Leicester sack Pearson over basic 'differences'

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City have sacked manager Nigel Pearson because of a breakdown in his relationship with the club's owners, the Premier League side said on Tuesday.

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Upstart England try to end Japan's title defence

EDMONTON (Reuters) - Defending champions Japan are one win away from a return trip to the Women's World Cup final, and standing in their way is an upbeat England team that beat hosts Canada to reach Wednesday's semi-final.

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Sweden lift Euro U21 crown with shootout win over Portugal

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Sweden goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren saved two penalties as they beat Portugal 4-3 in a shootout following a 0-0 draw in the Euro Under-21 Championship final on Tuesday.

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Cech thanks Chelsea owner for allowing Arsenal move

LONDON (Reuters) - Petr Cech thanked Roman Abramovich from "the bottom of my heart" after the Chelsea owner allowed the club's long-serving goalkeeper to move across London and join arch-rivals Arsenal on Monday.

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Cardiff to host 2017 Champions League final

NYON, Switzerland (Reuters) - The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will host the 2017 Champions League final, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday.

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Hendrawan: Follow Chong Wei's lead

KUALA LUMPUR: Emulate Lee Chong Wei. That's the advise given by coach Hendrawan to Malaysia's younger players.

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Selangor hope to keep good run going

PETALING JAYA: Selangor have turned their Super League fortunes around after the month-long break – and coach Mehmet Durakovic wants them to keep the momentum going.

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Big boost for Chong Wei after double win

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Chong Wei’s got that winning feeling back.

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Hiddink steps down as Netherlands coach

AMSTERDAM, (Reuters) - Guus Hiddink has quit as coach of the Netherlands after spending less than one year in his second spell in the job, the Football Association (KNVB) announced on Monday.

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United make bid for Real defender Ramos - reports

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United have made a 28.6 million pound bid for Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, British media reported on Monday.

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Lee wins Canada Open to take back-to-back titles

(Reuters) - Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei continued his triumphant return following an eight-month doping ban by beating Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long to win the Canada Open on Sunday.

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Jin Wei’s one busy bee on first day of Asian juniors

KUALA LUMPUR: It was a busy day for Goh Jin Wei on the opening day of the Asian Junior Championships, but she was not complaining.

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Terengganu football coach leaves by mutual consent

PETALING JAYA: Terengganu have let go their head coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim.

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Former T-Team skipper Oniya’s body still in hospital

KOTA BARU: The remains of T-Team skipper David Oniya, who died of heart complications on June 14, are still placed at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZ II) here.

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England hoping to benefit from Commonwealth spirit

EDMONTON (Reuters) - England’s Lionesses may have ruined Canada’s Women’s World Cup party but they are now hoping the local fans switch their loyalties to backing them as the tournament underdogs.

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Brazil face familiar post-mortem after early Copa exit

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Copa America exit against Paraguay has plunged them into the doldrums again and sparked a well-worn debate about how to restore the national side to its former glory.

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Fierce rivalry underpins Chile versus Peru clash

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile face Peru in the Copa America semi-finals on Monday in one of the fiercest rivalries in South American football, fuelled by politics, border disputes and a 19th century war.

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Chile's Jara gets three-match ban for finger incident

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile defender Gonzalo Jara will miss the rest of the Copa America after being suspended for three matches on Sunday for sticking his finger up an opponent’s backside and feigning injury during a match.

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I'm happy at Real Madrid, Ronaldo tells paper

MADRID (Reuters) - World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has broken several months of near-silence to rebuff media reports he is unhappy at Real Madrid and might be seeking an exit.

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Dunga blames virus for Brazil's Copa America exit

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil coach Dunga blamed a virus that hit several players for his team's early elimination from the Copa America at the hands of Paraguay on Saturday.

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Chong Wei one match away from a double

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Chong Wei is just a match away from winning back-to-back titles.

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Japan beat Australia 1-0 with late goal

EDMONTON (Reuters) - Defending champions Japan reached the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup thanks to an 87th minute goal from substitute Mana Iwabuchi that gave them a 1-0 win over battling Australia on Saturday.

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England beat Canada to end host's World Cup party

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - England scored twice in the opening half and then held on to reach the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup with a tense 2-1 win over Canada on Saturday.

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Spoils shared in Super League crunch match

PETALING JAYA: The top of the table clash in the Super League was all square as Pahang drew 1-1 with JDT at the Darulmakmur Stadium on Saturday night.

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Penang in clash of season with T-Team

GEORGE TOWN: Penang have declared the top-of-the-table clash against T-Team on Friday as their most important match of the season in the Premier League.

