Summary

  • BBC Young SPOTY top three: Downie, Kearney & Marquand

  • Benzema banned from France team over alleged blackmail

  • Schweinsteiger gets three-game ban

  • Nine Premier League news conferences

  • Debate: Your best and worst sporting facilities #bbcsportsday

  1. Goodbye!published at 18:00

    That is all from Sportsday today. Go over to our BBC Football page for Europa League live text commentary.

    We will be back at 08:00 GMT on Friday.

  2. football

    Japanese team reach Club World Cup quarterspublished at 17:58

    Football

    Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Auckland City 2-0 on Thursday in the opening game of the Club World Cup to book their place in the quarter finals.

    European champions Barcelona and Argentina's River Plate, the South American Libertadores Cup holders, join the seven-team tournament at the semi-final stage next week.  

    Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Yusuke MinagawaImage source, AP
  3. football

    And the pitch, Aaron?published at 17:56

    Football

    We've been publishing pictures of some pitches that could do with more TLC.

    I'm sure the Hammers will be playing on something better when they move into the Olympic Stadium next season.

  4. Rousey v Holm II date setpublished at 17:55

    Ronda Rousey v Holly HolmImage source, EPA

    UFC president Dana White tells the Los Angeles Times, external that "it’s Ronda Rousey" next for Holm, with a 9 July date pencilled in at the new arena in Las Vegas.

    Holm produced a shock second-round knockout to see off 28-year-old Rousey who was undefeated in her first 12 mixed martial arts fights, with 11 wins in the first round.

  5. football

    Garry Monk statementpublished at 17:50

    Football

    Garry MonkImage source, PA

    Swansea and manager Garry Monk went their own separate ways on Wednesday.

    Monk, 36, had managed the club since 2014. One win in 11 league matches this year resulted in the Swans sacking their manager.

    Here are excerpts from his statement via the League Managers' Association: 

    "It's with great sadness that I am leaving this special club. "Over the last twelve years I have been part of the Swansea City family. It has been both an honour and a privilege to play for and manage this club.

    "I believe that whenever you join a football club, the supporters deserve your blood, sweat and tears. I can say for sure I gave all those things and more.

    "Everyone at the club from myself, my staff and the players themselves have been working tirelessly to change this loss of form, but unfortunately have not been able to in satisfactory time.

    "I feel truly proud of all we've done during my 22 months in charge. I would have liked to continue because I strongly believe we would have come through this period together and stronger but I will now use my time to reflect and improve, ready for my next challenge.

    "I would like to finish by thanking Huw Jenkins and the board of directors for giving me the opportunity to manage this remarkable club and for their support throughout the whole of my journey at Swansea City."

  6. football

    Jersey hopeful of Uefa membershippublished at 17:34

    Football

    The Jersey FA believes their hopes of Uefa membership may hinge on the outcome of applications for membership by Kosovo and Greenland.

    "If the application of Kosovo is to be dealt with on its merits, and it is expected that a future application by Greenland will be considered when it develops its facilities, then Jersey's application must also be dealt with on its merits," the island's bid document states.

    Current Uefa rules state that only sovereign nations can be admitted as members.

  7. formula 1

    One to digestpublished at 17:30

    Formula 1

  8. hockey

    Hinch sharp before GB semipublished at 17:26

    Hockey

    Nick Hope
    BBC Sport, Olympic Sport reporter in Rosario

    GB keeper Maddie Hinch tells me the team spent most of Wednesday's training session, before Thursday's World League clash against New Zealand, working on their shootout skills.

    Hinch was the hero for England as they defeated world and Olympic champions the Netherlands in a shootout to claim European gold in August.

    "Obviously we want to win in regular time, but we know this game could be very tight so given our record we're confident if it does go to a shoot out that we can come out on top," she tells BBC Sport.

