Sepp Blatter claims European draws were fixed by using hot and cold balls as Fifa corruption probe continues

Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter arrives to the Court of Arbitration for Sport Getty Images

Deposed Fifa president Sepp Blatter has claimed some draws for European football competitions were fixed using “hot and cold balls” but insisted it never happened on his watch in Zürich.

The disgraced Swiss is currently in the process of appealing his six-year ban from football through the court of arbitration for sport after being implicated in a wide-ranging probe into corruption during his 18-year tenure at Fifa.

Blatter, Valcke, Kattner got $80M over 5 years: FIFA

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- FIFA's top officials Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner awarded themselves pay rises and World Cup bonuses totaling $80 million over their last five years in office.

Some of the contracted payments appear to break Swiss law, and evidence will be given to American and Swiss federal prosecutors who are investigating corruption implicating the world soccer body, lawyers for FIFA said Friday.

''The evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officials of FIFA to enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and other incentives totaling more than 79 million Swiss francs - in just the last five years,'' said Bill Burck of Quinn Emanuel, the U.S. law firm retained by FIFA during its corruption crisis.

FIFA revealed details of the contracts of its former president Blatter, fired former secretary general Valcke and fired finance director Kattner one day after police raided FIFA to seize evidence for the Swiss investigation.

Blatter got a 12 million Swiss francs ($12 million) bonus after the successful 2014 World Cup in Brazil and would have been due another 12 million Swiss francs for completing his 2015-19 presidential term.

The secretly agreed bonuses were significantly more than Blatter's base salary - 3 million Swiss francs ($3 million) in 2015 - which was published by FIFA in March.

Valcke got a $2 million base salary in 2015 before being fired, but got a $10 million World Cup bonus for 2014 and was due $11 million from the 2018 tournament in Russia.

The police raid Thursday included searches in the office of Kattner who was fired last week.

''Documents and electronic data were seized and will now be examined to determine their relevance to the ongoing proceedings,'' the Swiss federal prosecution office said Friday.

Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber opened criminal proceedings against Blatter last September, and against Valcke in March.

Both are suspected of criminal mismanagement of FIFA money. Blatter and Valcke deny wrongdoing but were banned for six and 12 years, respectively, by FIFA's ethics committee.

No criminal proceedings have yet been opened against Kattner.

''Additionally, FIFA will refer the matter of these contracts and payments to the Ethics Committee for its review,'' FIFA said in a statement.

Any ethics investigation could affect two senior officials at the heart of FIFA's financial operation. Finance committee chairman Issa Hayatou, the interim FIFA president while Blatter was suspended, and former audit panel chairman Domenico Scala both approved at least one of the contracts revealed Friday.

Three weeks after new FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed that ''the crisis is over,'' the turmoil rocking soccer's world governing body continues.

Infantino has been criticized for a breakdown in his relationship with Scala, who resigned on May 14. The FIFA president privately described as ''insulting'' a salary offer from Scala, reported as $2 million without bonuses.

Since Kattner's firing on May 23, German language newspapers have been fed a series of leaked minutes from meetings and FIFA emails which sought to turn scrutiny on Infantino.

Elected four months ago to replace Blatter, Infantino pledged reform and a changed culture at FIFA was expected to face resistance from insiders. The 45-year-old Swiss official also arrived with a reputation as a critic of FIFA during seven years as secretary general of European soccer body UEFA.

Infantino has not publicly criticized FIFA's former regime but the contracts revealed Friday by its top legal advisers seem to have exposed a culture of secrecy and entitlement.

Valcke and Kattner signed eight-year contract extensions on April 30, 2011 - five weeks before Blatter was due to contest a bitterly fought presidential election against Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar

At the height of FIFA's crisis last year, Kattner was given further cash guarantees from FIFA, which gets

MASCHERANO WANTS OUT OF BARCELONA!

The Argentine is ready to depart Camp Nou after six years as he would like to play in midfield and the Italian champions are ready to offer him that opportunity
Juventus are in contact with Javier Mascherano over a summer transfer and the Argentine is ready to consider leaving Barcelona, Goal understands.

Mascherano would favour a more advanced role than the one he has been playing for Barca, and Juventus would offer the 31-year-old a midfield spot.

It is understood coach Luis Enrique blocked a transfer to Rafael Benitez's Napoli two seasons ago and promised Mascherano he would play in midfield. However, the former Liverpool man has played most of his 280 plus games for Barca in defence due to a lack of alternatives in that position.