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U.S. too strong for China, reach another World Cup semi

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The United States maintained their record of having reached every semi-final of the women's World Cup after their 1-0 win over China on Friday set up a last four encounter with Germany.

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Junior shuttler Satheish aims to shine in Bangkok

KUALA LUMPUR: A recent promotion into the senior team has given shuttler R. Satheishtharan the impetus to outdo himself.

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Germany break French hearts in penalty shoot-out

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Germany beat France in a penalty shootout after their thrilling Women’s World Cup quarter-final ended 1-1 after extra-time on Friday.

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Argentina reach Copa semis after shootout win

VINA DEL MAR, Chile (Reuters) - Four years after his miss in a penalty shootout sent Argentina spinning out of the Copa America, Carlos Tevez slammed home the winning spot kick against Colombia on Friday to book his country's place in this year's semi-finals.

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Double duties for doubles player Jinn Hwa

KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttler Tan Jinn Hwa is all set for double duty in his last Asian Junior Championships in Bangkok.

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Cech to undergo medical with Arsenal - reports

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea's Petr Cech will undergo a medical with Arsenal on Friday, according to British media reports, after the clubs agreed a fee for the 33-year-old goalkeeper.

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Pressure on Americans ahead of China test

(Reuters) - Almost two decades on from the World Cup final win over China that catapulted the United States women's team to prominence, the two sides meet again on Friday in the tournament's quarter-finals and the pressure is all on the Americans.

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Guerrero hat-trick eases Peru into Copa semi-finals

TEMUCO, Chile (Reuters) - Peru striker Paolo Guerrero scored a hat-trick to give his side a comfortable 3-1 victory over Bolivia at the Copa America on Thursday, setting up a last-four showdown with hosts Chile.

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Australia face tough, but familiar, foe in Japan

EDMONTON (Reuters) - After some tough physical battles en route to the last eight of the Women's World Cup, Australia will face a very different challenge against defending champions Japan in Saturday’s quarter-final.

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There’re two Weis to make an impact at Asian Juniors

KUALA LUMPUR: Two Weis are definitely better than one.

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New Arsenal jersey launched in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: If there’s one word to describe the new Arsenal home kit for the new season, then it will be “classic”.

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PKNS coach is glad his hitman is back

PETALING JAYA: Striker Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh is back in the fray for Premier League outfit PKNS FC.

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Chong Wei too strong for China’s young gun

KUALA LUMPUR: China’s future men’s singles stars still have some catching up to do.

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Chile down nine-man Uruguay to reach Copa semi

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile bundled reigning champions Uruguay out of the Copa America with a 1-0 victory in a fast-paced quarter-final that ended in controversy and kept alive the host nation's dream of a maiden title on Wednesday.

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No time for fun as Canada focussed on World Cup 'summit'

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Canadian football fans may be enjoying the ride but for the players, the grind of the Women's World Cup is no fun and the team is still approaching the "death zone," head coach John Herdman said on Wednesday.

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Uruguay exit Copa with 'bitter taste' in their mouths

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Uruguay bowed out of the Copa America with a bitter taste in their mouths after having two men controversially sent off in their 1-0 quarter-final defeat by Chile, their coach Oscar Tabarez said.

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Doubles pair Amelia-Fie Cho urged to follow up their SEA Games gold success

PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles coach Lim Pek Siah wants Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho to make a breakthrough in Open tournaments to give their careers a boost.

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Lee Chong Wei wins US Open

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei ended his one-year wait for an international title in super style.

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Saturday showdown to decide champions-elect: Zainal

PETALING JAYA: The champions elect of the Super League is expected to be known on Saturday.

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This is it for June Wei in Asian Juniors

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Cheam June Wei is hoping for one final flourish when he competes in his last Asian Junior Championships in Bangkok from June 28-July 5.

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Champions face hosts as Copa reaches last eight

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - The most successful team in the history of the Copa America take on the most impressive side from the first round when Uruguay face Chile in the first quarter-final on Wednesday.

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Little Chileans wary of Uruguay’s big men

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile have been practising defending set pieces ahead of Wednesday’s Copa America quarter-final against Uruguay -- a match that pits the smallest squad in the tournament against some of the Copa's tallest players.

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Napoli sign goalkeeper Reina from Bayern Munich

MILAN (Reuters) - Napoli have signed Bayern Munich reserve goalkeeper Pepe Reina with the Spaniard returning for a second spell with the Serie A team, both clubs said in statements on Tuesday.

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Junior badminton league to be introduced following success of Purple League

PETALING JAYA: The Junior Purple League, which begins in August, is aimed at providing a platform to help develop Malaysia’s badminton talent.

