World Cup qualifier

Fifa investigating racist remarks

"It is completely unacceptable that England players were racially abused in Hungary last night," he wrote on Twitter.

Johnson urged FIFA to take "strong action against those responsible to ensure that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is eradicated from the game for good."

FIFA said it had opened disciplinary proceedings into the incidents at the match and reiterated an earlier statement reaffirming its zero tolerance stance against racism.

Samoa seal Rugby World Cup qualification over Tonga

The Manu led by 20 points early in the second half but withstood a determined 'Ikale Tahi comeback to prevail 79-28 on aggregate over two legs, following last weekend's 42-13 victory in Auckland.

With their place in France now confirmed, how is coach Seilala Mapusua feeling?

"The first word that comes to mind is relieved, a little bit of satisfaction and a hint of excitement," he said post match.

Fiji, Samoa one win away from Netball World Cup

The Pearls made it two wins from two at the Oceania qualifiers, joining Samoa atop the competition standings.

Prior to this week Fiji had not won a match at international level since 2015 and coach Vicki Wilson said the confidence a win brings to a team is amazing.

"I'm up here on the 11th floor as we do this interview and the girls are down on the second floor and I can hear them screaming and yelling," she said.

"They're very thrilled with the way they played and so they should be - it's been a tough road.

Samoa shun favourites tag for netball World Cup Qualifier

The squad, whose players are based in Australia and New Zealand, only came together on Sunday for this week's five team qualifier that involves Fiji, the Cooks Islands, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.

The top two teams from the week long tournament in New Zealand go to next year's World Cup in England.

Since playing at the World Cup in 2015, Samoa were last in action in December, losing twice to Wales and to Scotland twice in the United Kingdom.

Injury worry for Peru

Their star striker Paolo Guerrero left the field in the 66th minute of Flamengo's 4-1 win over Bahia in the Brazilian Serie A on Friday (NZ time), with apparent discomfort in his left hamstring.

He was pictured earlier in the match grabbing at the back of his left thigh.

A statement from Flamengo said Guerrero was set to undergo scans to determine the extent of his injury.

World Cup qualifier to be replayed after ref banned over penalty decision

Fifa says the game, which South Africa won 2-1 in November last year, will be replayed this November. It says it made the decision to order a replay after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the life ban for the referee in question, Joseph Lamptey of Ghana.

Fifa found Lamptey guilty of breaching the rule relating to "unlawfully influencing match results."

Solomons police on alert ahead of All Whites game

The deputy police commissioner Gabriel Manelusi also called on the public to accept the result of today's game in the spirit of good sportsmanship.

The police operation which includes high visibility patrols in and around the capital as well traffic escorts for the All Whites, began yesterday and will continue up until their departure on Wednesday.

A 6-1 one thrashing at the hands of New Zealand during the first leg last week in Auckland means the Solomon Bonitos need to beat the Oceania champions 5-0 to move onto the next stage.

Italy 5 Liechtenstein 0: Insigne and Belotti shine in easy win

Giampiero Ventura's men rarely had to get out of first gear against Liechtenstein, who lost their 10th consecutive World Cup qualifying match despite holding firm for 35 minutes in Udine.

Insigne broke the deadlock for the hosts with his third international goal, smashing a superb volley in off the post after creating a chance for himself out of nothing.

The Napoli forward then set up the second goal for Italy shortly after half-time as reported Manchester United and AC Milan target Belotti timed his run on to the throughball to bend a clinical finish past Peter Jehle.

All Whites skipper to miss World Cup qualifiers

Reid limped off with a groin injury in West Ham's 3-2 loss to Leicester City.

Reid will not be replaced in the squad and striker Chris Wood will captain the side in Reid's absence.

"It's disappointing he is not coming because he is such an important player, he is a great character and I know how much he was looking forward to being here," said coach Anthony Hudson.

"But with regards to the team we have been in this position many times. We have got a good squad, we are adaptable and we have enough in this squad to deal with this tour so we are prepared for this."

Saudis 'foiled plot to bomb football World Cup qualifier'

Militants had plotted to car-bomb a World Cup 2018 qualifying game between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in October, it says.

The authorities also say they have foiled a second plot directed by Islamic State (IS) militants to kill security officials near Riyadh.

Eight suspects have been arrested from two "terrorist cells", offficials say.

Among them are Saudi nationals, two Pakistanis, a Syrian and a Sudanese, the Saudi interior ministry says.