Luis Enrique's side would not be happy about losing one of their most important players but would nonetheless welcome the opportunity to save money on their budget for the upcoming season - as well as facilitate the transfer of new players.

ARSENAL COMPLETE XHAKA SIGNING

The 24-year-old midfielder joins in a deal worth over £33 million from Borussia Monchengladbach and is the start of an expected busy summer for the Gunners
Arsenal have completed the signing of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach for a deal worth up to £33.1 million.

The 23-year-old arrived at the club's training ground on Friday to undergo a medical and put the final touches on a four-year deal. Xhaka is expected to wear the no.34 shirt after Francis Coquelin agreed to vacate it.

Xhaka's arrival before the start of the transfer window is a statement of intent by Arsene Wenger, who saw his Arsenal side clinch second place over local rivals Tottenham on the final day of the season, and the start of what is expected to be a busy summer for the Gunners.

BREAKING NEWS! JOHN TERRY SIGNS NEW ONE-YEAR CHELSEA DEAL

The 35-year-old will enter into his 22nd season with the Blues after the club decided to offer him fresh terms following consultation with incoming boss Antonio Conte
Chelsea have confirmed captain John Terry has signed a new one-year deal with the club.

The 35-year-old has agreed to fresh terms following discussions between the defender, club owner Roman Abramovich and incoming boss Antonio Conte, the Blues have revealed.

Terry's new contract will take him into his 22nd season with Chelsea and he has expressed his delight at finally putting the speculation surrounding his future to bed.

He told the club's official website: "I am delighted to sign a new contract with the club. Everyone knows I'm Chelsea through and through.

"I am looking forward to next season under the new manager and hopefully we can make it a successful one.

"Also, a special mention to the fans for their continued support. You’re the best in the world."

Chicago officer who killed unarmed woman resigns from force

A Chicago police officer whose fatal shoing of an unarmed woman was one o a series of killings of young black people that shattered the public's trust has opted to quit rather than fight to keep his job.
The city's police board announced Tuesday that Dante Servin, who was off duty when he shot 22-year-old Rekia Boyd in 2012, resigned two days before a hearing at which the board was to decide if he should be fired.

The case has been of intense interest in Chicago and beyond, both because of the facts of the situation and the controversy that engulfed the department in the years that followed.
Boyd, like the teenager Laquan McDonald who was shot in 2014, was African-American. In March of 2012, she was with a group of friends walking on the street when Servin told them to be quiet. Servin fired because he said he saw a person moving toward him with a gun, but police later found only a cellphone at the scene.
Prosecutors charged Servin with involuntary manslaughter, but in April of last year, a judge issued a surprising acquittal, explaining that Servin had been improperly charged, and suggested that if the act was intentional, then the crime, "if any there be, is first-degree murder."
The city settled a wrongful-death lawsuit in 2013 with Boyd's family for $4.5 million.
In November, then-police Superintendent Garry McCarthy announced he would recommend Servin be fired. That came amid intense anger over the delayed release of the video of Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times, and the day before Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder.
That timing, particularly since McCarthy had earlier said he did not believe Servin should have been charged, contributed to suspicions that McCarthy was simply trying to assuage an increasingly angry city.
Brandon Smith, a freelance journalist who sued the city to get the McDonald video released, said the Servin case could have helped the city's credibility when it desperately needed it in the wake of the release of the McDonald dashcam video.
"If they had moved to fire him in a matter of weeks ... they could have pointed to that as an example of how they aggressively investigated and discipline officers," he said. "As it was, they had no examples."

CONFIRMED: Portugal's Squad For EURO 2016 Announced

Portugal have announced their provisional squad ahead of the European Championships this summer as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho, Nani, William Carvalho and Pepe predictably make the 23-man squad.

Fernando Santos' side may not be as strong as Spain or Germany but their potential is undeniable. The likes of Ronaldo and Nani along with new Bayern signing Renato Sanchez will undoubtedly cause problems.

The national side are 20/1 outsiders to win the Euros this summer but this side could be the surprise package throughout the tournament. But we've said that almost every season...

Here is Portugal's 23-man provisional squad for EURO 2016:

Their progression in the tournament will ultimately lie with the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo but a solid defence consisting of Pepe, Danilo and Bruno Alves will surely be key.

