Soccer - AFP

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez refused to concede that the title is out of his side's reach despite being 11 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea after a 2-2 draw with Birmingham on Monday. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers have won backing for their bid to join the English Premier League from Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp. Full Story »

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Cameroon football supporters were contemplating the unthinkable just two months ago - a second consecutive World Cup without their national team. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Wayne Rooney has been warned about his future conduct following a remark the striker made to television cameras after Manchester United's defeat by Chelsea, the Football Association said on Monday. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea and England left-back Ashley Cole could be out for up to three more weeks with the leg injury that has ruled him out of this Saturday's international friendly against Brazil in Qatar. Full Story »

BARCELONA (AFP) - Former Holland and Barcelona star Johan Cruyff promised footballing fireworks as he officially took over as coach of the Catalonia regional team in Spain. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo won "substantial" libel damages on Monday over a newspaper report saying he went on a drink-fueled "bender" in a Hollywood nightclub. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf expects David Beckham's return to the club to be a boon for both the Italian giants and the England star. Full Story »

PRAGUE (AFP) - Former Czech international star and Slavia Prague veteran Vladimir Smicer said on Monday he was hanging up his boots at the age of 36 after a spate of injury problems. Full Story »

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - World Cup hosts South Africa have axed striker Mabhuti Khanyeza for friendlies against Japan and Jamaica after he missed a training-camp deadline. Full Story »