Paris (AFP) – Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp and three players — Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk — headed nominations released Wednesday for the FIFA Best awards that will be presented in Milan on September 23. Klopp led Liverpool, and that vital trio of players, to the Champions League trophy and also second […]

Nantes (France) (AFP) – FC Nantes coach Vahid Halilhodzic has resigned after just one season and will leave the club less than two-weeks before the start of the new Ligue 1 campaign, sources close to the club said Wednesday. Bosnian born Halilhodzic, 67, who took over as coach from Miguel Cardoso in October last year, […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Lionel Scaloni signed a contract extension with Argentina on Tuesday to run until the end of the qualifying period for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on its website and social media channels. The 41-year-old was initially hired as interim coach last August, just over […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – CS Sfaxien of Tunisia are the star attraction in a 2019/2020 CAF Confederation Cup draw that includes only three clubs who have won African titles. The club from Mediterranean industrial city Sfax received a bye into the round of 32, where they will face Paradou AC of Algeria or CI Kamsar […]

Washington (AFP) – Jill Ellis, who coached the United States to a second consecutive Women's World Cup title earlier this month, will step down after her team's US Victory Tour in early October, US Soccer announced Tuesday. The Americans beat the Netherlands 2-0 in the final on July 7 in France to defend the crown […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Esperance Tunis and Wydad Casablanca, who are locked in a legal battle over which won the last CAF Champions League, will have first-round byes when the next edition kicks off. Both the Tunisian and the Moroccan clubs will advance directly to the last-32 of the premier Confederation of African Football (CAF) competition. […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Real Madrid's disastrous pre-season continued on Tuesday as they lost 1-0 to Tottenham in Munich. "Our defeat was well deserved," Real midfielder Tony Kroos told German TV after the match. It's true that we're not quite in good shape." Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game with a deft […]

London (AFP) – Wolves signed Italy striker Patrick Cutrone from AC Milan in a reported £16 million ($19 million) deal on Tuesday. Cutrone agreed a four-year contract and becomes Wolves' second pre-season signing following the arrival of Jesus Vallejo on loan from Real Madrid last week. "The club really wanted me and being able to […]

London (AFP) – Patrice Evra has revealed he threatened Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward during a heated row over his future at the club in 2014. Former France defender Evra retired from football on Monday after a glittering career that included an eight-year spell with United. The left-back played for United from 2006 to […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea have permanently banned one supporter from Stamford Bridge for the use of racially abusive language and threatening and aggressive behaviour during last season's home game with Manchester City. The Premier League club have also temporarily excluded five other supporters for periods of between one and two years for the use of […]

Madrid (AFP) – Gareth Bale's future at Real Madrid took another twist when he was left out of the Spanish side's squad for two friendly matches in Munich, starting with Tuesday's game against his old club Tottenham Hotspur. "Bale did not travel in order to resolve his future," Spanish sports daily Marca reported on Tuesday, […]

Paris (AFP) – Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye has completed his transfer from Everton to Paris Saint-Germain, the French champions confirmed on Tuesday. "Paris St-Germain is thrilled to announce the signing of Idrissa Gueye!" the club tweeted with a picture of "Gana" holding up a shirt with squad number 27. The 29-year-old, who reached the semi-finals […]

Khartoum (AFP) – He has no kit or support system but 17-year-old footballer Emad Salim hopes Sudan's uprising will bring a boost to his beloved sport and help its players step onto the world stage. "There are no facilities or the equipment we need," said Salim, son of a farmer, before booting a ball across […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Police in Brazil probing rape allegations against football superstar Neymar have closed the case due to a lack of evidence, the Sao Paulo attorney general's office said Monday. The police decision will be sent to prosecutors on Tuesday, who will have 15 days to evaluate the case, a spokeswoman for the […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – World Cup winning Italian veteran Daniele De Rossi said he cannot wait to play in the iconic Bombonera stadium as he was unveiled by new club Boca Juniors on Monday. The 36-year-old midfielder has signed a one-year contract with the Argentine giants after bringing down the curtain on his 18-year Roma […]