    Great Britain hockeyImage source, Getty Images
  9. sports personality

    Young Sports Personality of the Yearpublished at 17:18

    The top three contenders for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2015 have been revealed on Blue Peter:

    Ellie Downie (Gymnastics)

    Tully Kearney (Para-Swimming)

    Tom Marquand (Horse Racing)

    The winner will be announced at this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which comes live from The SSE Arena, Belfast on Sunday 20 December, 18:50 GMT, BBC One.

    Claudia Fragapane
    Image caption,

    Gymnast Claudia Fragapane won the award last year

  10. hockey

    GB target World semipublished at 17:13

    Hockey

    Nick Hope
    BBC Sport, Olympic Sport reporter in Rosario

    The British women face world number four nation New Zealand at 19:00 GMT today for a place in the World League semi-finals.

    After a slow-start, which saw GB lose to hosts Argentina on the opening day, the team have been gathering momentum and defeated world number two side Australia on Tuesday.

    This is one of the team's final major events before next year's Rio Olympics and victory today would be a further sign of GB's progress in a year which saw them qualify for the 2016 Games and claim European gold.

  11. Sion v Liverpool (18:00 GMT)published at 17:09

    Europa League group match

    If you want to follow how Liverpool get on in their final group game then check out our Europa League live text. Celtic are at Fenerbahce.

    Tottenham host Monaco at 20:05 GMT.

    Both English clubs are through to the knockout stages.

  12. football

    Reading Women switch groundspublished at 16:58

    Football

    Reading FC Women will play their home games at Adams Park, the home of Wycombe Wanderers, next season.

    They were promoted to WSL 1 last season, but their groundshare agreement at Farnborough was not renewed.

    Adams Park has been Wycombe's home since 1990-91. 

  13. football

    No Swansea pre-match news conferencepublished at 16:55

    Man City v Swansea (15:00 GMT)

    Swansea were due to have their pre-Manchester City game news conference on Thursday, but delayed that until Friday.

    Now the Swans, who sacked manager Garry Monk on Wednesday, have cancelled Friday's news conference.

  14. football

    Europa League: Sion v Liverpool (18:00 GMT)published at 16:48

    Football

    There will be live text coverage of the Reds' final Europa League group match on this website at 17:00 GMT.

  15. football

    Top English Premier League managerspublished at 16:45

    Football

    Roy EvansImage source, .

    This is a bit of a surprise don't you think?

    Former Liverpool boss Roy Evans has the best win percentage of any English manager in the Premier League.

    To see the top 10, watch this video.

  16. football

    Bolton confirm winding-up petitionpublished at 16:40

    Football

    Bolton Wanderers confirm that the club has now received a winding up petition from HMRC in respect of unpaid PAYE and VAT for the month of November.

    A statement from the club added:

    "Despite requests from the club to HMRC to give it further time to either conclude a sale or raise additional funds, HMRC has proceeded with due process and duly served a petition.

    Trevor Birch, advisor to the board and owner at Bolton Wanderers:

    "Quite clearly the club remains in a critical financial position. We will continue to try and finalise a sale or alternatively raise some short term funds needed to give the club a breathing space and time in which to consider its options."

  17. football

    Schweinsteiger three-game banpublished at 16:37

    Football

    Statement from The Football Association:

    "Bastian Schweinsteiger will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after he accepted an FA charge for violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.

    "The Manchester United midfielder was involved in an incident with West Ham United’s Winston Reid in the 40th minute of the game on Saturday 5 December 2015."

    Winston Reid and Bastian SchweinsteigerImage source, Getty Images
  18. football

    Schweinsteiger gets three-game banpublished at 16:33

    Football

  19. football

    BBC award announcement on Saturdaypublished at 16:30

    Football

  20. football

    Grosskreutz to Liverpool?published at 16:26

    Football gossip

    Is Galatasaray winger Kevin Grosskreutz on his way to Liverpool? 

    Turkish paper Takvim, external is reporting the former Borussia Dortmund man has already agreed personal terms on a move that will see him link up with Jurgen Klopp.

    KloppImage source, Getty Images