Jonas Gutierrez: Newcastle players congratulated me after tribunal victory

Jonas Gutierrez spent seven years with Newcastle United

Jonas Gutierrez says his former Newcastle United team-mates phoned to congratulate him on winning an employment tribunal against the club.

It ruled he was dropped by Newcastle because of his cancer diagnosis, with the 32-year-old suing for about £2m on grounds of disability discrimination.

Gutierrez called the ruling a "relief" but says he "can't understand" the St James' Park club's treatment of him.

"I am so frustrated about that period," the Argentine told BBC Sportshour.

The tribunal also ruled on Thursday that the club made it impossible for Gutierrez to trigger an appearance-based contract extension.

"I have good pals from my time there," he said.

"Players I have played a long period with, like Perchy [James Perch], Ryan Taylor, [Dan] Gosling, [goalkeeper] Robbie Elliott - we were so close and we continue talking sometimes."

He added: "They know what things were going on. They can't understand the way [Newcastle] treated me.

"When the court announced, they called me and said congrats because they know what I had to go through."

Listen to the full interview from BBC Sportshour

'I want to set a precedent'

Gutierrez, who joined Newcastle from Real Mallorca in 2008, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October 2013.

The Argentina international sued Newcastle over the way he was treated following his diagnosis and claimed the Premier League club saw him as a liability after he returned from treatment.

Claims of unfavourable treatment and another of harassment related to disability were dismissed.

Gutierrez says he was always "honest" during his seven-year spell at St James' Park and did not directly blame owner Mike Ashley.

He said: "I don't want to say it was him.

"I don't want to speak too much about this, but one who runs the club is Mike Ashley - he is the owner, so he makes the decisions over there."

During the tribunal, Gutierrez's mother Monica Montore said she "wanted to take my own life at the club's door" due to the treatment of her son.

The midfielder says his family found it "tough", adding "it was as difficult for them as me".

Jonas Gutierrez posted this message to Mike Ashley on Twitter

However, he wants his case to set a precedent for employees, not just footballers, who face similar battles.

"For me, it was the worst period in my life," he added. "I didn't deserve that type of treatment.

"It's important to leave a precedent for the future. No-one can go through this again - not footballers or any employees, that is more important.

"It made me learn a lot about life. Now we're here I'm really happy about what I've been through. To be alive and be healthy is more important for me."

Newcastle United were contacted for a response and referred to their original statement from Thursday.

"The tribunal has now given its decision in the case brought against the club by Jonas Gutierrez. It found for him on two of the four heads of claim.

"We recognise that the task facing the tribunal was a difficult one, but we are dismayed by its decision. We will now take time to consider the judgement in full and consult with our legal team to understand the options available to us."

'Once a Geordie, always a Geordie'

Newcastle currently sit 19th in the Premier League table and six points from safety, but Gutierrez says he hopes Rafael Benitez's side can avoid relegation.

"I want them to stay up," he said. "The city and the fans don't deserve to go down.

"It is a massive club. The fans are massive and they deserve to stay in the Premier League. They're in a tough situation, but I say to the fans to be positive, to believe.

"It is for me, the best years in my career. The fans, the city make me feel so at home. Once a Geordie, always a Geordie is something that is totally true.

"Once you play in that shirt you want to support that team."

Emre Can: Liverpool midfielder out with ankle injury for four weeks

Emre Can suffered the injury late in the game at Anfield and was replaced by Lucas

Liverpool midfielder Emre Can has been ruled out for at least four weeks after rupturing ankle ligaments in the Europa League win over Borussia Dortmund.

The German, 22, limped off during Thursday's thrilling last-eight victory and left Anfield on crutches.

He is set to miss the rest of the domestic season, including the Reds' semi-final tie against Villarreal.

Fellow midfielder and captain Jordan Henderson will miss the rest of the season with damaged knee ligaments.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: "Emre is injured. He will take time. It'll be for the next four or five weeks so we should not say the season is finished."

Should the Reds beat the Spanish side in the last four they will face either Sevilla or Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League final on 18 May.

Can joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £9.75m in the 2014-15 summer transfer window. This season, the Germany international has played 49 games and scored twice.

