FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Friday he was "optimistic" about organizing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with 48 teams instead of 32 but warned that it would be "not easy."

Atletico Madrid announced Thursday it had parted ways with Manuel Brinas, who trained its young players for decades and recognized in an interview he had sexually abused a student in the 1970s.

Europe's big five leagues spent 570 million euros ($642.8 million) in the winter transfer window with England writing the biggest checks, splashing out a total of $178.2 million, FIFA announced on Thursday.

South African 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya on Thursday said she was "unquestionably a woman", after the IAAF denied reports that it would argue that she should be classified as a biological male.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber came from a set down on Thursday to reach the Qatar Open semi-finals, in a match lasting more than two hours.

Gareth Bale risks being banned for an upcoming Clasico against Barcelona after being reported by La Liga on Thursday for inciting Atletico Madrid supporters following his goal in Real Madrid's 3-1 derby win last weekend.

Bale scored Real's third goal after coming on as a second-half substitute in the game at the Wanda Metropolitano, but he is accused of an overly provocative goal celebration in response to jeers from home fans.

Lewis Hamilton has delivered an ominous warning to his Formula One rivals by vowing to improve on his almost flawless championship-winning campaign in his Mercedes car.

Paris Saint-Germain could have feared the worst going into their Champions League trip to Manchester United without both Neymar and Edinson Cavani, but coach Thomas Tuchel deserves plaudits for finding the right formula as they came away with a commanding victory.

Ander Herrera believes Manchester United can still progress in the Champions League despite their chastening home loss to Paris Saint-Germain, saying it will not throw their season off track.

After winning 10 out of his first 11 matches in all competitions, caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tasted defeat for the first time in the first leg of the round of 16 tie against the French champions on Tuesday.

Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday became the fifth player all from the world's top 20 to withdraw from an injury-ravaged Qatar Open.