Yankees Star Angers Team

Alex Rodriguez helped the New York Yankees end their five-game losing streak with his bat - and his mouth. Rodriguez distracted Toronto third baseman Howie Clark by shouting at him on a key popup in the ninth inning, touching off arguments all over the field, and the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 10-5 Wednesday night.

"I just said, 'Hah!' That's it," Rodriguez said. "Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

It definitely worked in rankling the Blue Jays.

"The thing about the Yankees, one of the reasons they're so respected, is they do things right. Always have," manager John Gibbons said. "They've got a lot of pride and a lot of class. They play the game hard.

"That's not Yankee pride right there," he said. "That's not the way they play. I thought it was bush league."

Rodriguez hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth that made it 7-5. Jorge Posada followed with a high infield pop and Rodriguez ran hard, cutting between Clark and shortstop John McDonald.

Replays showed Rodriguez shouting something, and Clark backed off at the last second. McDonald was only a few steps behind Clark, but couldn't make the catch and ball dropped for an RBI single.

"I don't know what my intention was," Rodriguez said. "I didn't say, 'I got it' or anything like that." Read Full Article

Giggs ends international career

Wales captain Ryan Giggs has announced his decision to retire from international football.

The Manchester United winger, 33, will play for his country for the last time in Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic in Cardiff.

"I feel this is a good time, the right time to retire and it's a difficult decision for me," said Giggs.

"I have loved playing for my country and I have loved captaining my country. It wasn't an easy decision."

Giggs admits that he is finding it hard to combine the physical demands of playing for both club and country.

"It definitely helps myself, I'll get those breaks in the season, and obviously it will help Manchester United because I'll be playing less football," added Giggs.

"But it will also help Wales - I don't feel that I've been performing as well as I could have.

"Whether it was the amount of football I was playing I don't know, but I think all three parties will benefit from this.

"Hopefully this will not only prolong my career but allow me to be fresher and allow me to enjoy the last two or three years."

Giggs has won more English league titles than any other player - nine in all - but his decision means he will never play at a major international tournament.

And it deprives Wales of one of the greatest players in their history.

"I've had such a successful time at club level but obviously that hasn't been the case in my international career because we haven't qualified," he said.

"That is something I've always wanted to do because you want to play against the best players, you want to play in the best tournaments whether it be the World Cup or European Championships.

"I'm disappointed not to have done that, but many players go through that and I've been fortunate to have had such a successful career so I'm not going to grumble."

The last time Wales took part in such an event was the Sweden World Cup of 1958.

Since then world-class players such as Ian Rush, Neville Southall, Mark Hughes, Dean Saunders, Kevin Ratcliffe and even Wales boss John Toshack himself have been forced to accept the limitations that Wales play under.

Giggs, who will end his career with 64 caps, has been pondering the decision since March's loss to the Republic of Ireland all but ended Wales's chances of making the Euro 2008 finals.

But he will try to finish his Wales career on a high note by beating the Czechs in Cardiff on Saturday.

"It will be emotional because it's my last game but it's not just about me on Saturday, it's an important game and one that we're hoping to win and hoping to put on a good performance," said Giggs.

Wales officials were made aware of Giggs' feelings last week when they assembled for the friendly against New Zealand in Wrexham, which finished in a 2-2 draw.

Manager Toshack, who is expected to make Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy his new captain after Saturday, wished Giggs well.

"Ryan came to see me and I could see he was a little bit disturbed. I had an idea what might be coming," said Toshack.

"I would like to say it has been a privilege to have him as my captain, he has always set a terrific example to all the young lads in the squad.

"We shall certainly miss him. I think we are talking about a very special person here, 16 years on the international scene under quite a bit of pressure when he plays for Wales - probably more than when he does for his club.

"I would like to wish him all the very best and say just how much he has helped me."

Toshack has always said that he is primarily aiming for a serious qualification bid for the next World Cup in South Africa.

Giggs will be approaching 36 by then, but Toshack would have ideally wanted the Manchester United player around for his immense experience and the quality of his leadership.

RYAN GIGGS FACTFILE

• Wales caps: 64 (*incl Czech Rep match)
• Wales goals: 12
• Wales debut: Oct 1991 v Germany (Nuremberg)
• Last Wales cap: June 2007 v Czech Republic (Cardiff)
• Place of Birth: Cardiff
• Date of birth: 29/11/1973
• Height: 5ft 11in
• Weight: 11st
• Clubs: Manchester United

Giggs made his Wales debut against Germany in October 1991 at 17 years and 321 days old, and at the time he was the youngest-ever Wales international.

