MUNICH - Uli Hoeness wont appeal against his prison sentence for tax evasion, and said on Friday hes quitting as president of Bayern Munich to prevent damage to the European champions. Kyle Okposo Islanders Jersey . Hoeness, one of the most prominent figures in German football, was convicted on Thursday of evading millions of euros (dollars) in tax through an undeclared bank account and sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison. The verdict drew a largely positive response in a country where tax evasion is deeply and increasingly frowned upon. Hoeness lawyer initially said he would file an appeal. Hoeness, however, said in a brief statement posted on Bayerns website on Friday that he decided after talking with his family to accept the verdict. "This corresponds with my personal understanding of decency, attitude and personal responsibility," he wrote. "Tax evasion was the mistake of my life. I am facing up to the consequences of this mistake." Hoeness said he was stepping down immediately as club president and as the chairman of Bayerns supervisory board. He said he wanted "to prevent damage to my club." "Bayern Munich is my lifes work and it will always remain so," he said. "I will remain linked with this great club and its people in other ways as long as I live." Hoeness thanked Bayern supporters and his friends for their support. The club stood by him through the investigation. Bayern won the treble of Bundesliga, Champions League and German Cup last season and could repeat that feat this season. As a player, Hoeness was a Bayern star who won the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup with West Germany and three straight European Cups — the predecessor of the Champions League — before retiring in 1979 with chronic knee problems. Under his guidance as general manager, Bayern built financial reserves rarely seen in debt-ridden European football. Bryan Trottier Islanders Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Jaroslav Halak Islanders Jersey . Blown save in the ninth inning? No problem. MANCHESTER, England -- The most unpredictable Premier League season in years threw up more surprises Saturday when Chelsea conceded a 90th-minute winner at Stoke and beleaguered defending champion Manchester United lost to Newcastle for a second home defeat in four days. With Manchester City being held 1-1 at Southampton, Liverpool was able to capitalize on its rivals slip-ups by thrashing West Ham 4-1 to go second, with Luis Suarez following up his spectacular quadruple in midweek by scoring again at Anfield. It was a good day for Arsenal, which retained its four-point lead ahead of its game against Everton on Sunday. Chelseas 3-2 loss at Stoke, sealed by Oussama Assaidis late strike, saw Jose Mourinhos side drop to third on goal difference behind Liverpool. Uniteds flimsy hopes of retaining its title took another battering by losing 1-0 to Newcastle at Old Trafford, leaving the champions languishing in ninth place -- 12 points behind Arsenal -- and placing further scrutiny on David Moyes in his turbulent first season as Alex Fergusons successor. "I dont think (the fans) or me expected us to have lost five games by this time of the season," said Moyes, who still believes United will be "very close" to the title come May. Yohan Cabayes 61st-minute goal earned Newcastle its first win at Old Trafford in 41 years and left United supporters further disheartened after a loss by the same scoreline to Everton on Wednesday. The way the champions are playing, a place in next seasons Champions League could even be out of reach, although the top four is wide open with the big teams continuing to drop points. Also Saturday, Sunderland stayed bottom after squandering a lead to lose 2-1 at home to sixth-place Tottenham, which has picked up seven points from a possible nine since being humiliated 6-0 by Man City last month. Crystal Palace beat Cardiff 2-0 for a third win in four matches since the departure of Ian Holloway and Norwich won 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion. There was a minutes applause before each Premier League game in honour of former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday at the age of 95. Chelsea and Man City were looking to apply pressure on Arsenal but couldnt hold onto their leads away from home. Andre Schuerrle put Chelsea in front and then equalized for 2-2 after Stoke had hit back through goals by Peeter Crouch and Stephen Ireland, only for Assaidi to grab the winner with seconds left of normal time.Michael Grabner Jersey. "I dont feel comfortable enough to tell you what I think about the game. Were in trouble," said Mourinho, bemoaning his teams lack of organization. Sergio Aguero moved to 12 goals for the campaign -- two behind Suarezs league-high tally -- to give City the lead at Southampton, but Pablo Osvaldo delivered a brilliant equalizer just before halftime by leaving Vincent Kompany on the ground, turning Pablo Zabaleta and floating in a curling shot from the angle just inside the area. "Im pleased with the point," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose sides away form has been erratic this season. Suarez couldnt reproduce his exploits of Wednesday, when he scored four stunning goals against Norwich, but he once again proved to be the difference for Liverpool in a game of three own goals against West Ham. Guy Demel and Joey OBrien put in their own net to bookend the victory after good work by Suarez, who scored himself with a powerful header in the 81st minute to make it 3-1. Mamadou Sakho netted Liverpools second, with West Ham replying through Martin Skrtels own goal before losing Kevin Nolan to a red card with eight minutes left. "In the end we had 29 attempts at goal, and we could have scored more than four. It was a great victory," said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, whose captain Steven Gerrard limped off injured midway through the second half. Liverpool has scored 17 times in its last four home games but United found goals hard to come by this week, failing to score in successive games to lose back-to-back home matches in the league for the first time in 11 years. Without the suspended Wayne Rooney and with Robin van Persie lacking sharpness in his first match back after a month out, United lacked a cutting edge against Newcastle, which controlled midfield and pounced when Cabayes sidefooted effort deflected into the corner. "When I came here I knew it wasnt always going to be easy and its proving that way," Moyes said. As the pressure on one coach increases, so it relents on another as Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas punched the air in delight after his teams second away win in four days. John OSheas own goal in the 50th sealed Spurs victory at the Stadium of Light. cheap jerseys ' ' '
