With every soccer World Cup, it seems, there is controversy about the ball -- the Jabulani used in South Africa was said to be so unpredictable as to border on the "supernatural".

The Fevernova used in South Korea and Japan in 2002 was said to be too light and bouncy, while some complained that Teamgeist used in Germany four years later was slippery.

The only declared candidate for the FIFA presidency says he won't step aside if, as expected, Sepp Blatter confirms before the World Cup next month that he's seeking a fifth term.

In an interview with The Associated Press, former FIFA executive Jerome Champagne wouldn't accept that attempting to unseat Blatter, his former boss, was a lost cause.

Brazil is to deploy a 170,000-strong security force for the World Cup to deter hooligans from home and abroad.

Mass protests against the tournament and deadly fan violence have put authorities on alert ahead of the start of the tournament on June 12.

Filippo Inzaghi says he has not been contacted about becoming AC Milan coach but is ready to take over the managerial reins.

Current Milan coach Clarence Seedorf is only four months into a two-and-a-half-year contract, but Italian media reports claim that club owner Silvio Berlusconi has already decided to replace him with the Dutchman's former teammate, Inzaghi.

Next season's Spanish La Liga campaign will begin on August 24, the Spanish Football League (LFP) said on Thursday.

The official start date still has to be ratified by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) but that is little more than a formality.

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has signed a new contract with the Premier League club, keeping the former Uruguay international at the Stadium of Light until 2016.

Poyet enhanced his burgeoning reputation at managerial level by guiding Sunderland to safety last season with four wins from its last five games and also to the League Cup final, where the team lost to Manchester City.

Poland goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is moving from Arsenal to Swansea after his contract expired at the north London club.

The 29-year-old Poland international has signed a four-year deal to stay in the Premier League and become Swansea's first summer signing.

Paul George scored 31 of his 37 points in the second half, including 21 in the fourth quarter, and almost single-handedly kept the Indiana Pacers alive in the NBA's Eastern Conference finals with a 93-90 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

The Pacers still trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 will be played Friday night in Miami.

Tiger Woods withdrew from the U.S. Open on Wednesday as he recovers from back surgery that has kept him out of golf for nearly three months.

It will be the second U.S. Open, and sixth major, he has missed because of injury over the last six years.

Instead of looking forward to playing each other this week at the French Open, Serena and Venus Williams will both be heading home early.

The American sisters both lost in the second round on Wednesday, each being outplayed by little known opponents at Roland Garros.