The Korea Herald

Silva strikes as City climbs alongside Chelsea

LONDON (AP) ― David Silva scored twice as defending champion Manchester City continued to fight for its title, beating Crystal Palace 3-0 Saturday to draw level provisionally with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.Playing without a recognized striker, City reeled off its sixth league win in succession and eighth in all competitions, one short of equaling the club record.It was a performance that made clear Chelsea faces a mounting challenge to stay on top as the league heads into its trad

Dec. 21, 2014

Silva strikes as City climbs alongside Chelsea

Blatter: ‘Earthquake’ needed to change World Cup hosts

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AFP) ― FIFA will release an “appropriate” version of a report into alleged corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups but president Sepp Blatter on Friday ruled out moving the tournaments from Russia and Qatar.The wealthy Gulf state of Qatar has faced a storm of controversy over its successful bid for the 2022 tournament. But Blatter said: “It would really need an earthquake, extremely important new elements to go back on this World Cup in Qatar.”The president of foo

Dec. 21, 2014

Blatter: ‘Earthquake’ needed to change World Cup hosts

Federation says refs prone to wrong calls

The national professional football federation on Friday said referees in its top competition made incorrect calls in one in every seven matches in the 2014 season, adding that the guilty officials were all punished for their mishaps.The K League said referees made wrong calls in 33 out of 225 matches this past season in the K League Classic, unveiling for the first time the exact number of matches marred by poor officiating.The league said of those 33, referees had made bad calls on awarding pen

Dec. 19, 2014

FIFA meets amid crisis over Garcia’s resignation

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) ― Amid another crisis at FIFA, president Sepp Blatter and his executive committee opened a two-day meeting Thursday to discuss the sudden resignation of ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia and whether to publish his confidential World Cup report.Garcia quit Wednesday in protest over the handling of his World Cup bid investigation. The American lawyer’s departure could increase pressure on FIFA to publish the 430-page report on the 2010 votes that awarded the World Cup to Rus

Dec. 19, 2014

Garcia resigns as FIFA prosecutor

GENEVA (AP) ― The American lawyer who led the investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid process resigned from the FIFA ethics committee on Wednesday in protest over the handling of his findings.Michael Garcia cited a “lack of leadership” at the top of FIFA in a resignation statement. He also said he has lost confidence in the independence of his ethics committee colleague, German judge Joachim Eckert. Though Garcia did not identify Sepp Blatter by name, he also revealed that the FIFA ex

Dec. 18, 2014

Korea to take on Saudi in final tune-up before Asian Cup

South Korea will take on Saudi Arabia in its final tune-up match before the AFC Asian Cup football tournament next month, officials said Thursday.The 2015 Asian Cup will kick off Jan. 9 in Australia. The Korea Football Association said South Korea will play Saudi Arabia on Jan. 4 in Sydney, six days before its first group stage match against Oman.Seeking its first Asian Cup since 1960, South Korea has drawn Australia, Oman and Kuwait in Group A.“We’re still trying to settle on the venue and the

Dec. 18, 2014

S. Korea to take on Saudi Arabia in final tune-up before Asian Cup

South Korea will take on Saudi Arabia in its final tune-up match before the AFC Asian Cup football tournament next month, officials said Thursday. The 2015 Asian Cup will kick off Jan. 9 in Australia. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said South Korea will play Saudi Arabia on Jan. 4 in Sydney, six days before its first group stage match against Oman. The KFA said the match will kick off at 6 p.m. at Pirtek Stadium in Sydney. Seeking its first Asian Cup since 1960, South Korea has drawn

Dec. 18, 2014

Youth to be served well as Seoul hosts short track cup

Youth is expected to be served well when the nation’s capital hosts the fourth leg of the International Skating Union Short Track Speed Skating World Cup this week.The three-day competition will open with heats Friday at Mokdong Ice Rink. All the finals are scheduled for Sunday afternoon. On the men’s side, South Korea captured two gold medals in the first leg in Salt Lake City, Utah, three more in the next stop in Montreal and then added three titles in the third leg in Shanghai.The women have

Dec. 17, 2014

Youth to be served well as Seoul hosts short track cup

Real Madrid to face Schalke in Champions League

NYON, Switzerland (AP) ― A Champions League draw heavy with reunions on Monday paired Real Madrid and Barcelona with the same last 16 opponents as last season, and sent Arsene Wenger back to the club where he made his reputation.Defending champion Madrid will play Schalke a year after a 6-1 rout in Germany sparked a 9-2 aggregate victory.“We want to show that we’ve learned something,’’ Schalke coach Roberto Di Matteo said. “We got the toughest rival.’’Barcelona will once again travel first, on F

Dec. 16, 2014

Real Madrid to face Schalke in Champions League

Everton beats QPR

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) ― Everton took advantage of two deflections and a defensive mistake to beat Queens Park Rangers 3-1 on Monday, leaving the visitors without a point on the road this season.Ross Barkley gave Everton the lead with a fierce shot from outside the area that deflected off the back of a defender to swerve inside the near post in the 33rd. Kevin Mirallas then doubled the lead in the 44th with a free kick that took an even bigger deflection off the wall to wrong-foot goalkeeper Ro

