Football finally embraced goal-line technology as FIFA’s lawmaking panel approved two systems for use in matches on Thursday.FIFA will introduce goal-line technology at the seven-team Club World Cup in Japan in December, and plans to use it in Brazil at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup, secretary general Jerome Valcke said.“We want to make sure that the systems at the World Cup work

David Beckham was suspended for one game by Major League Soccer on Thursday for kicking a ball at an opponent in the Los Angeles Galaxy's loss at San Jose.Beckham kicked a ball at San Jose's Sam Cronin during the 4-3 loss on Saturday. Cronin was down in the penalty box at the time, and Beckham's kick set off a prolonged argument between the teams.Beckham was issued a yellow card for the incident.

Scottish football was thrown into disarray on Wednesday after indebted Glasgow giant Rangers was barred from competing in the Scottish Premier League following a vote by top-tier clubs.The decision to reject the bid by a new Rangers ownership to play in the top division following the club's financial meltdown could threaten the economic well-being of teams around Scotland. Rangers chief executive

Robin van Persie's Arsenal career appears to be over after the Dutch forward announced Wednesday he will not be extending his contract with the Gunners.Van Persie said he held talks about his future with Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis and manager Arsene Wenger before the European Championship “but ... it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal should

NEW YORK (AP) ― Manchester United plans to go public. In the United States, to boot.The record 19-time English champions filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday to hold an initial public offering of stock and become a listed company on the New York Stock Exchange. The deal could ease pressure on the club’s cash flow as it tries to keep and acquire players in an attempt to regain English and European titles.While the stock price and the number of shar

MADRID (AP) ― Swathed in the red and yellow colors of Spain, hundreds of thousands packed central Madrid to give a hero’s welcome home Monday to “La Roja” ― the national soccer team that erased the economically struggling country’s gloomy mood by winning the Euro 2012 Championship with flair.With the celebrated team back, it was time to party for a second straight night. After a 2 1/2 hour open-air bus ride through the fan-packed streets, squad members took to a stage in Cibeles plaza against th

Manchester United star Park Ji-sung recalled his first day at the Premier League team as nerve-wracking.“When I joined the first training session, I looked around and saw all the players I used to watch on TV. I was like, ‘Can I play with these players?’” the 31-year-old striker said in an interview with United, which was conducted in 2010 and disclosed on its website on Sunday. “It was weird. I was confident in my ability, but it was just strange to be alongside these players.”Park, who joined

Arsenal forward Park Chu-young, in hot water for his decision to delay military conscription, was named to South Korea's men's Olympic football team on Friday.Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of the Olympic squad, announced the 18-man lineup and selected the 26-year-old Park as one of his three "wild cards," used on players over the Olympic roster age limit of 23.Goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, 27, and d

Mario Balotelli finally showed some quality finishing, scoring twice in the first half Thursday to give Italy a 2-1 win over Germany and an unexpected spot in the European Championship final.Extending its winless streak against Italy in major tournaments to eight matches, Germany had no answer for Balotelli nor Antonio Cassano's creativity.In the 20th minute, Balotelli had no trouble getting past

Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung will join his 2002 FIFA World Cup teammates for a special All-Star contest against a current generation of local K-League stars, the league office said Thursday.The K-League has organized a special All-Star festival on July 5 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. South Korea reached the semifinals at the tournament, its best performance at the quadrennial event, by slashing football giants including