What do you think of this side?

Let us know in the comments.

Shaquille O’Neal Reveals How He Spent $1 Million In 45 Minutes

Earlier this evening, I spent several minutes wondering whether I could afford a pizza when we're still two weeks from payday and I've already pissed away most of my money on booze. This is not a situation Shaquille O'Neal will ever find himself in, thankfully. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

However, the NBA legend did try his very best to leave himself skint by spending $1 million (£690,000) in about 45 minutes when he signed his first big-money contract with the Orlando Magic.

"The first thing I wanted to do was relieve my parents of their jobs," O'Neal told CNN.

"I (spent) a million dollars in about 45 minutes, but it was well worth it.

"My momma is happy, her house is paid for; she had the car that she knows she would never get in her dreams, a Mercedes-Benz. My father (had) one, I had one. I was good.

"But now you have to educate yourself on how to maintain that, and a lot of people don't do that."

Shaq took a friend's advice and got help managing his money, and he's now worth a reported $350 million (£240 million).

"You want cars, you want diamond earrings, you want jewellery," he said.

"Do whatever you want (with the other 25%)."

"But it's hard. Guys got families, girlfriends, stuff like that. But, a guy taught me that in 1995 and it worked, it worked for me."

Chloe Moretz Flashes Bra In Sheer Black Dress At ‘Neighbors 2’ Premiere

Chloe Moretz went full blown edgy at the LA premiere of ‘Neighbors: Sorority Rising,’ on May 17. The young actress completely flashed her bra in a sheer black dress and it’s seriously sexy! What do you guys think of her look?

KANE WINS PREMIER LEAGUE GOLDEN BOOT!

The Tottenham striker saw his side concede five times on the final day of the season and surrender second place to Arsenal, but topped the division's scoring charts
Harry Kane has won the Premier League’s Golden Boot award after topping the division’s scoring charts despite failing to score on the final day of the Premier League season.

The race to be crowned top scorer saw Kane, Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero all go head-to-head on Sunday, with just one goal separating the trio.

But despite plenty of build-up, all three players failed to net on the final day of the season, meaning Kane’s tally of 25 goals was enough to seal the award.

The 22-year-old has now hit over 20 goals in two consecutive seasons and is the first Englishman to top the division’s scoring chants since Sunderland’s Kevin Philipps in 1999-2000.

Kane is unlikely to be in a celebratory mood, though, with Tottenham having lost 5-1 to Newcastle – their biggest defeat of the season – and slipping below rivals Arsenal in the league table.

POLICE CONFIRM BOMB HOAX AT OLD TRAFFORD AFTER MANCHESTER UNITED'S ABANDONED MATCH

Bomb disposal experts destroyed the 'suspect package' in a controlled explosion but police have since confirmed that the item 'wasn’t viable'
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed that the suspect package which forced Manchester United's Premier League match against Bournemouth to be abandoned was a hoax.

Old Trafford was fully evacuated shortly after 3pm on Sunday afternoon after a steward discovered a suspicious item in the north-west section of the ground.

Goal understands that the item, which was found in the toilets of an executive suite, looked similar to a pipe bomb.

Bomb disposal experts were called to Old Trafford to destroy the item in a controlled explosion.

In response to the initial security threat, United evacuated both the Stretford End and the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand before 2:50pm.

Shortly after 3pm, United, on the advice of the police, abandoned the game and ordered a full evacuation of the stadium.

Kim Kardashian Gets Brutally Dissed By Beyonce Fans; See The Cruel Shade

Now this is just mean! Beyonce fans dissed Kim Kardashian big time on Instagram. They worship Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade,’ but compare Kim K to tap water. Yikes! See the cruel diss now!
Maybe it’s time for the Beyhive to take a rest. They’ve found a new celeb to diss, and her name is Kim Kardashian, 35. One Bey fan took to Instagram to basically say that Kim is nothing compared to Beyonce, 35! What did Kim ever do to Beyonce?!

Let’s explain the shade. Instagram user bowserceo posted a photo of Beyonce from Lemonade with her album title across the photo. Below the Bey pic is a photo of Kim with “tap water” across the picture. If you search the hashtag #TapWater, the meme is quickly going around the internet. Now that is some serious shade.

This isn’t the first time Kim K has been the target of the Beyhive. Beyonce’s fans attacked Kim after they believed she was trying to upstage Beyonce with racy pics during Lemonade’s premiere on April 23.

