London (AFP) – Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta insists Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount will live up to their potential after stinging criticism from Jose Mourinho following their 4-0 thrashing at Manchester United. Mourinho claimed new Chelsea boss Frank Lampard was wrong to pick inexperienced youngsters Abraham and Mount against a leading Premier League team like […]

London (AFP) – The use of VAR for the first time in the Premier League bewildered fans and experts alike at the weekend, prompting demands for change. The Video Assistant Referee system, previously used in England in the FA and League Cups, is supposed to eradicate any doubt that the right decision has been taken […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona's back-up goalkeeper Neto will undergo surgery after injuring his left wrist, the club announced on Monday. Neto suffered the injury in training and is unlikely to be fit for Barca's opening La Liga game away to Athletic Bilbao on Friday. "Goalkeeper Neto is to undergo surgery this Tuesday on a fractured […]

Madrid (AFP) – Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams has signed a new nine-year contract that will increase his release clause to 135 million euros, the club announced on Monday. Williams' previous release clause had been set at 80 million euros and the 25-year-old was linked with a move to Manchester United during the summer transfer […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona's back-up goalkeeper Neto is a doubt for the start of the season after the club announced on Sunday he has injured his left wrist. The required recovery time will be known on Monday but Neto is unlikely to be fit for Barca's opening La Liga game away to Athletic Bilbao on […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's Gareth Bale played for the first time in four pre-season matches on Sunday to suggest he could yet regain his place under coach Zinedine Zidane. Bale came off the bench as Madrid drew 2-2 against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico, before losing the friendly on penalties. After the game, Zidane […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain brushed off the ongoing Neymar transfer saga by kicking off their Ligue 1 title defence with a straightforward 3-0 victory over Nimes on Sunday. The 27-year-old Neymar was left out of the squad the day after PSG sporting director Leonardo said talks about a possible sale of the Brazilian were […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana was red-carded as the South African club lost 2-1 at AS Otoho of Congo Brazzaville Sunday in a CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg. Pretoria-based Sundowns are owned by wealthy businessman Patrice Motsepe and could afford to charter a jet for the match at Owando in […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – After a chastening few months following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment on a permanent basis as Manchester United manager, there is cause for optimism again at Old Trafford after romping to a 4-0 win over Chelsea on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Solskjaer insisted ahead of the match […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Marcus Rashford scored twice as Manchester United made the perfect start to their Premier League season by inflicting a 4-0 defeat on Frank Lampard in his first match in charge of Chelsea on Sunday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were in need of a fast start to the campaign to erase […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wolves captain Conor Coady hit out at VAR after his side were denied a goal in their 0-0 draw at Leicester on Sunday. The visitors' midfielder Leander Dendoncker saw his second half effort ruled out after his initial header struck team-mate Willy Boly on the arm. Dendoncker's header accidentally hit […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Frank Lampard insisted Chelsea didn't deserve to lose 4-0 at Manchester United as his reign got off to a woeful start on Sunday. It was a chastening result for new Chelsea manager Lampard after the club's record goalscorer took over from Maurizio Sarri in the close-season. Lampard suffered the heaviest […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League returned with a bang as title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool enjoyed goal sprees, while VAR controversies hogged the headlines. Here, AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from the opening weekend of the English top-fight season: Man City, Liverpool maintain determination Liverpool were first to throw down […]

Twickenham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England coach Eddie Jones urged officials to make clear what constitutes a head-high tackle ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup following his side's 33-19 warm-up win over Wales on Sunday. Jones felt there were at least two incidents during the game which could have led to a red card, […]

Lima (AFP) – Two US gold medal winners could face sanctions after staging dramatic podium protests against US President Donald Trump at the Pan American Games in Lima. Gwen Berry stunned the crowd when she raised a clenched right fist on the podium and bowed her head as the US national anthem closed her gold […]