FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ― Japan carries memories of the devastation the tsunami heaped on its country into every game at this Women’s World Cup.In sharp contrast, Sweden’s march through the tournament has been as carefree as the twirling, joyous team dance that accompanies every victory.But in the semifinal Wednesday at Frankfurt’s Commerzbank Arena, the difference visible on the field will be tac

While facing a massive match-fixing scandal, the country’s top division football league is exploring the possibility of expelling Sangju Sangmu, the military football club.“We are now discussing a plan to stop sending players to Sangmu, and eventually to remove the club from the K-League,” said a high-level K-League official on condition of anonymity. Sangju Sangmu players gather in midfield durin

The head coach for a local military football team has been arrested for allegedly taking cash from parents of a player involved in match fixing, the defense ministry said Monday.The bench boss for Sangju Sangmu Phoenix in the first-division K-League, named Lee, was arrested on charges of blackmail. The Sangju team is made up of professional players who have been conscripted to serve the mandatory

South Korea’s top division football league will undergo major shifts, including employing a promotion and relegation system to prevent match-fixing and illegal betting.The K-League governing body announced on Monday it will introduce a promotion-relegation system in the league, and also a new draft system from the 2013 season. “We believe the new systems will help preserve the integrity of our lea

LONDON (AP) _ David Beckham's spokesman said that the soccer star's wife Victoria has given birth to a healthy baby girl on Sunday.Simon Oliveira said that the celebrity couple are ``delighted to announce the birth of their daughter.''``Happy and healthy she arrived at 7.55 am this morning at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles and weighed 7lbs 10oz,'' Oliveira posted on Twitter, adding that the

N. Korea’s Kim Un-ju (left) and Colombia’s Orianica Velasquez challenge for the ball. (AP-Yonhap News)North Korea battles to a scoreless draw vs. ColombiaLEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) ― Sweden picked a good time to beat the Americans at the women’s World Cup for the first time, winning 2-1 Wednesday to avoid Brazil and five-time FIFA player of the year Marta in the quarterfinals.Sweden had lost three t

It may sound a little strange now, but just a few years ago, Lee Young-pyo was almost as big a star in South Korea as Park Ji-sung. That was never likely to last and it didn’t. Lee is a solid, no-nonsense, no-headlines type defender while Park operates mostly in the opposition’s half of the field, the one that offers opportunity for glory.More than most players however, just how impressive Lee’s c

LONDON (AFP) ― English Premier League side Sunderland on Thursday announced the signings of South Korea striker Ji Dong-won and English midfielder Craig Gardner.Ji, 20, joined from Chunnam Dragons for an undisclosed fee and signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light.He has scored six goals in 11 appearances for South Korea, including four at the Asian Cup in Qatar in January. Ji Dong-won

BERLIN (AP) ― The German hosts of the Women’s World Cup have asked fans not to whistle FIFA president Sepp Blatter on opening day on Sunday.FIFA has been embroiled in a corruption scandal concerning the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids and the election for president of the sport’s world governing body.“I hope we’re good hosts ... and that we show that tomorrow,” Steffi Jones, president of the organizi

South Korean national football team celebrates winnning against Jordan on Thursday in the regional Olympic football qualification. (Yonhap News)AMMAN, (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday advanced to the third and final round of the regional Olympic football qualification, despite a 1-1 draw against Jordan here.Substitute Hong Chul scored the second-half equalizer for South Korea and gave the visit

It has been a topsy-turvy season in the K-League so far. Asian champion Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma has been kept off the bottom of the standings only thanks to the dreadful form of Gangwon FC. Suwon Bluewings finds itself in one of its annual slumps while in-form champion FC Seoul has improved since earlier in the season but still can’t quite break free of the middle level.One team though has been head