Drogba walks back to the "Bridge"

Didier Drogba has re-joined Chelsea on a one-year contract.

Drogba left Chelsea on a dramatic high in 2012, scoring the winning penalty in the shoot-out which clinched the Champions League title against Bayern Munich, the
crowning moment of an eight-year stay with the Blues.

The 36-year-old joined Shanghai, and then Galatasaray but once his contract with the Turkish side ended and he became a free
agent he was linked with a return to Stamford Bridge, and Italian champions Juventus.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists
nostalgia had nothing to do with his
decision to bring the Ivory Coast striker back to West London.

Mourinho told the club’s website: “He’s coming because he’s one of the best strikers in Europe. I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he’s not protected by history or what he’s done for this club previously. He is coming with the mentality to make more history.”

Drogba said: ‘It was an easy decision - I couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again.  Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to
me.

“My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career.”

Drogba was named Chelsea's greatest ever player in a poll of fans in 2012.

He scored 157 goals in 341 games in his first spell, winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups as well as the Champions League triumph.

He was named Chelsea's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year and has won the Premier League Golden Boot twice.

Drogba scored nine goals in nine cup finals for the Blues and his 34 goals in European competitions is a Chelsea record.

He played against Chelsea for Galatasaray in the Champions League last season, and was given a rousing reception by Blues
supporters.

FIFA sticks with Russia 2018

FIFA has rejected calls to move the 2018 World Cup from Russia, saying the tournament "can achieve
positive change."

Russia's alleged involvement in shooting down a Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine last week prompted calls from some lawmakers in Germany to review
the country's hosting rights.

On Friday, political pressure on Russia increased when the European Union moved to freeze assets and restrict travel for more individuals and businesses.

FIFA issued a statement saying it
"deplores any form of violence" and
would support only peaceful, democratic debate about the World Cup.

"History has shown so far that boycotting sport events or a policy of isolation or confrontation are not the most effective ways to solve problems," FIFA said, adding that global attention on the World
Cup "can be a powerful catalyst for
constructive dialogue between people and governments."

The conflict between Ukraine and pro- Russia separatist rebels escalated days after the World Cup ended in Brazil.

On July 13 in Rio de Janeiro, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a World Cup hosting handover ceremony with Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff. Both then sat next to FIFA President Sepp Blatter to watch the final
at the Maracana Stadium, won by
Germany.

FIFA, which has Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko on its executive committee, said a World Cup in the country "can be a force for good."

"FIFA believes this will be the case for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia," the governing body said.

Blatter already rejected calls to strip Russia of the tournament after it annexed the Crimea this year.

"The World Cup has been given and
voted to Russia and we are going forward with our work," Blatter said in March.

In a separate statement Friday, Mutko said a United States-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics had been a mistake.

"So there's no sense in reacting to
politicians trying to make names for
themselves," Mutko was quoted saying by Russian news agency R-Sport. "We're preparing in a calm way, building facilities, getting ready for the World Cup."

Russia has announced a $20 billion
budget for building and renovating 12 stadiums, and other construction projects, for the first World Cup to be held in eastern Europe.

Restricting Russian financial institutions' access to European capital markets was suggested to a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels on Friday. The 28-nation bloc is scheduled to further discuss the subject on Tuesday.

"FIFA has stated many times that sport should be outside politics," Mutko said.

"Hosting an event like this, we're doing it for athletes from all over the world, for footballers, for the fans."

Greece appoints Ranieri

Greece have appointed former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri as their new manager.

The Italian has signed a two-year deal with the Greek national team with the aim of making sure the team qualifies for Euro 2016.

The 62-year-old takes over from Fernando Santos whose contract expired following the World Cup where he guided Greece to
the last 16.

Ranieri’s most recent job was with Monaco, where he spent two years.
He led the team to promotion from the second tier of French football in 2013, winning the second division for the first time in Monaco’s history in his first season.

He then secured a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 in 2014, finishing the season with 80 points before being sacked.

Greece are in Euro 2016 qualifying Group F and will face Hungary, Romania, Finland, Northern Ireland and the Faroe Islands.

A statement from the Greek Football Federation read: "The Italian coach, with service at many major European clubs, is expected to lead our group to new successes with Euro 2016 on the horizon."