AC Milan have been banned from participating in European competition next season due to a contravention of Financial Fair Play, UEFA have confirmed. The Rossoneri finished in sixth in last season's Serie A campaign, gaining a spot in the Europa League group stage for 2018-19.  But according to UEFA, the Italians have fallen foul of FFP laws and will not be able to take up their spot.  Milan will have the right to appeal, but if that is unsuccessful they will be expelled from the 2018-19 Europa League, although they would be eligible to enter again in 2019-20 if they qualify for either the Champions or Europa League.  A statement read: "The Adjudicatory Chamber of the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), chaired by Jose Narciso da Cunha Rodrigues, has taken a decision in the case of the club AC Milan that had been referred to it by the CFCB Chief Investigator for the breach of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations, in particular the break-even requirement. "The club is excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next two (2) seasons (i.e. one competition in 2018/19 or 2019/20, subject to qualification). "This decision may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in accordance with Article 34(2) of the Procedural rules governing the UEFA Club Financial Control Body, as well as Articles 62 and 63 of the UEFA Statutes. "Atalanta will qualify straight to the group phase. Fiorentina will enter the preliminary round." Milan returned to European competition after an absence of three years in 2017-18, reaching the last 16 of the Europa League before going out to eventual finalists Arsenal.

Click here for all the latest scores from the world of football!

Click here for all the latest scores from the world of football!

Laurent Koscielny was on course to play for France at World Cup 2018 until a ruptured Achilles tendon left him in agony, but the experienced defender already has a plan in place for coping with a period of enforced inactivity.  The Arsenal centre-back suffered the injury during the Gunners' Europa League semi-final defeat to Atletico Madrid and is not expected to be back in action until November, when Unai Emery's first campaign in charge will be well under way. Koscielny's recovery is progressing but, in an interview with France Football, he laid bare the moment he knew his Russia 2018 dream had died. "I knew right away that my tendon had let go," he said. "The pain was not usual, I felt a terrible break. "My first reaction was to say to myself, "It's dead, my tendon has burst'. I screamed on the pitch… excruciating pain." In terms of his rehabilitation programme, Koscielny acknowledged it is early days and his routine at the moment includes plenty of taking it easy. "My programme? Television, crosswords and Nintendo," he said. "I am now wearing a boot, which allows me to walk on crutches. "In three months I hope to resume light jogging. In five months I could certainly retouch the ball."

Dimitri Payet has no regrets about risking his fitness in the Europa League final despite the decision costing him a spot in France's World Cup squad. The Marseille skipper left the pitch in tears after just half an hour of Wednesday's crushing 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in Lyon. Payet, who had been troubled by a muscle problem in the lead-up to the match, sustained a fresh hamstring injury that France boss Didier Deschamps confirmed as the reason for his exclusion from the 23 for Russia.  The 31-year-old former West Ham playmaker took to social media on Saturday to offer his support to the national team, while insisting he would not hesitate to make the same call again. "When you are a professional player, the France team is above all, it's true," Payet wrote on Instagram.   Bonjour à tous, Tout d’abord je tenais à vous remercier pour vos messages et pour votre soutien cela me touche énormément. Quand on est joueur professionnel, l’équipe de France est au dessus de tout c’est vrai, Mais L’OM est dans mon cœur et si il faut le refaire demain, après demain, dans 6 mois, dans 1 an, je le referais sans me poser la moindre question. Je le répète, j’aime ce club et je suis près à faire des sacrifices pour lui si cela peut le faire grandir encore. J’étais parfaitement au courant des risques que je prenais et j’en assume entièrement les conséquences. Je suis et je serais le premier supporter des bleus pour cette coupe du monde. Je vais me soigner et commencer à préparer la saison prochaine. Vous pouvez compter sur moi. Allez les bleus et surtout allez L’OM. @olympiquedemarseille @equipedefrance @famillespoir #10 #oooooorrr #lelitecestnous #NMP-10 #teamboumbam #EtGardezQuoi #allezlom #