LinkTV World News Video Feed

Paris Bans Soccer Hoopla After Violence

Tue, 14 May 2013 06:46:00 -0700

The Paris police chief has banned all celebrations for the Paris Saint-Germain soccer team after fans partying to mark PSG's league win turned violent, injuring 33 people, including three police officers. Some 21 fans have been arrested on suspicion of throwing projectiles or causing damage. It's the first time PSG won the title in 19 years. Nearly 15,000 supporters gathered near the Eiffel Tower to party. Team members, including English midfielder David Beckham, were only able to stay in the area for two minutes before violence erupted.

Across Asia, Football Fans Bid Farewell to Sir Alex

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:18:00 -0700

Football fans across Asia offered a flood of praise and fond farewells to Sir Alex Ferguson, after the 71-year-old manager announced he was stepping down after 26 years at the helm of the world-famous English club Manchester United. Ferguson's constant triumphs in the sport won the adoration of millions of football fans across the world, particularly in Asia, where a combination of prominent Asian stars and tours saw a massive boom in the club's popularity.

'Cannibal' Soccer Player Luis Suarez Chomps on Rival

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:45:00 -0700

Youch. Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been hailed as a superstar, but he's got one odd habit: He bites opposing players. Suarez can be seen "sinking his gnashers" into the arm of Chelsea player Branislav Ivanovic in a weekend match in this video, and was suspended in Holland for several weeks in 2010 for biting a player there. Now Suarez is sorry, again, but his league is having a hard time swallowing his apology.

Nigerian Football Team Are African Champions... and Broke

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:05:00 -0700

Nigeria's national soccer team, better known as the Super Eagles, won this year's Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. But now the team has come crashing back down to earth with the news that the Nigeria Football Federation is broke. It has had to pull the team out of the qualifiers for next year's African Nations Championship and is slashing pay for players and the management by up to 50 percent.

'Welsh Maradona': Overweight Man Becomes Unlikely International Soccer Star

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:20:00 -0700

Andrew Cassidy, a 280-pound, unemployed, 50-year-old man from the small town of Milford Haven in South Wales, has become an unlikely internet star after a secret video of him practising his football skills in a car park went viral. He has been dubbed the "Welsh Maradona," after the legendary Argentinean soccer star who has had his own weight issues over the years. Report by Rob Gillett.

Beckham Kicks Off Bid to Make China a Soccer Power

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:02:00 -0700

David Beckham, China's newly appointed "Global Ambassador for Soccer," has launched a bid to revive the sport's grassroots popularity in China and the Chinese league's image internationally following a major match-fixing scandal.

Ugly Scandal Threatens the Beautiful Game

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:04:00 -0800

The soccer world was rocked earlier this week by the announcement from Europol that an investigation has uncovered at least 680 cases of fixed soccer matches around the globe. LinkAsia speaks with journalist Declan Hill, author of "The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime," about what this means for the world's most popular sport.

Egypt Football Returns, One Year After Tragedy - But Without Fans

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:11:00 -0800

Egyptian football fans are facing a bittersweet celebration after a year without a national league. All competition was suspended after more than 70 fans were killed in a pitch invasion in the city of Port Said. Now domestic games are finally set to resume, but the government wants them to be played behind closed doors on pitches in military facilities. Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh reports from Cairo.

Casablanca Split by Fierce, Colorful Football Rivalry

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:01:00 -0800

Morocco is the location for arguably the biggest derby in African football. Casablanca stands still twice a year when arch rivals Raja and Wydad play each other. But it is not just pride that is at stake. Al Jazeera's Sana Hamouche reports from the Moroccan capital.

Dutch Reeling After Youth Ref is Kicked to Death by Players

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:03:00 -0800

The Dutch community of Almere is in shock after an assistant referee for his son's youth soccer team was fatally kicked and punched during a match by players on an opposing Amsterdam team, said officials. "This is not only a tragedy for Almere and our club, but for Dutch football," said a friend and team spokesman. Three players, ages 15 and 16, have been charged with manslaughter in the attack.

Girl Footballer, 9, Leaves Boys in Dust

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 01:17:00 -0800

Sam Gordon has an impressive record as a 9-year-old Utah football player: 35 touchdowns, 1,911 rushing yards, 65 tackles. What's even more impressive is that Sam is short for Samantha, and she plays on an all-boys team in the greater Salt Lake City area. Watch how "Sweet Feet" does it.

Afghanistan Crowns First National Soccer Champions

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:56:00 -0700

Afghanistan's first-ever national football championship title has been won by Toofan-e Harrirod with a 2-1 win over Simurgh-e-Alburz. But the fact the league happened at all is being taken as an encouraging sign in this troubled country. Report by Mark Morris.

FIFA to Rule on Sports Hijab Design

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:45:00 -0700

Soccer's world governing body FIFA is about to pick a design for the sport's official hijab. Players in Montreal give one version a tryout on the field.

Hand Grenade Explodes on Iranian Football Pitch

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:54:00 -0700

A soccer player picks up a mystery object from the pitch during a local derby in Isfahan, Iran and then throws it away moments before it explodes. Report by Matt Blake.

Israel Releases Jailed Palestinian Footballer After Three Years

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:03:00 -0700

Israel released 25-year-old Mahmoud al-Sarsak from prison today. Israel had detained Sarsak in 2009 on suspicion of being an Islamic militant, when the rising sports star left Gaza to play football in the occupied West Bank.

