Latvia bans a top soccer club for rest of season; coach, GM cited for betting on team’s games

October 9th, 2009 England soccer chief wants ban on bettingLONDON — England's top soccer official wants a complete ban on betting on the national game by players, managers and officials. Football Association chairman David Triesman told The Associated Press that he wants to end any ambiguity to protect the integrity of the Premier League and English football in general.

September 24th, 2009 President of soccer club Fiorentina resignsFLORENCE, Italy — The president of Fiorentina has submitted his resignation at a board meeting for the Italian soccer club. The club said it would issue a statement later Thursday explaining the reasons behind Andrea Della Valle's decision.

May 18th, 2009 LONDON - Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez refused to congratulate Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson on winning the English Premier League. The angry Liverpool boss could not even bear to mention Ferguson's name when quizzed about Manchester United's achievement in drawing level with the Reds on 18 titles.

May 16th, 2009 LONDON - Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez continues to believe that his club's playing style is far better than what is on offer from Manchester United, notwithstanding the fact that the latter is closing on three of the five soccer titles up for grabs. "It's the team that has more points, that's all.

May 14th, 2009 Del. sports betting legislation signed into lawNEWARK, Del. — Delaware becomes the only state east of the Mississippi River to allow betting on sports after the governor signed the legislation.

May 12th, 2009 Straka selected new Czech Republic soccer coachPRAGUE — Frantisek Straka was selected as the Czech Republic's new soccer coach on Tuesday, replacing Petr Rada, who was fired last month because of poor results in World Cup qualifying. The Czech soccer federation's decision to appoint the 50-year-old Straka was a surprise after its committee had recommended rehiring Dusan Uhrin, who led the team to the final of the 1996 European Championship.

May 5th, 2009 Mexican soccer remains behind closed doorsMEXICO CITY — All pro soccer games in Mexico this weekend will again be played without fans because of swine flu. The decision comes even though other parts of the country are returning to normal following a shutdown to contain the virus.

May 4th, 2009 China's national soccer team gets new coachBEIJING — Gao Hongbo was announced as the latest coach of China's troubled national soccer team on Monday. The Chinese Football Association said the former striker will replace Yin Tiesheng, who has been handling the team on a temporary basis.

April 30th, 2009 176 Mexican football games will be without fansMEXICO CITY — Weekend soccer in Mexico is colorful, just like the red and green sauces splashed on tacos and hawked by hundreds of food-sellers who overrun stadium grounds. The atmosphere resembles a market square, with fans decked out in team jerseys, sipping cold drinks or beer on the sun-drenched terraces of the arenas.

April 29th, 2009 Swine flu causes Mexico fan ban at soccer matchesMEXICO CITY — The Mexican Football Federation says all pro soccer games in Mexico this weekend will be played without fans in an effort to slow the spread of swine flu. The ban announced Wednesday covers 176 matches in all divisions, including nine top division matches to 115 matches in the third division.

April 29th, 2009 176 Mexican soccer games will be without fansMEXICO CITY — Weekend soccer in Mexico is colorful, just like the red and green sauces splashed on tacos and hawked by hundreds of food-sellers who overrun stadium grounds. The atmosphere resembles a market square, with fans decked out in team jerseys, sipping cold drinks or beer on the sun-drenched terraces of the arenas.

April 26th, 2009 GURGAON - After guiding Churchill Brothers to their maiden I-league title, their Serbian coach Zoran Djordjevic may be on his way out. Zoran, who became the first overseas coach to win the I-League title, didn't sound confident when asked whether he will get another term with the Goan club.

April 23rd, 2009 LONDON - Argentine soccer star Carlos Tevez is weighing up offers from other clubs regarding next season, as he is sure that Manchester United will not take up their option to buy him on a permanent basis. According to the Daily Express, Tevez's two-year loan deal ends this summer and Manchester United, who have paid six million pounds in loan fees, are understood to be reluctant to pay 26 million pounds to Media Sports Investments, the owners of the player's economic rights, to make him theirs.

April 23rd, 2009 Milutinovic takes over as coach of Iraqi soccerBAGHDAD — Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic has officially taken over the Iraqi national soccer team. Milutinovic signed his contract during a ceremony in Baghdad on Thursday, saying the lingering violence in Iraq did not deter him from accepting the post.

December 23rd, 2008 KOLKATA - Subhas Bhowmick Wednesday returned as coach of East Bengal replacing Stanley Rozario, who was sacked after the club bowed out of the Federation Cup in the semi-final stage. Bhowmick, who guided East Bengal to back-to-back National Football League titles besides the Asean Cup triumph in 2003, had to leave the job after he was caught accepting bribe in December 2005 in his capacity as an officer of the anti-evasion department of the Central Excise.