Shanghai (AFP) – Rafael Benitez's arrival grabbed the headlines but Chinese Super League teams have sent the managerial merry-go-round into hyperspeed with five of the 16 clubs making changes in one month. CSL clubs appear to have lost their nerve as they enter the final third of the season with the championship and relegation fights […]

Seoul (AFP) – South Korea's K-League has accused Juventus of "deception" after superstar Cristiano Ronaldo sat out last week's friendly in Seoul, enraging thousands of fans. The Korean league said it felt "disappointed and cheated" and demanded an apology from the Italian football champions after the Portuguese forward spent Friday's game on the bench. A […]

Paris (AFP) – When Nicolas Pepe put pen to paper on Thursday to conclude his transfer from Lille to Arsenal, the fee of £72 million ($87 million) made the Ivorian the most expensive African footballer in the world. AFP looks at the top five transfers featuring African players. – Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast) – £72 […]

London (AFP) – Nicolas Pepe has taken a winding road to the top, but Arsenal's club-record signing is unlikely to be fazed by his new-found fame and fortune. Pepe became Africa's most expensive footballer on Thursday after the Ivory Coast winger completed his blockbuster move from French club Lille for a reported £72 million ($87 […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa on Thursday announced the arrival of goalkeeper Tom Heaton from Burnley — their 11th signing of a busy summer transfer window after winning promotion to the Premier League. The 33-year-old moves to Villa Park for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £8 million ($9.7 million). "I am delighted that Tom […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Gareth Bale's £1-million-a-week move from Real Madrid collapsed but Chinese football has re-emerged as a force in the global transfer market despite measures to rein in spending. Marko Arnautovic, Salomon Rondon and Stephan El Shaarawy all landed in the Chinese Super League (CSL) during China's summer transfer window, which closed on Wednesday. […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool teenager Harvey Elliott apologised on Thursday after a video emerged of him appearing to mock Tottenham striker Harry Kane. The Snapchat video, taken during the Champions League final in June, shows Elliott, 16, performing an offensive impersonation of the England international. Elliott took to Instagram to issue an apology, where he […]

New York (AFP) – The US women's football team is the best on the planet, but the sport's domestic league is virtually unknown. Players, organisers and fans hope that is about to change as the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is looking to capitalise on the national team's triumph at the World Cup in July […]

London (AFP) – Marcelo Bielsa has another chance to deliver Premier League football to the success-starved fans of Leeds United after falling agonisingly short last season, as the Championship starts this weekend. The charismatic 64-year-old Argentine, idolised by Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, gave the three-time English champions a boost by agreeing to stay on for […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – The 2019/2020 South African Premiership season kicks off Saturday with Mamelodi Sundowns favourites to complete a hat-trick despite uncertainty over the future of multiple title-winning coach Pitso Mosimane. He is reportedly upset that the 2016 CAF Champions League trophy-holders want to hire an unnamed Spanish technical director, threatening the independence of the […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Kenya have slashed ticket prices up to 80 percent in the hope that a huge crowd will turn up and cheer them to victory over Tanzania this weekend in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier. Admittance to all sections of the 60,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi for the much anticipated east African […]

Paris (AFP) – Welsh international Harry Wilson gave Jurgen Klopp a reminder of his talents with a spectacular goal as Liverpool defeated Lyon 3-1 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday. Wilson, who spent last season out on loan at second-tier Derby, hit a 25-yard screamer in the 53rd minute to add to first-half goals from […]

Paris (AFP) – The Women's World Cup will be expanded from 24 to 32 teams at the 2023 edition in an effort to "foster the growth of women's football", FIFA said Wednesday. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had already said that he was determined to push ahead with plans to expand the World Cup in time […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – French striker Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid defeated Fenerbahce 5-3 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday which temporarily lifted the summer gloom which has engulfed the Spanish giants and coach Zinedine Zidane. However, problems remain for Real as they have now conceded 16 goals in just five friendly […]

London (AFP) – Sheffield Wednesday forward Fernando Forestieri has been handed a six-match suspension after being found guilty of using racist language by the Football Association's independent regulatory commission. The incident happened in a pre-season friendly last July between Wednesday and Mansfield, with Forestieri's comments made towards Mansfield defender Krystian Pearce sparking a brawl on […]