BERLIN, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 look set to bring their Brazilian stars home from the Beijing Olympics before a ball is kicked after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Wednesday in favour of the Bundesliga clubs' battle with FIFA.

BEIJING, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Argentina ignited a major international football row on Wednesday by insisting superstar attacker Lionel Messi will make a controversial Olympic Games debut.

TIANJIN, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Result of a Group E women's Olympic football match played here Wednesday:

Argentina 1 (Manicler 85) Canada 2 (Chapman 27, Lang 72)

GENEVA, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is set to miss the Olympic Games football tournament after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled Wednesday that clubs were not obliged to release players for the event.

ATHENS, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - Liverpool midfielder Sebastian Leto on Tuesday completed a two-year loan deal with Greek champions Olympiakos after being denied a work permit to play in England next season.

JOHANNESBURG, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - Central Cheetahs wing Jongi Nokwe will earn his first Springbok cap when he faces Argentina in a one-off Test here at Ellis Park on Saturday.

BEIJING, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - Defending champions Argentina are looking to their quartet of NBA stars to help inspire a second successive Olympics basketball gold.

BUENOS AIRES, August 4, 2008 (AFP) - The presidents of Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela were to hold an impromptu summit late Monday in Buenos Aires to bolster what Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said was 'the main axis of South America.'

MADRID, August 3, 2008 (AFP) - Barcelona's Argentine striker Lionel Messi will take over the number 10 shirt that was last worn by Brazil's Ronaldinho, who was transfered to AC Milan, the club said Sunday.

The number 10 shirt is usually the privilege of the club's star player.

BUENOS AIRES, August 3, 2008 (AFP) - Cristina Kirchner on Saturday used the first news conference by an Argentine president in five years to defend her government after facing the biggest political crisis of her eight-month-old presidency.