His Wales career was blighted by regular withdrawals in his younger days, with club boss Sir Alex Ferguson often citing the hamstring trouble that Giggs has suffered from.

It was not until Toshack's reign, which started three years ago, that Giggs even played in an away friendly for his country.

But when former boss Hughes quit to manage Blackburn soon after the heartbreak of losing a play-off to reach the last European Championships, Giggs was one of the few senior players who opted to stay on.

Giggs accepted the captain's armband and has aided Toshack's attempts to bring in a succession of new, young players.

"My highlights are my debut, coming on against Germany, and then starting against Belgium at Cardiff Arms Park, and also when John announced that I would be captain," Giggs said.

Giggs said he had not thought about his future after playing, and perhaps returning to the Wales team in a coaching capacity.

But there is little doubt that even having withdrawn from representing his country, Wales will still never be far from the thoughts of the proud Welshman.

Tocchet pleads guilty in gambling case

Former NHL player Rick Tocchet pleaded guilty Friday to running a sports gambling ring, but might not have to serve any jail time.

Tocchet, who played for Phialdelphia, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington and Phoenix in a career that spanned 22 seasons, is on leave from his job as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to promote gambling and promoting gambling. Such offenses usually do not carry a jail sentence for first-time offenders.

"It's a huge operation and I think it exposes to people the allure of gambling, illegal gambling, in New Jersey," state Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw said outside the courthouse.

The maximum sentence for the charges Tocchet pleaded guilty to are 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Paw would not say whether prosecutors will ask for jail time for Tocchet.

The 43-year-old Tocchet is the third man to plead guilty in the case, which New Jersey authorities dubbed "Operation Slapshot." The others, including state Trooper James Harney, are expected to get jail time.

Janet Jones, the wife of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, was accused of betting but was not charged in the case.

Prosecutors said in February 2006 that the ring handled $1.7 million in wagers during a 40-day stretch that began at the end of 2005 and included college football bowl games and the Super Bowl. They said there were no bets on hockey games.

Tocchet did not speak during Friday's court hearing except to answer yes or no questions. When asked by his attorney, Kevin Marino, if he ever bet on professional hockey, Tocchet said "no."

Marino said Tocchet has not spoken with the NHL about how his guilty pleas will affect his coaching career.

Tocchet played in 1,144 regular-season games, scoring 440 goals and 952 points. He also appeared in 145 playoff games, with 52 goals and 112 points.

Yanks make $1M donation to Virginia Tech

The New York Yankees made a $1 million contribution to the Virginia Tech "Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund" prior to playing the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

The fund is designed to cover expenses like grief counseling, memorials and other costs for the victims and their families. Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people in two campus buildings before committing suicide in a classroom on April 16.

The Yankees, who are also honoring the victims of the massacre by wearing the Virginia Tech logo on their caps, plan to play an exhibition game on or near the campus in 2008.

"The events that took place this spring in Virginia have deeply affected us all," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement. "But the Virginia Tech community has shown great spirit and resolve during this difficult time, and the New York Yankees are proud to join so many others in supporting the healing process."

AC Milan 2-1 Liverpool

By Phil McNulty

Inzaghi celebrated putting AC Milan in Athens

Pippo Inzaghi struck twice as AC Milan gained revenge for their 2005 Champions League final defeat against Liverpool with victory in Athens.

Inzaghi scored a freak opener in first-half injury time, unwittingly deflecting Andrea Pirlo's free-kick past a wrong-footed Pepe Reina.

Steven Gerrard missed a glorious chance to equalise before Inzaghi slid home a second eight minutes from time.

Dirk Kuyt pulled one back with a header with two minutes left but time ran out.

Liverpool, as expected, used Kuyt as a lone front man with captain Gerrard pushed into an advanced role.

And it was a ploy that worked well until Liverpool conceded unfortunately in the dying seconds of the first half.

Jermaine Pennant was also prominent as Liverpool posed the greater threat, forcing a fine save from Dida after Marek Jankulovski had conceded possession.

The much-touted Brazil star Kaka was a peripheral figure early on, but he brought a comfortable save from Liverpool keeper Reina with a 20-yard drive.

Alonso then came within inches of putting Liverpool ahead after 26 minutes, sending an angled drive just wide after more poor Milan defending.

