FLORENCE, Italy (AP) Italy plans to keep coach Cesare Prandelli in place no matter how the Azzurri fare at the upcoming European Championship.

The trainer, who was dismissed by the Florence-based outfit after punching the Serbia international during the draw against Novara, has shed more light on the incident

ROME (AP) Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi has apologized for slapping a player but says he demands respect for himself and his team.

ROME (AP) A day after firing Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi for slapping player Adem Ljajic during a substitution, the club announced Thursday that manager Vincenzo Guerini will take over the team and its started disciplinary procedures against the player.

The former Rossoneri forward alerted Ariedo Braida to his compatriot's potential but his tip was ignored and the youngster ended up moving to Florence in 2008

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - A Cuban national soccer player who disappeared from his team while in Nashville, Tennessee, for an Olympic qualifying tournament has defected and is seeking asylum in the United States, his attorney said on Tuesday. Yosmel de Armas was in Nashville for the soccer tournament in late March when he disappeared. He played in a March 24 game, but was absent from the team's next game on March 26. When asked about the absent player at the time, the coach said De Armas was sick and had stayed in the team hotel when the rest of the team went to play that game. ...