The chief executive of Adidas, a major FIFA sponsor, says he thinks UEFA President Michel Platini would be the best choice of successor to Sepp Blatter at the head of world football's governing body.

Herbert Hainer was quoted Friday as telling German weekly Focus: "For me, Platini is the most suitable candidate." He added: "He leads UEFA, with the best club teams worldwide and the strongest club competition, the Champions League. He has done a really good job in his two terms in office."

Canadian Brodik Henderson is hoping his prowess in the remote world of U.S. amateur sumo wrestling will translate into a professional career in the heartland of Japan's ancient sport.

The 20-year-old native of Victoria, British Columbia, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 360 pounds, will make his debut at the Nagoya tournament which begins on Sunday.

FIFA on Thursday banned former U.S. football official Chuck Blazer for life over his involvement in corruption scandals.

"Mr. Blazer committed many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an official in different high-ranking and influential positions at FIFA and CONCACAF," said a statement announcing the ban from all football-related activities.

Frank Lampard might be forgiven for feeling a sense of apprehension as he embarks on his new career at New York City FC.

The former Chelsea and Manchester City midfielder has joined a newly formed club that has spent most of its first season in the basement of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference and in the absence of its own home is playing at Yankee Stadium.

German cycling is riding the crest of a wave after Andre Greipel won Wednesday's fifth stage of the Tour de France.

A year after Germans won four of the first six stages before ending with seven in total, Greipel's second stage this year made it three in five days.

Sentimental favorite Roger Federer faces home star Andy Murray for the 24th time Friday hoping his near perfect Grand Slam grip on the Scot will steer him into a 10th Wimbledon final.

Such is the anticipation that Friday's other semi-final between defending champion Novak Djokovic and Richard Gasquet is in danger of becoming a warm-up act.

Seven-time champion Roger Federer reached his 10th Wimbledon semi-final on Wednesday with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 win over French 12th seed Gilles Simon.

The second seed will face either Andy Murray or Vasek Pospisil, in what will be his 37th Grand Slam semi-final, for a place in Sunday's title match.

A working class Istanbul suburb on Wednesday announced it would name one of its streets in honor of one its most famous sons, the Turkish football star Arda Turan who this week signed for Barcelona.

Turan, 28, was born in the Istanbul suburb of Bayrampasa in 1987, and his first matches were for the gritty western district's lowly local team Altintepsi Makelspor.

Steven Gerrard brought a touch of Liverpool weather — cool, overcast and even some drizzle — to his first practice with the LA Galaxy on Tuesday morning.

By the time the English midfielder was formally introduced by the club in the afternoon to begin his MLS career, there was nothing but California sunshine outside StubHub Center.

Victoria Azarenka didn't like the line of questioning at all.

The two-time Australian Open champion lost to Serena Williams 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 Tuesday on Center Court in a high-quality match at Wimbledon, and was then asked about the crowd laughing at the two during play for making loud noises while hitting the ball.