But after controlling the game, Liverpool conceded needlessly in first-half injury time.

Alonso had committed several careless fouls, and he paid the price for another infringement on Kaka 20 yards out.

Pirlo's free-kick took a crucial deflection off Inzaghi that completely wrong-footed Reina.

Liverpool struggled to exert their superiority in the early stages of the second half and Benitez made a change after 58 minutes, sending on Harry Kewell for Bolo Zenden.

Gerrard had Liverpool's best chance on 62 minutes when he was sent clear by a dreadful pass by Rino Gattuso, but his finish was weak and Dida saved.

Time was running out for Liverpool and Benitez made a second change with 13 minutes left, sending on Peter Crouch for Javier Mascherano.

As Liverpool pushed forward, they were punished by a piece of brilliance by Kaka and a trademark ruthless finish from Inzaghi.

Kaka unlocked Liverpool with a glorious pass and Inzaghi rounded Reina before scoring from an angle.

Crouch then tested Dida with a 25-yard drive as Liverpool tried to mount an unlikely recovery.

Liverpool pulled one back with two minutes to go when Daniel Agger flicked on Pennant's corner and Kuyt headed home.

But this time there was no dramatic comeback and Milan celebrated wildly.

---

AC Milan: Dida, Oddo, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski (Kaladze 79), Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf (Favalli 90), Kaka, Inzaghi (Gilardino 88).
Subs Not Used: Kalac, Cafu, Serginho, Brocchi.

Booked: Gattuso, Jankulovski.

Goals: Inzaghi 45, 82.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan (Arbeloa 88), Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Alonso, Mascherano (Crouch 78), Zenden (Kewell 59), Gerrard, Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Bellamy.

Booked: Mascherano, Carragher.

Goals: Kuyt 89.

Att: 74,000

Ref: Herbert Fandel (Germany).

Milan wins Champions League

Milan won the free kick when Kaka was taken down by Xabi Alonso just outside the area.

Inzaghi then added the insurance goal in the 82nd, taking a pass from Kaka in the center and rolling the ball past the outstretched Reina.

The goals bring Inzaghi's total to 38 in 66 Champions League games and 58 in all European matches, moving him past Benfica great Eusebio and into a tie for third place with Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez on the all-time UEFA list.

Inzaghi was replaced by Alberto Gilardino in the 88th.

Dirk Kuyt got one back for Liverpool, heading in the consolation goal in the 89th.

Steven Gerrard had a chance to equalize for Liverpool in the 63rd, but after beating defender Alessandro Nesta his shot was saved by Milan goalkeeper Dida.

In the 72nd, the Liverpool captain had another chance after picking up a loose ball, but his shot from well outside the area went wide to the right.

The win made up for Milan's devastating loss to Liverpool in the final two years ago, when the Italian team had a 3-0 lead at halftime but eventually lost on penalties.

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini set another personal milestone in Wednesday's match, appearing in his eighth European Cup final to match the record of Francisco Gento - Real Madrid's legendary winger of the 1950s and 60s.

Ten days ago, the 38-year-old Maldini played in his 601st Serie A match - a stretch that includes seven Italian league titles.

The win was Maldini's fifth in Europe's top club competition, putting him one behind Gento and level with Real Madrid's Alfredo Di Stefano and Jose Maria Zarraga.

Before Inzaghi's first goal, Liverpool threatened more while Milan directed most of its play up the flanks, limiting the impact of Kaka.

Milan took the initiative with Marek Jankulovski carrying the ball up the right wing twice in the first seven minutes. The Czech Republic defender's first cross was intercepted by Jamie Carragher and Clarence Seedorf couldn't do much with the second.

Maldini couldn't connect on a header by the near post off a corner kick by Pirlo in the sixth.

Liverpool had the first shot on goal in the 10th, with Jermaine Pennant's effort saved by Dida.

In the 17th, Kaka controlled the ball well and sent in a shot from outside the area, but Reina made the save.

Liverpool was awarded a dangerous free kick on the left flank when Alessandro Nesta fouled Steven Gerrard in the 18th, but the Reds couldn't do any damage.

In the 23rd, Gerrard shot high from the edge of the area on a counterattack.

Kaka drew a roar from the crowd when he twirled around John Arne Riise in the 25th but the competition's leading scorer lost the ball before he got near the goal.