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U.S. eliminate Colombia, Bronze pure gold for England

EDMONTON (Reuters) - The United States capitalised on Colombia goalkeeper Catalina Perez's dismissal to earn a 2-0 win and set up a women's World Cup quarter-final against China, while England continue to build up a head of steam after coming from behind to beat Norway.

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Real squad very hard to improve, says new coach Benitez

MADRID (Reuters) - It will be "immensely difficult" for Real Madrid to improve their squad but they still plan to make more signings in the close season, new coach Rafa Benitez said on Monday.

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Juventus add Mandzukic to collection of strikers

MILAN (Reuters) - Serie A champions Juventus boosted their already impressive collection of strikers still further when they signed Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic from Atletico Madrid on Monday.

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Chong Wei: Small victory but a great start for me

KUALA LUMPUR: It felt like the first time for shuttler Lee Chong Wei.

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Wei Feng will be motivated to win more titles, says Lee

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei gave Chong Wei Feng the thumbs up after his breakthrough win in the men’s singles event at the Singapore SEA Games last week.

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Chong Wei may skip Taiwan Open

KUALA LUMPUR: The participation of shuttler Lee Chong Wei in the Taiwan Open from July 14-19 is in doubt.

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Dutch look to women’s Messi for upset result versus Japan

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Netherlands will be hoping the teenager known as the Messi of women’s football discovers her scoring touch as they seek an upset win over Japan at the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday.

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Selangor captain Shahrom relieved with return of Cornthwaite in defence

PETALING JAYA: Selangor skipper Shahrom Abdul Kalam’s lonely days at the heart of defence are over.

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Brazil beat Venezuela to set up Paraguay tie

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Thiago Silva and Roberto Firmino scored either side of halftime to fire Brazil to a 2-1 win over Venezuela at the Copa America on Sunday, sending the five-times world champions into a quarter-final meeting with Paraguay.

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France brush aside South Korea 3-0, set up German clash

MONTREAL (Reuters) - A highly impressive French side out thought and out played South Korea in their Women's World Cup second round game on Sunday, winning 3-0 to set up a quarter-final clash of titans with top-ranked Germany.

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Colombia draw 0-0 with Peru in dull Copa America tie

TEMUCO (Reuters) - Colombia were left sweating on their Copa America hopes after a lacklustre 0-0 draw with Peru on Sunday.

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Rock solid Australia eliminate Brazil in last 16

MONCTON, Canada (Reuters) - Brazil were knocked out of the Women's World Cup on Sunday after suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat to a battling Australia in the round of 16.

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Shaky defence has Pahang coach Zainal fuming

PETALING JAYA: They say Elephants never forget but that’s not the case with Super League leaders Pahang.

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Negri fear of becoming also-rans in Premier League

GEORGE TOWN: At the Premier League’s halfway mark, Negri Sembilan are in danger of slipping out of contention for the two promotion berths.

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China edge past Cameroon into last eight

EDMONTON, Canada (Reuters) - China booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup with a 1-0 win over Cameroon at the Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.

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Rampant Germany, gritty China advance into quarters

EDMONTON, Canada (Reuters) - Twice champions Germany and a resurgent China reached the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup after contrasting victories the first matches in the knockout phase of the competition on Saturday.

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Top teams set for Women's World Cup knockout stage

(Reuters) - The Women's World Cup enters what is expected to be a thrilling single-game knockout stage in Canada on Saturday with no clear- cut favourite after the top seeds all won their groups.

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Tottenham sign Trippier on five-year deal

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur have signed right back Kieran Trippier from relegated Burnley for an undisclosed fee on a five-year deal, the clubs said on Friday.

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Chile hope to avoid Achilles heel - the penalty shootout

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli is more concerned about beating the team's quarter-final opponent than extra spot-kick training at the Copa America but the prospect of a penalty shoot-out is likely to be on the minds of some of his players.

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Mali beat Senegal 3-1 to take third at U-20 World Cup

AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Adama Traore produced two sensational long-range strikes to help Mali beat 10-man Senegal 3-1 and clinch third place at FIFA's under-20 World Cup at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.

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Chong Wei stretched to the limit before prevailing in US Open third round

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei’s resolve was put to the test before qualifying for the men’s singles quarter-finals in the US Open Grand Prix Gold.

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Terengganu have no qualms playing in an empty stadium as they serve penalty

PETALING JAYA: No fans, no problem. Terengganu coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim believes his men can put up a good show in front of an empty stadium when they face Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).

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U.S. stay calm as Solo storm threatens to pick up steam

(Reuters) - On the surface the U.S. team are ticking along nicely in the Women's World Cup in Canada, but a growing controversy over allegations surrounding goalkeeper Hope Solo are threatening to take the gloss off the team's performances.

