News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
As Brazil gears up to host the FIFA World Cup 2014 starting on June 12, lets take a closer look at the biggest football tournament.
Brazil fired Dunga as coach on Tuesday, the national football confederation said, two days after his side failed to get past the group stages of the Centenary Copa America.
'Soul might not win trophies. But, unlike trophies, soul actually matters,' says Shougat Dasgupta.
Neymar shed tears of joy after delivering Brazil's first men's soccer gold medal with the winning penalty in a 5-4 shootout triumph over Germany after a thrilling final ended in a draw following extra-time on Saturday.
Manchester Utd's Fred receives racist abuse after defeat by Liverpool.
The Brazilian Football Confederation released a video that showed the Paris St Germain player training with the rest of the squad before they flew off to St Petersburg for Friday's Group E match against Costa Rica.
Wearing his infectious goofy grin, 'Samba Magician' Ronaldinho cast a spell on the football-crazy denizens of Kolkata as his arrival for a two-day visit in Kolkata ushered in an early onset of the Durga Puja festival.
Brazil's Neymar and Colombia striker Carlos Bacca have been provisionally suspended for one match.
A year after hosting the football World Cup and a year before staging the Summer Olympics, Brazil is set to stage a new international event -- the Indigenous Peoples World Games.
Coutinho has as many man-of-the match awards in this tournament as Neymar has different haircuts.
Brazil coach Dunga and his entire coaching staff have been sacked after the team's quarter-final exit from the World Cup.
Olympic judo medallist Flavio Canto is among those giving his time and money to battle the COVID-19 outbreak in Brazil. Dunga is also working with business contacts and former players - including ex-Brazil internationals Jorginho and Edmilson and Paulo Cesar Tinga - to help disadvantaged communities in his home state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Brazilian fans' hopes of celebrating a sixth World Cup title in Russia were dashed on Friday when their national team lost 2-1 to Belgium in the quarter-finals.
After waiting 64 years to exorcise the ghosts of the Maracanazo, Brazil have instead suffered another defeat that may haunt them for decades.
'But I think this is going to be cleared up as soon as possible and I believe in Neymar's innocence. We the players and the backroom staff are going to support him so that it doesn't have any effect on the field'
Tite admitted he had been complaining to the referee during the first half and said the two men exchanged words.
Brazilian soccer legend Pele will not light the Olympic cauldron at Friday's opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics, a spokesman for the 75-year-old, three-time soccer World Cup winner said.
Brazil coach Tite felt a terrible bitterness after they were knocked out of the World Cup by Belgium in the quarter-finals on Friday and said his side never got the breaks in an enthralling end-to-end contest.
The enormous structured global advertising machinery that surrounds every football game on the planet today? Pele was perhaps single-handedly responsible for all of it. By just being brilliant, captivating crowds, and behaving like a being from the future, doing things that STILL provoke oohs and aahs from watchers. Vaibhav Raghunandan salutes the Incomparable Pele.
Former World Footballer of the Year Rivaldo, 40, has left Kabuscorp after completing a short-term contract with the Angolan team.
'There is no more gender difference, the CBF is treating men and women equally.'
Brazilian football star Ronaldinho, who widely considered a footballing deity during his playing days, met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday.
Colombia have scored more goals than Argentina and notched as many as the highly-rated Brazilians
The football extravaganza has not even begun but the crazy fans are already making heads turn.
Not even Bollywood's megastar Amitabh Bachchan was spared from the football bug that had bitten the whole world over the last month. Bachchan Sr tweeted about his trip to Rio de Janeiro and watching Brazil fall to another loss in the 3rd place match against The Netherlands at the just concluded FIFA World Cup.
Brazil scored twice in a dominant first half to beat Japan 2-0 in their final Olympic warmup friendly on Saturday before they begin their bid for a first soccer gold medal at next month's home Games.
Brazil's good luck charm and former VS model gets engaged to German footballer Kevin Trapp.
Italy's media lambasted the country's soccer squad over their elimination from Euro 2024 at the hands of Switzerland on Saturday
Brazil may be five-time winners of the World Cup and joint favourites to make it six in Russia this year but the South Americans do not yet have the right blend for success, three-time World Cup winner Pele said.
'Our defence system starts with our first four and that's why we have a solid defence. People look to Brazil and always try to find players who score or dribble but we have many other qualities. With our goalkeeper and defenders, we have a solid defence' 'It's pretty exciting for us and we are looking to do something great here'
The football tournament at the Beijing Olympics bursts into life on Tuesday with a semi-final between two of the sport's fiercest rivals, Brazil and Argentina.
Brazil coach Dunga apologised after his comments about people of African descent sparked criticism ahead of the team's Copa America quarter-final against Paraguay.
The event is private and all relevant permissions have been obtained.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has asked FIFA why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was not used to review two key decisions they believe hindered their side during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Spanish prosecutors are seeking a two-year prison term and a 10 million euro ($9.8 million) fine for Neymar.
'An act of racism is a criminal act... From now on, FIFA will take legal actions with local authorities too, we will join complaints filed in local justice.'
Rediff.com brings you some interesting clicks from the by lanes of Indian cities that summarise the soccer madness...