In the 27th, the ball was deflected outside Milan's area to Alonso, who sent a low shot wide. Riise's long shot sailed high in the 32nd.

Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso received a yellow card for taking down Alonso in the 41st.

Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals Wednesday to help AC Milan win the European Cup title for the seventh time after a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final.

Andrea Pirlo's 45th-minute free kick went through the wall and hit Inzaghi in the side before bouncing past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Drogba gives Chelsea the FA Cup

After Didier Drogba's extra time goal gave Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, Mourinho was the last to go up the 107 steps to collect the famous trophy. The Portuguese received a bigger cheer from the Blues fans than his players when it was his turn to hold it.

Then Mourinho ran down the steps with the trophy in his hand and onto the field to continue the celebrations, while also holding onto his winners medal after the first final to be played at Wembley for seven years.

"That one I don't throw away," said Mourinho who famously threw his Premier League medal to the fans after Chelsea's second straight league triumph last season.

"It means a lot. The FA Cup, it's the first time for me," Mourinho said. "We have won every title in English football in my three years in the club and it's something that the players deserve so much because of the season they've had and the way they've fought.

"This is a moment for everybody to enjoy. I think we deserve to go to the holiday period with this cup and this medal."

The final was four minutes away from going to a penalty shootout when Drogba collected a pass from John Obi Mikel and then swapped passes with Frank Lampard inside the penalty area. When the ball came back, Drogba had only the advancing goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to beat and flicked it inside the post to set off the Chelsea celebrations behind the same goal.

Mourinho jumped out of his seat and charged down the sideline pumping his arms in the way he often does in celebrating a goal. Then he turned, put his left hand in his pocket, checked his watch and began calling "calm down, calm down" to his players.

Although United threw everyone up in a late attempt to equalize, Chelsea hung on to become the first FA Cup winner at new Wembley seven years after being the last winner at the old one.

The result meant that, two weeks after surrendering the Premier League title to Manchester United, Mourinho collected the one English trophy that had eluded him in his three years in charge at Stamford Bridge. He had won two Premier League titles and two League Cups and now has an FA Cup to his name.

United manager Ferguson still has five FA Cup titles to go with his nine Premier Leagues and Manchester United's record of FA Cup titles stays at 11.

"It's disappointing. It was a big game simply because of Manchester United's history in the FA Cup," Ferguson said. "It's exceptional, it's very good. We've lost two FA Cup finals now (in three years) and haven't scored a goal. But today it was just about tiredness. I think that's a genuine reason."

Chelsea now has four cup titles and, after Arsenal in 1993 and Liverpool in 2001, becomes the third club to win both cups in the same season.

With 89,826 fans - the largest at an FA Cup final for 19 years - packed into steep banks of seats, the stadium provided the ideal atmosphere for a classic final. For the first half, the players clearly didn't get the message.

For only the third time in FA Cup history, the league champion and runner up met in the final and that took much of the element of surprise out of the game. With the players so familiar with each other's style of play, the first half of the final resembled a game of chess, punctuated with some fierce tackling.

Whatever was said at the halftime team talks, it seemed to work - at least for a spell.

United should have taken the lead within three minutes of the restart when Rooney went on a weaving run only for Cech to block his shot. Cech recovered to save Ryan Giggs' follow up drive.

A 70-meter run by Rooney was foiled by a combination of three Chelsea tacklers but when Paul Scholes lobbed a pass over to Giggs, the United captain fired over the bar with a first-time shot.

The halftime introduction of winger Arjen Robben also gave new life to Chelsea and United goalkeeper Van der Sar dived low to block his countryman's low cross at the foot of the post.

A curling free kick from Drogba just missed the near post but the final went into extra time with new Wembley still waiting for its first FA Cup goal.

Ferguson sent on Alan Smith and Mourinho introduced Salomon Kalou to inject some fresh ideas into the a game which appeared to be slowing by the minute with much of the play reduced to a walking pace.

Giggs forced the ball over the line in the 13th minute of extra time when he met a low cross from Rooney and slid into goalkeeper Cech who had already saved his shot. It should have been either a foul on the goalkeeper or a goal but the officials waved play on.

Ferguson believed it was a goal - or a penalty - because Giggs had been pushed by defender Michael Essien.

"It's a penalty kick. Obviously the goalkeeper's spilled it behind the line," Ferguson said. "I think it would have been a difficult one for the linesman to call, but the referee should have been in a better position."

