Chicago Sting Twitter launched, but ex-owner denies comeback

The Chicago Sting is back!

On Twitter, that is.

It seems some nostalgic-types (read anti-Fire fans) started tweeting on Wednesday from @Chicago_Sting with the bio: “Chicago’s true football club. MIA since 1988. Some think it’s maybe time to make a comeback. Chicago’s footballing dreams”

When …

Soccer-loving pope meets world-class stars

Pope Francis cheered fellow Argentine Lionel Messi and other soccer stars Tuesday as he held a morality-focused pep rally of sorts at the Vatican for Argentina and Italy’s national teams ahead of their eagerly awaited friendly match.

Mexico beats Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 to advance to Gold Cup semifinals

ATLANTA — Mexico coach Jose Manuel De La Torre knows there’s only so much he can do to please his critics. A narrow win over Trinidad and Tobago might rekindle concerns about his job security, but De La Torre was not interested in discussing his …

NU great Matt Eliason scores highlight-reel goal in Messi game

With world-class players such as Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry playing in the Messi & Friends charity game Saturday at Soldier Field, no one thought the highlight would come from a former Northwestern star working in finance. But Matt Eliason, the Wildcats’ all-time leading scorer, …

Messi in messy tax suit

MADRID — A state prosecutor for the northeastern region of Catalonia has lodged a lawsuit against Lionel Messi for fraud in unpaid income tax amounting to 4 million euros ($5.3 million). The complaint, signed by prosecutor Raquel Amado, has been submitted for trial at the …

David Beckham to retire from soccer at end of season

LONDON — David Beckham says he is retiring from soccer at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old Beckham recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain. He has become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester United.

Beckham …

Alex Ferguson to retire with Manchester United

Alex Ferguson is retiring at the end of the season, bringing a close to a trophy-filled career of more than 26 years at Manchester United that established him as the most successful coach in British football history.

Soccer ref in critical condition after being punched by teenager

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — A Salt Lake City man who was serving as a referee in a recreational football game in Taylorsville is in critical condition after being punched by a teenager. Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal says the attack happened over the weekend during a …

Chicago women’s pro soccer team to play in Lisle

The Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League will play at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex. The team is moving into professional soccer this season after two years of semi-professional seasons. The Red Stars will play at the suburban Chicago location …

Scoreless Fire still figuring things out

Despite its obvious struggles to score, the Fire doesn’t appear to be panicking. But that doesn’t mean the team isn’t considering immediate change. Coach Frank Klopas likes to play a compact style, which dictates that the team score most of its goals using counterattacks and …

CONCACAF Gold Cup final at Soldier Field

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football announced Wednesday in Chicago that the 2013 Gold Cup final will be held at Soldier Field on July 28.

Brazilian goalkeeper Bruno gets 22 years for killing ex-girlfriend

SAO PAULO — Former Flamengo goalkeeper Bruno was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison on Friday. In a trial that made front-page headlines across Brazil, the jury of five women and two men in Minas Gerais found …

Source: Fire to acquire Dilly Duka and Robbie Rogers

The Fire and Columbus Crew agreed to terms on a trade Saturday morning that sent striker Dominic Oduro to Columbus in exchange for midfielder Dilly Duka and the MLS rights to Robbie Rogers, an MLS source told the Sun-Times.

The Fire is expected to announce …

U.S. women’s soccer team tires but ties Germans

The U.S. women’s national team admittedly wasn’t very sharp in its 1-1 exhibition draw Saturday against Germany, the world’s second-ranked team, at Toyota Park. After a game in which the Americans failed to capitalize on a host of chances, they were bitter about the result …

U.S. women’s soccer team to face Germany at Toyota Park

The U.S. women’s soccer team and the German national team are in different phases of training. The American women are coming off their gold-medal triumph at the London Olympics and just resumed training again, while the Germans have been preparing for the European Championship in …