Zurich: Football's governing body has ruled that male head covers are acceptable to wear during matches, a decision that goes against Quebec's ban on turbans. FIFA says male players can wear head covers as long as they are the same color as the team's shirt, have a "professional appearance", are not attached to the shirt and don't "pose any danger". The Canadian football federation had asked FIFA to rule on...
12:53 AM, Jun 15, 2013
London: Long-serving Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has stepped down after recent ill health, ending a family link to the north London soccer club dating back to the 1920s. Hill-Wood, who became chairman in 1982, will be replaced by businessman Chips Keswick. American Stan Kroenke, the club's majority shareholder, paid tribute to Hill-Wood who joined the board in 1962 when his father became chairman. "Peter has been a wonderful custodian of...
12:36 AM, Jun 15, 2013
Rio de Janeiro: FIFA has "full confidence" Brazilian police can cope with the violent protests and disorder in the streets leading to the country's warmup event for the 2014 World Cup. There were clashes with police on Thursday in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro after thousands protested rising bus and subway fares. Police said 40 people were detained in Sao Paulo, some with knives and gasoline bombs. Authorities are...
12:30 AM, Jun 15, 2013
Naples: Roberto Mancini would like to coach a national team at next year's World Cup in Brazil. Mancini, who was fired by Manchester City a month ago, briefly addressed his status via a phone connection to a news conference for a charity match in Capri. He says, "I want to return to the bench soon, perhaps even with a national team for next year's World Cup." The 48-year-old Mancini has...
12:14 AM, Jun 15, 2013
Manchester: Manchester City have hired Manuel Pellegrini as the club's new manager to replace the fired Roberto Mancini. The 59-year-old Chilean has been courted for months by City following impressive spells in Spain with Villarreal and Malaga. He also coached Real Madrid but was dismissed after one season despite guiding the team to a then-record points total in La Liga. Pellegrini's primary task will be to reclaim the Premier League...
08:34 PM, Jun 14, 2013
Milan: AC Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini is leaving the club after 18 seasons, he told a news conference on Friday. "This is my last press conference as a Milan player and I want to thank you all for 18 fantastic years that I won't ever forget," the 36-year-old midfielder said after the Serie A club decided not to renew his contract. "I had to give myself a couple of days...
08:01 PM, Jun 14, 2013
London: FA Cup holders Wigan Athletic, who were relegated from the Premier League two days after winning their first major trophy, are set to appoint Owen Coyle, the former boss of rivals Bolton Wanderers, as their manager. "In principle we have agreed a deal," Wigan owner Dave Whelan told Sky Sports News on Friday after concluding his search for a replacement for Spaniard Roberto Martinez, who left to manage Everton....
06:54 PM, Jun 14, 2013
Madrid: Malaga have agreed to appoint former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster as their new coach, the club said on Friday. Schuster, 53, comes in to replace Manuel Pellegrini, who said he was leaving the Spanish club last month and is widely expected to be appointed as the new coach at Manchester City. Local media have reported that Schuster's appointment was being held up until the club finally agreed the...
06:23 PM, Jun 14, 2013
IBNLive Sports gives you Friday's round-up of all the latest transfer news and gossip from the leading clubs and top players around the world. Manchester City hire Manuel Pellegrini as new manager Manchester City have hired Manuel Pellegrini as the club's new manager to replace the fired Roberto Mancini. The 59-year-old Chilean has been courted for months by City following impressive spells in Spain with Villarreal and Malaga. Read more...
05:50 PM, Jun 14, 2013
Borussia Dortmund's star striker Robert Lewandowski has found himself in a very a strange predicament in the recent weeks and on Friday Dortmund's chief executive Aki Watzke denied reports of a possible transfer talk of the Poland star to Real Madrid. Talking to Sport1, Watzke said, ""I can only say that we don't know anything about an alleged Madrid offer for Lewandowski." "At the moment, there has not been any...
