Football: Mourinho avoids jail but hit by fine for tax fraud in SpainMADRID (AFP) - Ex-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has avoided jail for tax fraud as part of a deal with Spanish prosecutors revealed Tuesday (Feb 5) but will pay a fine of close to two million euros. The 56-year-old is accused of committing...

Football: 'He's great to watch, but he's not God' - Pope sets fans straight on MessiBARCELONA (REUTERS) - For Barcelona fans, Lionel Messi is "D10S", a combination of the Spanish word for "God" - "dios" - with the No. 10 on his shirt. But Pope Francis begs to differ.Interviewed by Spanish TV channel La Sexta on Sunday...

No one at United is blaming de GeaLONDON • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted he still had faith in David de Gea after his No. 1 goalkeeper's latest howler allowed Chelsea to come away with a 1-1 Premier League draw on Sunday, severely damaging Manchester United's hopes of Champions League qualification.Asked if he should...

Football: Valencia clinch Champions League spot, Getafe in Europa LeagueMADRID (REUTERS) - Valencia secured Champions League football for the second year in a row by winning 2-0 at Real Valladolid on Saturday, clinching fourth place in La Liga at the expense of Getafe who drew 2-2 at home to Villarreal.Marcelino's side...

Football: Man City score seven in FA Cup stroll, Oldham knock out FulhamLONDON (AFP) - Premier League champions Manchester City began their FA Cup campaign with a 7-0 thrashing of Rotherham on Sunday (Jan 6) but Fulham, battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, were beaten 2-1 by fourth-tier Oldham.Barnet ensured...

Football: Holders USA shrug off weight of Women's World Cup expectationsNEW YORK (REUTERS) - Few of the 24 women's World Cup teams arriving in France for next month's tournament will bear the weight of expectation quite like reigning champions the United States.The three-time winners will be aiming not only to retain...

Klopp hails 'outstanding' Reds, turns attention to BarcaLONDON • All Liverpool can do now is win and hope.The first part of their title duty was fulfilled in rampant and historic fashion as Huddersfield were routed 5-0 at Anfield on Friday.Top of the Premier League with two to play, their longing for a favour now turns...

Football: Sport Singapore enters three-year partnership with Bayern MunichSINGAPORE - National sports agency Sport Singapore (SportSG) announced a three-year partnership with German football giants Bayern Munich on Sunday (March 24).The tie-up will see both parties join efforts to organise the FC Bayern Youth Cup - an...

FAS' media-rights partner begins bankruptcy processThe media agency that gave the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) its biggest partnership deal - a $25-million, six-year exclusive rights agreement - in 2015 is set to wind up, with doubts now hanging over the matter of recovering some $3 million in unpaid rights...

Football: 'I think it's a goodbye', says Chelsea's HazardBAKU (AFP) - Chelsea forward Eden Hazard said he expects Wednesday's (May 29) 4-1 victory over Arsenal in the Europa League final to be his last game for the club."I think it's a goodbye, but in football you never know. My dream was to play in the Premier League...

Emery wary of Valencia's recovery potential in 2nd legLONDON • Given Arsenal's abysmal away form this term, with just one clean sheet on the road in the Premier League, it is understandable why Unai Emery is remaining notably cagey about reaching the Europa League final on May 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.Despite beating Valencia...

Football: Aubameyang brace gives Arsenal win over BurnleyLONDON (REUTERS) - Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shot to the top of the Premier League scoring charts with two goals in Saturday's (Dec 22) 3-1 home win over struggling Burnley, returning his side to winning ways after two straight defeats.The Gabon forward...