HollywoodLife.com learned EXCLUSIVELY that Kim was not trying to steal Beyonce’s thunder whatsoever. “She was being goofy and enjoying the moment — she wasn’t thinking about anything else and honestly didn’t even realize Beyoncé dropped the album at the same time,” a source told us.

Kim may not be at the top of the Beyhive’s list of favorite people, considering she used to be best friends with Rachel Roy! She’s the girl Beyonce’s fans have accused of allegedly cheating with Bey’s husband Jay Z! Kim and Rachel haven’t been seen out for a while, and Kanye West has warned Kim to stay out of the drama. He doesn’t even want her to be friends with Rachel!

Apple hires Tesla exec for classified project

Apple is either well on its way to developing some sort of automobile or else is simply hiring top car talent for no apparent reason.
That's the conclusion increasingly being draw by the talent war being waged between Apple and Tesla in particular, two Silicon Valley neighbors and potentially product rivals.
The latest salvo is the news that a former Tesla vice president of vehicle engineering Chris Porritt, who made his name guiding some of Aston Martin's most elegant roadsters, has joined Apple in a senior position, according to a report Tuesday in sister publications 9to5Mac and Electrek.
Apple declined comment on the report.
Although a number of Tesla employees have defected to Apple over the past year - Tesla CEO Elon Musk has derisively called Apple the "Tesla graveyard," carping that Cupertino is where failed Tesla employees go to die - Porritt is the most senior exec to make the move, although according to the publications Porritt left Tesla some months ago.
Unnamed sources told the twin outlets that Porritt's title at Apple is Special Projects Group PD Administrator. While at Tesla, Porritt had a hand in designing all three models: S, X and the forthcoming entry level 3. At Aston Martin, Porritt worked on the iconic DB9 as well as the One-77 supercar.
Meanwhile, the quest to spot something resembling an Apple car during testing has become akin to seeking out Bigfoot.
TechRadar posted an item last week with a blurry photo of a Ford Transit van with a roof full of tech gear. The site speculated that the gear looked that Lidar - laser radar used in autonomous car tech - but added that the driver appeared to have his hands on the wheel.

How Google abused mobile app market with Android

The European Union said Wednesday that Google breached the bloc's competition laws by giving preferential treatment to its Android operating system on mobile applications.
EU Antitrust Commissioner Margrethe Vestager published a so-called Statement of Objections laying out the case. The tech giant has 12 weeks to issue a formal reply.

"A competitive mobile internet sector is increasingly important for consumers and businesses in Europe. Based on our investigation thus far, we believe that Google's behavior denies consumers a wider choice of mobile apps and services and stands in the way of innovation by other players,” Vestager said.
“Dominant companies have a responsibility not to abuse their position,” said Vestager. “Google has abused its dominant position.”
In a blog post on Google's website, Kent Walker, a senior vice president for the firm, responded by saying that "Android has emerged as an engine for mobile software and hardware innovation. It has empowered hundreds of manufacturers to build great phones, tablets and other devices. And it has let developers of all sizes easily reach huge audiences."
Walker added: "We take (the EU's) concerns seriously, but we also believe that our business model keeps manufacturers’ costs low and their flexibility high, while giving consumers unprecedented control of their mobile devices."
Google's Android operating system is free and comes bundled with other Google products such as Google search, Gmail and YouTube. In Android's five largest markets in Europe — Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain — it holds more than 70% market share, according to Kantar, a research firm.
The 28-nation EU has other investigations against Google, notably on its search services. It has also brought antitrust cases against Apple, Amazon and Microsoft.

Is Jenifer Aniston The World's Most Beautiful Woman In 2016?

Jennifer Aniston may be 47, but that didn't stop her from an experiencing "this sort of very excited, teenage-y kind of moment" upon being named People's "Most Beautiful Woman in the World."
The Friends star covers the new issue, due on newsstands Friday.

Aniston previously held the title in 2004 at age 35.
She chalked the 2016 honors up to learning to take better care of herself over the years.
Aniston told the magazine, "It's funny, it's a really quick transition from not a care and now all of a sudden, we've got to really be mindful of what we put inside our bodies," she adds. "And how we sleep and take care of ourselves. You can get away with a lot in your 20s."
Guess that means she didn't attempt that taco cleanse after all.
Aniston returns to the big screen on April 29 for Mother's Day.