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Murillo, the unlikely Colombian hero who sank Brazil

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A year ago, when Brazil knocked Colombia out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals, Jeison Murillo was just one more Colombian fan, suffering the disappointment of defeat.

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Dutch dare to dream against world champions Japan

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - The Netherlands hope to continue their dream debut at the Women's World Cup with an upset win over champions Japan in next week's quarter-finals and remain on course to achieve their objective at the tournament in Canada.

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Top two FIFA officials hire lawyers as Swiss probe bank transactions

BERNE/NEW YORK (Reuters) - FIFA's embattled president, Sepp Blatter, and his second-in-command have hired high-powered lawyers to represent them as Swiss authorities identified suspicious bank transactions in a corruption probe engulfing football's global governing body.

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T-Team looking to cement top spot but Kedah lurking close as Premier League resumes

GEORGE TOWN: The Premier League resumes Friday after a month-long break with a pall of gloom hanging over Terengganu’s T-Team.

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Neymar goes from Barcelona hero to Brazil zero

(Reuters) - A little under two weeks ago Neymar netted the goal that wrapped up Barcelona's Champions League triumph against Juventus but his needless sending off at the Copa America on Wednesday means the Brazil forward may have played his last game at the tournament.

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FAM sign memorandum with J-League to improve state of football

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will now look east in a bid to emulate J-League’s success.

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Thien How-Khim Wah fell to shock defeat, Chong Wei marches on in US Open

KUALA LUMPUR: The appointment of former Danish international Peter-Gade Christensen as France’s new badminton chief is certainly doing wonders for the sport in the country.

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National football captain: I’m sorry

PETALING JAYA: “I’m sorry,” says national football team skipper Safiq Rahim.

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Leicester sack racist sex tape trio - club

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City have sacked three players, including manager Nigel Pearson's son James, after the trio appeared to take part in a racist sex tape during an end-of-season tour of Thailand.

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Arsenal's Wilshere fined for inciting comments

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been fined 40,000 pounds and warned about his future conduct, the FA said on Wednesday.

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Chile's Vidal charged with drink-driving after car crash

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal, top scorer at the Copa America, was arrested on drink-driving charges after crashing his car and being taken to hospital with a neck injury, police said on Wednesday.

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We did OK, says BAM technical director Frost

SINGAPORE: A marked improvement. That’s how BAM technical director Morten Frost views Malaysia’s two-gold haul from badminton at the SEA Games.

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Amelia-Fie Cho: This gold is for all of you

SINGAPORE: This is for you Sabah!

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Aguero header gives Argentina win over Uruguay

LA SERENA, Chile (Reuters) - Sergio Aguero's superb diving header gave Argentina a 1-0 victory over River Plate rivals Uruguay at the Copa America on Tuesday.

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Under-fire Soosay quits as AFC general secretary

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Suspended Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Alex Soosay quit on Wednesday rather than fight to clear his name amid allegations he tried to interfere with a corruption probe of the regional governing body.

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Cuadrado says Falcao already a Chelsea "team mate"

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chelsea's Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado suggested striker Radamel Falcao’s move to English champions Chelsea was a done deal at the Copa America on Tuesday.

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Hapless Malaysia hit for six in WC qualifier

KUALA LUMPUR: Be careful of what you wish for!

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Japan held to surprise draw by resolute Singapore

TOKYO (Reuters) - Four-times Asian champions Japan were left in disbelief after failing to break down minnows Singapore in a surprise goalless draw in their opening World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

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Milan sack coach Inzaghi and bring in Mihajlovic

MILAN (Reuters) - Sinisa Mihajlovic became AC Milan's fourth coach in 18 months on Tuesday after Filippo Inzaghi was sacked following yet another disappointing season for the seven-times European champions.

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Host Canada book spot in Round of 16 with draw

(Reuters) - Canada stumbled late against the Netherlands on Monday but the 1-1 result still was enough for the host team to win Group A and advance to the knockout round of the Women's World Cup.

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Germany take top spot in Group B with Thailand rout

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Lena Petermann scored two second half goals in three minutes as Germany wrapped up round-robin play at the Women's World Cup with 4-0 win over Thailand on Monday to claim top spot in Group B.

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Blatter could remain FIFA head if suitable candidate not found - report

ZURICH/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sepp Blatter could go back on his promise to stand down as FIFA president, a former adviser said on Monday, even as U.S. prosecutors revealed a plea deal with a past FIFA executive who told investigators about bribes and kickbacks.

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Croatia face UEFA hearing after swastika incident

ZURICH (Reuters) - Croatia are to face a disciplinary hearing over their Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Italy during which a swastika cross was imprinted on to the pitch, UEFA said on Monday.

