Association football

French footballers stand trial in underage prostitution case

Thomson ReutersJune 17, 2013 13:34

PARIS (Reuters) - French footballers Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema go on trial in Paris on Tuesday accused of paying for sex with a teenage call girl. Bayern Munich winger Ribery and Real Madrid striker Benzema have been under investigation in their home country for more than two years on allegations of paying Zahia Dehar, then a minor, for sex in 2008 and 2009. None of them are expected to appear at the criminal court for the trial that is expected to run until June 26. The ruling could come later.

Football: Spanish young guns show dominance could last

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 13:00

When the Spanish senior team took to the field to open their Confederations Cup campaign on Sunday night, there was once again great expectations for them to perform. The world and European champions weren't just coping with the pressure brought upon them by their own relentless success over the past five years, but by the younger Spanish generation pushing the seniors to maintain their standards just to keep their places in the squad.

Football: 'I've got Pardew's blessing' - Kinnear

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 11:31

Newcastle United's new director of football, Joe Kinnear, on Monday said he has the blessing of Alan Pardew, despite concerns that his appointment could prompt the manager to leave the club. "Before I had a meeting with (owner) Mike (Ashley), (managing director) Derek (Llambias) said he's informed Alan, and Alan said 'Great news -- I'm delighted with that. At last I've got somebody who's a football guy'," Kinnear told the Evening Chronicle newspaper.

Football: Son chose Bayer over Premier League

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 11:00

South Korea striker Son Heung-Min turned down a host of Premier League clubs to stay in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, but could yet play in England, his agent revealed in an interview on Monday. The 20-year-old signed a five-year deal last Thursday to switch from Hamburg to Leverkusen, who have qualified for next season's Champions League, but his agent Thies Bliemeister has said the South Korea star could have gone to England's top flight.

Football: 'Tears of blood' jibe stokes Korea-Iran ire

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 10:00

South Korea and Iran appear headed for one of Asia's worst-tempered World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday after their coaches traded barbs and one player said he would make Iran's captain cry "tears of blood". The gloves-off verbal sparring has dramatically raised temperatures ahead of their crunch meeting in the southern port city of Ulsan, where South Korea need just a point but Iran need a win to guarantee an automatic 2014 World Cup berth.

Football: Lewandowski at Bayern for 2014/15 - reports

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 09:02

Robert Lewandowski will see out his Borussia Dortmund contract then join Champions League winners Bayern Munich for the 2014/15 season, turning down offers from England's Premier League, according to reports on Monday. "Robert will definitely play for Borussia Dortmund next season. We need some clarity in our planning," Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke told Munich's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper after Lewandowski scored 24 league goals last season and 10 in Europe.

Football: Ferguson's first Man Utd team sheet for sale

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 08:31

Alex Ferguson's first team sheet as Manchester United manager is to go under the hammer and could sell for between £2,000 and £3,000 (2,400-3,500 euros, $3,100-4,700), auctioneers said on Monday. The hand-written team sheet from November 8, 1986 is to be sold on behalf of an Oxford United fan, who was given it by former player Peter Rhoades-Brown. Oxford United won the encounter at the Manor Ground 2-0 in front of 13,500 fans.

S. Korea looks to qualify for World Cup with win over Iran

Yonhap News AgencyJune 17, 2013 08:30

ULSAN, June 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will try to book a ticket to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in style, as it readies to host continental rival Iran in an Asian qualification match here this week. The kickoff will be 9 p.m. Tuesday at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul. It will be the final World Cup qualifier for both countries.

Football: Financial fair play good for game - Mourinho

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 08:00

New regulations governing what European football clubs can spend in relation to their means are good for the game, forcing teams to think more carefully about who they sign, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said in comments published on Monday. Mourinho, who was reappointed coach at the west London club earlier this month, described UEFA's financial fair play regulations as "very motivational" and helpful for greater cohesion within a club.

Football: Lewandowski at Bayern for 2014/15 - reports

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 07:33

Robert Lewandowski will see out his Borussia Dortmund contract then join Champions League winners Bayern Munich for the 2014/15 season, turning down offers from England's Premier League, according to reports on Monday. German daily Bild report Bayern are only planning on having the 24-year-old Poland striker in their squad for the start of the 2014/15 season with Dortmund insisting he will stay until his contract expires on June 2014.