New Zealand has opened the defence of its OFC U-16 Women’s Championship title with a convincing 12-0 win over the Cook Islands in the Group B opener in Papeete.

The Fiji Football Under-16 coach is assertive that they are ready for the OFC Under-16 Women’s Championship in Tahiti.

Former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales will appear before a High Court judge on Friday over a complaint of sexual assault stemming from his allegedly unsolicited kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso – an incident that has triggered a furore over sexism in Spanish sport and society.

Spanish police arrested three Real Madrid youth players for allegedly distributing a sexual video featuring a minor, with the arrests heightening the furore about sexism and macho behaviour in Spanish soccer.

Defender Kyle Walker has signed a two-year extension with Manchester City, the Premier League club said on Thursday.

Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are on the short-list for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award.

Arsenal’s CEO Vinai Venkatesham will step down next summer, the Premier League team announced.

Extra Supermarket Labasa coach Intiaz Khan expresses his satisfaction with the team’s performance but acknowledges that there are areas that need some polishing before they embark on the semifinals of the Rooster Chicken/Scoop Premium Ice Cream Battle of the Giants.

It is an exciting day for the Fiji Under-16 Girls side as they prepare for their first match against Vanuatu in the OFC Under-16 Women’s Championship in Tahiti today.

Paris St Germain striker Kylian Mbappe should be available against Nice in Ligue 1 on Friday after sitting out a friendly against Germany earlier this week, coach Luis Enrique.

Extra Labasa defeated Rooster Chicken Ba 2-1 in their final pool match of the Rooster Chicken/ Scoop Premium Ice Cream Battle of the Giants in Prince Charles Park in Nadi this afternoon.

The battle of the two French-speaking teams has ended in a highly entertaining goalless draw at Stade Pater in Papeete.