05:24 PM, Jun 14, 2013
The Ghana Football Association has confirmed that Kevin-Prince Boateng has made himself available to play for Ghana again. The AC Milan midfielder, 24, had announced his retirement from international football in November 2011 after 18 months playing for Ghana, citing frequent injuries. "Before Ghana played Sudan he had confirmed to the coach he was coming back to play", GFA president Kwesi Nyantekyi said on South African TV. "Unfortunately he got...
04:45 PM, Jun 14, 2013
FIFA president Sepp Blatter is confident that work on stadiums in Brazil - including the historic Maracana stadium - will be completed before the the start of the Confederations Cup on June 15. Construction is still underway across the country but Blatter told the BBC that everything would be ready for the opening match between Italy and Mexico. "I have seen worse situations," he said. "Yes there is still work...
04:22 PM, Jun 14, 2013
Seville, Spain: Sevilla have signed Romania forward Raul Rusescu to a five-year contract following the exit of winger Jesus Navas to Manchester City. Rusescu, who turns 25 in July, led the Romanian league with 21 goals last season to help Steaua Bucharest win the domestic title. The Spanish club said Rusescu's contract includes a 40 million euros ($53 million) buyout clause, but didn't release any other financial details of the...
03:28 PM, Jun 14, 2013
According to a report in The Daily Mail, French club Marseille have confirmed their interest in signing Arsenal striker Gervinho. The 26-year-old Ivory Coast international cost Arsenal 11 million from Lille and has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League last season. Marseille assistant coach Franck Passi confirmed the club's interest in the winger in a press statement. "This is a profile that interests us, yes. We want...
02:44 PM, Jun 14, 2013
Recife: Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas feels the 2014 World Cup in Brazil would represent the end of an era for Spanish football. The 32-year-old, who captained Spain to victory at the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European championships, also revealed that next year's World Cup could be his international swansong, reports Xinhua. "After Brazil many of us will probably call it a day and make way...
01:04 PM, Jun 14, 2013
Rio de Janerio: On the field, the Confederations Cup can give Brazil's national team a major boost in their quest to win a sixth World Cup title next year. Off the field, the eight-team tournament will offer the first hints about where the country stands in their preparations for the main event in 2014. Brazil have won the last two Confederations Cup titles - in 2005 and 2009. And while...
12:52 PM, Jun 14, 2013
Rio de Janeiro: Mexico striker Javier Hernandez says the Confederations Cup will provide his team with a welcome break from their stuttering 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. The reigning Concacaf champions play their first match of the Confederations Cup, against Italy at the Maracana stadium Sunday and Hernandez could not hide his eagerness for the event to begin, reports Xinhua. "We are lucky. We are in one of the most...
12:42 PM, Jun 14, 2013
According to a report in The Sun, Manchester United are trying to sign a deal with either Cristiano Ronaldo or Tottenham's Gareth Bale. The Glazers will hand new boss David Moyes more money than ever before to land a deal. Ronaldo took to Twitter rubbishing rumours that he was renewing his contract with Real Madrid. "All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid are false," he said via his...
12:15 PM, Jun 14, 2013
Rio de Janerio: Italy forward Stephan El Shaarawy has sat out training with a muscle problem, just three days before the Azzurri's Confederations Cup opener against Mexico on Sunday. Without El Shaarawy, coach Cesare Prandelli tested a 4-3-3 on Thursday that was spearheaded by Claudio Marchisio, Emanuele Giaccherini and Mario Balotelli. While he was Serie A's top scorer at the season midpoint with 14 goals for AC Milan, El Shaarawy...
10:45 AM, Jun 14, 2013
Brasilia: Neymar acknowledges that he finds it difficult to replicate his Santos success with the Brazilian national team. Neymar thrived with the elite Brazilian club to become one of the world's most talked-about players, earning a multi-million euro (dollar) transfer to Barcelona. But with Brazil, he hasn't lived up to expectations so far. He said Thursday that he isn't bothered by the criticism over his lackluster performances with the national...
10:05 AM, Jun 14, 2013
