Football

May 24, (Reuters) - The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be held with 32 participating teams and not an expanded 48 teams, organisers FIFA said on Wednesday. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had proposed expanding the tournament and explored the idea of adding additional host nations. But the sport’s world ruling body said in statement: Following a thorough and comprehensive...

May 9 (Reuters) - Lucas Moura conjured the second Champions League miracle in 24 hours with a last-gasp winner to complete his hat-trick and a 3-2 win to send Tottenham Hotspur past a shattered Ajax Amsterdam into the final on away goals on Wednesday. A day after Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit, Tottenham came back...

May 8 (Reuters) - Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history to beat Barcelona 4-0 on Tuesday, overturning a three-goal first-leg deficit and advancing to their second successive final with a 4-3 aggregate victory. Two goals each from stand-in forward Divock Origi and halftime substitute Georginio Wijnaldum left Lionel Messi and Barcelona utterly shell-shocked after a...

April 26 (India Today) - Manchester City's England forward Raheem Sterling has been awarded The Integrity and Impact Award at this year's BT Sport Industry Awards for speaking out on a range of social issues, including racism. Sterling was recognised for his fight against racism in the sport and for using his platform to call for more action to be...

April 25 (India Today) - Chris Gayle and Andre Russell were among 15 players in the West Indies squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup named on Wednesday. Jason Holder, the all-rounder, will lead West Indies as they seek to win a World Cup for the first time since 1979. Chris Gayle is 39 but he has been in spectacular...

April 24 (Reuters) - Southampton striker Shane Long struck the fastest goal in Premier League history, inside seven seconds, but his team conceded a last-minute equaliser as they drew 1-1 at Watford on Tuesday. The draw leaves the Saints still with work to do to guarantee their Premier League survival. Southampton are on 37 points, six ahead of 18th-placed Cardiff...

April 22 (Reuters) - Neymar made his return to the pitch after a three-month injury lay-off as Paris St Germain celebrated their eighth Ligue 1 title with a 3-1 win against Monaco at the Parc des Princes on Sunday. The Brazil striker played the whole second half in his first appearance since January 23, but it was Kylian Mbappe who...

April 11 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo produced yet another quality goal to add to his collection and help Juventus to a 1-1 draw at Ajax Amsterdam in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday. Juventus took the lead on the stroke of halftime as Portuguese forward Ronaldo began an attacking move inside his own half before...

April 9 (Associated Press) - Pele left a Paris hospital on Monday after being treated for a urinary infection. The 78-year-old Pele, who has been frequently hospitalised in the last few years for kidney and prostate procedures, was under care in the French capital since last Wednesday. The soccer great said in statement he will be back home in Brazil...