Lyon (AFP) – Japan midfielder Saki Kumagai has a special reason to look forward to her country's opening match in the women's World Cup — her adopted home is France. Kumagai has been with Lyon since 2013, and has helped the French side become Europe's pre-eminent force in the women's club game. Lyon won their fourth […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – A Brazilian woman at the center of an alleged rape scandal involving star striker Neymar gave a statement on Friday to police investigating the sexual assault allegation that has gripped the soccer-mad country. Najila Trindade Mendes de Souza has accused the football megastar of raping her in a Paris hotel in […]

Paris (AFP) – Three-time former champions Spain strolled past the Faroe Islands 4-1 and Ukraine hammered struggling Serbia 5-0 in Friday's Euro 2020 qualifying fixtures. Republic of Ireland's James McClean said pre-match criticism of his team-mates by Denmark players served as motivation as they claimed a 1-1 draw in Copenhagen. "Their players weren't complimentary towards […]

Copenhagen (AFP) – Shane Duffy rescued the Republic of Ireland's unbeaten start to the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign as his late goal earned a dramatic 1-1 draw against Denmark on Friday. Brighton defender Duffy headed home with just five minutes left at the Telia Parken. Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had come off the bench to […]

Paris (AFP) – Hosts France laid down a marker in the opening game of the women's World Cup as towering defender Wendie Renard scored twice in a rampant 4-0 win over South Korea to kick off the tournament in style in Paris on Friday. A sell-out crowd of 45,261 filled the Parc des Princes to […]

Podgorica (Montenegro) (AFP) – Montenegro's Serb coach and two players skipped a European championship qualifier against Kosovo on Friday, leading local media to declare that politics had won the night. The team's Serbian head coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic and two out of several Serb players on the squad, Red Star Belgrade players Mirko Ivanic and Filip […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Club-less striker Wilfried Bony scored twice for the Ivory Coast in a 3-1 victory over the Comoros on Friday in a warm-up match for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Bony, who was released by Swansea City last month, netted in each half before being substituted midway through the second half of […]

Madrid (AFP) – Eden Hazard completed his long-awaited move from Chelsea to Real Madrid on Friday and could become the Spanish club's most expensive signing in their history. Real said Hazard, 28, had signed a five-year contract. His contract at the Premier League club was due to expire next year but the Blues drove a […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Former German international football Mesut Ozil was married in Istanbul on Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as his best man. The 30-year-old Ozil, who has Turkish family roots, sparked controversy last year when he was photographed with Erdogan, raising questions about the footballer's loyalty to Germany on the eve of […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck has left the club at the end of his contract along with veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech and experienced defender 0Stephan Lichtsteiner. Welbeck's exit was expected after the England international's injury-ravaged spell at the Emirates Stadium, while Czech 'keeper Cech and Swiss international Lichtsteiner had previously hinted they would […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Chelsea's Willian will replace Neymar in Brazil's Copa America squad, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Friday, after the world's most expensive player was sidelined by injury. Willian, 30, was a surprise choice as the country's media had tipped Real Madrid youngster Vinicius Junior and Tottenham's Lucas Moura as […]

Valletta (AFP) – Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has defended the European Club Association's controversial plans to reform the Champions League as an attempt to save smaller clubs from "the protectionism of the big five leagues." ECA has proposed competition made up of 128 teams in three divisions. The top division would be made up of […]

Guangzhou (AFP) – "Proud" Nico Yennaris became the first foreign-born footballer to represent China when the former Arsenal reserve started in a 2-0 home win over the Philippines on Friday. The 26-year-old midfielder was born in London and is an England youth international, but his mother is Chinese and the country is looking to naturalise […]

Glasgow (AFP) – New Scotland manager Steve Clarke hopes Andy Robertson's Champions League success with Liverpool rubs off on his country when they face Cyprus on Saturday. Robertson was greeted with an admiring round of applause from the Scotland squad when he arrived late at their training base this week following Liverpool's 2-0 win over […]

London (AFP) – Everton announced on Friday that defender Ashley Williams will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the month. The 34-year-old Wales captain, who spent last season on loan at second-tier Stoke, made 73 appearances during his three-year spell at Goodison Park. "Everton can confirm Ashley Williams will leave […]