The veteran United manager also accused Mourinho of trying to influence referee Steve Bennett during the buildup to the game.

"I think that the pressure that Mourinho put on the referee before the game has certainly worked and I'm disappointed about that," Ferguson said. "To lose the game and see the replay of that, it's disappointing, I must say."

History's 10 most undeserving MVPs

Pity poor Dirk Nowitzki.

The guy had yet another outstanding season, leading the Mavericks to one of the best records in NBA history and now he has to apologize for being named MVP.

Perhaps the Mavericks' first-round playoff implosion shouldn't taint all that Nowitzki and his team accomplished from November to April, but it has and it will forever. Dirk Nowitzki, 2007 NBA MVP, will always conjure images of the first-ever No. 1 seed bowing to an 8-seed in a best-of-7 series.

But Dirk is in pretty good company. Here's a Top 10 list of MVPs who might not have won their hardware had the voters waited until after the postseason to cast their ballots, starting with Nowitzki.

10. Dirk Nowitzki, 2007 NBA MVP

I thought Steve Nash should have won this award for the third straight year, but I take no joy in Nowitzki's flameout against the Warriors. After a season in which he scored 24.6 points per game on 50.2 percent shooting from the floor and 41.6 percent shooting from behind the arc, Dirk scored 19.7 a game on 38.3 percent shooting from the floor and 21.1 shooting from deep against Golden State. Anyone want a do-over on their MVP vote?

9. Barry Bonds, 1990 National League MVP

No one in Pittsburgh will be cheering when Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's home run record next month. He'll always be remembered as the guy who couldn't get a hit in the playoffs and couldn't throw out slow-footed Sid Bream when it mattered. After winning his first of seven MVP awards in 1990, Bonds began his Pittsburgh postseason tradition of flopping in the playoffs by going 3-for-18 with one lone RBI in a six-game loss to the Reds in the NLCS. In 68 postseason at bats for the Pirates, Bonds drove in three runs.

8. Jose Theodore, 2002 NHL MVP

There may not be a more obscure most valuable player in professional sports history than the Canadiens' flash-in-the-pan goalie who dominated the 2001-02 season with a 2.11 goals against, a .931 save percentage and seven shutouts while carrying the Habs to the playoffs. But once there, Theodore became something of a sieve. Four times in 12 playoff games he allowed five goals, finishing the postseason with three straight losses in which he allowed 14 goals on 84 shots, an .833 save percentage. His playoff goals against of 3.09 was almost a whole goal higher than his MVP-worthy regular-season mark.

7. Steve McNair and Peyton Manning, 2003 NFL CO-MVPs

Could this have set up any better for Tom Brady? After McNair and Manning shared MVP honors they both had to come to the House that Brady Built in the playoffs. Brady dispatched them both before winning the only MVP award that matters: Super Bowl MVP. Manning threw four picks in his loss at Foxboro.

6. Charles Barkley and Karl Malone, '93 and'97 NBA MVPs

Does anybody really think anyone other than Michael Jordan was the NBA most valuable player when M.J. was in his prime? Well, on two separate occasions when Jordan was at the peak of his powers the voters deemed another player MVP. And both times Jordan met that player in the Finals. In 1993 M.J. averaged 41 points a game, pulled down 8.5 rebounds per contest and dealt out 6.3 assists a game to lead the Bulls past Barkley's Suns in six games and leave no doubt who the most valuable player in the NBA was in 1993. After the voters had another lapse in judgment and elected Karl Malone MVP in '97, M.J. posted a 31.0 ppg, 7 rpg, 6.3 apg Finals line as the Mailman was gacking clutch free throws and missing fallaway jumpers all series long. Jordan's epic Game 5 while battling the flu should have made anyone who voted Malone MVP sick with regret.

Barkley might have won the MVP award, but Jordan took home the more important hardware. ( BRIAN BAHR/AFP / Getty Images)

5. Joe Thornton, 2006 NHL MVP

After winning his first Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2006, Joe Thornton continued his career-long habit of putting up disappointing playoff numbers. In 11 games he scored only two goals and posted a -4 plus/minus rating. After taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series against the Oilers, the Sharks lost four straight, going out with a whimper in a 2-0 loss at Edmonton in Game 6 in which Thornton was on the ice for both Oiler goals.

