Soccer faces epic fixing fight

ZURICH (AP) ― Soccer is falling under a cloud of suspicion as never before, sullied by a multibillion-dollar web of match-fixing that is corrupting increasingly larger parts of the world’s most popular sport.Internet betting, emboldened criminal gangs and even the economic downturn have created conditions that make soccer a lucrative target.Known as “the beautiful game” for its grace, athleticism and traditions of fair play, soccer is under threat of becoming a dirty game.“Football is in a disas

Feb. 13, 2013

Ronaldo tops soccer rankings; Son enters top 10

LONDON (AP) ― Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo emerged from the shadow of Lionel Messi to top this week’s Associated Press Global Soccer Rankings.The Portuguese forward’s hat trick against Sevilla was not enough to prevent Barcelona returning to the top of the AP’s team rankings, with the Spanish league leader scoring six.Soeren-Mikael Hansen of Denmark’s Politiken newspaper said the hat trick was a message to Ronaldo’s old team.“Even though Barcelona performed best as a team, Cristiano Ronaldo m

Feb. 13, 2013

Soccer faces epic fight against match-fixing

Soccer is falling under a cloud of suspicion as never before, sullied by a multibillion-dollar web of match-fixing that is corrupting increasingly larger parts of the world's most popular sport. Internet betting, emboldened criminal gangs and even the economic downturn have created conditions that make soccer _ or football, as the sport is called around the world _ a lucrative target. Known as “the beautiful game” for its grace, athleticism and traditions of fair play, soccer is under threat of

Feb. 12, 2013

Footballer Park Jong-woo to receive long-awaited Olympic medal: IOC

South Korean footballer Park Jong-woo will be awarded his long-awaited Olympic bronze medal, following a ruling by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over his controversial celebration at the London Summer Games, officials said Tuesday.After the Disciplinary Commission on Monday reviewed Park's action at the Olympics last year, the IOC decided to give the player the medal he had been barred from collecting for six months, a South Korean official explained."The IOC gave Park a stern warnin

Feb. 12, 2013

Footballer Park Jong-woo awaiting result after IOC hearing on Olympic celebration

After attending an International Olympic Committee (IOC) disciplinary hearing over his Olympic celebration here Monday, South Korean football player Park Jong-woo said he will calmly await its outcome.The IOC's Disciplinary Commission held a meeting over Park's celebration after South Korea's 2-0 victory over Japan for the bronze medal in men's football at the London Olympics last year.Park hoisted a sign that read, in Korean, "Dokdo Is Our Territory," in support of South Korea's sovereignty ove

Feb. 12, 2013

Russian ex-inmate stays in Chile for pro soccer

A Russian man who served three years in a Chilean prison for drug trafficking is being allowed to remain in the country to play professional soccer. Twenty-five-year-old Maxim Molokoedov finished his prison term Friday. He has been training with the Santiago Morning club in Chile's second-tier league since last season under a special permit. During a ceremony at the National Stadium, Justice Minister Juan Ignacio Pina said that an order to expel Molokoedov from Chile has been revoked.“Maxim has

Feb. 7, 2013

FIFA panel to consider changing offside rule

ZURICH (AP) ― FIFA’s rules-making panel will consider changing how offside is interpreted at its annual meeting next month.The governing body said Monday the panel will also examine closing a loophole regarding uncontested dropped balls after a controversial goal scored by Shakhtar Donetsk against Nordsjaelland in the Champions League in November.A progress report on introducing goal-line technology before the 2014 World Cup will be submitted when the rules body meets March 1-2 in Edinburgh, Sco

Feb. 5, 2013

Wages soar as club losses hit record

LONDON (AP) ― UEFA says losses across European soccer clubs are ballooning as player salaries soar, despite the economic crisis engulfing the continent.A report shows losses by top division clubs tripled over five years to a record $2.3 billion, and the cost of paying players leapt 40 percent to $11.2 billion.But in the 2011 financial year, UEFA found the total debt of the 654 clubs’ accounts analyzed dropped by around 10 percent to $10.5 billion. However, 62 percent of clubs breached at least o

Feb. 5, 2013

Man City drops two more points in pursuit of United

LONDON (AP) ― Liverpool did Manchester United a big favor in the Premier League on Sunday, holding Manchester City to a 2-2 draw to leave the defending champions nine points behind their neighbors in the title race.Sergio Aguero’s 79th-minute goal gave City one point that will be of little comfort to manager Roberto Mancini, whose team has dropped four points in six days and is struggling to keep pace with United.“Seven or nine points doesn’t change (anything),” Mancini said. “I think we can rec

Feb. 4, 2013

Messi gives Barcelona 1-1 draw at Valencia

Lionel Messi extended his record streak by scoring in his 12th consecutive Spanish league game to give leader Barcelona a 1-1 draw at Valencia on Sunday, while Atletico Madrid remained perfect at home through 20 games in all competitions.Midfielder Ever Banega struck first for Valencia in the 33rd, only for Messi to level for the visitors from the penalty spot six minutes later.Former Valencia star David Villa had Barcelona's best chance late but failed to finish on the break before goalkeeper V

Feb. 4, 2013