Urawa hold Sepahan in 1st leg of ACL final

Urawa hold Sepahan in 1st leg of ACL final

ESFAHAN, Iran - Robson Ponte (L) strikes an all-important away goal for J-League champions Urawa Reds in the first half of the first leg of Asian Champions League final against Iran's Sepahan at Esfahan on Nov. 7. Urawa ground out a hard-earned 1-1 draw away to Sepahan. Ponte rifled home on the stroke of halftime but Mahmoud Karimi leveled at the start of the second period to make it honors even ahead of the second leg at Saitama Stadium 2002 on NOv. 14.

Court deems state, firms partly responsible for spread of CJD+

Court deems state, firms partly responsible for spread of CJD+

OTSU, Japan - With a photo of his diseased wife in hand, Sanichi Tani is moved to tears after the Otsu District Court recognized partial responsibility on the part of the state and pharmaceutical companies for the spread of the brain-wasting Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and urged that settlements be reached in a damages suit Nov. 14, 2002. Tani is leader of the plaintiffs in the suit.

FIFA head Blatter meets Japan's education minister

FIFA head Blatter meets Japan's education minister

TOKYO, Japan - The head of soccer's world governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter (R), meets with Japanese Education Minister Tadamori Oshima, on Nov. 14. Blatter and Oshima discussed a proposal for the Japanese government to exempt FIFA from taxes on profits from commercial projects related to the 2002 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Japan and South Korea. The Education Ministry is in charge of sports affairs in Japan.

Urawa hold Sepahan in 1st leg of ACL final

Urawa hold Sepahan in 1st leg of ACL final

ESFAHAN, Iran - Robson Ponte (L) strikes an all-important away goal for J-League champions Urawa Reds in the first half of the first leg of Asian Champions League final against Iran's Sepahan at Esfahan on Nov. 7. Urawa ground out a hard-earned 1-1 draw away to Sepahan. Ponte rifled home on the stroke of halftime but Mahmoud Karimi leveled at the start of the second period to make it honors even ahead of the second leg at Saitama Stadium 2002 on NOv. 14. (Kyodo)

Soccer: Saudi Arabia looking to retain lead in World Cup q'fiers

Soccer: Saudi Arabia looking to retain lead in World Cup q'fiers

Saudi Arabia coach Bert van Marwijk speaks at a press conference at Saitama Stadium 2002, north of Tokyo, on Nov. 14, 2016, the day before a World Cup qualifier against Japan. Saudi Arabia lead Group B with 10 points from four matches. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Honda, Kagawa facing the ax as pressure mounts on Halilhodzic

Soccer: Honda, Kagawa facing the ax as pressure mounts on Halilhodzic

AC Milan's Keisuke Honda (L) takes part in national team training at Saitama Stadium 2002, located north of Tokyo, on Nov. 14, 2016, alongside Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic. The coach suggested the same day he may leave both Honda and Shinji Kagawa out of the lineup for a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia the next day, a game that could determine the fate of his team in the campaign for Russia. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Honda, Kagawa facing the ax as pressure mounts on Halilhodzic

Soccer: Honda, Kagawa facing the ax as pressure mounts on Halilhodzic

Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic speaks at a press conference at Saitama Stadium 2002, north of Tokyo, on Nov. 14, 2016. Halilhodzic suggested he may leave both Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa out of the lineup for a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia the next day, a game that could determine the fate of his team in the campaign for Russia. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Honda, Kagawa facing the ax as pressure mounts on Halilhodzic

Soccer: Honda, Kagawa facing the ax as pressure mounts on Halilhodzic

Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic speaks at a press conference at Saitama Stadium 2002, north of Tokyo, on Nov. 14, 2016. Halilhodzic suggested he may leave both Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa out of the lineup for a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia the next day, a game that could determine the fate of his team in the campaign for Russia. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Soccer: Honda, Kagawa facing ax as pressure mounts on Halilhodzic

Soccer: Honda, Kagawa facing ax as pressure mounts on Halilhodzic

Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic (C) oversees his players training at Saitama Stadium 2002, located north of Tokyo, on Nov. 14, 2016, for a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia the next day. Halilhodzic suggested he may leave both Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa out of the lineup for the match that could determine the fate of his team in the campaign for Russia. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

FIFA head Blatter meets Japan's education minister

FIFA head Blatter meets Japan's education minister

TOKYO, Japan - The head of soccer's world governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter (R), meets with Japanese Education Minister Tadamori Oshima, on Nov. 14. Blatter and Oshima discussed a proposal for the Japanese government to exempt FIFA from taxes on profits from commercial projects related to the 2002 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Japan and South Korea. The Education Ministry is in charge of sports affairs in Japan.