Paris (AFP) – When Paris Saint-Germain signed Lionel Messi, the salary package included something previously unheard of for a player — a one-off payment, understood to be worth around one million euros ($1.15m), made in PSG 'fan tokens'. It was the result of a partnership signed by the French giants in 2018 with Socios.com which […]

Paris (AFP) – Captain Alexia Putellas scored a penalty to spark a 5-0 rout of Hoffenheim as Women's Champions League holders Barcelona swept into the quarter-finals Wednesday, but Lyon missed a chance to qualify with two games to spare after losing to Bayern Munich. Putellas, the UEFA women's player of the year who is a […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The businessman who organised the 2019 flight that killed Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala in a crash in the English Channel was on Friday sentenced to 18 months in jail for endangering the safety of an aircraft. David Henderson, 67, was convicted by a jury in Cardiff for endangering the safety […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain women's footballer Aminata Diallo was detained by police Wednesday in connection with a vicious street assault on a teammate and fellow French national player last week, her club said. Diallo was returning with fellow midfielder Kheira Hamraoui from a Paris dinner organised by PSG last Thursday when armed men held […]

London (AFP) – West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has withdrawn from the England squad for their crucial World Cup qualifiers due to an illness. Rice will miss England's matches against Albania and San Marino as they look to seal qualification for next year's World Cup in Qatar. "Declan Rice has withdrawn from the England squad. […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Newcastle's new manager Eddie Howe said Wednesday he can cope with soaring expectations at the Premier League club after their Saudi-led takeover as he braces for a tough relegation battle. Howe has replaced Steve Bruce at St James's Park after his predecessor departed by mutual consent in October, 13 days […]

London (AFP) – Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has completed his purchase of a 27 percent stake in West Ham, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday. West Ham said in a statement "it is intended" that Kretinsky and his colleague Pavel Horsky would become members of the board at the London Stadium alongside joint-chairmen David […]

Milan (AFP) – Giorgio Chiellini was on Wednesday ruled out of Italy's World Cup qualifying deciders with Switzerland and Northern Ireland after failing to recover from a thigh injury. The European champions' captain was among those in doubt for the key matches in qualification for the 2022 tournament in Qatar but the Italian Football Federation […]

Dubai (AFP) – Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, who formed one of Test cricket's most enduring and destructive opening partnerships, will briefly become rivals on Thursday when Pakistan tackle Australia for a place in the Twenty20 World Cup final. Both now aged 50, their competitive natures have found new outlets — Hayden as batting consultant […]

Paris (AFP) – France striker Karim Benzema "will not be excluded" from selection for the national team if a guilty verdict is delivered against him in an ongoing sex tape trial, according to French football federation president Noel Le Graet. In an interview published by French daily newspaper Le Parisien, Le Graet said any decision […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Liverpool marksman Mo Salah leads Egypt against Angola this weekend with the clear objective of ending his scoring drought to help lift his nation into the final stage of Africa World Cup qualifying. Qualifying for the 2022 tournament in Qatar intensifies on the continent with the last two group rounds, with victory […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Brazil host Colombia in Sao Paulo on Thursday knowing victory will book their ticket to Qatar with six World Cup qualifiers to spare following a near perfect record so far. Even a draw for the Selecao would be enough if Uruguay lose at home to Argentina on Friday, and Brazilian media have […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – The most-capped player in Brazil's history, 43-year-old Formiga, will play her final match for the national team this month after a storied career including seven World Cup and Olympics appearances, officials said Tuesday. The iconic midfielder will don the Selecao's yellow-and-green jersey for the last time in a friendly against […]

Milan (AFP) – Ciro Immobile will miss European champions Italy's key World Cup qualifying clashes with Switzerland and Northern Ireland after being ruled out of the matches with a calf injury on Tuesday. Italy coach Roberto Mancini had picked Lazio forward Immobile, who leads the Serie A scoring charts with 10 goals in 11 appearances, […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on Tuesday pledged to pursue his campaign to help disadvantaged children after he was presented with an honour by Prince William. Rashford, 24, was recognised for his high-profile campaign to ensure children from under-privileged backgrounds did not go hungry during the coronavirus pandemic. The England international was […]