LONDON — Bayern Munich is trying to downplay being the favorite.

Read more

LONDON — FIFA's new anti-racism task force will ask soccer's governing body next week to approve a mandatory five-match minimum ban for any player found guilty of racist abuse, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday.

Read more

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Thorns' season couldn't be going any better. They're sitting atop the National Women's Soccer League's opening-season standings and drawing more than 11,000 fans to home games. And they've got Alex Morgan.

Read more

PARIS — In football, is Germany a nation of chokers?

Read more

• Link | http://twitter.com/johnleicester

PARIS — David Beckham might bid adieu to soccer Sunday from the bench.

Read more

LONDON — UEFA says its executive committee has agreed to introduce a 10-match minimum ban for racist abuse by players or officials.

Read more

Imagine Derek Jeter leading the New York Yankees off the field because opposing fans were yelling racial slurs and throwing bananas at his team. Or a game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls halted because of unrelenting race-baiting from the crowd.

Read more

NEW YORK — A day after New York City FC was born, Claudio Reyna became the team's first employee.

Read more

STOKE, England — Stoke says Tony Pulis left as manager by mutual consent Tuesday, ending his seven-year tenure at the Premier League club.

Read more

NEW YORK — Hoping their baseball success will translate to titles in another sport, the Yankees are combining with English power Manchester City to own a Major League Soccer expansion team in New York that will start play in 2015.

Read more