Dec. 16, 2014

1998 World Cup winner Thierry Henry retires

Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry announced his retirement on Tuesday, ending a 20-year career in which he earned a place in the pantheon of modern greats. The 37-year-old Henry, a member of the France teams that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship, was linked to a potential coaching role with the Gunners after ending his career at the New York Red Bulls, but announced he will become a TV analyst.Henry, who holds the French record of 51 goals in 123 internationals

Dec. 16, 2014

Soccer chief calls for more offense

The head of the South Korean football governing body on Monday urged coaches of the top domestic professional league to play more aggressive football, saying more goals will bring more fans to seats.Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association, had a luncheon meeting with five head coaches of the K League Classic. During their meeting, Chung, who once served as the pro football commissioner, said he hoped to see clubs play with more abandon.“Next year, I hope the teams can enterta

Dec. 15, 2014

Korea travels south to open Asian Cup camp

The South Korean men’s football team traveled south to Jejudo Island to begin a weeklong training camp ahead of a major continental tournament.Head coach Uli Stielike has put together a squad of 28 players from leagues in South Korea, Japan and China as he prepares for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which will kick off in Australia on Jan. 9.It will be South Korea’s first international tournament under Stielike, a former German international who took the South Korean reins in October. South Korea last

Dec. 15, 2014

Korea travels south to open Asian Cup camp

United adds to Liverpool’s misery

United’s Wayne Rooney (bottom) celebrates his goal with teammates on Sunday. (AP-Yonhap)LONDON (AP) ― Manchester United’s resurgence continued in the English Premier League as the Red Devils beat archrival Liverpool for a sixth consecutive league win on Sunday, while Juventus has its lead cut to one point in Serie A. In Spain, Villarreal ended Atletico Madrid’s streak of 27 straight home games without a loss and defending champion Paris Saint-Germain lost its first game in the French league.Manc

Dec. 15, 2014

Chelsea, Arsenal roll to wins

LONDON (AP) ― Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal won in the English Premier League on Saturday. In Spain, Barcelona played to a 0-0 draw at Getafe, halting its run of eight straight victories in all competitions.The closest Barcelona came to scoring was Lionel Messi’s free kick that hit the crossbar in the second half. Luis Suarez remained without a goal in the league since joining Barcelona. The Spanish power fell four points behind first-place Madrid.First-place Chelsea responded to its firs

Dec. 14, 2014

Torino completes Italian Europa sweep

ROME (AP) ― The entire Italian league stands to benefit after Torino came back to beat nine-man Copenhagen 5-1 Thursday and complete a clean sweep with all four Serie A clubs advancing from the group phase of the Europa League. Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Napoli had already reached the last 32 and Roma dropped down to the continent’s secondary competition by finishing third in its Champions League group. With Juventus advancing in the Champions League, Italy has six clubs still competing in Euro

Dec. 12, 2014

‘Big 4’ will be hard to topple in Champions League

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― With nine different winners in the last 11 years, no one could ever accuse the Champions League of being predictable. It does appear, however, that an established “Big 4” has been created in Europe’s premier club competition ― and this year’s group stage backs up the theory. Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, the last four winners of European soccer’s top prize, were the top teams in group play, which finished Wednesday. In each of the last three season

Dec. 12, 2014

Man City, Schalke advance

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― Manchester City and Schalke grabbed the final spots on offer in the knockout stage of the Champions League on Wednesday, while Lionel Messi helped Barcelona secure first place in its group with a record-extending 75th goal in the competition.City started the final round of group play in last place in Group E but finished second by beating Roma 2-0 away, with second-half goals by Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta lifting the English champions above their Italian opponents

Dec. 11, 2014

Liverpool knocked out of Champions League

GENEVA (AP) ― Liverpool’s decline and fall from the European elite was confirmed on Tuesday, as Basel held the hosts to a 1-1 draw at Anfield to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.The five-time European champion trailed Fabian Frei’s 25th-minute strike, and had substitute Lazar Markovic sent off in the 60th, before captain Steven Gerrard’s 81st-minute free kick sparked a frantic finish.Liverpool twice failed to beat Basel and was outclassed by Group B winner Real Madrid on returning from

Dec. 10, 2014

Liverpool knocked out of Champions League

Stielike says door open for ‘passionate, hungry’ players

As South Korea prepares for an upcoming continental football tournament next month, Uli Stielike, head coach of the men’s national team, said Wednesday the doors to his squad are open to “passionate and hungry” players.Stielike is scheduled to open an early training camp on Jejudo Island, in the southern part of the country, next Monday, in preparation for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which will kick off on Jan. 9 in Australia. South Korea, seeking its first Asian Cup since 1960, has been paired with

Dec. 10, 2014

Stielike says door open for ‘passionate, hungry’ players