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Daren will return to action in Taiwan

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Liew Daren will be returning to action after battling illness for almost two months.

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T-Team look to replace Oniya with another import

PETALING JAYA: T-Team will be looking to fill the foreign player quota left by the late David Faramola Oniya, who died last Saturday.

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Relief for Wei Feng after tough few months

SINGAPORE: Chong Wei Feng heaved a huge sigh of relief after checking into the men’s singles final.

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Brazil edge Peru to extend winning streak

TEMUCO (Reuters) - An injury time goal from Douglas Costa gave Brazil a barely deserved 2-1 win over a plucky Peru side in the Copa America on Sunday.

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Rooney and Wilshere seal England win in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - England striker Wayne Rooney moved within one goal of equalling their all-time scoring record when his late goal secured a 3-2 win in Slovenia and kept up the Group E leaders' 100 percent record in Euro 2016 qualifying on Sunday.

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Canada, Germany, Norway look to advance at Women's World Cup

(Reuters) - The Round of 16 at the 2015 Women’s World Cup is taking shape, with defending champion Japan and former runner-up Brazil already securing spots after two games of group play.

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Chong Wei's US Open campaign begins Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Chong Wei is ready to bring joy to Malaysian badminton again.

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Jin Wei stands tall in SEA Games

SINGAPORE: Goh Jin Wei is only 1.58m in height, but she can certainly stand tall.

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Joseph fighting to be fit for World Cup qualifier against Palestine

PETALING JAYA: Joseph Kalang Tie is racing against time to be fit for the World Cup qualifier against Palestine on Tuesday.

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T-Team lost a strong defender in Oniya

PETALING JAYA: T-Team have lost a pillar of strength in the heart of defence.

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Northern Ireland held by Romania, miss chance to go top

(Reuters) - Northern Ireland missed the chance to seize control of Euro 2016 qualifying Group F when they were held to 0-0 home draw by top-of-the-table rivals Romania in Belfast on Saturday.

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Brazil grind out win over Spain to reach knockout round

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Brazil managed two shots on target as they ground out a 1-0 win over Spain in a disappointing women's World Cup Group E match on Saturday to become the second team to reach the knockout round.

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T-Team player Oniya dead after collapsing on field

PETALING JAYA: T-Team skipper David Faramola Oniya of Nigeria has died after collapsing on the field during a friendly against Super League side Kelantan at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru.

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Woeful exit for men's doubles at SEA Games

SINGAPORE: World No. 17 Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong have crashed out in the first round of the individual event of the badminton competition at the SEA Games.

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FAs paying the price for violent fans

PETALING JAYA: Terengganu football team have been punished for their fans’ unruly behaviour.

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Allianz give a trip to Munich for three teenagers

SERDANG: Teenagers Mohd Izzudin Roslan, Thineswaran Nathan and Mohd Amirul Zamri can jot down the dates Aug 13-18 on their calendars after earning the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Germany to train with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

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Switzerland thrash Ecuador, Japan motor on

(Reuters) - Switzerland earned a record-tying 10-1 triumph over Ecuador on Friday for their first ever Women's World Cup victory as defending champions Japan staved off a spirited figthback from Cameroon to continue their winning run.

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Bale goal gives Wales precious win over Belgium

CARDIFF (Reuters) - Wales moved closer to their first major tournament in 57 years as Gareth Bale's classy first-half goal gave them a 1-0 win over Belgium to go three points clear at the top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group on Friday.

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Kim Swee: Make it compulsory for U-23 to start games in M-League

SINGAPORE: In the wake of the national Under-23 team failure at the Singapore SEA Games, coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s future seems uncertain.

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Top official leaves FIFA as EU urges Blatter to go now

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA's director of communications Walter de Gregorio is to resign after making a joke on television about the scandal-hit football body, while pressure mounted for his boss Sepp Blatter to step aside at once.

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Liverpool sign goalkeeper Bogdan from Bolton

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool have signed Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Adam Bogdan on a free transfer, the Premier League club said on Friday.

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Our footballers have performance issues

KUALA LUMPUR: If there is one glaring weakness in the national team ... it is their ability to play 90 minutes of football. They lack sustaining power.

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Malaysia beaten for the badminton gold by Thailand

SINGAPORE: Malaysia’s women badminton team were no match for Thailand as they lost in the final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

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Malaysia held in World Cup qualifying opener

KUALA LUMPUR: What a disappointing start. Malaysia were just minutes away from a winning start in their 2018 World Cup qualifier Asian Zone second round Group A match.

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Malaysia beat Laos 3-1 in final Group B match

SINGAPORE: The national Under-23 team came alive in the second half to record a 3-1 win over Laos in their final Group B match at the Bishan Stadium.

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Zico launches FIFA presidency bid without federation backing

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian football great Zico formally declared his candidacy for the FIFA presidency on Wednesday but admitted there would probably need to be a change of rules in order to make his run viable.

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Women's World Cup opens with brilliance and blowouts

(Reuters) - The Women's World Cup stopped to take a breath on Wednesday following an opening round of games that produced a little bit of everything, from tight matches to blowouts played in front of packed stands and near empty stadiums.

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Women's team in the final but men's stopped in their tracks

SINGAPORE: The women’s badminton team continued to fly high after delivering a superb performance to beat second seeds Indonesia 3-1 in the SEA Games semi-finals.

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Tough draw for Malaysian shuttlers in individual events

SINGAPORE: Winning gold in the individual events in badminton will be an uphill task for Malaysia.

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Dollah is a worried man ahead of WC qualifier

PETALING JAYA: We tend to fear the unknown. And this has national football coach Dollah Salleh worried.

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Luis Enrique agrees Barca contract extension

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has ended uncertainty over his future by agreeing a one-year contract extension with the Spanish and European champions until the end of the 2016-17 season.

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Bidding for 2026 World Cup to be postponed - FIFA official

SAMARA, Russia (Reuters) - FIFA will postpone the start of bidding for the right to host the 2026 World Cup following the launch of a corruption investigation, a senior official in football's governing body said on Wednesday.

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France beat England 1-0 in World Cup opener

(Reuters) - Speedy forward Eugenie Le Sommer struck with a superb long-range goal in the first half to set up a 1-0 victory for France over England in their Group F Women's World Cup opener in Moncton on Tuesday.

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Kid rescues Malaysia in SEA Games badminton

SINGAPORE: Leave it to the youngest member of the team to save the day.

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Uncle Vincent Tan is a hit in Sarajevo

SARAJEVO: Tan Sri Vincent Tan is fondly addressed as Amidza, which means Uncle in the Bosnian language, and he is treated like a celebrity in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Pahang in the AFC Cup quarters after walkover win

PETALING JAYA: Pahang have been awarded a 3-0 walkover win over Persipura Jayapura of Indonesia in the AFC Cup competition.

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Afiq looking to get a second chance from coach Dollah

PETALING JAYA: Striker Afiq Azmi is hoping for national coach Dollah Salleh to give him a chance to prove in the World Cup qualifying campaign.

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Frost quite confident after badminton draw revealed

SINGAPORE: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost can afford a confident smile.

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Americans bring Women's World Cup to life

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - The United States brought the Women's World Cup to life on Monday as they rose to the top of the 'Group of Death' with a 3-1 win over Australia in front of a raucous crowd.

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Cameroon overpower fellow debutants Ecuador with 6-0 win

(Reuters) - Gaelle Enganamouit scored a hat-trick as Cameroon belied their lowly world ranking of 53rd with a commanding 6-0 victory over fellow Women's World Cup debutants Ecuador in their Group C opener in Vancouver on Monday.

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SEA Games: Malaysia labour to beat Brunei in football

SINGAPORE: A listless Malaysia beat hapless Brunei 2-0 in their SEA Games penultimate Group B match at the Bishan Stadium.

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Lack of midfield support has left Dollah wanting

PETALING JAYA: National football coach Dollah Salleh wants more from his midfielders.

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Teenage shuttler Jin Wei buzzing for action

SINGAPORE: Teenager Goh Jin Wei is unfazed about being the youngest member of the SEA Games badminton squad.

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Sevilla midfielder Vidal to join Barcelona

BARCELONA (Reuters)- - Sevilla midfielder Aleix Vidal will join treble winners Barcelona pending a medical for a reported 23 million euros (16.73 million pounds), the Catalan club said on Sunday.

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Powerful Norway thump Thailand 4-0 in Women's World Cup

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Norwegian women's football team, seeking to revive a more glorious era, brushed aside debutants Thailand 4-0 in their opening Women's World Cup Group B match on Sunday and could easily have scored more.

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Brazil extend winning run to nine with win over Mexico

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil took their winning run under coach Dunga to nine on Sunday when first-half goals gave them a comfortable 2-0 win over Mexico in Sao Paulo.

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Malaysia’s SEA Games badminton challange needs a bit of luck

SINGAPORE: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost targets four finals at the Singapore SEA Games.

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Triumphant Luis Enrique won't say if he will stay at Barca

BERLIN (Reuters) - Barcelona coach Luis Enrique declined to say if he will still be at the helm next season after leading them to a treble in his first season including Saturday's Champions League triumph over Juventus.

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England extend unbeaten run with 0-0 draw in Dublin

DUBLIN (Reuters) - England extended their unbeaten run to 10 games in a tame 0-0 friendly draw against Ireland on Sunday which brought no repetition of the violent scenes that marred the fixture in 1995.

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Xavi ends Barca career in style with European triumph

BERLIN (Reuters) - Xavi brought his glittering Barcelona career to a fitting and emotional end when he hoisted aloft the European Cup following a 3-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final on Saturday.

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Football is only about winning, says Mourinho

LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho believes football is only about winning and that managers who favour a possession-dominated beautiful game and neglect steely defence and lethal counter-attacking are "stupid".

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Momota makes big strides with Indonesian Open title

KUALA LUMPUR: Youngster Kento Momota of Japan continues his rise in world badminton.

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Doubles pair Kien Keat-Boon Heong are winners again

KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong proved a point by winning the Sri Lanka International Challenge - their first international title in three years.

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Malaysia produce big yawn in friendly with Hong Kong

SHAH ALAM: Malaysia had nothing to show for in the goalless draw against Hong Kong in a friendly at the Shah Alam Stadium.

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Neymar hoping to make an impact in 'dream final'

BERLIN (Reuters) - When Barcelona thrashed Santos 4-0 in the Club World Cup final in Japan in 2011, then-Santos forward Neymar admitted the Brazilians had been taught a humbling footballing lesson.

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What an anti-climax for Gary in SEA Games debut

SINGAPORE: Midfielder Gary Steven Robbat’s five-year wait for SEA Games action has ended up being a damp squib.

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Malaysian badminton squad on the down low in SEA Games

SINGAPORE: The swagger is missing from the Malaysian badminton team which arrived in Singapore.

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Only one final for Indonesia in home badminton tourney

KUALA LUMPUR: One is definitely better than nothing as only one home pair qualify for the final in the Indonesian Open badminton tournament.

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Make home advantage count in World Cup qualifier: Dollah

PETALING JAYA: Win at home. That’s the order given by national coach Dollah Salleh to his players ahead of the World Cup qualifiers beginning next week.

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Italy's Berlusconi agrees sale of AC Milan stake to Thai businessman

MILAN (Reuters) - Silvio Berlusconi has given his blessing to a deal to sell 48 percent of football club AC Milan to a group led by Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol, a historic change for the team which the former Italian prime minister has owned since the 1980s.

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Heysel memory 30 years on is motivation for Juve

BERLIN (Reuters) - Remembering the dozens of mainly Italian victims who died 30 years ago at the European Cup final is a strong motivation for Juventus as they prepare to face Barcelona in the Champions League final on Saturday.

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Striker Norshahrul out of Dollah's team for World Cup qualifying

PETALING JAYA: National striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha will miss Malaysia’s pre-World Cup matches against Timor Leste and Palestine.

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Kim Swee to know his fate next month

PETALING JAYA: National Under-23 coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s fate will be known next month.

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FBI extends FIFA scrutiny to World Cup host bids of Russia, Qatar

NEW YORK/ZURICH (Reuters) - The FBI's investigation of bribery and corruption at FIFA includes scrutiny of how football's governing body awarded World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar, a U.S. law enforcement official said.

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Blatter may want business as usual, others say 'go now'

BERLIN (Reuters) - To Sepp Blatter, it would seem to be almost business as usual as he sits at his presidential desk at the headquarters of embattled world football governing body FIFA.

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Shuttlers Vivian-Khe Wei feeling the heat in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Top women’s pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei are already feeling the pressure – and the national badminton team are not even in Singapore yet!

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Kashyap checks into semis in Indonesian Open

PETALING JAYA: India’s P. Kashyap has shown that Indonesia is his happy hunting ground.

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We're not good enough, says striker Syahrul

SINGAPORE: Luck has run out for national Under-23 striker Mohd Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim.

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Dollah facing selection headache for World Cup qualifying

PETALING JAYA: National coach Dollah Salleh is in a dilemma.

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Allegri goes from pariah to brink of immortality

BERLIN (Reuters) - When Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was greeted with a hail of eggs and spat at on his first day at work he could not have imagined he would lead them to the brink of an unprecedented treble of titles in his first season.

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Debutant Luis Enrique riding high with Barcelona

BERLIN (Reuters) - The enduring image of Luis Enrique for many football fans is the Spain player with blood gushing from his nose after a vicious elbow from Italy defender Mauro Tassotti in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals in Boston.

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Indonesian Open second round exit spells SEA Games doubt for V Shem-Wee Kiong

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong failed to end Malaysia’s poor showing in the Superseries as the Tour hits the halfway mark.

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Liverpool sign Milner from Manchester City

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool have moved quickly into the transfer market, announcing on Thursday they had agreed to sign England midfielder James Milner from Manchester City.

