We all knew this was going to happen.

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned for two Spanish league games for breaking an opponent’s nose.

The Spanish soccer federation fined Ronaldo $843 Tuesday for “dangerous play that caused harm.” Madrid, which was fined $253, can appeal the decision.

Malaga defender Patrick Mtiliga will be out for three weeks after being struck in the face with Ronaldo’s arm in the 70th minute of Madrid’s 2-0 win Sunday. Ronaldo was given a red card.

Ronaldo will miss matches at Deportivo La Coruna and Espanyol. Madrid trails Barcelona by five points at the top of the league standings.

Gracias AP

Well, let's start with the official news. Arsenal player Philippe Senderos has comleted his loan move to Everton. It is until the end of the season.

The Swiss international was down on the Gunners' order and was ready to leave to hopefully ensure his World Cup spot.

Senderos spent last season at AC Milan on loan.

David Moyes has promised Senderos a chance to impress and he is now hoping to make his Toffees debut against Sunderland on Wednesday.

Next, we come to Huntelaar. Everton manager David Moyes has confirmed his interest in the Dutch player.

Huntelaar, like Senderos has slipped down the pecking order at AC Milan and is also in search of regular playing time ahead of this summer's World Cup.

Huntelaar moved to the San Siro in the summer after a brief spell with Real Madrid.

The former PSV, Heerenveen and Ajax forward could now be on the move again with a number of clubs keeping tabs on his situation in Italy.

And Moyes, who recently ended Jo's loan spell from Manchester City, has confirmed he is keen to improve Everton's goalscoring record.

"I don't talk about players at other clubs, but if Huntelaar was available I would be interested, certainly," the Scot admitted. "I think we are lacking firepower at this present time. We're creating plenty of chances but we're not finishing games off like I think we should be."

Huntelaar's agent Arnold Oosterveer confirmed over the weekend there was interest from England, with Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham also mooted to be suitors.

He said: "Klaas-Jan wants to have playing time. He wants to go to the World Cup and wants to be involved."

Finally, we come to Pepe Reina. The Spanish goalkeeper has been a reliable performer since being brought to Anfield by Benitez in the summer of 2005.

He has arguably been one of Liverpool's best players this season and is now set to be offered a contract extension.

Reports claim it is a long-term deal, possibly keeping Reina at the club for another five years, and Benitez does not anticipate any problems.

"We have had a conversation with his agent and we know his idea, he knows our idea, and conversations will continue," said Benitez. "I think it will be easy to finalise and have an agreement."

Danke Skysports.com

Inter Milan left back Cristian Chivu had surgery for over an hour after fracturing his skull in a clash of heads during Wednesday’s 1-0 Serie A win at Chievo.

The Romanian’s life is not in danger but he will have to stay under observation in a Verona hospital for some time after an operation to relieve a haematoma and take out bone fragments.

“Everything went normally and therefore we are quite confident the patient can recover without problems,” doctor Sergio Turazzi said in a statement.

The loss of the dependable Chivu is a blow to the Serie A leaders, who have no like-for-like replacement. Inter’s right-footed fullback Davide Santon is also injured and Javier Zanetti is needed in midfield.

“We hope (Chivu) can come back as soon as possible but I think he will be out of action for a while,” Inter coach Jose Mourinho told the club’s TV channel.

Media reports said Inter were chasing Lazio left back Aleksandar Kolarov even before Chivu’s injury but Lazio president Claudio Lotito has said the Serb is not for sale.

Mourinho, who has already brought in Macedonia forward Goran Pandev, also hopes the club can recruit another midfielder in the January transfer window with the little-used Patrick Vieira on the verge of leaving.

Manchester City have been strongly linked with the Frenchman in the media.

Danke Daylife and Yahoo football

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Sevilla defender Sergio Sanchez says that he feels "shattered and destroyed" after having to stop playing football due to a heart condition but is trying to stay positive.

The 23-year-old, who joined the club from Espanyol last summer, has been told to stop all physical activity for the time being, and there are serious question marks over his future in the sport.

"I'm shattered and destroyed from a football point of view," he told Catalan television channel TV3, "but I have to look at the positives. Not playing is very hard for me. Fortunately I have a lot of people by my side and I know that I have to think positive."

The news about Sanchez comes just five months after his former teammate Dani Jarque died at the age of 26 when his heart stopped following a training session at a pre-season camp in Italy.

In 2007, Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta died after suffering multiple organ failure in the hospital, three days after a cardiac arrest during a league match against Getafe.

And Sanchez, who has teturned to his home of Barcelona to be with his family before undergoing further tests, knows that in one sense he is very fortunate.

"The families of Jarque and Puerta would pay to be in my situation. For that reason I have to stay positive and have to cheer up," he said.

Real Madrid midfileder Ruben De la Red has been sidelined since collapsing during a Copa del Rey tie in October 2008 after suffering what club medical chief Carlos Diez described as "acute fainting probably brought on about by cardiac strain."

Danke AS and ESPN

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he has no plans to place a bid for AC Milan striker Klass Jan Huntelaar.

The Gunners are known to be in the market for a new frontman, mainly to cover the loss of Robin van Persie to injury.

Dutch ace Huntelaar, who joined Serie A giants Milan from Real Madrid last summer, was reported to be one of the names on Wenger's wish list.

Having struggled to hold down regular first-team football at Giuseppe Meazza, it was widely assumed that the 26-year-old would be on the move during the January transfer window.

Whether he is or not remains to be seen, but it looks highly unlikely that he will be making his way to Emirates Stadium following Wenger's latest comments.

