Sports / Football

Spain hails Messi ‘the greatest’ 09 Jan 2013 - 12:01 am

MADRID: Spain bathed in glory yesterday after Barcelona star Lionel Messi (pictured) won the Ballon d’Or for best footballer of the year for...

Hungary and Bulgaria hit by FIFA sanctions over racism 09 Jan 2013 - 12:00 am

ZURICH: Bulgaria and Hungary will each play their next World Cup qualifying matches on March 22 behind closed doors after racist incidents, among...

Scottish leagues agree to restructuring plan 09 Jan 2013 - 12:00 am

LONDON: The format of Scottish football could be set for an overhaul after both the country’s league bodies agreed in principle to a...

German giants clash in Doha 08 Jan 2013 - 01:16 am

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (left), Dutch striker of the FC Schalke 04 football team, and Jens Keller head coach of FC Schalke 04 during a...

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes knocking for Bayern fans 08 Jan 2013 - 01:14 am

Bayern Munich’s Brazilian Dante poses with a Bayern Munich fan David Fichtinger from Austria at Grand Heritage Hotel yesterday. Dante was voted among...

Keller hopes for positive spin after Doha visit 08 Jan 2013 - 01:14 am

DOHA: Bundesliga club Schalke 04 will take confidence from their winter training camp in Doha, says head coach Jens Keller. The German club...

Messi crowned as world’s best 08 Jan 2013 - 01:13 am

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi smiles after winning the FIFA Ballon d’Or award during the FIFA Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in Zurich, yesterday....

Gulf Cup 2013: Qatar to face Oman today 08 Jan 2013 - 01:12 am

Qatar coach Paulo Autuori (centre) addresses his squad players during training on the eve of their Gulf Cup 2013 match against Oman. The...

Qatar to face Oman today in crucial match 08 Jan 2013 - 12:37 am

Manama, Bahrain: Qatar will be aiming to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat against UAE, when they face Oman today in their Group...

Guardiola eyes return to coaching 08 Jan 2013 - 12:37 am

ZURICH: Former Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola, currently on a one-year sabbatical, said yesterday he was already thinking about a return to coaching but...

Lampard set for Chelsea exit: Agent 08 Jan 2013 - 12:27 am

LONDON: Chelsea have told Frank Lampard’s agent that the England midfielder will not be offered a new contract with the European champions at...

Italy pledges action on football racists 08 Jan 2013 - 12:26 am

MILAN: Italian interior minister Annamaria Cancellieri yesterday called for “more incisive” action to be taken to end the abuse of non-white players by...

Liverpool through after controversial Suarez goal 07 Jan 2013 - 12:08 am

LONDON: Luis Suarez sparked a new handball storm by helping Liverpool edge non-league Mansfield Town 2-1 in the FA Cup third round yesterday,...

Gulf Cup: Qatar aim to bounce back 07 Jan 2013 - 12:06 am

Manama: Qatar will be looking to win their next two matches in the Gulf Cup with hopes of exhibiting a far better organised...

Heavyweights kept apart in FA Cup fourth round 07 Jan 2013 - 12:06 am

LONDON: Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and holders Chelsea all avoided each other in yesterday’s FA Cup fourth-round draw at Wembley, but only...

Messi targets record fourth Ballon d’Or 07 Jan 2013 - 12:05 am

ZURICH: Record-breaking Lionel Messi is poised to become the first player to win four successive Ballon d’Or awards today, sealing his status as...

Super-sub Van Persie keeps Manchester United in FA Cup 06 Jan 2013 - 12:41 am

LONDON: Substitute Robin van Persie netted a dramatic injury-time equaliser as Manchester United clung to life in the FA Cup third round by...

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich beat Lekhwiya 4-0 in friendly match at Khalifa Stadium 06 Jan 2013 - 12:40 am

Bayern Munich’s players during a morning training session at the Aspire Academy yesterday. RIGHT: Bayern Munich’s French midfielder Franck Ribery is surrounded by...