Reuters Football - World Football

Champions Levski call for BFU congress after bias claims

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:25:11 GMT

SOFIA, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Champions Levski Sofia want the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) to hold an extraordinary congress in January following what they believed was biased refereeing during Wednesday's league match against leaders Litex Lovech.

FIFA give Chile 72 hours to end court action

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:11:51 GMT

SANTIAGO, Nov 26 (Reuters) - World Cup-bound Chile were given 72 hours on Thursday to stop local club Rangers seeking to annul their relegation through the courts or risk being thrown out of FIFA.

Players want big changes in MLS league structure - union

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:48:16 GMT

MIAMI, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Major League Soccer's players are demanding significant changes to the way their league is organised as part of contract negotiations now entering a critical phase.

Antic to stay in charge of Serbia for Euro 2012

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:39:56 GMT

BELGRADE, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The Serbian Football Association (FSS) will extend national team coach Radomir Antic's contract through their Euro 2012 campaign, the FSS said on Wednesday.

Disillusioned Cappa quits Argentina's Huracan

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:35:00 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Angel Cappa, whose brilliant Huracan side narrowly missed out on the Argentine league title in July, quit on Tuesday disillusioned with the struggling club and his team one from bottom of the standings.

Japan midfielder Endo named Asian Player of the Year

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:35:05 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo was crowned Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year at the annual awards on Tuesday.

Beckham suffers from asthma, says player's spokesman

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:01:01 GMT

LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - David Beckham has suffered from a mild form of asthma since childhood, the England midfielder's spokesman was quoted as saying in British newspapers on Tuesday.

FIFA to hold extraordinary meeting before draw

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:47:33 GMT

LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - FIFA will hold an extraordinary meeting before next month's World Cup draw to discuss Thierry Henry's handball in the qualifiers and the discovery of a match-fixing ring by German police.

Ukraine assures UEFA election won't derail Euro 2012

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:44:41 GMT

KIEV, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Ukraine has moved to reassure European soccer's governing body UEFA that the bitterly contested presidential election called for January will not derail its preparations for the Euro 2012 championship.

Beckham has option to own MLS team - official

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:06:10 GMT

SEATTLE, Nov 22 (Reuters) - David Beckham has an option to own a future 20th team in Major League Soccer, the North American league's commissioner said on Sunday.

South American roundup-Crowd violence mars Paraguay game

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:09:13 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Former Paraguay striker Jose Cardozo made a losing start as Olimpia coach and crowd violence marred Sportivo Luqueno's home loss to Cerro Porteno in Paraguay at the weekend.

Beckham's L.A title dream dashed by Salt Lake

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:37:50 GMT

SEATTLE, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Real Salt Lake won their first Major League Soccer championship on Sunday with a penalty shootout victory over David Beckham's L.A Galaxy after the title game had ended in a 1-1 draw following extra time.

Asian soccer signs billion-dollar rights deal

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:18:27 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Asian soccer chief Mohamed Bin Hammam signed a $1 billion dollar rights deal with World Sports Group on Tuesday.

Final defeat fails to take shine off Beckham's season

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:16:10 GMT

SEATTLE, Nov 22 (Reuters) - David Beckham said his third season with L.A Galaxy had been a success despite the team being beaten in the championship deciding MLS Cup on Sunday.

Flamengo fail to profit from slip by leaders Sao Paulo

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:59:24 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Flamengo squandered the chance to go top of the Brazilian championship when they were held 0-0 by Goias on Sunday.

Invest in quality, Kenyon tells Asia kingpins

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:49:13 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Reuters) - English soccer's huge international appeal is not down to marketing or smart business techniques but rather the quality of the game, according to former club chief Peter Kenyon.

San Luis upset Toluca in Mexico championship

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:26:16 GMT

MEXICO CITY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - San Luis beat title favourites Toluca 1-0 in the first leg of their Mexican Apertura championship quarter-final on Sunday.

Hurt Beckham to take pain killers before final

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:04:06 GMT

SEATTLE, Nov 20 (Reuters) - L.A. Galaxy's David Beckham is to have pain-killing injections for a bruised ankle bone before Sunday's MLS Cup final but said he would be fit for the game against Real Salt Lake.

Beckham hobbles off after training but plans to play

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:02:17 GMT

SEATTLE, Nov 21 (Reuters) - David Beckham limped off after training for Sunday's MLS Cup final, with an icepack wrapped around his injured right ankle, but said he would still be fit to play in the title deciding game against Real Salt Lake.

Former critic Donovan credits Beckham for L.A turnaround

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:38:00 GMT

SEATTLE, Nov 20 (Reuters) - L.A Galaxy's turnaround from worst to best in Major League Soccer, which could be completed with a win in Sunday's MLS Cup final, has been largely due to David Beckham's change in attitude, captain Landon Donovan said on Friday.

Federer says football needs to introduce video technology

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:44:36 GMT

LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - World number one tennis player Roger Federer believes his friend Thierry Henry should not be villified for the handball which helped France edge past Ireland into the World Cup finals on Wednesday.

Iraq appeals FIFA ban, not surprised by it

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:23:42 GMT

BAGHDAD, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Iraqi authorities were not surprised soccer's world governing body decided to suspend the country from international competition and already have lawyers working on an appeal, officials said.

Asian champions Iraq suspended by FIFA

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:15:55 GMT

BERNE, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Asian champions Iraq have been suspended from international soccer because of political interference in the country's Football Association, world governing body FIFA said on Friday.

Soccer row drags on as Algeria summons Egypt envoy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:41:09 GMT

ALGIERS, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Algeria's foreign minister summoned Egypt's ambassador on Friday to reject accusations that his government failed to protect Egyptians from violent Algerian soccer fans during a tense World Cup play-off, state media said.

L.A's Donovan named MLS player of the year

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:02:05 GMT

SEATTLE, Nov 19 (Reuters) - United States and L.A Galaxy striker Landon Donovan has been named Most Valuable Player in Major League Soccer, the league said on Thursday.