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'No way' Qatar will lose 2022 World Cup - foreign minister

PARIS (Reuters) - Qatar's Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah said on Wednesday there was "no way" his country would be stripped of its right to host the 2022 World Cup, accusing Qatar's critics of an anti-Arab campaign.

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Cash-rich Premier League remains in a league of its own

LONDON (Reuters) - The Premier League continues to pull away from its European rivals in terms of total revenue, if not quality on the pitch, and the bubble looks unlikely to burst any time soon.

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Kim Swee: We have to win this, boys

SINGAPORE: It’s the last throw of the dice for national Under-23 football coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee.

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V Shem-Wee Kiong survive day of upsets in Indonesian Open

KUALA LUMPUR: Like a broken record, Malaysia’s men’s singles challenge in the Superseries ended in the first round yet again.

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Weakened Indonesia still target badminton glory

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The badminton competition at this year's Southeast Asian Games promises to be as hard fought as ever, with Indonesia's dominance set to come under threat from the presence of a women's world champion and a former men's number one.

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Benitez named Real coach for next three seasons

MADRID (Reuters) - Rafa Benitez has been appointed Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, taking on one of the most demanding jobs in club football and one in which he will be expected to deliver major trophies in short order.

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Analysis - Studious Benitez takes long route to Real hotseat

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Fierce ambition and a studious approach to the game have marked Rafa Benitez's journey around Europe's top leagues and he now returns to his hometown club Real Madrid to take on one of the toughest coaching jobs in football.

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U.S. FBI investigating outgoing FIFA chief Blatter - ABC News

(Reuters) - The FBI and U.S. prosecutors are investigating outgoing FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who unexpectedly announced on Tuesday he was quitting his post just days after being re-elected, ABC News reported, citing sources familiar with the case.

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Qatar World Cup organisers ready to fight for 2022

(Reuters) - Organisers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have indicated they will not relinquish the right to host football's showpiece event easily, whatever the fall-out from Sepp Blatter's decision to step down as FIFA president.

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Jordan seeks to get Prince Ali installed as FIFA president

(Reuters) - The Jordanian FA has begun legal inquiries into whether defeated FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin Al Hussein could replace Sepp Blatter without the need for a second election, it said on Tuesday.

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The men who might be after FIFA's top job

LONDON (Reuters) - FIFA is facing a turning point in its history with the end of president Sepp Blatter's 17-year grip on power.

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FIFA takes aim at powerful committee in battle to restore credibility

ZURICH (Reuters) - Deep in the bowels of FIFA's Zurich headquarters, three floors underground in a room lined with black granite walls and beyond the reach of mobile phones, lies the powerful core of international football.

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Reactions to resignation of FIFA's Blatter

LONDON (Reuters) - Sepp Blatter resigned as FIFA president on Tuesday, four days after being re-elected to a fifth term amid the biggest corruption scandal in the history of football's global governing body.

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Swiss attorney general says not probing outgoing FIFA president Blatter

ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's office of attorney general (OAG) said on Tuesday it was not investigating outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who announced he was stepping down in a hastily convened press conference shortly before.

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Factbox - Sepp Blatter, outgoing FIFA president

ZURICH (Reuters) - Factbox on Sepp Blatter who said on Tuesday he was quitting as president of FIFA, four days after being re-elected for a fifth term of office, with football's ruling body engulfed in a corruption scandal.

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Mohd Nazmi banned 6 games, out of SEA Games (updated)

SINGAPORE: National Under-23 midfielder Mohd Nazmi Faiz Mansor is out of the Singapore SEA Games football competition.

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Newcastle duo hit out after being released by phone

LONDON (Reuters) - Newcastle United have been criticised by Jonas Gutierrez and Ryan Taylor after both players were told by phone that they were being released by the club.

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Coach look to the girls in SEA Games mixed doubles

KUALA LUMPUR: They may not be Pocahontas, but Goh Liu Ying and Lai Pei Jing share a similar trait. They are both fighters.

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England looking alone in World Cup boycott call

LONDON (Reuters) - England was looking increasingly isolated in its call for a boycott of football's World Cup on Monday as a senior UEFA official cast doubt on the idea and the rest of Europe remained near-silent.

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Former Brazil football boss probed for money laundering - source

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The former head of the Brazilian football federation, Ricardo Teixeira, is facing charges of money laundering and tax evasion, a police source said on Monday, as an international bribery scandal put the spotlight on Brazil's national sport.

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SEA Games football rocked by match-fixing

SINGAPORE: The SEA Games were rocked by a match-fixing scandal when Timor Leste’s Under-23 team manager was suspended from football over alleged bribery and corruption.

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