Football

Albanian striker Berisha staying with Roar

WAYNE HEMING - AAP

Brisbane Roar can thank 20-month-old Amar Berisha for securing the services of goal-scoring genius Besart Berisha for another two years.

Barcelona put three past Bayer Leverkusen

KAROLOS GROHMANN - Reuters

Two goals from Chile forward Alexis Sanchez helped Barcelona to a 3-1 first-leg win at Bayer Leverkusen that put the holders firmly in the driving seat.

FIFA baulks at Falklands War tribute

Football's governing body FIFA has questioned the Argentine FA over reports that the country's championship could be renamed after the General Belgrano battleship sunk during the Falklands conflict with Britain in 1982.

United fan plots cunning Manchester land grab

BRENDA GOH - Reuters

A Manchester United fan aims to block rival Manchester City's "goals of football domination" by selling off thousands of parcels of a site earmarked by the world's richest club for a 100-million-pound training complex.

Rangers into administration; cede SPL title

KEITH WEIR - Reuters

Scottish soccer champions Rangers went into administration after running into financial problems, the 140-year-old club effectively surrendering the league title to Glasgow rivals Celtic as they fight for their future.

Oly Whites handed Saudi Arabia litmus test

The Olympic preparations of New Zealand's under-23 men's football team face an acid test in the form of two matches against Saudi Arabia.

Teenager to captain Gold Coast on debut

GUY HAND - AAP

A teenager playing his first A-League match will captain Gold Coast United against Melbourne Heart on Friday night.

All Whites slide, Jamaica rise in FIFA rankings

The All Whites have dropped two places in the latest Fifa world rankings to No 120.

Ricki Herbert gets another chance at World Cup

'The focus is reaching Brazil twice'

Ricki Herbert's reign at the top of New Zealand football's coaching hierarchy will continue until after the 2014 World Cup.

Dressing room insight an A-League winner

Move a trend-setter

FRED WOODCOCK - © Fairfax NZ News

OPINION: The A-League looks set to take a giant leap for football - and it should be applauded.

Air crash the 'silent force' in Zambia's triumph

MARK GLEESON - Reuters

The memory of 18 players killed in an air crash almost 20 years ago carried Zambia's current generation to their extraordinary African Nations Cup triumph.

Scottish champs on verge of administration

KEITH WEIR - © Fairfax NZ News

Scottish champions Rangers have said that they face administration after running into financial problems centred on a disputed tax bill, a move that would effectively hand the title to perennial rivals Celtic.

Tevez set for shock Manchester City return

SONIA OXLEY - Reuters

Carlos Tevez says he was treated "like a dog" by Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini but is talking about returning to play.

Steven Old finds home at Basingstoke Town

Former All White Steven Old, one of the forgotten men of New Zealand football, has joined English conference league club Basingstoke Town.

Liverpool sponsor angered by Suarez actions

STEVE DOUGLAS - AP

Liverpool's biggest sponsor criticised the club for its conduct during the fractious Premier League match against Manchester United that was marred by Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra.

Wolves sack Mick McCarthy after heavy loss

MIKE COLLETT - Reuters

Wolverhampton Wanderers have sacked their manager Mick McCarthy, a day after they lost 5-1 at home to local rivals West Bromwich Albion and slipped back into the bottom three of the Premier League.

Daniel to wave goodbye to Wellington Phoenix?

JONATHAN MILLMOW - © Fairfax NZ News

Who is the highest-paid player at the Wellington Phoenix?

Phoenix's Daniel in Singapore club talks

Brazilian midfielder Daniel might be waving goodbye to the Phoenix.

Zambia hold nerve to win African Nations Cup

MARK GLEESON - Reuters

Zambia won the African Nations Cup for the first time by beating Ivory Coast in a drama-filled penalty shootout.

Man City reclaim lead with tense win over Villa

MARK MEADOWS - Reuters

Joleon Lescott's 62nd-minute goal and a brilliant late save by goalkeeper Joe Hart sent Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League with a tense 1-0 win at Aston Villa.

Luis Suarez apologises for no Evra handshake

MARK MEADOWS - Reuters

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez apologised for not shaking Patrice Evra's hand before his side's 2-1 defeat at Manchester United.

Waikato lose 4-0 but Edge remains buoyant

IAN ANDERSON - © Fairfax NZ News

Declan Edge isn't going to get despondent about a heavy away loss to Waitakere United yesterday.

Wellington dominant in draw, drop to fourth

HAMISH BIDWELL - © Fairfax NZ News

Canterbury United will probably regard themselves as having secured a useful away point; for Team Wellington, it was a win that went begging.

Passive Phoenix pay too much respect to Roar

HAMISH BIDWELL - © Fairfax NZ News

The Phoenix left the decision to actually play football too late to beat the Roar.

Herbert baffled as yellow cards fly for Phoenix

HAMISH BIDWELL - © Fairfax NZ News

Red with rage after his team's 2-0 defeat by the Brisbane Roar, Ricki Herbert was baffled by the two late yellow cards. | Passive Phoenix

Last-gasp goals cost Kiwis huge upset in US

FRED WOODCOCK - © Fairfax NZ News

Tony Readings was both disappointed and encouraged by New Zealand's controversial 2-1 loss to the United States.

Adelaide hands Gold Coast another loss

LAINE CLARK - AAP

They were once considered the A-League club born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

Phoenix lose game and second place to Roar

The Phoenix have crashed to a 2-0 loss against the Brisbane Roar in Wellington.

Mali beat Ghana for third at African Cup

Mali beat 10-man Ghana 2-0 in the third-place match at the African Cup of Nations.

Heartbreak for Football Ferns against US

The Football Ferns have been denied the biggest upset win in NZ's international football history.

Ryan Nelsen debuts in Tottenham win

FRED WOODCOCK - © Fairfax NZ News

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen has made his debut for Tottenham Hotspur, helping the club to a 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle.

Suarez a 'disgrace to Liverpool' in loss to United

Manchester United went top of the Premier League today with a 2-1 win over Liverpool, where the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra racism row was reignited.

Ferns coaching debut can't get much tougher

FRED WOODCOCK - © Fairfax NZ News

Tony Readings takes the reins for his first match in charge of the New Zealand women's football team against the world's top-ranked side.

Oceania, Fifa roles end in disgrace

SIMON PLUMB - © Fairfax NZ News

A Fiji lawyer's two-decade term in lucrative Fifa and OFC positions is over after the Star-Times highlighted he had been disbarred.

Roar weigh up dangers ahead of Phoenix clash

CHRIS BARCLAY IN SYDNEY - © Fairfax NZ News

The Brisbane Roar are wary of obsessing over the danger Paul Ifill poses as they contemplate their second-place showdown.

Newcastle dominant in victory over Melbourne

LIAM HOWITT - AAP

Goals by Jeremy Brockie, Ryan Griffiths and Michael Bridges were enough for Newcastle to comprehensively defeat Melbourne Heart.

Harry Redknapp flattered by England job link

Harry Redknapp's focus remains on Tottenham's pursuit of Champions League qualification.

Ivory Coast tipped to beat Zambia in African final

Ivory Coast's golden generation are one game away from their consecration as African football's best team.

Kewell magic lifts Victory past Central Coast

GUY HAND - AAP

A moment of Harry Kewell magic has re-ignited Melbourne Victory's season, in a 2-1 upset win over A-League leaders Central Coast.

Young Waikato FC must fend off unhappy hosts

Waikato FC will have to deal with desperate hosts when they travel to meet Waitakere United in their premiership clash.

Canterbury coach promotes Aaron Clapham

Canterbury United coach Keith Braithwaite believes captain Aaron Clapham is in the best form of his career and is disappointed at his omission from the All Whites.

Football Ferns start big year against world's best

If there were individual player rankings in world football, Ali Riley would comfortably be the highest ranked Kiwi of either gender.

Critics coming round as Phoenix change ethos

Once a staunch critic, Danny Hay now believes the Wellington Phoenix have the wherewithal to win the A-League.

Wellington Phoenix want stadium to roar at Roar

It's not quite football fever, but there's certainly a buzz of sorts surrounding tomorrow's A-League clash between the Phoenix and Brisbane Roar.

Hijab ban driving women away from football

THE EYES HABIT: Adeeba Jabbar of Porirua in her full-face hijab, similar to the clothing that resulted in two other women being refused bus service in Auckland.

PATRICK JOHNSTON - Reuters

Muslim women are being driven away from football by FIFA's ban of the hijab, with more likely to follow if rulemakers fail to reverse the decision at a meeting next month, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan told Reuters.

Stuff.co.nz's 'The Football Podcast' - Episode 15

Stuff.co.nz's panel of football experts Fred Woodcock, Jason Pine and Sam Worthington talk Phoenix, the local scene and European leagues.

Stuart Pearce named temporary England boss

MIKE COLLETT - Reuters

Stuart Pearce will take temporary charge of England for this month's friendly against the Netherlands while the search for Fabio Capello's permanent successor as boss gets underway ahead of June's European Championship.