The trial of Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema for having sex with an under-age prostitute opened Tuesday but was immediately suspended pending resolution of a point of law which may result in charges against the French football stars being dropped.

Ethiopia admitted Tuesday fielding a suspended footballer in a World Cup qualifier during June, and FIFA match records show Togo were guilty of a similar offence.

Thousands of Brazilians threatened fresh protests Tuesday over the huge costs of preparations for the World Cup, after the biggest demos 20 years shook Dilma Rousseff's government.

Spanish side UD Salamanca have been placed into liquidation after a agreement between creditors could not be reached at a meeting on Tuesday.

Hanover 96 on Tuesday said they had signed Germany under-20 midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt from Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund.