Barcelona 3-0 River Plate in Club World Cup

The 2015 FIFA Club World Cup concluded with Barcelona defeating Argentina’s River Plate 3-0 in Yokohama in front of a huge crowd, thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and a second-half double from Luis Suarez as Barcelona claim their fifth trophy of the year.

It was a historic journey for the 2015 UEFA Champions League winners, who became the first club to be crowned world champions on three separate occasions, adding to their 2009 and 2011 triumphs.

Lionel Messi, who missed the semi-final due to abdominal pain, but made a hero’s return in the final by scoring the opener.

Barcelona ended a stellar year after another fine display from Luis Suárez, who scored twice in Yokohama's final. Suarez broke new ground by becoming the first player to net a hat-trick in the competition’s history in Barcelona's win over Guangzhou Evergrande 3-0 in the semifinal.
It was fully expected but Barcelona were still impressive. The movement of their deadly trio was too clever for game but limited opponents. Messi scored, Neymar sprinkled fairy dust here and there and Suárez was outstanding again. They assume the world club champions crown that Real Madrid wore last year. Not a bad way to end the year for the Catalans. Five trophies in 2015. Wow!Congratulations!!!

Cuban Baseball Series

The duels between Isla de la Juventud's Piratas and Ciego de Avila's Tigres, Matanzas' Cocodrilos and Las Tunas' Leñadores, Pinar del Rio's Vegueros and Holguin's Cachorros end today, Monday, the second sub-series of the 55th Cuban Baseball Series quarterfinals.

Last season's final contenders so far have won one game each. Ciego de Avila beat Isla de la Juevntud in the first game by a score of 6-1, but the Piratas took revenge and replied with a 6-4 win over the Tigras at José Ramón Cepero stadium.

Industriales and Granma have also won a game each. First, the Leones defeated the Alazanes 8-7 on Saturday and the Alazanes won by score of 7-1 on Sunday at Mártires de Barbados stadium in Bayamo.

The other two games scheduled on Sunday between Matanzas - Las Tunas and Pinar del Rio versus Holguin were suspended due to rain. Las Tunas had beaten Matanzas by a score of 11-2 on Saturday and Holguin beat Pinar del Rio, 3-2.

Ciego de Avila is leading the qualification followed by Industriales and Granma.

FIFA's Blatter and Platini Receive 8 Year Ban from Soccer

A FIFA ethics judge announced Monday that Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been banned from soccer for eight years.         

Both former FIFA president Blatter and former Union of European Football Association (UEFA) president Platini were found guilty of breaching FIFA’s ethics code when Blatter payed the Frenchman US$2 million in 2011. 

Both men maintain that they did nothing wrong, however the judge ruled against them since the payment was made nine years after it was due, raising suspicions and highlighting ethical concerns.

According to the committee, “Mr Blatter, in his position as president of FIFA, authorized the payment to Mr Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999. Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment. His assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.”  

Though the two men were found to have breached FIFA’s ethics code, the ruling does not declare them guilty of corruption charges, which would have carried a lifelong ban from the sport.

In addition to the temporary ban, Blatter was fined $50,000 and Platini will have to pay $80,000. 

Pep Guardiola to leave Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed Pep Guardiola will be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti next summer when the Spaniard's three-year contract comes to an end. 

As revealed by Sportsmail earlier this week, the 44-year-old Spaniard will leave the Bundesliga giants and is expected to take over at Manchester City.

Guardiola, who has won back-to-back league titles in Germany since taking up the reins at the Allianz Arena, has decided to embark on a fresh challenge.

Rummenigge said of Guardiola's decision to leave the club: 'We are thankful to Guardiola for all he gave our club and hope to celebrate more success in the current season. 

'With Ancelotti we have another very successful coach coming to Bayern. We are looking forward to working together.'

Manchester City have been linked with Guardiola over the past few seasons and could finally land the former Barcelona boss at the end of the current campaign if they decide to replace Manuel Pellegrini.

The current City boss has openly admitted Guardiola and Manchester City would be a good fit if he was to replace him at the Etihad Stadium.

Bayern have moved quickly to appoint Ancelotti following Guardiola's refusal to put pen to paper on a contract extension.