Yao Ming has made it official Wednesday, telling a packed news conference in his hometown that a series of foot and leg injuries have forced him to retire from basketball.

"I will formally end my career," said Yao, the 7-fooot-6 center who became a household name in China before starting his NBA career with the Houston Rockets as the top draft pick in 2002.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has urged his players to learn from their Champions League final defeat to Barcelona and dethrone the Spanish giants as Kings of Europe.

Ferguson told British media outlets on Tuesday that the next generation of United players would need to rise to the challenge of downing Barcelona while noting that winning the Premier League was equally important.

A United Arab Emirates player whose backheeled penalty in a friendly against Lebanon has become an Internet sensation, faces possible sanctions for being "disrespectful."

Video of Theyab Awana's goal in UAE's 7-2 win on Sunday has become popular on YouTube.

Their country's misery was never far from their hearts.

Thousands dead or missing. Villages erased. Homes destroyed.

Kazan, Russia has been awarded the right to host the world swimming championships in 2015 and Guadalajara, Mexico in 2017.

World swimming body FINA made the announcement Friday just before the start of the 14th world titles in Shanghai. Barcelona, Spain, will host the same event in 2013.

Cesc Fabregas is "suffering" from the drawn-out transfer saga that has kept the Arsenal playmaker from joining Barcelona, according to Xavi Hernandez.

Xavi left little doubt over his Spain teammate's desire to move to the Catalan capital following a recent conversation.

Madrid will bid for the 2020 Olympics, hoping to replicate Pyeongchang's perseverance in winning on a third consecutive attempt.

Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon confirmed the Spanish capital's candidacy on Wednesday, citing Pyeongchang's victory as providing the necessary push for Madrid to bid again.

German football coach Silvia Neid told a newspaper Tuesday she will consider stepping down following the team's shock quarter-final exit from the women's World Cup.

"Right now I need some time off. In a couple of weeks when I've got myself back into everyday life I'll ask myself -- what do I really want? Can I motivate myself to take part in the European tournament in two years' time? And then I'll find the answer," she told Bild newspaper.

McLaren team Chief Martin Whitmarsh admitted he was feeling the pressure, but was not fearful for his future after the team experienced a hugely-disappointing and error-strewn weekend at the British Grand Prix.

Whitmarsh, who took over as McLaren team principal in succession to Ron Dennis two years ago, said the combination of under-fuelling Briton Lewis Hamilton's car and failing to fit a wheel properly during a pit-stop on compatriot Jenson Button's car had left him feeling down.

Italian champions AC Milan have admitted that they are deeply concerned about their financial future after club president Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, was ordered to pay over half a billion Euros in connection with a bribery case.

A court on Saturday decreed that Berlusconi's Fininvest company, which owns AC Milan, should pay rival media group CIR 560million Euros after it bribed a judge to approve the takeover of publishing group Mondadori in 1990.