European soccer's most prestigious competition was tarnished by a mass brawl at the end of the Valencia-Inter game on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Liverpool ended FC Barcelona's reign in the Champions League by knocking the defending champions out of the competition.
Lyon -- the league champions of France -- were also eliminated, while English champion Chelsea advanced to the quarter-finals.
Although Barcelona won 1-0 at Anfield on Eidur Gudjohnsen's 75th-minute goal, Liverpool advanced on away goals after having won 2-1 at the Camp Nou two weeks ago.
"I can't deny that my players worked very, very hard in trying to turn the result around, and even though we weren't at our best in terms of our general play, I've got to say that the players fought to the very last minute," Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard said.
The result means that the European Cup, called the Champions League since 1992, hasn't had a back-to-back winner since AC Milan in 1989-1990.
The Valencia-Inter match ended with with punches, kung-fu style kicks and a broken nose -- and Valencia advancing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The Spanish team advanced to the last eight on away goals after a 0-0 draw with Inter Milan in the second leg of the second round. The teams drew 2-2 in the first leg.
But some Valencia players may miss the next round because of the brawl, which left Inter midfielder Nicolas Burdisso with a broken nose.
"It was ugly and sad that in this moment there are people who can't control themselves," Valencia striker David Villa said.
As the whistle blew, Burdisso attacked Valencia defender Carlos Marchena, sparking clashes between the two sets of players.
"Burdisso lost his temper and came rushing towards us," Marchena said. "He came for me and I just tried to back away."
Valencia substitute David Navarro entered the field and punched Burdisso. Several Inter players, including Maicon, then aimed kicks at Navarro as he fled the scene.
"I can't speak of things I didn't see because I was in the locker room when it happened," Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores said. "But I understand that Burdisso started to hit Marchena and that's when Navarro came out to intervene and things happened."
Inter substitute Esteban Cambiasso was one of several players that attempted to enter the dressing room as the trouble continued in the tunnel with security staff preventing further clashes between the players.
"There's a lot of confusion," Flores said. "Those are the consequences of a match played with a lot of tension."
Six yellow cards were given out in the match and both teams made hard challenges in the final minutes, leading to the late pushing.
The match was marred by hard tackles throughout, and with only one chance to show for 30 minutes of play, Inter's frustration showed early as Zlatan Ibrahimovic was carded for a rough tackle on defender Raul Albiol.
Valencia goalkeeper Canizares was subsequently cautioned for rushing out of his goal to voice his displeasure at Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic was again involved in a late scuffle as both sets of players tangled after Inter defender Marco Materazzi crashed into Villa.
"It was a very tense game. It was all very ugly but it sometimes happens," Valencia sports director Amedeo Carboni said. "In half an hour they'll all be leaving together."
The Italian leaders had only one real chance in the first half, when Canizares saved Ibrahimovic's weak roller from 30m in the eighth minute.
Having only to defend its lead to advance, Valencia looked more like the team in need of a goal as it created the better chances throughout.
In the 54th, Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar parried Valencia left back Emiliano Moretti's strong header from the edge of the penalty box to deny the hosts the lead.
Inter saw a second chance cleared off the line in the 75th, as Marchena deflected substitute Julio Ricardo Cruz's header into the arms of Canizares.
Inter couldn't find the away goal as it pressed late and Valencia blocked several shots within the area.
In the last two meetings over two legs between the clubs -- in the 2003 Champions League and the 2002 UEFA Cup -- Inter advanced both times.
Lyon, which is on its way to a sixth straight French league title, was upset by visiting AS Roma 2-0. The teams had drawn 0-0 in Italy.
"I don't know if they are superior to us," Lyon coach Gerard Houllier said. ``They were much more efficient. We had several chances but could not convert. They had two and scored both.''
Francesco Totti and Alessandro Mancini each scored in the first half.
"We won on every level," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "We held the ball. We stopped their initiatives. It's not just our defense which should be praised, but our midfield and our forwards who neutralized Lyon's wingers, which are the strong point of this team."
Chelsea came from a goal down to beat FC Porto 2-1 at Stamford Bridge and advance 3-2 on aggregate.
Ricardo Quaresma put Porto ahead in the 15th minute, but Arjen Robben equalized with a 30m shot in the 48th and Michael Ballack scored the winner in the 79th minute.
"[At halftime] we are out of the competition," said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who led Porto to the Champions League title three seasons ago. "Three minutes later, we are 2-2 on aggregate and it gave us more confidence to get through the game."
"I just made them think a little bit," Mourinho said of his halftime team talk. "I told them: `At the moment we are out of this competition. We either enjoy it or are scared of it,'" he said.
Ahead of yesterday's games, Arsenal trailed PSV Eindhoven 1-0, Lille trailed Manchester United 1-0, AC Milan and Celtic were level at 0-0 and Bayern Munich had to try to overcome a 3-2 deficit against Real Madrid.
The quarter-final draw takes place tomorrow in Athens, Greece.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely