Chinese state media, Hong Kong politicians and fans swiftly condemned Argentine player Lionel Messi’s participation in a Japan match on Wednesday after staying on the bench just days earlier in a highly anticipated match in Hong Kong.

The Lautoka football side hopes to continue the momentum from the Pillay Garments Champion vs Champion series when they take on Rewa in the first OFC Champions League play-off leg at Ratu Cakobau Park.

Athletic Bilbao beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at Metropolitano stadium on Wednesday thanks to Alex Berenguer’s penalty.

Despite recording a resounding 10-nil victory against American Samoa in their first OFC Olympic Qualifier yesterday, the Digicel Fiji Kulas’ head coach believes they could have done much better.

Hosts and defending champions Qatar edged Iran 3-2 in a thrilling Asian Cup semi-final on Wednesday with striker Almoez Ali scoring the winner to set up a title clash with Jordan.

The Suva Football Association has received financial backing from Flick Hygiene at the Fiji Football Association headquarters in Vatuwaqa this afternoon.

The Digicel Fiji Kulas have started their OFC Olympic Games Qualifiers campaign on a high note after thrashing American Samoa 10-0 in their first pool game today.

South Korea’s late comebacks at the Asian Cup had earned them the tag of playing ‘zombie football’ after they always came back to life when they appeared dead, but it could also describe how they stumbled and eventually fell in the semi-final.

The Digicel Fiji Kulas’ head coach has expressed that they will be playing for the Vanua in the OFC Olympic Qualifiers which starts today in Samoa.

Bayer Leverkusen twice came from a goal down and scored a 90th-minute winner through Jonathan Tah as they snatched a 3-2 victory over VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday to reach the German Cup semi-finals.

The Digicel Fiji Kulas are in concentration mode as they hope to secure their ticket to the Paris Olympics.

The unforgiving weather and poor ground conditions has not deterred Rewa FC one bit ahead of its OFC Champions League national playoffs against Lautoka FC this week.