision over where he will play next season but expects to announce whether he will remain at Bayern Munich or join another club before the end of March.

+ Germany coach Joachim Low has warned that he may not even be interested in extending his contract beyond the World Cup.

+ Raphael Honigstein: Germany start search for a new coach as Löw contract talks break down.

+ Patrick Barclay: Is the German model just the ticket for England?

Netherlands

+ And you thought Marc Wilson’s own-goal was bad at Man United…

Is Jonathan de Guzman trying to claim that?

Portugal

+ Sporting suffered their third consecutive defeat after Joao Ribeiro’s second-half strike gave Academica their first away league victory of the season.

+ Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has played down reports he assaulted sports commentator Jorge Baptista at Lisbon airport.

+ Portugal midfielder Deco has announced he will retire from international football after the World Cup.

Scotland

+ Robbie Keane came off the bench at half-time to help Celtic overcome Dunfermline Athletic and book their place in the quarter-finals of the Active Nation Scottish Cup.

Russia

+ FK Moskva will not be participating in the top flight of Russian football in 2010. Norilsk Nickel, the corporation that is the primary sponsor of the club, has decided to cease funding the Citizens’ operations—forcing the club to withdraw from the Russian Premier-Liga.

Nigera

+ Nigeria sacked coach Shuaibu Amodu on Friday and are reportedly targeting Guus Hiddink to lead the team at the World Cup finals.

Brazil

+ Robinho marked his return to Santos with a brilliant back-heeled winner in their 2-1 away win over Sao Paulo in the Paulista championship on Sunday.

Argentina

+ Ariel Ortega is again facing a battle with alcohol. The River Plate midfielder abruptly left the team’s training center prior to his team’s 0-0 Clausura match against Rosario Central after being told not to dress for the match.

UAE

+ Henk ten Cate has been appointed the new coach of UAE League defending champions Al Ahli for the remainder of the season.

World Cup 2010

+ Martin Hansson, who was at the centre of France’s controversial World Cup qualification, has been named among the 30 referees for this summer’s finals in South Africa.

Transfer Window

+ Simon Kuper: Why football clubs no longer flock to the January sales.

+ Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has predicted it will be only a matter of time before a player challenges the transfer window system as a restriction of trade.