Berlin (AFP) – Despite the ongoing absence of star striker Erling Braut Haaland because of a persistent hip injury, second-placed Borussia Dortmund will try to keep pace with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich when they host Stuttgart on Saturday. Dortmund currently trail in the table by four points, a deficit which could stretch to seven if […]

Paris (AFP) – With Argentina's place at the 2022 World Cup secure, Lionel Messi can shift his focus exclusively to ending the year "in the best way possible" with Paris Saint-Germain after an injury-hit start to life in France. Messi missed PSG's last two games before the international break with a combination of knee and thigh […]

Copenhagen (AFP) – Vehemently opposed to Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup, football federations in the Nordic countries are putting pressure on Doha and FIFA to improve conditions for migrant workers in the emirate. Together with rights organisation Amnesty International, the federations of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have ratcheted up the pressure […]

Madrid (AFP) – After 2,373 days away, Xavi Hernandez will be back with Barcelona for a match at Camp Nou on Saturday and he can expect a hero's welcome. Xavi's return as coach was confirmed at the start of the international break but two weeks has done nothing to dim the crackle of excitement ahead […]

Paris (AFP) – Holders France hope to retain their title but the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could be missing the two most recent European champions as Portugal and Italy must both battle through play-offs to qualify. That left fans with the prospect of no Cristiano Ronaldo in Qatar next winter and the Azzurri, who […]

London (AFP) – Members of the Afghanistan women's youth development football team have been airlifted to the UK in an evacuation flight funded by US celebrity Kim Kardashian. The 35 female footballers and their families, a total of 130 people, arrived at Stansted Airport, east of London, in the early hours of Thursday morning, according […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Los Angeles FC coach Bob Bradley is parting company with the Major League Soccer club by mutual agreement after four years in charge, a club statement said Thursday. LAFC said Bradley, who was MLS coach of the year in 2019, is leaving the club following the end of his contract. The […]

New York (AFP) – The Premier League and US broadcaster NBC agreed a new six-year rights deal on Thursday worth a reported $2.7 billion, underscoring the English top-flight's status as the most valuable overseas league in the United States. A statement released by the Premier League and NBC said the new agreement would run until […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scottish champions Rangers hired Giovanni van Bronckhorst as their new manager on Thursday after Steven Gerrard's move to Aston Villa. Former Rangers midfielder Van Bronckhorst returns to Ibrox as the 17th permanent manager in the history of the Glasgow giants. The 46-year-old, whose appointment is subject to a work permit, arrives with […]

London (AFP) – Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has dismissed speculation linking him with Manchester United as pressure mounts on Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Rodgers is believed to be one of the leading contenders to replace Solskjaer if the under-fire Norwegian gets the sack. United travel to Watford on Saturday with Solskjaer desperate for […]

The Hague (AFP) – Dutch international footballer Quincy Promes will be prosecuted on an attempted murder charge in connection with a stabbing at a family gathering last year, Dutch prosecutors and media reports announced on Thursday. The 29-year-old Spartak Moscow forward "is being suspected of stabbing a relative... in which the victim, the suspect's cousin, […]

Paris (AFP) – Two weeks after being assaulted in a mystery attack in Paris, Kheira Hamraoui was on Thursday left out of France's squad for the upcoming 2023 women's World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Wales. France coach Corinne Diacre said that the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who had her legs beaten after being dragged out […]

Perth (Australia) (AFP) – Australia's A-League kicks off a new season this weekend with former Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge set to make his debut in Perth against Adelaide's Josh Cavallo, who recently revealed he was gay. Sturridge signed with Perth Glory as one of the competition's highest-calibre players since Italian Alessandro Del Piero joined Sydney […]

Berlin (AFP) – Kevin Prince-Boateng has played for 14 different European clubs but is now back at his hometown side, Hertha Berlin, and hoping to help them climb the Bundesliga table, starting with Saturday's derby at rivals Union Berlin. The 34-year-old is in the twilight of a career which has seen him play across Europe, […]

London (AFP) – West Ham manager David Moyes is enjoying a long-awaited renaissance after years in the wilderness as the Scot masterminds his club's unexpected bid to reach the Champions League. Moyes has the Hammers flying high in the Premier League and a win at Wolves on Saturday would consolidate their position in the top […]