Football

FIFA has launched a consultation process to decide whether to stage the 2022 World Cup in Qatar outside the traditional June-July slot.

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale will remain in the Spanish capital to recover from a muscle strain rather than join up with Wales for their World Cup qualifiers.

Jack Wilshere faced a dressing down from his manager saying the player had damaged his reputation by being photographed smoking on a night out.

The Spanish international sustained medial collateral ligament damage to his left knee in Tuesday's game.

Ronaldo took his Champions League tally to five goals in two outings this season when he scored with two headers to help Real to a 4-0 win.

The German scored his first goal for the club and inspired them to a commanding 2-0 victory over Napoli.

Romelu Lukaku scored twice and set up the other goal to lead Everton to a 3-2 win over Newcastle.

Levante won 1-0 at Osasuna in the Spanish league on Sunday with midfielder Jordi Xumetra scoring in the 87th minute following a penalty.

Malaga are now unbeaten in four straight Spanish league games.

Isco has become a firm favourite since joining the nine-times European champions from Malaga in the close season for a fee of 30 million euros.

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott will undergo abdominal surgery and will miss England's final two World Cup qualifiers next month.

Two goals by Victor Sanchez and one by Sergio Garcia gave Espanyol a thrilling 3-2 home win against Athletic Bilbao on Monday.

East Bengal had won the first leg at home 1-0, with Japanese substitute Ryuji Sueoka scoring the all-important goal at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Mesut Ozil's three assists in table-topping Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Stoke City were merely a sign of things to come, manager Arsene Wenger.

Sunderland announced it had "parted company" with the Italian a day after a 3-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion.

Mumbai FC were held to a 1-1 draw by Sporting Clube de Goa in their opening match of the I-League football tournament.