FIFA has confirmed the Women’s World Cup opener in Auckland will “proceed as planned” after a shooting in the city’s central business district on Thursday morning left three people dead.

Co-hosts New Zealand are set to play Norway at Eden Park this evening with kick-off scheduled for 08.00 BST.

New Zealand Police said they have contained what they believe was an “isolated incident” and “not a national security risk”.

A FIFA statement revealed the decision was made to move forward with the match after consulting with New Zealand authorities and the participating teams, who have both confirmed players and staff are safe.

The FIFA release read: “FIFA extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their l…

A full publication of Michael Garcia s report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is not legally possible , say FIFA.

Garcia was appointed to lead an investigation into the process, which saw Russia and Qatar awarded the respective tournaments back in 2010.

The decision was met with criticism in some quarters, and allegations of corruption within FIFA were consequently made.

Both Garcia and UEFA president Michel Platini have been among those calling for the findings to be made public but Hans-Joachim Eckert, chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, has said that a full disclosure will not be possible from a legal standpoint.

The statement will contain an overview of the investigation report, a summary of th…

The New Orleans Saints are facing sanctions after it was revealed they rewarded players for injuring opponents during the last three seasons.

The NFL announced on Friday that up to 27 New Orleans defensive players, as well as defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, maintained a bounty system financed by the players themselves which paid $1,500 for a knockout and $1,000 for a cart-off .

After a lengthy investigation, the NFL said Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis were both aware of the bounties, but did nothing to stop them.

The findings of the investigation have been presented to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who will decide on a punishment, which could include draft sanctions or a hefty fine.

The payments here are particularly …

Jose Mourinho might have allowed himself a wry smile when West Ham completed an improbable 3-2 EFL Cup comeback to sink Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday.

Mourinho s Manchester United host Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs in this weekend s standout fixture a battle of second versus third, of 20 points apiece in an already intriguing battle for Premier League glory and of grizzled elite tactician against continually rising star.

Until finding the embattled Hammers in belligerent mood against his rotated midweek line-up, Pochettino was in the midst of one of those golden periods enjoyed by coaches when their reputations are on a dizzying upward trajectory.

Each selection call and tactical tweak has seemed to unerringly hit the mark for the Tottenham boss of late from …

Argentina s Lionel Messi has singled out Spain as the team to avoid at the 2018 World Cup.

La Albiceleste only narrowly clinched a spot at next year s tournament during the final round of CONEMBOL qualifying, beating Ecuador 3-1 while Peru and Colombia drew 1-1.

It was a little too close for comfort, particularly when Ecuador initially went 1-0 up in that match, before a Messi hat-trick blew them away.

Jorge Sampaoli s side will need to improve significantly if they are to have a similar impact to the 2014 edition, when they lost to Germany after extra-time in the final.

And Messi conceded that Argentina are probably not among the main favourites this time.

He told ESPN: Spain, Brazil, Germany and France are the teams with the best image at the mo…

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah has reached 150 direct goal involvements in the Premier League, becoming the third-fastest player to do so.

Salah, who already had 11 league goals for the season heading into Saturday s game with Southampton at Anfield, squared for Diogo Jota to make it 2-0 to Liverpool in the 32nd minute.

It was Jota s second goal of the encounter, with the Portugal forward having put the Reds in front inside two minutes, and came after Salah himself had curled just wide, with Sadio Mane also having had a goal disallowed.

Thiago Alcantara then made it 3-0 to Liverpool before the break to put Jurgen Klopp s team in complete control.

By setting up Jota s goal, Salah moved onto 42 assists across his Premier League career, which combined wi…

Martin Montoya has arrived in Milan ahead of his proposed move to Inter from Barcelona.

The full-back has risen through the ranks at Camp Nou and made the breakthrough into the first-team in February 2011.

However, Montoya has failed to nail down a regular starting berth for the Spanish champions and has largely played second fiddle to Dani Alves.

With Alves having signed a new two-year contract last month and Aleix Vidal signing from Sevilla, Montoya s chances of first-team football appeared even more limited.

Subsequently the 24-year-old is set to kick-start his career with Inter, and the Serie A side posted a picture of president Erick Thohir meeting Montoya at Milan Malpensa airport on Thursday.

Montoya is now expected to undergo a medical, a…

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has reiterated that he was unaware of any match-fixing while he was at Siena.

It has been alleged that the former Italy international was aware of a plot to arrange the outcome of a crucial Serie B clash with Novara on April 30, 2011 and the 42-year-old s house was searched on Monday as part of a police investigation into Scommessopoli .

However, Conte said that he has nothing to hide from the Cremona public prosecutor leading the corruption enquiry and insists that there was nothing untoward about Siena s return to the top flight last summer.

My history as a football player and coach speaks for itself: you can ask my team-mates, my players and my opponents, he stated during a press conference on Monday.

But for all my hon…

Massimiliano Allegri called his Juventus side sluggish and complacent after they let a one-goal lead slip in a 2-1 defeat to Inter at San Siro.

The Bianconeri looked set to make it four wins from four Serie A matches when Stephan Lichtsteiner opened the scoring after 66 minutes, but the lead was quickly overturned by a determined Inter side.

Goals from Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perisic condemned Juventus to their first Serie A defeat to Inter since November 2012, and Allegri said he hoped his players would learn from the shock result.

After taking the lead, we didn t even hold it for two minutes, Allegri told Sky Sport Italy.

We got sluggish and complacent, dropping the intensity levels. This defeat has to burn within us and teach us a real lesson, getting …

Al Ain forward Ryan Babel has put himself at the centre of a sexism controversy after Twitter posts on Friday.

The former Liverpool man, 28, hit out at a user who questioned why he disliked Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez.

In response, Babel tweeted: I think u should concentrate on growing some tits instead of speaking about football Ur a girl.. Stay in ur lane..

The Dutchman continued: Atleast let your brother or your boyfriend make the comment then we can argue

Not gonna argue with a lil girl, with all the respect.. C mon now.

Babel then tweeted what he claims to be his mobile number, inviting people to direct their displeasure personally.

The former Netherlands international has found trouble on social media previously.

Ba…