Soccer Extras: Three sent off in Milan win

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

Three players were sent off and AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso was involved in a touchline row with one of his own players as they beat Bologna 2-1 on Monday to revive their Champions League hopes.

Suso and Fabio Borini put Milan in control before Mattia Destro replied, but the home side's recent frustration boiled over in the first half with the argument between Gattuso and substitute Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Gattuso told Bakayoko to warm up after Lucas Biglia was injured but the coach sent on Jose Mauri instead, saying afterwards that the Frenchman had taken too long to get ready. There was a heated discussion between the pair which was caught by television cameras.

Milan had to survive the last 15 minutes with 10 men after Lucas Paqueta was sent off when he appeared to slap the referee's hand after being booked for retaliation while Bologna finished with nine after Nicola Sansone and Mitchell Dijks were dismissed.

The win lifted Milan to fifth place on 59 points, ahead of AS Roma on their head-to-head record, although they are still three behind Atalanta who are fourth and occupy the last of the Champions League slots.

Qualification for the Champions League is the minimum Milan are aiming for this season and they have lost fourth place following a disappointing run of results, leaving nerves frayed.

Media reports said that Bakayoko, on loan from Chelsea this season, was an hour late for a training session last week after his car ran out of petrol although those have not been confirmed by the club.

"I told Bakayoko to warm up, he took his time and I chose Mauri, Gattuso told reporters. "I have 27 players, we wear a glorious shirt and I must be objective and honest in everything I do. I waited seven or eight minutes, he still had not put on his shin pads so I made that choice.

"The most important thing is Milan, not these things," he added.

Suso fired Milan ahead with a low shot from the edge of the area in the 36th minute, just as Bologna were threatening to take control.

Borini snapped up the rebound after Paqueta's shot was parried by Lukasz Skorupski in the 67th minute, although Destro scored with a shot on the turn five minutes later.

Paqueta was dismissed for reacting angrily to a tackle and then slapping the referee's hand when the official showed him the yellow card.

Bologna's Sansone was given a second yellow card for arguing with Franck Kessie in stoppage time and Dijks was shown a straight red for dissent immediately after the final whistle.

Captain Godin announces Atletico departure after nine years

Atletico Madrid captain Diego Godin is leaving the club after nine years when his contract expires in June, the Uruguayan defender said at a news conference on Tuesday, fighting to hold back tears.

Godin, 33, has played 387 times for Atletico since joining from Villarreal in 2010, scoring 27 goals - including famously clinching the club's first La Liga title in 18 years with a header in a 1-1 draw at Barcelona in 2014.

Godin did not say where he is going, but numerous Spanish media have reported that he is on his way to Italian Serie A club Inter Milan.

"I'm a little nervous, much more than I am before a game, but I have called everyone here to inform you that these are my final days at the club," Godin said.

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo added: "We are here to say goodbye to an Atletico legend. You have been a vital part of this great era for the club, with your efforts and your goals, like the one which gave us the title at the Nou Camp.

"You have fought in a thousand battles and defended the club's shirt in every game and you have worn the captain's armband. Wherever you end up, Atletico wishes you a lot of luck. Atletico is your family, the Wanda Metropolitano is your home."

In addition to the La Liga triumph, Godin won two Europa League titles, one Copa del Rey, one Spanish Super Cup and three UEFA Super Cups with Atletico as well as reaching the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals, only to lose both times to Real.

Godin's departure will leave another hole in Atletico's defence, with France international Lucas Hernandez already agreeing to join Bayern Munich in June after they paid his 80 million euro release clause.

Nortje ruled out of WC with injury, Chris Morris called up

Former Juventus, Italy and Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has ruled out an immediate move to AS Roma where he was considered the favourite to replace Claudio Ranieri at the end of the season.

"Today, the conditions are not there," he told Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview although he did not rule out coaching the club at some point in the future.

"I need to have the perception that I can beat anyone," said Conte, who has not coached since being fired by Chelsea 10 months ago. "I need to feel that winning is possible. Otherwise, I will happily stay where I am."

Ranieri took over at Roma in March after Eusebio Di Francesco was fired and was given the job until the end of this season.

Conte, who won three successive Serie A titles with Juventus and the English Premier League in his first season with Chelsea, added that he had nothing against the city itself.

"I fell in love with Rome when I frequented it during my two years as national team coach," he said. "At the (Stadio) Olimpico, I feel the passion of the public who live their football with a special intensity."

Gazzetta said that Conte's comments increased the chances that he could either return to Juventus or join AC Milan or Inter Milan after the end of the season.

"I have a problem: winning," he said. "It is the goal of my work. The way there involves work, sacrifice, a unity of purpose, of thinking about us and not about me. I don't know any other way."

FIFA ensures gender parity with two new women's honours at annual awards

FIFA will introduce awards for the best women's goalkeeper as well as the women's team of the year during its annual Best Football Awards, world soccer's governing body said.

The move ensures both men and women will now claim awards in the same categories, with this year's winners set to be crowned in Milan on Sept. 23.

"It is yet another step in the right direction to raise the profile of women's football," FIFA's deputy secretary general Zvonimir Boban said in a statement.

"FIFA is certain that France will host a groundbreaking edition of the Women's World Cup this year, so I cannot think of a better moment to introduce these new awards."

Cologne bounce back to Bundesliga at first attempt

Cologne, relegated from the Bundesliga last season, bounced back at the first attempt as they guaranteed promotion on Monday with a 4-0 win at Greuther Fuerth thanks to a Jhon Cordoba hat-trick.

Needing a draw to ensure their return to the top flight, the Billy Goats raced to a 3-0 halftime lead as they wrapped up the title with two matches to spare.

Cordoba took advantage of slack marking to give Cologne an eighth-minute lead before Daniel Steininger headed into his own net from a corner and Cordoba turned in Dominick Drexler's pass four minutes before halftime.

The Colombian completed his hat-trick with a header in the 65th minute as Cologne won promotion from the second tier for the sixth time since 1999/2000, and the fourth time as champions.