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Arsene Wenger says FIFA should consider holding the World Cup and Euros every two years and that a review of the international match calendar will consider compressed qualifiers and enforced breaks for players.

The former Arsenal manager is Chief of Global Football Development at world soccer's governing body and a close advisor to president Gianni Infantino.

Wenger said the current four year wait for a World Cup is unfair to players and the focus should be on "competitions of meaning," including the European Championships.

Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha became the first Premier League player not to take a knee in protest against racism when he stayed standing with his hands behind his back before kickoff in Saturday's 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

The Ivory Coast international said last month he would stop taking a knee before matches because he believes the meaning of the gesture, which he called "degrading," has been lost.

MOSCOW — Football fans attending the Russian Premier League clash between Zenit and Akhmat Grozny in St. Petersburg on Saturday were offered an unusual pre-game treat — a vaccine against COVID-19.

Upon arrival at the Gazprom Arena, people could decide whether or not to receive the free shot, Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. At least 20 fans were vaccinated before the game, according to a Reuters reporter. The service was available for two hours before and after the game, so that number could rise.

BREMEN, Germany — Bayern Munich cruised to a 3-1 victory at Werder Bremen on Saturday with striker Robert Lewandowski climbing to second place in the Bundesliga's all-time scorers list as the champions opened up a five-point lead at the top.

The 32-year-old Lewandowski, the 2020 FIFA World Player, twice hit the woodwork early in the second half before tapping in for to make it 3-0 and join Klaus Fischer on 268 Bundesliga goals, second on the all-time scorers list only to Gerd Mueller and his astonishing 365-goal record.

Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic has struggled for playing time under new manager Thomas Tuchel but the German said on Friday the 22-year-old is part of his plans at the Premier League club.

Pulisic has played 134 minutes and is yet to start a league game under Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard in late January and has led the London club on an unbeaten run of 11 games.

"He is in my plans, he is an important player," Tuchel said before Saturday's trip to Leeds United.

The selection process for the Canadian team competing at this month's Concacaf men's Olympic qualifying tournament may have been hampered by Covid-19 and other issues but head coach Mauro Biello remains confident in his squad.

Nine Toronto FC players were on the provisional roster but, due to positive Covid-19 tests at the MLS club's training camp, none made the 20-player squad named on Wednesday that will compete in the March 18-30 tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

BERLIN — Germany coach Joachim Löw will step down from the role he has had since 2006 after the end of this summer's European Championship, he said on Tuesday, ending his run as the current longest serving national team coach.

The top-ranked U.S. women's team will head to Europe in April to face Sweden as part of their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics where it will try to reclaim the gold medal that eluded it at the 2016 Rio Games, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.

U.S. Soccer said fans will not be allowed at the April 10 game in Stockholm and that it is currently finalizing a second match in Europe to be played on April 13.

Rangers fans flouted coronavirus lockdown restrictions to gather outside Ibrox before and after their team's 3-0 win over St. Mirren to move within a point of the Scottish Premiership title on Saturday.

Goals by Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Ianis Hagi continued Rangers' 100 percent home record with a 16th win and they will be champions if Celtic fail to beat Dundee United on Sunday.

Rangers have not won the title since 2011, since then they spiralled into financial turmoil and were demoted to Scotland's bottom tier in 2012 after entering administration.