Troubled waters: Soccer great Akers now rescues abused horses, but floods threaten dream

Soccer great now devoted to rescuing abused horses

From Robben Island to Table Mountain, soccer and South Africa take major leap

Ex-prisoners recall soccer on Robben Island

Egypt, Algeria in a growing diplomatic row caused by their bitter soccer rivalry

Egypt, Algeria soccer tiff grows

CAIRO — Egypt has recalled its ambassador to Algeria for consultations as part of a growing diplomatic row caused by a bitter soccer rivalry between the two Arab nations.

Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke left suicide note; wife says he suffered from depression

Germany goalkeeper hit by train left suicide note

Germany goalkeeper Enke’s widow says her husband suffered from depression

Widow: Germany goalkeeper Enke was depressed

Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke dies at age 32; hit by train, police suspect suicide

Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke dies at age 32

Police use water cannon to overcome rioting soccer fans in Germany; 27 officers hurt

Police use water cannon to end German soccer riot

Kan. gov. tries to counter criticism on Wizards deal, suggesting GOP would be too generous

Kan. gov. says critics too generous on job deal

Kansas gov defends commerce secretary’s departure for Mo., decries attacks over Cerner offer

Kansas gov defends departing commerce secretary

Venezuela says 10 slayings could be Colombian conflict spilling across border

Venezuela ups border security after 10 slayings

Supporters of English soccer club Liverpool to protest against US co-owners Hicks, Gillett

LIVERPOOL, England — A Liverpool supporters’ group is planning a march ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Manchester United to protest against the way American businessmen George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks are running the English soccer club.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter to stand for re-election at world soccer’s governing body in 2011

MILAN — FIFA president Sepp Blatter will run for re-election in 2011, saying Tuesday he still wants to introduce new initiatives to develop soccer worldwide.

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe too busy with students, soccer to address crisis in unity government

HARARE, Zimbabwe — President Robert Mugabe is too busy with students and soccer to address the crisis in his unity government, his spokesman was quoted as saying Sunday.

As east Europe marks 20 years without communism, secret police files still poison the air

BUCHAREST, Romania — Even his best friend betrayed him.

2 serious injuries, 2 feel-good games: Mixed emotions for US team over 5-day stretch

WASHINGTON — Phew! So much happened to the U.S. soccer team in just five days.

Fans show support for No. ‘9′: Cards waved at World Cup qualifier for US player Charlie Davies

WASHINGTON — The lower bowl of RFK Stadium turned into a white sea of “9s” Wednesday night as fans of the U.S. national team showed their support for forward Charlie Davies, who was in a hospital following an automobile accident that jeopardized his soccer career.

US tops World Cup qualifying group as Bornstein caps rally with late goal against Costa Rica

WASHINGTON — Jonathan Bornstein headed in a corner kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time, giving the United States a 2-2 tie against Costa Rica on Wednesday night that put Honduras in next year’s World Cup.

Fans show support for US player Charlie Davies, recovering from serious injuries from accident

WASHINGTON — Fans of the U.S. national team planned to show their support Wednesday night for forward Charlie Davies, following an automobile accident that has jeopardized his soccer career.

Longtime foes Turkey and Armenia try to improve ties with ‘football diplomacy’

BURSA, Turkey — Turkey defeated longtime foe Armenia on a soccer field Wednesday — an event that had little significance in the world of sports but meant a lot in the arena of international politics.

US forward Charlie Davies has several broken bones, in serious condition after car accident

ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. national team forward Charlie Davies had several broken bones and a lacerated bladder after a one-vehicle accident Tuesday in which another person was killed.

US national team forward Charlie Davies in serious condition after car accident

ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. national team forward Charlie Davies was in serious condition Tuesday evening following a one-vehicle accident in which another person was killed.

US national team forward Charlie Davies hurt in car accident

ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. national team forward Charlie Davies was injured in a one-car accident in which another person was killed early Tuesday in the Washington, D.C., area.

US national team F Charlie Davies undergoing surgery after single-car accident

ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. national team forward Charlie Davies was injured in a one-car accident in which another person was killed early Tuesday in the Washington, D.C., area.

Officials: Pa. mother, gun advocate killed by parole-officer husband during video chat

LEBANON, Pa. — A soccer mom who was thrust into the national gun-rights debate after taking a loaded pistol to youth sports events was killed by her husband in a shooting witnessed online by her video chat partner, authorities said Friday.

Officials: Gun-toting Pa. mother killed by husband while she was on video chat with friend

LEBANON, Pa. — Authorities say a Pennsylvania mother who became an unlikely gun-rights advocate was fatally shot by her husband while she was on a video chat with a friend.

Soccer chief wants to ban players, coaches, officials from betting on English matches

LONDON — England’s top soccer official wants a complete ban on betting on the national game by players, managers and officials.

Autopsy results expected following shooting death of Pa. soccer mom who took gun to kid’s game

LEBANON, Pa. — An autopsy was planned Friday for a suburban mother who last year shocked other parents by openly carrying a loaded handgun at her daughter’s youth soccer game and this week was found shot dead with her husband in an apparent murder-suicide.

Gun-toting Pa. soccer mom, husband with marital problems found shot dead at home; 3 kids safe

LEBANON, Pa. — A suburban mother who became a voice of the gun-rights movement when she openly carried a loaded pistol to her daughter’s soccer game was fatally shot Wednesday along with her parole-officer husband in an apparent murder-suicide at their home in Pennsylvania Dutch country, authorities said.

Latvia bans a top soccer club for rest of season; coach, GM cited for betting on team’s games

RIGA, Latvia — One of Latvia’s top soccer teams has been banned for the rest of the season because of gambling.

Afghan immigrant accused in NYC terror plot grew up with radical influences through his life

NEW YORK — If he chose to listen, Najibullah Zazi could hear the calls for violence all around him.