Argentina remain top of FIFA world rankings

Spain’s women players to end boycott after federation commits to change

OLIVA, Spain (Reuters) -Spain’s World Cup winning-squad agreed to end their boycott of the national team on Wednesday after the country’s football federation (RFEF) said it would make “immediate and profound changes”, including reshuffling its top management. The decision was reached around 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) after more than seven hours of meetings at a...

Messi exits in first half of Inter Miami match

(Reuters) – Lionel Messi exited Inter Miami’s match against Toronto FC before halftime with an unspecified injury on Wednesday. The Argentinian took off the captain’s armband and handed it to DeAndre Yedlin before being replaced by Robert Taylor in the 37th minute with the score at 0-0. The 36-year-old missed Miami’s 5-2 loss at Atlanta...

Poland appoint Probierz as new coach

(Reuters) -Michal Probierz has replaced Fernando Santos as coach of Poland’s national team, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) said on Wednesday. Poland parted ways with Portuguese coach Santos last week following their 2-0 defeat in Albania, which left them struggling to qualify for Euro 2024. “Michal Probierz has been appointed selector of the Polish national...

Spain’s World Cup-winning players reach agreement to end boycott

OLIVA, Spain (Reuters) – Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s squad have agreed to end their boycott after the country’s football federation (RFEF) said it would make “immediate and profound changes” to its structure, the government and players’ union said early on Wednesday. The decision was reached around 5 a.m. after more than seven hours of meetings...

Goalkeeper Earps wins England Women’s Player of the Year

(Reuters) – Goalkeeper Mary Earps was voted England’s Women’s Player of the Year on Tuesday. The 30-year-old, who won FIFA’s Golden Glove award at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, finished ahead of Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood in the voting. Earps has 41 caps since making her senior debut in 2017...

Milan held to 0-0 home draw by Newcastle in Champions League opener

MILAN, Italy (Reuters) -AC Milan were held to a 0-0 draw at San Siro in a hard-fought contest by a Newcastle United side returning to the Champions League after a two-decade absence as the hosts spurned numerous opportunities in the Group F opener on Tuesday. Milan’s Portugal winger Rafael Leao, who has scored in his...

Spain’s World Cup-winning rebels report for training under sanctions threat

MADRID (Reuters) – Some of the rebel players from Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s squad who had threatened to boycott the national team in a push to stamp out sexism at the football federation (RFEF) on Tuesday reported for training under the threat of being sanctioned. Misa Rodriguez, Olga Carmona, Oihane Hernandez, Eva Navarro and Tere...

Arteta calls on Arsenal to make the most of Champions League return

(Reuters) – Arsenal deserve to be competing in the Champions League this season, manager Mikel Arteta said on Tuesday as he called on the Premier League club to make the most of their return to Europe’s top competition after a six-year absence. Arsenal, who are back in the Champions League for the first time since...

Manchester City favourites to win Champions League, says Ancelotti

MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid never consider themselves favourites to win the Champions League despite their rich history in the competition, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday as he singled out holders Manchester City as the bookmakers’ pick. Madrid, who won a record-extending 14th European Cup in 2022 but lost to City in the semi-finals...

Sweden’s women’s team will support Spain players if they boycott match

(Reuters) – Sweden’s women’s team will support their Spain counterparts if they decide to boycott their Nations League fixture this week, midfielder Filippa Angeldahl said on Tuesday. After most of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad were called up on Monday the players said they would continue their boycott of the national team, though some reported for...

Pochettino understands Chelsea fans’ frustrations after poor start

(Reuters) – Mauricio Pochettino understands Chelsea fans’ frustrations with their poor start to the season but says his side have been hampered by injuries to more than a dozen players and that he will not change the way they are doing things. Chelsea’s poor form continued with a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth on Sunday, the...