4. Julius Erving, 1981 NBA MVP

Doc had a great season in 1981, averaging 24.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists. But was he really more valuable than Larry Bird who put up a 21.2, 10.9 and 5.5 line? Or for that matter were either of the Hall of Fame forwards more valuable than Rockets center (and two-time MVP) Moses Malone who was second in the league in scoring (27.8) and first in rebounding (14.8)? It would have been tough to make a case for Erving after Bird buried the game-winning shot in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Sixers and Moses carried Houston all the way to the Finals, where he lost to Bird's Celtics in six. Bird raised his game in the playoffs, scoring 21.9 a game, pulling down 14 boards a game and dishing out 6.1 assists per game. Erving dipped to 22.9/7.1/3.4. Two years later Moses would arrive in Philly to carry J to his lone NBA title.

3. Peyton Manning, 2004 NFL MVP

Manning had perhaps the greatest regular season of any quarterback ever, throwing an NFL record 49 TD passes and posting an obscene 121.1 rating. But once again his playoff run was halted abruptly in the snow in Foxboro. After leading the Colts to almost 33 points a game during the regular season, Manning could only put up three points and a 69.3 QB rating in a 20-3 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champs.

2. Mo Vaughn, 1995 American League MVP

There was a lot of controversy surrounding Vaughn's selection as MVP since Albert Belle pretty much outdid him in every category for the Central champion Indians. Belle hit .317 with 50 home runs and 126 RBI. Vaughn hit .300 with 39 home runs and 126 RBI. But, well, the voters liked Mo a whole lot more than Albert and the Red Sox slugger edged Belle, 309-300, in the voting. Vaughn then went out and laid an egg in the playoffs, going 0-for-14 with 7 Ks as the Sox got swept by Belle's Indians in the first round.

1. Alex Rodriguez, 2005 American League MVP

There was spirited debate about who deserved the 2005 American League MVP, Alex Rodriguez or David Ortiz. Their numbers were comparable and their teams finished tied so voters had to look deeper to pick a winner. A-Rod, they concluded, was a complete player while Big Papi was one-dimensional. Ortiz supporters pointed to the ultimate intangible: his clutch factor. Big Papi voters sure seemed vindicated when Rodriguez went 2-for-15 (.133), made a critical error and grounded into a huge double play in a five-game loss to the Angels in the playoffs. A-Rod, of course, would be even worse in the '06 playoffs.

Kevin Hench is a frequent contributor for FOXSports.com.

Fifa chief wades into Tevez saga

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says he will look into how the Premier League handled West Ham's breach of rules.

West Ham were fined £5.5m for irregularities over the signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano but they escaped a points deduction.

Blatter said he is "monitoring the situation very carefully".

But Fifa has told BBC Five Live Sport that it is not re-examining the evidence with the aim of testing the Premier League's ruling.

West Ham broke two Premier League rules by entering into a private agreement with a third-party company when they signed Argentine pair Tevez and Mascherano in August last year.

Mascherano has since moved to Liverpool, while Tevez stayed in London and played an influential role in West Ham's successful battle against relegation - scoring seven goals in the club's last 10 games.

Sheffield United, who went down on the final day of the season, are leading the fight against an independent commission's decision not to punish the Hammers with a points deduction.

The Blades, who are being supported by the likes of Wigan, Fulham, Charlton and Middlesbrough, are also concerned that West Ham may still have been breaking Premier League rules after the ruling on 27 April.

The Premier League has argued that it has no case to answer in regards to West Ham's punishment because all 20 Premiership clubs agreed to the disciplinary system in place.

However, that has not stopped Sheffield United pursuing their case and Blatter's intervention may encourage them.

A Premier League statement later read: "We have implemented our rulebook and processes to the letter in this matter and we are more than happy to give Fifa any assurances or explanations they need."

AC Milan 3-0 Man Utd (Agg: 5-3)

AC Milan will face Liverpool in the Champions League final after crushing Manchester United at the San Siro.

Milan started the semi-final 3-2 down but were ahead on away goals after just 11 minutes when Clarence Seedorf headed down for Kaka to drill into the corner.

Seedorf capitalised on confusion in the United defence to fire in a second after half an hour.

And substitute Alberto Gilardino broke away to wrap up an easy win as United limped out in disappointing fashion. The result ended United's dreams of repeating their 1999 Treble, but they can have no complaints after being totally outclassed by their Italian opponents.

Sir Alex Ferguson named Nemanja Vidic in his starting line-up after the defender's recovery from a broken collarbone but the Serb, like his colleagues, was overwhelmed by Milan's superior passing and movement in wet conditions.

