FC Seoul dominates, other S. Korean teams falter in Champions League

Defending South Korean football champion FC Seoul enjoyed a dominant victory, while three other South Korean teams were each held to a draw at the top Asian club football competition this week.The 2013 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League kicked off with four K League Classic clubs in group stage action.FC Seoul, the 2012 K League Classic champ, trounced Jiangsu Sainty of China 5-1 in their Group E clash in Seoul on Tuesday, but three other K League Classic sides, Jeonbuk Hyundai

Feb. 28, 2013

FIFA extends bans to 58 in fixing cases

ZURICH (AP) ― FIFA has given worldwide bans to 58 soccer players and officials found guilty in Chinese match-fixing cases.FIFA says it expelled 33 people from the game for life and 25 others will serve five-year bans for involvement in “domestic match-fixing and bribery.”All those banned were previously sanctioned by the Chinese soccer association. Life bans were imposed on referee Lu Jun, who officiated two 2002 World Cup matches, and four former Chinese national team players: Shen Si, Qi Hong,

Feb. 26, 2013

Swansea beats Bradford to win first major trophy

After accumulating titles with Europe's biggest clubs as a player, Michael Laudrup reached unexpected heights in his first year as Swansea manager on Sunday by guiding the Welsh club to its first major trophy in its centenary season.In the heaviest victory League Cup final victory, Swansea overwhelmed Bradford 5-0 in front of 82,597 fans at Wembley Stadium to end the northern English club's hopes of becoming the first fourth-tier side to win a major title in Europe.Beating Bradford provided a re

Feb. 25, 2013

Singapore police question Tan over match-fixing

SINGAPORE (AP) ― The Singapore Police Force has confirmed it is questioning the man who allegedly masterminded the rigging of hundreds of soccer games.“Dan Tan Seet Eng, a Singaporean who has been named in reports so far, is currently assisting Singapore authorities in their investigations,” the police said in a statement issued late Thursday. “We have been offering assistance and sharing available information with affected countries and will continue to do so.”The announcement came after Italia

Feb. 24, 2013

Giggs helps United go 15 clear in 999th game

Ryan Giggs marked his 999th professional match with a goal Saturday to help Manchester United go provisionally 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League.A late goal from the Welsh midfielder followed a fine strike by defender Rafael da Silva in a 2-0 victory over bottom-place Queens Park Rangers.“He's delivered again,” United manager Alex Ferguson said of the 39-year-old Giggs. “He's an amazing man.”Even if second-place Manchester City beats Chelsea on Sunday, Giggs seems headed for a 13t

Feb. 24, 2013

Tottenham, Chelsea advance in Europa League

Late goals by Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard advanced the English clubs to the Europa League’s third round on Thursday night, while Newcastle also reached the final 16 and Liverpool and defending champion Atletico Madrid were eliminated.Playing in an empty stadium because of previous fan violence, Fenerbahce defeated BATE Borisov 1-0 on Cristian’s penalty kick in first-half stoppage time following a 0-0 tie in the first leg. A lit flare was parachuted into the stadium and la

Feb. 22, 2013

Milan stuns Barcelona 2-0

MILAN (AP) ― With its first win over Barcelona in more than eight years, AC Milan put itself in prime position to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari scored second-half goals, leading AC Milan to a 2-0 upset Wednesday night in the first leg of the second round.At Istanbul, American midfielder Jermaine Jones scored on a right-footed shot off Jefferson Farfan’s cross on a 45th-minute counterattack to give Germany’s Schalke a 1-1 tie against Galatas

Feb. 21, 2013

Bayern clips Arsenal 3-1

LONDON (AP) ― Arsenal’s sorry season keeps getting worse.Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller scored early in the first half, leading Bayern Munich over the Gunners 3-1 Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League second-round matchup.Goals by Kroos in the seventh minute and Mueller in the 21st built a 2-0 lead. After Lukas Podolski scored for the Arsenal in the 55th, Mario Mandzukic got Bayern’s final goal in the 77th.The second leg of the total-goals series is in Germany on March 13.“Let’

Feb. 20, 2013

Footballer Park Jong-woo finally gets his Olympic bronze

South Korean football player Park Jong-woo received his Olympic bronze medal on Friday, six months after he was denied the prize following his controversial celebration at the London Games, officials said.The Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) said Park was handed the medal by the KOC President Park Yong-sung at the KOC's headquarters in Seoul. Following a disciplinary hearing earlier this week in Switzerland, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to award the player his medal, and Park

Feb. 15, 2013

Korean soccer seeks to reinvent itself

For most, a 30th birthday is a time to think about settling down, starting a family and planning for the future. In short, it is time to grow up. Yet for professional football in South Korea, the start of its fourth decade is a time for a new and radical change.On the field, there seems to be little wrong with the game. The league produces plenty of good talent who then go on to play in top competitions such as England, Germany and France. In Asia, it is easily the most successful in club compet

Feb. 14, 2013

Choi Kang-hee denies his uncertain future affects team

The head coach of the men’s South Korean soccer team on Thursday bristled at the notion that his uncertain future with the club has distracted his players, saying he will not talk about his status during qualifications for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.Choi Kang-hee, who has been coaching the national team since December 2011, said the country’s 4-0 loss to Croatia in last week’s friendly match had nothing to do with any lack of mental strength on the players’ part.“The players may have lost their con

Feb. 14, 2013