Fijians outclass Vanuatu

The Digicel Fiji Junior Kula’s hammered Vanuatu 11-3 in their opening match of the Oceania Football Confederation. A hat-trick from midfielder Luse Ratulele and a brace each to forwards Sisilia Kuladina and Elesi Tabunase Fiji secure an emphatic win. Angeline Chua’s side possessed plenty of pace and it was evident from the outset as Fiji...

BOG 2023 | Lions roar … Labasa successfully defends title

The Extra Supermarket Labasa football side successfully defended the Rooster Chicken/ Scoops Premium Ice Cream Battle of the Giants title defeating Southern Forest Navua 2-1 in extra time in the final yesterday. Fans from both teams flocked to the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva in numbers and the two teams did not disappoint. After a...

Lions roar: Doidoi the hero

RUSIATE Doidoi was the hero for the EXTRA Supermarket Labasa side as his goal in extra-time saw his side beat Navua 2-1 in the Battle of the Giants soccer final yesterday. Playing in his first tournament for the northerners, Doidoi dedicated the goal to his family back home in Labasa. “I dedicate my goal to my...

Labasa retains BOG title

The Extra Supermarket Labasa football side edged Southern Forest Navua 2-1 in extra-time to retain the Rooster Chicken/Scoops Premium Battle of the Giants title. Rusiate Doidoi scored the winning goal for Labasa in the first spell of extra-time. Christopher Wasasala had put Labasa ahead in the second spell before Jared Rongolisua equalised for Navua from...

BOG 2023 decider | First Labasa-Navua final in tournament’s history

The Extra Supermarket Labasa football side will play Southern Forest Navua in the final of the Rooster Chicken/Scoops Premium Ice Cream Battle of the Giants tournament in Suva today. This will be the first time the two teams will play in the final of the BOG since its inception in 1978. A 10-man Labasa side...

Restraining order imposed on ex-Spain soccer boss as he testifies in assault probe

MADRID (Reuters) -Spain’s High Court on Friday imposed a restraining order to prevent former soccer chief Luis Rubiales approaching national team player Jenni Hermoso, as he appeared in court to be investigated for sexual assault for kissing her on the lips. The incident, which occurred at the medal ceremony after Spain’s women’s team won the...

2023 BOG: Lautoka and Labasa tied at halftime

The Lautoka and Labasa football teams are tied 1-all at halftime in the first semi-final of the 2023 Rooster Chicken/Scoops Premium Ice Cream Battle of the Giants underway at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Sakaraia Naisua had put the Blues ahead connecting with a header from a Kishan Sami free kick. Labasa equalised through...

BOG 2023 | Stage all set … Top teams gear up for semi-finals battle

The stage is set for the semi-finals of the second major tournament of the year on the Fiji Football Association calendar, the 2023 Rooster Chicken/Scoops Premium Ice-Cream Battle of the Giants at the HFC Bank Stadium in the Capital City today. In a tournament, which has lasted more than a month with the first set...

Spain’s ex-soccer boss Rubiales due in court in sex assault investigation

MADRID (Reuters) – Former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales will appear before a High Court judge on Friday over a complaint of sexual assault stemming from his allegedly unsolicited kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso – an incident that has triggered a furore over sexism in Spanish sport and society. The events of...

BOG 2023 | Lautoka geared up to take on Babasiga Lions

The Lautoka football team is fully geared up to take on Labasa in the Rooster Chicken/Scoops Premium Ice Cream Battle of the Giants football tournament semi-final at the HFC Bank Stadium tomorrow. Lautoka was the first team to book its place in the semi-finals after thrashing Tailevu Naitasiri 5-1, beating Nadi 3-1 and also holding...

2023 BOG | Lions roar … Labasa stuns Ba; set to face Blues in semis

The Labasa football side qualified for the semi-finals of the 2023 Rooster Chicken/Scoops Premium Ice Cream Battle of the Giants tournament with the slimmest of margins after defeating Ba 2-1 in their last pool match in Nadi yesterday. Labasa went into the match needing a two-clear goal victory to top the pool and confirm qualification....

Football

22nd September