London (AFP) – Motherwell midfielder David Turnbull's move to Celtic has collapsed after a medical for the 19-year-old uncovered a knee injury that requires surgery. The Scottish champions had agreed a £3.25 million ($4.1 million) fee for Turnbull, who scored 16 goals from midfield for Motherwell last season. However, the Hoops then tried to renegotiate […]

Jakarta (AFP) – Indonesia and Australia are in preliminary talks about making a joint bid for the 2034 World Cup, the Southeast Asian nation's football association said Thursday. The neighbours discussed the potential proposal at a special meeting of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) in Laos last week. "At the meeting we agreed to join […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Brazilian superstar Neymar wants to return to Barcelona two years after quitting the club to join Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona's vice-president said Thursday. "What is correct, at the current time, what I have read, what I have heard, which seems exact, is that Neymar wants to come back to Barcelona," Jordi Cardoner told […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Rangers announced the signing of midfielder Joe Aribo from Charlton as their seventh capture of the transfer window on Thursday as Steven Gerrard attempts to stop Celtic winning a record-equalling ninth straight Scottish Premiership title. "The highly rated 22-year-old, who had options to move elsewhere, has made the decision to join the […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool have completed their first signing of the summer with the capture of 17-year-old Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle. The European champions have paid just £1.3 million ($1.7 million) for Van den Berg, beating Bayern Munich to the youngster's signature. Van den Berg is expected to spend next […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Wayne Rooney scored a sensational goal with a blast from his own half for his US club DC United that triggered social media storm of applause across the globe on Thursday. His 'goal of the season' lifted United to a 1-0 victory over Orlando City on Wednesday and saw the veteran […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Brazilian goalkeeper Neto is on his way to Barcelona from Valencia in an exchange deal with Jasper Cillessen, Barca's backup 'keeper heading the other way, the Spanish champions said Thursday. Neto, 29, has signed a four-year deal at Camp Nou for 26 millions Euros with nine million in add-ons and a 200 […]

Cairo (AFP) – Egypt star Mohamed Salah said exiled team-mate Amr Warda "shouldn't be sent straight to the guillotine" after the forward was banished from the squad over mounting sexual harassment allegations. The 25-year-old Warda was excluded ahead of Wednesday's 2-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo after sexual harassment claims surfaced earlier this […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac has demanded that the club sign four new players as they rejuvenate their squad ahead of next season, Kicker magazine reported Thursday. The 28-time Bundesliga winners are undergoing a major squad overhaul, and several senior players have left this year. Veterans Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Rafinha […]

London (AFP) – Ross Ford, Scottish rugby's most-capped player with 110 Test appearances, announced his retirement on Thursday. The 35-year-old hooker — who won one cap for the British & Irish Lions in the 2009 series with South Africa — is to move into coaching with the Scottish Rugby Academy. Ford, who made his Test […]

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard can be a successful manager of Chelsea due to his work ethic and ability to thrive under pressure, says close friend and fellow club legend John Terry. Lampard — who along with Terry won a treasure trove of trophies including three Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League — […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Jozy Altidore scored with an overhead kick as the United States finished first in its CONCACAF Gold Cup group with a 1-0 win over Panama on Wednesday. The US won all three of its Group D contests without conceding a goal and will now face Curacao in the quarter-finals on Sunday. […]

Cairo (AFP) – Since transforming perennial underachievers the Ivory Coast into African champions four years ago, Herve Renard has tormented them as coach of Morocco. The 50-year-old Frenchman, whose matchday shirts are always white, ensured the 2017 title defence of the Ivorians did not last beyond the first round as the fell 1-0 to the […]

Salvador (Brazil) (AFP) – Have you heard the one about the gunslinger, the assassin and the predator? Football fans in Salvador attending the Copa America quarter-final between Uruguay and Peru soon will because that's what's in store for them on Saturday. Three of South America's most feared forwards will square off, weapons cocked and ready […]

Paris (AFP) – Fearless and ferocious, Megan Rapinoe finds herself facing battles on and off the field as US co-captain at the women's World Cup. Rapinoe showed she is the United States' go-to-woman as she scored the goals that put the holders in the quarter-finals where they face a mouthwatering clash with France on Friday. As […]