The thunderous skies only added to the intimidating atmosphere at the San Siro, and when Milan began at a blistering pace, United were simply awestruck.

The hosts threatened in the very first minute when Kaka delivered a dangerous ball across goal, after three minutes when Seedorf forced Edwin can der Sar to tip over and again on seven minutes when Kaka shot straight at the United keeper.

The goal, then, was no more than Milan deserved, Seedorf nodding the ball down for Kaka to hammer home his 10th Champions League goal of the season.

United's much-vaunted attack was proving toothless.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who started on the left, was hardly in the game while Wayne Rooney's touch seemed to have deserted him.

The striker was guilty of giving the ball away on numerous occasions but at least his errors were nowhere near as catastrophic as Gabriel Heinze's moment of madness.

As United tried to play they way out of defence, the left-back inexplicably passed back to Vidic, who then compounded his team-mate's error by slipping as he scrambled to clear.

Milan regained possession and the ball eventually fell for Seedorf, who rode Vidic's challenge before finding the same corner as Kaka.

At half-time, optimististic United fans pointed to their side's recovery from two goals down in the 1999 semi-final against Juventus in Turin, but for all the visitors' toil, Milan were simply too good.

United had far more possession in the second half but rarely threatened a calm and composed Milan defence nor did they really test Milan's out-of-form keeper Dida.

Rooney finally found an accurate pass to set up Darren Fletcher, but he skewed wide and that was as good a chance as United fashioned.

Milan booked a repeat of the 2005 final against Liverpool when Gilardino galloped through the United defence and stroked the ball past a stranded Van der Sar.

Liverpool has crushed Chelsea's UEFA Champions League dream

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Agg: 1-1)

Liverpool win 4-1 on penalties

Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League final with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win in the semi-final second leg at Anfield.

Dirk Kuyt scored the crucial spot-kick to clinch a 4-1 win after Arjen Robben and Geremi missed for the Blues.

Daniel Agger cancelled out Chelsea's first-leg lead with a crisp first-time finish from Steven Gerrard's superbly disguised left-wing free-kick.

Kuyt also rattled the bar with a fine header after the break.

Liverpool

Within seconds it became clear both teams were happy to go long. Liverpool looked to feed off Peter Crouch and Chelsea were eager to get the ball to Drogba and use the pace of Salomon Kalou on the break.

But after a promising opening first five minutes from the visitors, it was Liverpool who settled and started to get on top in a scrappy match.

Liverpool they scored from the first good chance of the night.

Joe Cole fouled Gerrard on the left flank and with everyone expecting the Reds skipper to whip in a cross towards the far post, he slid the ball across the box to Agger who slammed it home first time into the bottom corner.

With the scores level on aggregate, Liverpool stepped off the pace a little and Chelsea began to look lively.

Reina was forced into a decent save from Drogba, who stood firm to beat away the striker's fiercely struck shot following Mikel's through-ball.

Chelsea, playing in their third Champions League semi-final in four years almost went ahead just before the break when Essien almost diverted a Drogba header in from a Frank Lampard corner.

Liverpool had three excellent chances to double their lead after the break.

Jermaine Pennant wriggled his way free on the right and crossed to Crouch but his downward far-post header was kicked away by Cech and John Terry completed the clearance.

And within five minutes Liverpool went even closer. A fantastic cross from John Arne Riise was met brilliantly by Kuyt but his header crashed back off the bar. A rare Terry error then saw stand-in centre-half Essien bail out his skipper as he launched himself in front of Pennant and diverted the ball over for a corner.

Chelsea then pieced together their best move if the half.

Lampard combined with Joe Cole to put in Ashley Cole and Carragher got ahead of Drogba to turn Cole's cross over the bar from three yards.

Drogba almost got through on goal but was thwarted by Reina and at the other end Bolo Zenden tested Cech with a decent 20-yard strike.

Neither side could forced the crucial goal in normal time and chances were a premium in the extra 30 minutes

Liverpool went closest when substitute Xabi Alonso unleashed a rasping 35-yard drive that Cech could only turn into the path of Kuyt who turned the ball in but his strike was ruled offside.

In the second period Drogba almost turned in Shaun Wright-Phillips' teasing cross and Kuyt had a shot beaten away by Cech in the closing moments.

In the penalty shootout, Liverpool romped home.

By Owen Phillips