West Ham to pay £2.5m Olympic Stadium rent per year

West Ham released computer graphics of what their team playing at the Olympic Stadium would look like

West Ham will pay £2.5m a year to rent the 60,000-seater Olympic Stadium, it has been revealed after the deal was made public following a legal battle.

The ground's owners, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), fought a ruling that the contract should be published, but the appeal was rejected this week.

West Ham will pay the sum per year over the 99-year lease, the 207-page document has revealed.

The Hammers move in this summer.

The first £4m of any naming rights deal will go to the LLDC and Newham borough, with anything above that between the two bodies and West Ham, although the amount is capped.

The rent will be halved to £1.25m if West Ham are relegated.

The LLDC, which had spent thousands of pounds fighting the ruling, said the decision could cost the organisation "millions of pounds".

But it has decided not to appeal against the tribunal's ruling.

Extra payments West Ham could have to make annually
£1m if they win the Champions League	£100,000 if they win the FA Cup or Europa League, or qualify for it
£250,000 if they qualify for the Champions League group stages (All payments linked to inflation)	£100,000 if they finish in the top five in the Premier League, with smaller payments for other positions in the top 10

The club were awarded tenancy of the London 2012 stadium in 2013, and at least £272m has been spent to convert the site for use as a Premier League ground.

West Ham have contributed £15m towards those costs. Last year a BBC documentary revealed the club was having many of the running costs of the stadium paid for it by the taxpayer under the terms of the tenancy agreement.

The Hammers will not have to pay for a range of things including policing, stewarding, goalposts, corner flags, cleaners and turnstile operators. Heating and lighting costs will also be covered by the stadium managers.

However, stadium bosses point out that this is normal for a rental agreement, using the analogy that you would not expect to hire a badminton court and not have nets supplied.

A coalition of 14 supporters' trusts from around the country submitted a Freedom of Information request to obtain that tenancy agreement and believe the deal gives West Ham, who have played at Upton Park since 1904, a competitive advantage.

West Ham say they have nothing to hide, believe it is a "great deal" for the club and the taxpayer, and say the stadium offers a true legacy.

The club added: "Someone renting the stadium for 25 days a year cannot be responsible for 365 days' running costs."

A coalition of 14 supporters' groups and trusts of several different clubs campaigned for the information to be released. In a statement it said: "This is the right decision for the taxpayer, and the right decision for football."

Analysis

BBC Sport's Frank Keogh:

"After a long-running legal row, campaigners have finally succeeded in getting all the details of the Olympic Stadium deal made public.

"That is unlikely to completely end the story, with critics saying West Ham have got a new stadium on the cheap.

"The Hammers are keeping their distance, although insist by becoming a high-profile anchor tenant, the club is helping to ensure the venue does not become a 'white elephant'. As a tenant, it also misses out on benefits of added income which a venue owner enjoys.

"Focus may now turn to the stadium rights arrangement, and quite how much the Hammers might benefit from that."

Barcelona: Luis Enrique takes blame for Champions League exit

Lionel Messi (left) failed to score for the fifth game in a row for Barcelona

Barcelona are "in a hole" and "finding it difficult to score goals" admitted boss Luis Enrique following their shock Champions League quarter-final defeat.

The holders were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid,who won the second leg 2-0.

"The team are sad. We aren't at our best at the moment, nor our most effective," he said.

"I'm 99.9% to blame, no 100. That's why I am the coach, the most responsible. We all have to improve."

Antoine Griezmann scored both goals for Atletico at the Vicente Calderon, while Lionel Messi failed to net for the fifth club game in a row.

"It is clear that we are not in our best form, especially if you consider how we were playing before, but we need to lift ourselves," added Enrique.

It is only the third time in 11 years that Barcelona have not reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

They are three points clear of Atletico at the top of La Liga, but have lost three of their past four games in all competitions.

"It was the game we predicted, although perhaps I didn't expect Atletico to play so deep. It wasn't our best day," added Enrique, who won the treble in his first year in charge at Barca.

"We have to stay calm and think that we still have two competitions where we are in the running.

"Everyone can choose the explanation. To give mine I have to analyse the performance. It is not our best time, but it is not the time to be nervous."

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Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid forward enjoys 'beautiful night'

Cristiano Ronaldo took his tally to 46 for the season for Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo hit back at his critics after his 37th Real Madrid hat-trick helped them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Real overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 on Tuesday.

In February, the Portuguese forward walked out of a Champions League news conference after being questioned about his record in away matches this season.

"Considering this has been a 'bad' season for me, it has not been that bad," Ronaldo, 31, said after victory.

He scored twice in three minutes early on to cancel out Wolfsburg's advantage, sweeping home at the back post from six yards before glancing a header into the far corner.

He completed his hat-trick and sealed Real's place in the last four with a 25-yard free-kick 13 minutes from time at the Bernabeu Stadium.

Ronaldo, who was booed by his own supporters during the 2-0 second-leg victory over Roma in the last 16, took his tally to 46 goals in all competitions this season, including 16 in the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the top goalscorer in both the Champions League and La Liga this season

"It was not the best, but one of my best, European nights," said Ronaldo.

"It was a magic night for me. I'm very happy after having scored three goals and raise my numbers, but the most important thing was the team. The team was intense and played very well. It is a beautiful night."

"People can criticise me but I just keep on going and the numbers are there for all to see. I am very happy and with a month left of the season I can get even better.

"It's not bad, is it? Goals are in my DNA and I want to keep scoring them for the team."

Real coach Zinedine Zidane said: "What can I tell you about Cristiano? He is demonstrating how good he is. He makes the difference.

"He is the best player in the world and nights like tonight make him a special player. Cristiano needs the whole team too but not everyone can score three goals in a game."

Manchester City reached the semi-finals by beating Paris St-Germain, while Atletico Madrid face Barcelona and Benfica meet Bayern Munich on Wednesday for the final two places.

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Fernando Alonso a doubt for Chinese Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso has been unable to do his normal full training programme in the two-week gap since the race in Bahrain

Fernando Alonso says he does not know whether he will be able to race in this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver was ruled out of the last race in Bahrain because of a broken rib sustained in his terrifying accident at the season-opening race in Australia.

The two-time champion said: "Until I get the all-clear from the doctors to race we cannot assume anything.

"But I'm continuing to prepare for the race weekend as normal."

The Spaniard, who has been in China since Monday, will be examined by doctors of governing body the FIA on his arrival at the Shanghai track on Thursday.

Alonso has been unable to do his normal full training programme in the two-week gap between Bahrain and China as a result of his injury.

Last week, the 34-year-old posted images of himself on social media returning to training and wrote: "Gradually increasing the training session. Mainly indoor bicycle and elastics. (The ones you are allowed with a broken rib ...)! Happy with how things are going."

Alonso spent the weekend at a luxury resort in Tuscany before flying to the Far East.

If he cannot race in Shanghai, he will again be replaced by McLaren's reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne.

The 24-year-old Belgian impressed in Bahrain by out-qualifying team-mate Jenson Button on his grand prix debut and scoring a point for 10th place.

NBA: Kobe Bryant & Golden State Warriors ticket prices soar

Kobe Bryant (left) could add to his 33,583 points in his final game on Wednesday, while Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors are seeking a record 73 wins

Basketball fans are paying up to $27,500 (£19,315) to see Kobe Bryant's final game for the LA Lakers.

Bryant, 37, the third-highest scorer in NBA history, will bring his 20-year career to an end when the Lakers face Utah Jazz in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

At the same time, defending champions Golden State Warriors will be going for a record 73 wins when they host Memphis Grizzlies in Oakland, California.

Resale tickets for that game are going for up to $15,900 (£11,155).

The Warriors are looking to break a record set by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in 1995-96.

The game is a 19,595 capacity sell-out with tickets only available via the resale market. Tickets via official channels start at $336 (£236) and rise to £15,900 for courtside seats on resale websites such as Stubhub.

Only resale tickets can be bought for the Lakers' game at the 18,118-capacity Staples Center too, with prices fetching between $700 (£491) and $27,500 for the chance to see 18-time all-star and five-time championship winner Bryant for a final time.

The Lakers have issued a fraud alert to fans warning them to only buy from their official ticket exchange, where fans can resell tickets securely. However, buyers using the official exchange can still expect to pay up to $10,000 (£7,000) to see the game.