LONDON (AP) ― Robin van Persie helped Manchester United to the top of the English Premier League on Saturday, punishing former club Arsenal with a goal in a 2-1 win as Chelsea’s 10-week stay at the summit came to an end.Chelsea was held to a 1-1 draw at Swansea after conceding an 88th-minute equalizer to Spanish winger Pablo Hernandez, falling a point behind United after 10 games.Manchester City could have joined United in leapfrogging the European champions but stayed third after failing to tur

BARCELONA (AFP) -- Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi announced Friday the birth of his first child, Thiago, although the club say he will still play on Saturday,Messi’s partner, Antonella Roccuzzo, delivered their son at the Dexeus hospital about 700 meters from Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium.“Today I am the happiest man in the world, my son was born and thanks to God for this gift! Thanks to my family for the support! A hug to everyone,” the 25-year-old Argentine said on his Facebook page.Messi ha

North Korean football striker Jong Tae-se has contacted at least two first-division South Korean professional clubs with an interest to play here next year, officials said Friday.Jong, through his agent, has reached out to Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Ulsan Hyundai Tigers in the K-League, the teams’ officials said.“We don’t have specific plans for player acquisitions for next season, and so at this stage, we are only reviewing his interest in our club,” a Suwon official said. “We need to make sur

The outgoing head of South Korean soccer said on Thursday he would like to see “a young and passionate” person take over the reins next year.At a press conference, Cho Chung-yun, the chairman of the Korea Football Association, said he will stick to his earlier decision not to run for a second term.In a statement released on Oct. 17, Cho said he will step down from his post at the end of his tenure in January next year.“I will not reverse that decision,” Cho said. “I joined the KFA as an executiv

The International Olympic Committee has signed off on an Olympic medal certificate for a South Korean football player who was banned from collecting his medal following a controversial post-match celebration at the London Games, an official here said Wednesday.The Korea Football Association official said the London Olympics organizing committee issued bronze medal certificates for the South Korean team, signed by IOC president Jacques Rogge.Park Jong-woo, the midfielder who was barred from the

Lionel Messi leads global soccer poll

LONDON (AP) ― Chelsea accused referee Mark Clattenburg of directing “inappropriate language” at two players Sunday in its 3-2 Premier League loss to Manchester United, and lodged an official complaint.Clattenburg sent off two Chelsea players in the game at Stamford Bridge and allowed a Javier Hernandez’s contentious late winning goal that appeared to be offside.“We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match delegate with regards to inappropriate language used by the referee and directed

LONDON (AP) ― Barcelona and Manchester United erased early deficits to stay perfect in the Champions League group stage on Tuesday, but Chelsea got the first loss of its title defense and jeopardized its qualification hopes.Jordi Alba’s goal four minutes into second-half stoppage time snatched a 2-1 victory for Barcelona over Celtic, keeping the competition favorites top of Group G after three games.United’s comeback was even more impressive, recovering from two goals down to beat Braga 3-2 at O