Sepp Blatter has admitted the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar when he was FIFA president was a “mistake”. The build-up to this year’s World Cup has been dogged by concerns about the suffering of low-paid migrant workers to build the infrastructure in the tiny Gulf nation and discriminatory laws that criminalise same-sex relations.
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Manchester United have been drawn against FC Barcelona in the Europa League knockout play-off round. Another big club to drop out of the Champions League at the group stages Juventus will face Nantes while Ajax head across the boarded to take on Union Berlin.
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European heavyweights PSG and Bayern Munich have been drawn against each other in the Champions League Last 16 while Liverpool will face Real Madrid in a repeat of last season’s final. Elsewhere Chelsea will face Borussia Dortmund with Man City taking on RB Leipzig
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Southampton have moved quickly to replace manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and have been given permission by Luton to speak to Nathan Jones. Hasenhuttl was sacked by Saints on Monday morning after almost four years in charge following their poor recent run of results.
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Last night saw Gerard Piqué bring down the curtain on his career after 15 years at FC Barcelona. Piqué has always been vocal both on and off the field, a fierce defender of the club he loves so much and a target for critics in Catalonia and Spain, Marking The Spot explores why he called time now and celebrates Mr. Barcelona.
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