MLS All-Stars prep quickly for Bayern Munich
PORTLAND, Ore. — By the time the MLS All-Star game rolls around on Wednesday night at Providence Park, coach Caleb Porter will have had two training sessions with his All-Stars.
Porter is hoping his side has some fast learners.
The MLS All-Stars face a considerable challenge in German power Bayern Munich, which boasts some six players from the World Cup champion German national team.
The MLS squad has plenty of players from the U.S. team that advanced to the round of 16 this summer in Brazil, including Clint Dempsey of the Seattle Sounders and Michael Bradley of Toronto FC.
The All-Stars hold a 7-3-1 record over visiting teams in the annual showcase, but last year the MLS fell 3-1 to AS Roma.
Real Salt Lake and U.S. World Cup team midfielder Kyle Beckerman has pulled out of the game because of an unspecified injury.
He was replaced Tuesday with Portland Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell. Beckerman sustained the injury during Saturday’s RSL match against the Colorado Rapids.
Brazil World Cup ticket-scalping suspect gets bail
SAO PAULO — A Brazilian judge has granted bail to a British executive charged in an alleged World Cup ticket-scalping scheme.
Justice Marco Aurelio says the director of MATCH group that owned the rights to sell the soccer tournament hospitality packages must not leave Rio de Janeiro.
Aurelio ruled on Tuesday that Ray Whelan was not a flight risk and should be released. He also says that prosecution claims that Whelan might be able to pressure the whistleblower in the case are just assumptions and not enough to keep him detained.
Whelan was arrested in July as the World Cup came to an end, accused of providing tickets to an Algerian businessman whom authorities have called the top ticket scalper. The company has denied any wrongdoing by Whelan.
Xavi Hernandez retires from Spanish national team
BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez says he will not play again for the Spanish national team after a disappointing World Cup.
The 34-year-old Xavi says “I have taken the decision to leave the selection. I think my time has ended.”
Xavi was Spain’s key playmaker in its unprecedented run of winning the World Cup in 2010 and two European championships in 2008 and 2012.
But Spain flopped at this summer’s World Cup, losing its first two games and subsequently exiting the competition in the group stage.
Xavi says being benched for that second match against Chile was key in his decision to retire from international duty.
He says he will continue to play for Barcelona, with two years remaining on his current contract.
Sierra Leone cancels all soccer over Ebola
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Sierra Leone has canceled all soccer matches because of the deadly Ebola virus and will seek to play African Cup qualifiers in other countries.
The Sierra Leone Football Association announced the move on Tuesday after an emergency meeting. It followed a public health emergency declared last week by the country’s president banning public gatherings.
Ebola has spread rapidly in the West African countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, killing nearly 900 people. Cases have also been reported in Nigeria.
Sierra Leone’s national team is due to play in the final round of qualifying for next year’s African Cup from Sept. 5.
SLFA spokesman Abu Bakarr Kamara told The Associated Press that Sierra Leone would ask the Confederation of African Football for permission to play home games in neutral venues.
By wire sources