Anelka denies Football Association’s racism charge over gesture

LONDON (AP) ― West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka will face an English Football Association disciplinary hearing after formally denying a racism charge for celebrating a goal with a gesture deemed anti-Semitic. Anelka has repeatedly insisted that his use of the gesture, which is known in France as a “quenelle” and has been described as an “inverted Nazi salute,” was not anti-Semitic. The former France international faces a minimum five-match ban if he is found guilty. The FA said Anelka

Jan. 24, 2014

Hong hopes to speak to Park about return

LOS ANGELES (Yonhap News) ― Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of the South Korean men’s national football team, reiterated on Wednesday that he still hopes to speak to former captain Park Ji-sung about coming back for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, despite recent developments that put his return in doubt.South Korea is training in Los Angeles this week in preparation for three tune-up matches in the United States: first against Costa Rica in LA on Saturday, then Mexico in San Antonio next Wednesday an

Jan. 23, 2014

Park Ji-sung to host charity football match before WC

Former South Korean football captain Park Ji-sung will host a charity football match in Southeast Asia only days before the start of the FIFA World Cup, his father confirmed Wednesday, leaving the player’s possible return to the national team in doubt.Park Sung-jong, the player’s father, said the footballer will host the annual charity event either on May 31 or June 1 in Malaysia or Indonesia. Park Ji-sung launched his own charity organization called JS Foundation in 2011 and has been hosting an

Jan. 22, 2014

West Brom draws 1-1 with Everton

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) ― Diego Lugano scored his first goal for West Bromwich Albion to rescue a 1-1 draw against Everton on Monday in new manager Pepe Mel’s first Premier League game in charge.The Uruguay international’s 75th-minute header prevented a misfiring Everton side to go back into the top four after Kevin Mirallas had given the visitors a first-half lead.Everton had a goal correctly disallowed for offside with the last kick of the game, leaving the team in sixth place, a point behind

Jan. 21, 2014

Eto’o lifts Chelsea over Man United

LONDON (AP) ― Samuel Eto’o capitalized on a slack defense for his first Chelsea hat trick in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday that further underlined the struggles of the Premier League champions under David Moyes.United has seven league losses and is not only 14 points behind leader Arsenal but six points from the fourth Champions League spot.“We won’t throw the towel in until we can’t get there,” Moyes said. “The job is to try and finish first. I will keep trying to do that.”For

Jan. 20, 2014

Arsenal, City march on in Premier League

LONDON (AP) ― Arsenal and Manchester City showed no sign of slowing up in the race for the Premier League title by grabbing routine home wins on Saturday to stay 1-2 in the standings.Spain playmaker Santi Cazorla scored second-half goals in a five-minute span for Arsenal in a 2-0 victory over lowly Fulham that keeps the Gunners in the lead by a point.“We have played 22 games and have 51 points. If you compare that to any other season you will see that it is one of the best, if not the best ever,

Jan. 19, 2014

Sunderland forward Ji dealt to FC Augsburg in Germany

South Korean footballer Ji Dong-won has left English side Sunderland to join FC Augsburg in Germany on a permanent basis, both clubs announced Friday.FC Augsburg, in the top-flight Bundesliga, said on its website that Ji, 22, will be returning for his second tour of duty with the team. Under a mutual agreement between the clubs, financial details were not disclosed.Sunderland in the English Premier League also announced on its website that the forward has joined the German club.Ji enjoyed a succ

Jan. 17, 2014

National football team coach says Park Ji-sung's return 'possible' in March friendly

Former national men's football team captain Park Ji-sung could return to play in one of South Korea's tune-up matches ahead of this year's FIFA World Cup, the squad's head coach said Thursday.On the sidelines of the team's training camp in the World Cup host nation, Hong Myung-bo said the former Manchester United midfielder may put on a South Korean uniform to face Greece on the road in March."It can happen," Hong said. "There are many possibilities."Park, 32, announced his retirement from inter

Jan. 17, 2014

Ronaldo on target as Madrid reaches Copa quarters

MADRID (AP) ― Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his Ballon d’Or triumph by scoring from one of his trademark free kicks as Real Madrid beat Osasuna 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on Wednesday.Ronaldo smashed a swerving shot from 25 meters around the defensive wall and straight at goalie Andres Fernandez. The keeper tried to punch it out but ended up sending it down off the ground and between his legs into the net.Ronaldo’s 22nd-minute strike effectively sealed the contest, w

Jan. 16, 2014

National football coach stresses team spirit over competition

As South Korean men's national football team was getting ready to open the first overseas training camp in Brazil on Tuesday, head coach Hong Myung-bo stressed the importance of team spirit over competition for playing time.The team of 23 players from South Korean, Japanese and Chinese leagues arrived here earlier in the day to start their one-week training in Brazil, the host nation of the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicking off this summer. The national team will later fly to the United States to face

Jan. 15, 2014

Arsenal reclaims top spot in EPL

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) ― Arsenal scored two goals in the space of 59 seconds on its way to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa that put the visitors back on top of the Premier League on Monday.Jack Wilshere’s 34th-minute opener was quickly followed by a goal by Olivier Giroud, which proved to be enough to lift Arsenal back above Manchester City and Chelsea after their victories over the weekend.Belgium striker Christian Benteke scored his first goal since mid-September to give Villa hope in the 76th mi

Jan. 14, 2014

Pohang head coach braces for new challenge

Coming off a successful season in which his club lifted two major trophies in domestic football, Pohang Steelers’ head coach Hwang Sun-hong said Tuesday he’s braced for “a new challenge.”In 2013, the Steelers captured the K League Classic championship and also won the FA Cup, becoming the first South Korean club to win those titles in the same year. They did so without the service of foreign players, and the historic season earned Hwang, a former star striker, his first K League Classic Coach of

Jan. 14, 2014

Ronaldo wins FIFA best player award

Cristiano Ronaldo wins FIFA best player awardCristiano Ronaldo was awarded the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or in Zurich on Monday, ending the four-year dominance of Lionel Messi, according to foreign news reports.AFP reported that the tearful 28-year-old Real Madrid and Portugal star, who won the award in 2008, had been the overwhelming favourite to pip Barcelona and Argentina wonder Messi, winner the previous four years, and France‘s Franck Ribery, who claimed the treble with Bayern Munich in 2013.Ronal

Jan. 14, 2014