Moscow (AFP) – The trial of Russian footballers Pavel Mamaev and Alexander Kokorin began in Moscow Tuesday, six months after their drunken night out in the Russian capital ended in assault charges. Mamaev, a midfielder for Krasnodar, and Zenit Saint Petersburg forward Kokorin — as well as two other defendants, including Kokorin's younger brother — […]

London (AFP) – Out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater has been charged with drink driving after his car was involved in a crash following a late night out. The 29-year-old — capped three times by England on the back of his pivotal role in Leicester's fairytale 2016 title victory — was arrested early Monday morning after […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Football great Pele arrived back in Brazil Tuesday after a six-day hospital stay in France. The three-time World Cup winner was discharged from a Paris hospital late Monday after treatment for an urinary infection following an appearance at a promotional event in the French capital with France striker Kylian Mbappe. Pele […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino is preparing for "the biggest ever match" of his managerial career as his Tottenham Hotspur side bid to put a dent in Manchester City's hopes of a trophy clean sweep. Pocchetino will hope Spurs can do what Liverpool did in their first leg Champions League quarter-final against Pep Guardiola-managed City […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed a charmed life as interim Manchester United manager but Barcelona's visit to Old Trafford on Wednesday will show him the scale of the task he faces as the new full-time boss. The Norwegian was rewarded with a three-year deal after dramatically reviving United's fortunes since taking caretaker charge […]

Barcelona (AFP) – His goal against Atletico Madrid on Saturday should prove Barcelona's knock-out blow in La Liga and now Manchester United are tasked with containing the might of Luis Suarez in Europe. The image of Lionel Messi's partner-in-chief has been defined by his darker side, a relentless, ferocious and, occasionally, misguided opponent, running defenders […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ahead of Barcelona's Champions League trip to Old Trafford, the Catalans' president has admitted even they could not compete with Manchester United's then world record offer to bring Paul Pogba back to England in 2016. "We couldn't afford that amount of money at the time," Josep Maria Bartomeu told ESPN. […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – In the wake of Ajax's stunning victory against holders Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16, the headlines across Europe were mainly about the new golden generation emerging in Amsterdam. The club of Johan Cruyff, and of Louis van Gaal's side that lifted the trophy in 1995, are into their first […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's return to fitness could be vital to Juventus's bid to end their Champions League drought going back 23 years as they head to Ajax on Wednesday with uncertainty over whether their superstar will play or not. Ronaldo hasn't played for the Serie A leaders — who are just one point […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri admitted it will be hard to deny Eden Hazard a move to Real Madrid this summer, even if a reported £100 million ($130 million) move is "too cheap" for the Belgian captain. Hazard was in stunning form as the Blues moved up to third in the Premier League, […]

Paris (AFP) – Football great Pele has been released from hospital in Paris and will return to Brazil in the "coming hours," Brazilian media reported Monday, citing his spokesman. The 78-year-old's discharge came after Neymar paid him a visit in hospital in the suburbs of the French capital. The Paris Saint-Germain forward posted a photo […]

London (AFP) – Eden Hazard's magnificent double earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over West Ham on Monday and moved Maurizio Sarri's men up to third in the Premier League. Reports continue to link Hazard with a summer move to Real Madrid with the Belgian refusing to extend his contract at Stamford Bridge beyond 2020. And […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar has paid a visit to Brazilian football legend Pele, who has been in hospital in Paris since April 3. The Paris Saint-Germain forward posted a photo on his Instagram account on Monday of himself alongside a smiling Pele in his hospital bed with the two holding hands. A date for the […]

Doha (AFP) – UAE giants Al Ain bounced back from a two-goal deficit to clinch a thrilling 2-2 away draw against Qatar's Al Duhail in the AFC Champions League on Monday. Karim Boudiaf had put the hosts ahead in the ninth minute of the Group C match at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha […]

Lisbon (AFP) – He will become the most expensive player ever in Portuguese football when he completes a 50 million-euro ($56.5 million) move to Real Madrid this July, but before that Eder Militao will attempt to help Porto overcome Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The 21-year-old Brazil international last month became Madrid's […]