Cristiano Ronaldo has called his five-match ban for pushing a referee "exaggerated and ridiculous" and claims he is being persecuted after failing to have the sanction overturned on appeal.

Socceroo Tom Rogic is set for his third-straight European Champions League campaign after his Celtic side thrashed Astana 5-0 in the first leg of their qualification play-off.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Canberra Olympic to host Newcastle Jets at Deakin Stadium in the middle of their NPL title defence on August 29.

Teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold curled in a magnificent free kick on his European debut to set Liverpool on the way to a 2-1 win at Hoffenheim

• Matt Law

Manchester City will test Arsenal's resolve to keep Alexis Sanchez -before the transfer window shuts with Pep Guardiola still desperate to add the forward to his squad.

• Anthony Colangelo

Meet Tim Cahill's newest Melbourne City teammate. Marcus Gomes won't set foot on a soccer pitch but will instead represent the A-League club at a different kind of World Cup.

• Vince Rugari

Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak has been named in Ange Postecoglou's 30-man squad for the crunch World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Thailand.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned for five matches for pushing the referee after he was shown a red card against Barcelona in Real Madrid's 3-1 Spanish Super Cup first leg victory on Sunday.

• Jason Dasey

It was 11 years ago on a sultry June afternoon, just after a late Tim Cahill double had conjured up Australia's first-ever World Cup victory from nowhere. In the bowels of Kaiserslautern's Fritz-Walter-Stadion, the visiting media contingent was in frenzied overdrive.

• Garry Maddox

Family, friends and fans of Les Murray gathered in Sydney to bid farewell to the much-loved soccer personality.

• Vince Rugari

​Aaron Mooy's seamless step-up to the Premier League should bolster the confidence of the Socceroos as they approach their two biggest matches in recent memory.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational goal and was then sent off for a combination of his provocative celebration and for diving as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 in an explosive Spanish Super Cup first leg on Sunday.

Romelu Lukaku scored twice on debut and Paul Pogba capped an ominous team display with a late long-range goal as Manchester United beat West Ham 4-0 in their opening game of the Premier League season.

• Dominic Bossi

Melbourne City are on the cusp of signing Croatian journeyman Antun Palic as their marquee for next season.

Life in the Premier League has got off to a flying start for Aaron Mooy and Huddersfield Town while Mat Ryan's Brighton suffered a reality check at home to Manchester City.

• Dominic Bossi

In the shadows of the FFA's failed meetings was another to set-up a national second division.

Sydney FC have announced a deal with Polish international winger Adrian Mierzejewski.

• Dominic Bossi

FFA claim it was "entirely appropriate" for its chairman to influence its members during the failed FIFA peace talks this week.

• Greg Baum

A study has found that all but one of 111 former NFL players showed signs of CTE, a nasty degenerative brain disease caused by repeated hits to the head.

• Paul Hayward

As spending hits the stratosphere, City's manager will be under pressure to win the title, especially if Chelsea falter/

• Julian Bennetts

In 1990, six men sat down for a meal that would ultimately lead to the creation of the Premier League. To mark the league's 25th anniversary, Julian Bennetts reveals the inside story of that decision – and its consequences.

• Dominic Bossi

The future of Australian football governance is in the hands of FIFA as the only person holding back peace deals is the FFA chairman.

A late-night intervention by Steven Lowy has stymied a political breakthrough that may have prevented FIFA taking over Australian soccer.

Liverpool have rejected a second, improved bid of $148 million from Barcelona for star man Philippe Coutinho, according to reports.

Complaints over the pitch have threatened to overshadow Melbourne Victory's dominant 5-1 FFA Cup win over Brisbane Roar at Perry Park.

Bestart Berisha grabbed a brace as Melbourne Victory kicked-off their FFA Cup campaign in style with a 5-1 thrashing of Brisbane.

Everything you need to know about the arbitration on Australian soccer's governance crisis.

• Dominic Bossi

Football Federation Australia's worst fears may have just been realised; the mob is mobilising.

• Dominic Bossi

Players and clubs drive 85 per-cent of revenue but have only 10 per-cent of the say.