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Football

Stockport County’s Mike Wilbury training some aspiring players in Guizhou province on the English club's first tour of China in 2001. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese Football Association (CFA)

How Stockport County became ‘bigger than Manchester United’ in China

President Steve Bellis will lead an 11-day tour from Saturday, after quarter century of romance, rickshaw races and life-changing cash gifts.

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The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong Premier League coach urges football chiefs to help grow game in city

Fifa

Fifa president hopes to woo Asian football federations ahead of re-election bid

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Asian Cup football on track but golf, cycling events affected after Saudi attack

Football sticking to January–February plan as Asian Tour postpones Saudi International, UCI axes Urban Cycling World Championships.

China’s Sun Sibei (centre), Sun Jiaqi (left) and Fan Xiaotong swept the BMX freestyle park final medals at the Urban Cycling World Championships in Riyadh last year. Photo: UCI BMX Freestyle
China’s Sun Sibei (centre), Sun Jiaqi (left) and Fan Xiaotong swept the BMX freestyle park final medals at the Urban Cycling World Championships in Riyadh last year. Photo: UCI BMX Freestyle
AFC Cup

ACL 2: Hong Kong’s Tai Po ‘cross a line’ but fail to tame Lion City Sailors

Singaporean visitors too slick and smart for tenacious hosts, while local league champions Kitchee claim precious away point.

AFC Champions League

Referee Ma recounts ‘harrowing’ trip to officiate match with Cristiano Ronaldo

AFC Champions League Elite fixture between Al-Nassr and Neftchi Fergana goes ahead despite attack on airport, disruptions in Saudi Arabia.

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Fifa Women's World Cup

‘High hopes’ as Indonesia’s women get another shot at national football league

Six clubs get US$1.3 million, five-year trial period to start new chapter for women’s game in Muslim-majority country of 290 million people.

Garudayaksa FC’s Zahra Naqiyyah (centre, wearing hijab) and her teammates performing drills during a training session in Bekasi, West Java province. Photo: AFP
Garudayaksa FC’s Zahra Naqiyyah (centre, wearing hijab) and her teammates performing drills during a training session in Bekasi, West Java province. Photo: AFP
Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Asian Cup could be switched to 2028, tennis slam delayed over Saudi bomb fears

Asia football chiefs say decision over whether to move tournament does not need to be made yet, while other sports monitor security in region.

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

ACL 2: Tai Po set to face ex-England junior player on roll as coach in Far East

Lion City Sailors’ Mark Jackson arrived at Singapore club laden with trophies, says leaving England was ‘one of the best things I’ve done’.

English Premier League

Regulator expects Man City to face January showdown over breaches of EPL rules

The club have repeatedly maintained they are innocent of the charges, and currently sit top of the table with six wins out of six.

Manchester City players celebrate after Erling Haaland scores against Liverpool in the Premier League. Photo: AFP
South Korea

South Korean FA condemns ‘personal attacks’ of players as attempt to sow discord

Latest firestorm follows public outrage over behaviour of footballers who earned exemptions from mandatory military service after Asian Games.

South Korean players are still in the crosshairs of fans since their World Cup flop in North America. Photo: Xinhua
South Korean players are still in the crosshairs of fans since their World Cup flop in North America. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong Premier League

Hong Kong top-flight club suspend player over racially sensitive social media message

Tai Po also issue strongly-worded statement and give teenager Gabriel Mesquita a formal written warning after he responds to netizen.

Fifa

Fifa chief Infantino could pull off ‘Houdini’ act as critics struggle for candidate

The Swiss, though, is not safe yet as the opposition have mounted legal challenges in the US and filed official complaints with Fifa committees.

Fifa Women's World Cup

Financial, mental health issues pushing women footballers towards early retirement

Extensive review by players’ trade union highlights the gulf between the sport’s rapid growth and conditions for most players.

Fifpro says conditions have improved dramatically for the 5 per cent at the top of the women's game, but for "the rest of the industry, there is a hell of a long way to go”. Photo: dpa
English Premier League

Manchester City must make ‘own noise’ amid EPL financial scandal: Maresca

Victory over Liverpool continued club’s perfect start to season, but guilty verdict hangs like cloud over every result.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (centre) celebrates after his side’s comprehensive win at Anfield. Photo: AFP
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (centre) celebrates after his side’s comprehensive win at Anfield. Photo: AFP
English Premier League

UK PM to publish Manchester City dealings after intervention draws criticism

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch urged the PM to publish ‘everything’ related to his work with the club when he was Greater Manchester mayor.

English Premier League

How Manchester City could repeat Uefa victory and hit back at Premier League

Respected lawyers identify City’s best grounds for argument when appeal is heard, but expect severe punishments if pleas fall on deaf ears.

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The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Manchester City legend David Silva comes out of retirement for Hong Kong stint

Spaniard signs on with local Premier League new boys Supreme Sha Tin three years after drawing line under illustrious career.

David Silva celebrates scoring in the Manchester derby back in 2011. Photo: Reuters
David Silva celebrates scoring in the Manchester derby back in 2011. Photo: Reuters
Asian Games 2026

South Korea signals military exemption cuts for athletes after Asian Games row

Celebrations by some of country’s gold medal-winning football players has sparked calls for change to rule that rewarded success at Games.

Lionel Messi

Messi calls time on Argentina career, says not playing will be ‘deeply painful’

Lionel Messi ends international career with two goals in 3-0 victory over Benin, tells fans it is ‘saddest day of my career’.

Lionel Messi

End of an era: Messi prepares to hang up Argentina boots with monumental farewell

Some 85,000 fans will be on hand to watch the 39-year-old idol perform his wizardry in a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires.

Lionel Messi sealed his place as rightful heir to Diego Maradona in 2022 when he ended Argentina’s 36-year World Cup drought in Qatar. Photo: AFP
The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong return collapsed because football bosses can’t forgive me, Andersen says

Popular former head coach now in charge of Myanmar believes he was punished for opting to leave city’s top job in the first place.

Former head coach of Hong Kong Jorn Andersen was back in the city for the Fifa Asean Cup in September. Photo: Elson Li
Former head coach of Hong Kong Jorn Andersen was back in the city for the Fifa Asean Cup in September. Photo: Elson Li
Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Suzuki eyes Asian Cup atonement after ‘very bad’ display in 2024 defeat

New Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki believes Japan can win tournament this time around after previously losing in last 8 to Iran.

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Proposed Asian football reforms threaten to kill Hong Kong’s World Cup hopes

Continental governing body advocating for Nations League that would reshape Asian and World Cup finals pathways.

Asian Games 2026

South Korean Asian Games footballers’ joy over military exemptions raises ire

Social media users say there should be rethink over policy under which Games gold winners, Olympic medallists are exempted from military duty.

South Korea's win over Japan in the Asian Games football final has seen 20 of the 23-strong squad earning exemptions from military service. Photo: AP
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