Paris (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted that world football's scandal-tainted governing body had been transformed into an organisation "synonymous with credibility" as he prepared to be re-elected unopposed on Wednesday. He was addressing the FIFA Congress in Paris, where he will be handed a new four-year term by representatives of the 211 member […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Winning the right to stage the 2023 Asian Cup was the easy bit for China, now the hard part: cobbling together a football team that does not embarrass the hosts. Recent results for the senior and youth national teams underline how much work needs to be done if China are to put […]

Guimaraes (Portugal) (AFP) – England's long wait for a first international trophy since 1966 could be just days away at the Nations League finals in Portugal, but Ronald Koeman's resurgent Netherlands present a hazardous hurdle for the Three Lions in Thursday's semi-final in Guimaraes. A run to the semi-finals of last year's World Cup and memorable victories over […]

London (AFP) – Everton defender Phil Jagielka has announced his departure from the Premier League club after 12 years at Goodison Park. The 36-year-old former England international said on Instagram: "It's been hard to confirm my situation for next season as that decision hadn't been fully made by the club until now, unfortunately my journey […]

Paris (AFP) – Brazilian football superstar Neymar will play at the upcoming Copa America despite a rape accusation made against him, Brazilian Football Confederation president Rogerio Caboclo said on Tuesday. "There is no chance of him not taking part in the Copa America," Caboclo told press on the sidelines of the FIFA congress in Paris. […]

Paris (AFP) – French president Emmanuel Macron spent Tuesday focused on football and the values of team-work in the sport. Macron travelled to the national training centre at Clairefontaine to have lunch with the French women's team, who kick off their World Cup campaign on Friday. He then returned to Paris where he welcomed first […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich will not exercise their option to buy James Rodriguez because the player does not want to stay at the German champions, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Colombian midfielder arrived on loan in 2017 from Real Madrid and Bayern have the option to buy him. "The decision was taken […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Neymar's mother has urged her Brazilian football star son to "forgive" the woman who accused him of rape and "return to Jesus," in a message published Tuesday on Instagram. Nadine Goncalves' plea, which featured a photo of herself with Neymar and his sister Rafaela, comes after lawyers for the accuser […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sevilla said Tuesday they had signed Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked as Spain coach on the eve of the 2018 World Cup, as manager for the next three seasons. The 52-year-old, who had been out of work since Real Madrid also fired him at the end of October thanks to a dreadful […]

Paris (AFP) – New rules concerning penalty-taking, free-kicks and accidental handballs will not be used for this week's Nations League finals in Portugal, UEFA said on Tuesday. Football's lawmakers (IFAB) approved several rules changes in March that came into effect at the start of this month, but they will not be applied to UEFA competitions […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid said Tuesday they have signed 21-year-old Serbia striker Luka Jovic from German side Eintracht Frankfurt on a six-year deal for an undisclosed fee. "Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt have agreed the transfer of Luka Jovic, subject to a medical," Real said in a statement. "The player will be tied to […]

Madrid (AFP) – Seven players of Spanish first division side Real Valladolid were paid by a recently dismantled match-fixing gang to deliberately lose their final match of the season against Valencia, daily newspaper El Mundo reported Tuesday. Valencia beat Valladolid 2-0 and qualified for the Champions League. Valladolid, owned since September by former Brazilian international […]

Paris (AFP) – Asia's football chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa said Tuesday that China's staging of the 2023 Asian Cup would serve as a "launchpad" for the country’s teams of the future. China was confirmed earlier Tuesday as host at the AFC’s Extraordinary Congress in Paris after all the other countries in the running […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick will step down from his current role to oversee the development of Red Bull-owned clubs in New York and Brazil, Leipzig announced on Tuesday. At a press conference on Tuesday, Rangnick confirmed that he would be taking on the role of "Head of Sport and Development […]

Madrid (Espagne) (AFP) – Seville said Tuesday they had signed Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked as Spain coach on the eve of the 2018 World Cup, as manager for the next three seasons. The 53-year-old, who had been out of work since Real Madrid fired him at the end of October after a poor start […]