Barcelona's Abidal has liver tumor removed

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Barcelona says Eric Abidal has had a liver tumor successfully removed after a three-hour operation on Thursday.

The Spanish club says surgery on the 31-year-old Frenchman was without complications at Barnaclinic Hospital and the entire tumor was removed. It did not say if the tumor was benign.

Abidal will remain hospitalized for about one week.

Abidal has received messages of support from across the football world with rival Real Madrid and Lyon unveiling shirts displaying "Get Well Abidal'' after their Champions League match on Wednesday.

The France international has been a key player for Barcelona since joining from Lyon in 2007, helping the Catalan club to eight trophies in that time.