Ukrainians Open Up Their Homes for Euro 2012

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:52:00 -0700

Ukraine has used its hosting of the Euro 2012 football championships as an opportunity to promote a friendlier image to the international community. As thousands of football fans swarm into the country, ordinary Ukrainians are opening up their homes to foreign guests as part of an initiative called "Rooms for Free."

Raw Video: Ultras Ahlawy Chant Against Egypt's Military Rulers

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:44:00 -0700

This undated video uploaded by activist group Operation Egypt shows the Ultras Ahlway -- hardcore fans of the al-Ahly football club in Cairo -- chanting "Oh Council of Bastards," a protest song aimed at Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

Euro 2012: Did Press Hype Cause Violence in Poland?

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 09:38:00 -0700

Moscow-based broadcaster Russia Today analyzes yesterday's violence between Russian and Polish football fans at Euro 2012. Was it press hype focusing on the bloody history between the two nations that helped whip up anti-Russian sentiment?

Euro 2012: Russian and Polish Hooligans Clash

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:31:00 -0700

Russian and Polish hooligans, some masked, clashed during the build-up to the two countries' Euro 2012 soccer match in Warsaw as Russian fans marched toward the stadium.

Euro 2012 Soccer Tournament Kicks Off in Poland and Ukraine

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:51:00 -0700

The Euro 2012 football tournament gets under way Friday despite lingering controversy over racism and co-host Ukraine's political turmoil. Defending champion Spain are the favorites as play starts.

Political Football: UK Ministers Boycott England's Soccer Matches in Ukraine

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:07:00 -0700

British government ministers have said they will boycott England's first round Euro 2012 soccer games in Ukraine because of the treatment of the country's jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

World Soccer Governing Body Unpins Hijab Ban

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:03:00 -0800

Football's international rule makers have agreed to overturn the controversial ban on the wearing of hijabs in matches. The issue had reached the level of the United Nations, which wrote to FIFA to ask for the law to be scrapped.

England's Soccer Team in Disarray as Coach Quits

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:07:00 -0800

The England national football team is in disarray after its manager resigned a week after the captain was sacked. And now there are fears that England's highly paid football stars will again fall flat at the summer's Euro 2012 tournament.

Egypt: More Protests as Al-Ahly Supporters Blame Authorities for Deaths

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:46:00 -0800

Protesters have gathered for a second day outside Egypt's interior ministry, two days after the killing of 74 people at a football match in Port Said. Hardcore supporters of Cairo club Al-Ahly say authorities allowed the violence to happen.

Raw Video: Soccer Fans Clash with Police in Cairo

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:44:00 -0800

Security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators near the headquarters of the Interior Ministry in Cairo, after thousands descended on the city center furious about by the deaths of 74 people in Wednesday's football violence.

Raw Video: Egypt TV Presenters Unable to Hide Emotions over Soccer Disaster

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:07:00 -0800

On-screen commentators from Al-Ahly's own TV station are left visibly distraught as they listen to emotional accounts of the scenes of violence that killed 74 people in Port Said stadium.

Tensions Rise in Tahrir Square after Egypt Soccer Violence

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:43:00 -0800

Crowds are gathering in Tahrir Square as angry Egyptians unite to protest against the police handling of violence in Port Said that left at least 74 people dead. The speaker of the Egyptian Parliament said the riots were "the work of the devil."

Anger flares at Egypt's military rulers after soccer carnage [Dubai TV, UAE]

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Seventy-four people were killed in the incidents that turned what was supposed to be a friendly game of soccer between al-Ahly and al-Masry Clubs into a chaotic scene of violence, reports Dubai TV.

Raw Video: Second Stadium Set Alight on Night of Football Violence in Egypt

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:45:00 -0800

On a night where over 70 people died in violence at a soccer match in Port Said, a game in Cairo also ended in chaos. The referee halted the game upon receiving news of the chaos and deaths in Port Said, prompting fans set fire to the stadium.

Egypt: Scores Killed Following Soccer Match in Port Said

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:24:00 -0800

Violence broke out after the final whistle of the game between local Port Said team al-Masry and Cairo's al-Ahly, leaving at least 74 people dead and hundreds more injured. Rumors are now circulating of a possible political motivation for the violence.

Africa Cup of Nations Arrives in Equatorial Guinea

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 -0800

The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament is being hosted by Equatorial Guinea and neighbour Gabon. While the Ivory Coast's national team is expected to win the competition, the lowly ranked Equatorial Guinea are just happy to be taking part.

Soccer Helps Haiti Earthquake Amputees Heal

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:57:00 -0800

The Haiti amputee soccer team is made up of many who lost legs and arms during the 2010 earthquake. VOA's Carolyn Presutti introduces us to several female players whose spirit just won't quit.

Romanian Soccer Fan Punches Player, Sparking Chaos

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:44:00 -0700

There were violent scenes at a Romanian football match between Steaua Bucharest and Petrolul Ploiesti when an irate fan ran on the pitch and punched defender George Galamaz, breaking his cheekbone -- and that was just the start of the trouble.

Has English Soccer Lost Its Soul?

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:22:00 -0700

Andrew Richardson goes in search of the soul of English football in the era of foreign ownership, mega transfer fees, and soaring ticket prices in this edition of Al Jazeera English's Correspondent series.