The new-look Los Angeles Lakers, with Kobe Bryant retired and coach Luke Walton at the helm, opened their NBA season with a 120-114 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to score 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. D'Angelo Russell scored 20 points and Julius Randle added 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Lakers, who overcame James Harden's 34 points and career-high 17 assists for Houston -- who lost in former Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni's first game in charge of the Rockets.

Former Spain and Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta was named sporting director of French giants Marseille on Thursday, club president Jacques-Henri Eyraud confirmed.

London police said they were holding Thursday seven men arrested following violence at the English League Cup clash between West Ham and Chelsea.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was on Thursday charged with misconduct over comments he made about the referee in charge of this month's Liverpool game, the Football Association has announced.

The Football Association may be reluctant to hire a foreigner as Sam Allardyce's replacement as full-time England manager based on previous painful experiences, FA chief executive Martin Glenn told the BBC on Wednesday.

Manchester United greats Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville have teamed up with a Singaporean billionaire to open football-themed cafes and hotels in Asia, a spokesperson for the tycoon said Wednesday.

Barcelona center-back Jeremy Mathieu joined the club's mounting injury list and faces three weeks out after hurting his right calf, the Spanish champions said on Wednesday. 

Manchester United's players must behave like men in the wake of their humiliating 4-0 Premier League hammering by Chelsea, manager Jose Mourinho said on Monday.

The Major League Soccer careers of Didier Drogba and Steven Gerrard could end without either man kicking another ball as their teams head into nerve-wracking sudden-death playoff games starting Wednesday.

FIFA on Tuesday fined the Spanish football federation more than $220,000 in the latest stage of its battle with the country over the transfer of under-age players.