How big is the Melbourne derby? Bigger than an A-League grand final? A more momentous occasion than a player's first ever senior game?

How the iconic Wanderers club legend became dispensable.

Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers.

Diego Maradona had to be restrained after he clashed with former Manchester United star Juan Sebastian Veron in a charity football match promoted by Pope Francis in Rome.

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Nikolai Topor-Stanley may have played his last game for Western Sydney Wanderers after confirming his imminent departure to pursue an overseas opportunity. 

For the first time since the establishment of the Football Federation Australia in 2004, clubs could have a major say in the governance of domestic football after forming a joint consortium that will restructure the administration of the A-League. 

The harshest insults are often those never intended and that's why Matt Simon's complete dismissal of the Mariners will sting the most.

Tim Cahill is relishing the chance to play against Melbourne Victory.

When a racehorse misses the jump from the barrier its often an insurmountable problem.

Tim Cahill will be under more scrutiny than any player ever has been in an A-League game when he makes his official debut for Melbourne City on Saturday night in the first Melbourne derby of the season.

​Saudi Arabia took full advantage of an earlier draw between Australia and Japan by beating neighbours United Arab Emirates 3-0 to storm to the top of group B in Asian World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

Socceroo boss Ange Postecoglou could only bemoan a "wasted 45 minutes" after his Australia side laboured through a poor first half to eventually earn a 1-1 draw with Japan in a World Cup qualifier at Etihad Stadium.

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The Socceroos and Japan come away with one point each from a key qualification clash for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

A penalty by Australian skipper Mile Jedinak early in the second half cancelled out Genki Haraguchi's early goal for Japan to ensure that the Socceroos and the Blue Samurai shard the spoils in a typically keenly contested World Cup clash between these two Asian heavyweights.

Wanderers fans need to stop lighting flares or risk serious consequences, says Andrew Redmayne.

Melbourne wants its A-League crowd record back, and Victory coach Kevin Muscat says a derby date at the MCG will make it happen.

Berlin The Netherlands are in danger of missing their second straight major tournament, with France dealing their World Cup qualifying hopes a major blow with a 1-0 victory in Amsterdam.

World's most expensive player scores with long-range shot after 30 minutes to secure a vital 1-0 win away to the Netherlands

England captain left out in Slovenia for tactical reasons, new manager says.

A private meeting between all 10 A-League clubs will take place on Wednesday where a proposed new governance will be agreed upon.

These are strange times for Japan, one of the powerhouses of Asian football.

Ange Postecoglou is again likely to bring veteran striker Tim Cahill off the bench against Japan on Tuesday night.

Canberra United have turned to crowd-sourcing in the battle to compete with reigning W-League champions Melbourne City.

Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou likes a game of football to be a game. It's not about rolling around on the floor, it's not about wasting time and stalling, it's not about feigning injury in the hope of disrupting the opposition or defending a narrow lead.

Gareth Bale scored again but 137th-ranked Georgia left Wales floundering in third position in Group D with a 1-1 draw in Cardiff, while Italy and Spain both won away.

Massimo Luongo has declared himself ready to take on Japan as the Socceroos seek a return to winning ways in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.

Win your home games, pick up a point on the road. Qualification for the World Cup looks pretty straightforward - on paper.

Sydney FC brought back down to earth after their 4-0 thrashing of Western Sydney Wanderers.

Eight years after helping lead the Newcastle Jets to their only championship, evergreen keeper Ante Covic is in talks about a return.