A FIFA task force meets in Qatar this week to try to set dates for the 2022 World Cup -- with a groundbreaking but highly controversial winter tournament likely.

Officials from football's global governing body, top leagues and players' representatives will meet in the Gulf state on Tuesday to try to seek agreement.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was again on target as Borussia Dortmund moved further clear of the relegation zone in the German Bundesliga on Friday with a 3-2 victory at VfB Stuttgart.

It was a third consecutive win for Jurgen Klopp's side, who will travel to Italy to face Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie next Tuesday with confidence restored.

Monaco gave themselves a boost ahead of their trip to play Arsenal in the Champions League by beating Cote d'Azur rivals Nice 1-0 at the Allianz Riviera in Ligue 1 on Friday.

Substitute Bernardo Silva was the hero for the principality side, coming off the bench to net the only goal of the game five minutes from time.

Hugo Lloris says the visit of West Ham United to White Hart Lane on Sunday marks a crucial stage in Tottenham Hotspur's bid to claim a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino's side head into the latest round of matches in sixth spot, three points behind fourth-placed Southampton, after undoing their good work in beating Arsenal by slumping to a narrow defeat at Liverpool.

The Golden State Warriors burnished their NBA-leading record on Friday, roughing up defending champions San Antonio 110-99.

Stephen Curry, fresh from winning the three-point contest during the league's All-Star weekend last Saturday, scored 25 points and handed out 11 assists to lead the Warriors.

The Cleveland Cavaliers launched their push to the NBA post-season on Friday with a 127-89 pummeling of the Washington Wizards.

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James scored 28 points and Kyrie Irving added 25 with seven assists for the Cavaliers, who have now won 15 of their last 17 games.

NASCAR, America's hugely popular stock car racing series, suspended driver Kurt Busch indefinitely on Friday after a court commissioner found he smashed a former girlfriend's head into a wall.

In a decision released by Kent County Commissioner David Jones in Delaware, the court found by a "preponderance of the evidence" of domestic violence by Busch against Patricia Driscoll.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers on Friday backed striker Mario Balotelli over the penalty controversy which marred his side's 1-0 Europa League win against Besiktas.

Reds captain Steven Gerrard was angry that Balotelli overruled Jordan Henderson when the stand-in Reds skipper tried to take an 85th-minute penalty in the last 32, first leg at Anfield on Thursday.

Marseille manager Marcelo Bielsa refused to comment Friday on reports suggesting he may quit the French giants for Saudi Arabia at the end of the season.

"Such rumors are common during this time of the year", the 59-year-old replied when journalists asked him if there was any truth linking him to the Saudi national team.

Barcelona have paid tribute to former coach Tito Vilanova by naming the principal pitch at the club's training ground after him.

Vilanova died in April last year at the age of 45 after a long battle with throat cancer.