"I am surprised he never plays but he is not on our radar," the Frenchman told Arsenal's official website. "I don't believe this kind of player can move. I am not sure he can move again in this transfer period because he has already moved once this season."

If not Huntelaar, who should Arsene go for?

Danke skysports.com

I know that I am going to be a little off topic right now, but I really need your help!!

This is Marshmellow and Fluff. They are beagle-mix puppies located in PA in the United States. These two adorable dogs are racing against the clock because on Jan.1, 2010, these two dogs will be put to sleep via gas chamber.

Please, if you know anyone in the Harleysville, PA area, please please help!!

These two innocent animals haven't even had a chance at life and they are going to get their lives cut short.

Please, help save these two precious angels!!

Here is the info for the shelter where these two are located at:

Real Madrid player Fernando Gago looks so happy, so carefree in this photo, but as of late, his smile has turned upside down.

According to the young Argentine's agent, Gago is so unhappy with Real that he cries at home and he is now so desperate to leave the club so he can get the attention of Argentina National Team manager Diego Maradona.

The 23 year-old used to be a key piece in Madrid's squad, but has been "kicked out" of his spot in the starting XI.

Knowing that he won't even be considered for a spot in Argentina's World Cup team for this coming up summer, rumors of Gago wanting out have gone wild.

So, what is next for Gago?

Fiorentina have been linked to him as well as a return to Boca Juniors on loan has been swirling around in Spanish and Argentine media.

Another major rumor, started by Argentina daily Panorama, states that Premier League side Everton have made an 8.5 million euros bid for Gago.

Gago's agent, Marcelo Lombilla has revealed that Gago would like to stay in Madrid if he was able to play. Lombilla said recently to Marca:

"It's not a question of money, what Gago wants is match rhythm, because the World Cup is getting close and he wants Maradona to pick him for the squad. It's no good to me to have a player who is not happy with his club. Gago is not playing. He stays at home crying."

Despite the rumors that Gago will leave in the January transfer window, Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini has espressed his desire to keep Gago at the club, citing him as "an important member of the team."

Mrs. Becks showing off her best Sherlock Holmes impression. Image via Kickette

Time for another edition of links!! Here is what is buzzing around the internet today. Please keep in mind that this will be updated at random parts of the day.

Fenerbache boys involved in some late night "fun."

Johnson out for rest of season

RUMOR: Big name French coach to join FFF

Gago, Metzelder, Van Nistelrooy, Van der Vaart all want out

David Bentley and Harry get into brawl, Bentley to quit

West Ham hero to retire

Arsenal man to be offered new contract

Rafa hits back

Former Roma coach to Russia

Ramos gets a handful of Guti

Robbie Savage was Snow White and Davey Becks was one of his dwarves?!

Arsenal man writes children books

Man City are most hated

Well, the draw is over and all eight groups have been chosen for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Here are those groups:

Group A South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay,France

Group B Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece

Group C England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

Group E Holland, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group F Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Group GBrazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Group H Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

England vs. United States will finally happen. Becks v. Landycakes In my opinion, there isn't a group of death. All seem pretty fairly matched. What do you think?

The world of football was plunged into mourning on Monday following the death of Mexican player Antonio de Nigris, who suffered a heart attack at his home in Larissa, Greece. The striker had joined local club Larissa FC from Turkish side Ankaragucu in August.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter expressed his deepest condolences in a letter to Justino Compean, President of the Mexican Football Association (FMF).

“It is with great regret that I am writing to you today having heard the sad news about the sudden death of the football player Antonio de Nigris,” wrote Blatter.

The FIFA President also asked his Mexican counterpart to pass on his most sincere condolences to all the player’s team-mates in the national side, to the fans and, most importantly, to his family, friends and loved ones. Blatter ended by saying:

“I would be extremely grateful if you could let them know that the entire global football community is with them. I hope that our words of comfort can in some way bring them a little peace at this difficult time.”

Antonio de Nigris was born on 1 April 1978 and showed a passion for sport from a very early age. As a youngster he played tennis and football, but when the time came to choose one or the other he opted for the latter, making his league debut for Monterrey in 1999. The young striker made an instant impact with his prowess in the air and goalscoring instinct.

Two years later Mexico coach Enrique Meza called him up for the qualifiers for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, though his debut came in a friendly against Brazil in March 2001. The game ended in a 3-3 draw, with De Nigris opening his international account with perhaps one of the finest goals of his career, a superb volley on the half-turn.

After earning hero status at Monterrey, he decided it was time to move on, becoming something of a footballing wayfarer and turning out for 11 different clubs over the next seven years. The tireless adventurer enjoyed spells at Spanish side Villarreal, Santos of Brazil, and Colombian outfit Once Caldas, for whom he appeared in the final of the Toyota Intercontinental Cup in 2004. He also played for a number of teams in Mexico and Turkey, and even had a stint with Shandong Luneng in China.

During his professional career De Nigris played 264 games and scored 74 goals, including 16 appearances and four goals for Mexico. Although he had only been at his new club Larissa FC for a few short months, he had already established himself as a valuable first-team regular, appearing in six games for the Greek side.

His ultimate objective was to force his way into the Tricolor squad for South Africa 2010 and then return home to play for his beloved Monterrey. Sadly, however, De Nigris’s dream will remain unfulfilled although his commitment, eye for goal and undoubted talent will live on in the memory of the many fans who saw him give his all on the field of play.

 

Danke to FIFA.com for the story