SPORTS

Doha, Qatar | AFP |  World Cup matches in Qatar could kick-off as early as 1000 GMT if it holds four games a day during the 2022 tournament group stage, organisers confirmed Tuesday. The other three games would start at 1300, 1600 and 1900 GMT, Nasser al-Khater, assistant secretary general …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Jose Mourinho has acknowledged Manchester United are unlikely to meet his target of climbing into the Premier League’s top four by the end of 2018. However, the United manager has played down comments he made to Brazilian television suggesting that it would be a …

Monaco, Principality of Monaco | AFP | The governing body of world athletics on Tuesday maintained Russia’s ban from track and field over mass state-backed doping, citing two conditions before the powerhouse can return to international competition. Rune Andersen, head of the IAAF’s taskforce on Russia, said Russian authorities, in …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Jose Mourinho needs to lift Manchester United’s morale quickly as a deflating run of performances threatens to throw their season off track completely but he faces a daunting task against a revitalised Arsenal. Mourinho’s team have not looked themselves at Old Trafford for much …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Jose Mourinho needs to lift Manchester United’s morale quickly as a deflating run of performances threatens to throw their season off track completely but he faces a daunting task against a revitalised Arsenal. Mourinho’s team have not looked themselves at Old Trafford for much …

Paris, France | AFP | Kylian Mbappe was named winner of the Kopa Trophy for young player of the year at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday. The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who does not turn 20 until later this month, starred as France won the World Cup and …

Paris, France | AFP | French DJ Martin Solveig apologised and said he was taken aback by the stormy reaction online after he asked the inaugural women’s Ballon D’Or winner Ada Hegerberg whether she could “twerk” live on stage. The awards co-host in Paris provoked a torrent of complaints about …

  Modrici, Croatia | AFP | Luka Modric’s journey from Croatian war child to the world’s best footballer was celebrated Monday when the Real Madrid midfielder hoisted the Ballon d’Or. A national hero in his home country and crowned the best player on the planet, Modric was rewarded for his …

  Monaco, Principality of Monaco | AFP | Usain Bolt might have hung up his spikes, but there are at least two young American sprinters set to take up the mantle of the mighty multi-medal-winning Jamaican. Christian Coleman, 22, and Michael Norman, who turned 21 on Monday, have risen to the …

Paris, France | AFP | Luka Modric saw off competition from France’s World Cup stars as the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder won the Ballon d’Or on Monday to end a 10-year stranglehold on the award by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Modric, 33, was announced as the winner of the prestigious prize in Paris …