1. Italian soccer was rocked in early May with the publication of intercepted phone calls between the general manager of Juventus, Luciano Moggi, and senior officials at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), discussing refereeing appointments during the 2004-05 season. Within days, officials at AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina were also dragged in. After a four-month investigation, the Italian sports courts delivered their sentences: Juventus was relegated to the second-division Serie B on minus 17 points, while Milan, Lazio, Reggina and Fiorentina stayed in Serie A, but with points penalties.

2. Doha, the capital of Qatar, successfully hosted the 15th Asian Games, the largest ever in the history of the regional sporting event, from December 1 to 15. More than 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions competed across the 39 sports. It was the first time that the Asian Games have been held in the Arabic region.

An illuminated boat takes part in the opening entertainment sequence at the rehearsal for the Asian Games Opening ceremony in Doha November 29, 2006. The 15th Asian Games begin with the Opening Ceremony on December 1. [Reuters]

3. Italy lifted the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time after beating France on penalties in the final in Berlin on July 9. France captain Zinedine Zidane won the FIFA Golden Ball award as the outstanding player of the World Cup despite being sent off in the final for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi.

Italy's Fabio Cannavaro (C) lifts the World Cup Trophy as he celebrates with team mates after the World Cup 2006 final soccer match between Italy and France in Berlin July 9, 2006. [Reuters]

4. China's hurdles star Liu Xiaang shattered the men's 110m hurdles world record when he clocked 12.88 seconds in an IAAF meet in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 11. The 23-year-old Liu had jointly held the previous world best of 12.91 with Britain's Colin Jackson.

Liu Xiang of China celebrates setting a new world record in the men's 110-metre race at the IAAF Super Grand Prix athletics meeting in Lausanne July 11, 2006. Liu won the race in a world record time of 12.88 seconds. [Reuters]

5. The credibility of athletics and cycling was called into question when Olympic 100 meters champion Justin Gatlin and Tour de France winner Floyd Landis both tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone.

6. Spain captured the country's first world basketball championship title in Japan on September 3 after beating Greece 70-47 in the final. Red-hot favorite the United States finished with bronze after being humbled by Greece in the semi-finals.

7. Italy's World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named the FIFA World Player of the Year on December 18, beating playmakers Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho to become the first defender to win the award. Brazilian international Marta won the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award. US veteran Kristine Lilly and Germany's midfielder Renate Lingor finished second and third respectively in the voting.

Soccer World Player of the Year 2006 nominee Fabio Cannavaro of Italy smiles during a press conference before the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich December 18, 2006. [Reuters]

8. More than 2,600 athletes from 80 countries and regions participated in the 20th Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. Winter sports powerhouses Germany, the United States and Austria finished top three in the gold medals table. China, which sent its biggest delegation ever to a Winter Games, clinched two golds, leveling its 2002 haul. But the February 10-26 Games were overshadowed by a string of doping incidents.

9. Germany's Michael Schumacher, the most successful driver in the 56-year history of the Formula One championship, called it quits on October 22.Schumacher headed into retirement with seven crowns, 91 race wins in his 16-year F1 career.

Ferrari Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany sits for a photo with the rest of the team, after the running of the Brazilian Grand Prix, the last race of Schumacher's F1 career, at the Interlagos track in Sao Paulo, October 22, 2006. [Reuters]

10. Henri Serandour, the president of the French national Olympic committee (CNOSF), was handed a three-month suspended prison sentence and a 20,000 euro fine by a Paris court on October 12 for conflicts of interest. He was found guilty of having made two transactions on behalf of the CNOSF with a communications company for which his wife, former champion swimmer Catherine Poirot, worked.