Florentino Perez resigns as president of Real Madrid.

The 58-year-old masterminded the Galacticos era at the Bernabeu.

UEFA surprisingly reduce Chelsea defender Asier del Horno’s Champions League ban from three matches to one.- Florentino Perez resigns as president of Real Madrid. After replacing Lorenzo Sanz in 2000, the 58-year-old masterminded the Galacticos era at the Bernabeu with Real recently labelled the richest club in the world. He authorised the recruitment of superstars such as Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham. Real have won the Primera Liga title twice and the Champions League once during his reign but have not lifted a trophy since 2003. Perez’s resignation comes after Real’s 1-0 home loss to Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League tie followed by a 1-2 defeat at Real Mallorca on Sunday. Although making regular changes to the coaching staff, Perez clearly blames the players for the relative lack of success: “We have constructed a great squad but some of the players have got mixed up. I want to capture their attention through my resignation so that they understand that all that matters is Real Madrid.”

- UEFA surprisingly reduce Chelsea defender Asier del Horno’s Champions League ban from three matches to one. The left-back was dismissed in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie against Barcelona on Wednesday for a reckless challenge on Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. The former Athletic Bolbao defender accused Argentine forward of exaggerating the impact of his challenge and was publicly backed by his manager Jose Mourinho.

- Singer Robbie Williams buys a considerable stake in Port Vale. The pop star grew up in Stoke-on-Trent and has supported the League One club since his childhood. Vale chairman Bill Bratt welcomes the undisclosed investment: “It’s now up to the board and all at Port Vale FC to ensure his investment is used wisely in helping to secure the future at the club.” It is reported that there was £260,000 worth of unallocated shares available at the beginning of the month.

- Following the infamous on-pitch altercation with team-mate Kieron Dyer last April, Newcastle United’s Lee Bowyer enters a plea of not guilty to a charge of breaching the Public Order Act at a brief hearing at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court. The incident occurred during United’s 0-3 Premiership defeat by Aston Villa at St James’s Park.

- One for football’s strangest transfers file. UT Adad of Romania’s Second Division are reported to have sold a player in exchange for 15 kilograms of meat but Fourth Division Regal Horia appear to have been sold short as defender Marius Cioara then decided to end his playing career and move to Spain to find a job in agriculture or construction. A Regal spokesman told local sport daily Pro Sport: “We are upset because we lost twice. Firstly because we lost a good player and, secondly, because we lost our team’s food for a whole week!”