SPORTS

Sochi, Russia | AFP | World Cup coaches expressed a quiet confidence on Wednesday about Video Assistant Referee technology ahead of its likely adoption for this year’s showpiece event in Russia. Representatives from the 32 teams to have qualified for the World Cup gathered in the Black Sea resort of Sochi …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | The International Olympic Committee has lifted a ban against Russia, Moscow officials said on Wednesday, after the country had been barred from the Pyeongchang games over state-sponsored doping. The news, confirmed later by the IOC, was announced as Olympic athletes were feted in the Kremlin, thanking …

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AFP | In Brazil, the land where football is king, Neymar’s foot injury has unleashed sharp emotions and concern, rumors and speculation about the star player upon whom so many hopes rest for World Cup victory in Russia. “We just might have lost the World Cup …

Paris, France | AFP | Paris Saint-Germain’s hopes of getting Neymar back for their crunch Champions League clash against Real Madrid next week look to be over after the Brazilian’s father claimed the player would be out for “at least six weeks”. Speaking to ESPN in Brazil on Tuesday, Neymar Senior …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsene Wenger on Wednesday said he was “amazed” at fresh speculation over his future as he prepares his team to face Manchester City just days after Arsenal’s League Cup final humiliation against Pep Guardiola’s men. The Frenchman has come under sustained fire since an abject …

Milan, Italy | AFP | Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is Italy’s number one choice to take over as national coach, Italian federation vice-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta revealed on Tuesday. “I haven’t chosen yet but I think Conte is the one who could do the best,” Costacurta told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’ll definitely …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Sadio Mane says Liverpool “can beat any team in the world” as Jurgen Klopp’s men chase the Premier League runners-up spot and eye the Champions League quarter-finals. Liverpool are third in the table, two points behind Manchester United after just one defeat in their past …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino dismissed claims by former Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas that prolific striker Harry Kane needs to leave the club if he wants to win trophies. Villas-Boas gave Kane his Premier League debut in 2012, but the England striker’s career only took …

Bratislava, Slovakia | AFP | UEFA will not introduce Video Assistant Referees (VAR) for next season’s Champions League because of ongoing “confusion” surrounding its use, Aleksander Ceferin, the president of European football’s governing body, said on Monday. “Nobody knows exactly how it works yet. There is still a lot of …

Paris, France | AFP | Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar suffered a sprained ankle and a fractured metatarsal when he was stretchered off in Sunday’s win over Marseille, the Ligue 1 leaders announced on Monday. The Brazilian, who signed for PSG in a world-record move from Barcelona last year, is now …