Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England women's World Cup preparations were dealt a blow as veteran striker Christine Sinclair scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for Canada in Manchester on Friday. Sinclair poked home her 180th international goal nine minutes from time after Nichelle Prince's initial effort came back off […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has said Ousmane Dembele is struggling to be fit to face Manchester United next week and will miss Saturday's top of the table clash against Atletico Madrid. Barca play Atletico at the Camp Nou on Saturday, when a win would leave them 11 points clear in La Liga. […]

Paris (AFP) – Football legend Pele said Friday he was feeling "much better" after receiving hospital treatment in Paris for a urinary tract infection. "The anti-biotics are working... I feel so much better," the 78-year-old Brazilian said on his official Twitter account. "Thank you for all your love!" he told his fans, joking: "I think […]

Rome (AFP) – The Italian government on Friday officially provided the financial guarantees for the bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, the IOC said. Sports minister Giancarlo Giorgetti submitted a letter to the International Olympic Committee providing "all the guarantees, signed by Giuseppe Conte's government", the Olympic body said. […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has said he plans to offer Lionel Messi a new contract in the hope the Argentinian will stay at the club his whole career. Messi's current deal runs until 2021, the same year he turns 34, but the Argentinian has been in brilliant form again this season. He […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League voiced "significant concerns" over potential reforms to the Champions League on Friday, saying the changes would damage the thriving domestic game. Reported reforms being put forward for further discussion include changing the current group stage from eight groups of four to four groups of eight, guaranteeing clubs far more […]

London (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri says he is not worried about Chelsea's looming transfer embargo, insisting he has confidence in his squad as he targets a top-four finish in the Premier League. The Stamford Bridge club, who host London rivals West Ham on Monday, are fifth in the table, level on 63 points with fourth-placed […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed Raheem Sterling's decision to buy 550 tickets for his side's FA Cup semi-final against Brighton for pupils of his former school as an "incredible gesture." Sterling grew up in the shadow of the old Wembley, having moved to England from Jamaica at the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane expressed his admiration for Eden Hazard on Friday ahead of an expected move for the Chelsea forward from Real Madrid this summer. Hazard's contract expires in June 2020 and he is yet to sign a new deal, leaving Chelsea in a difficult position if they want to avoid losing the […]

Paris (AFP) – Olympic track cycling champion Peter Kennaugh said Friday that he is taking a break from the sport to cope with "ongoing mental health issues". The 29-year-old Kennaugh won gold in the team pursuit at London 2012, and spent the majority of his road career riding for Team Sky before he joined Peter […]

Rome (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo could be back in the Juventus line-up in time for their Champions League quarter-final with Ajax, coach Massimiliano Allegri revealed on Friday. Ronaldo hasn't played for the runaway Serie A leaders since scoring the sensational hat-trick that saw Juve come back from a 2-0 first-leg deficit to knock out Atletico […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Britain's richest man, Jim Ratcliffe, wants to further expand his sport network by buying French Ligue 1 club Nice after snapping up cycling's Team Sky last month, his brother revealed to French media on Friday. Robert Ratcliffe confirmed to the newspaper Nice-Matin that his sibling, the boss of petrochemical giant Ineos, […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain can clinch a sixth Ligue 1 title in seven seasons this weekend and complete the first part of a domestic double after booking their place in the final of the French Cup. Thomas Tuchel's team will know ahead of kick-off whether they can round off their title procession with a […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Alex Morgan blasted home the 100th goal of her career as the US women's national team posted a 5-3 win over Australia in a FIFA Women's World Cup tune-up on Thursday. Morgan's 100th strike opened the scoring in the 14th minute for the top-ranked Americans in the international friendly in front […]

Milan (AFP) – Champions Juventus turn their focus to nailing down an eighth consecutive Serie A title in record time this weekend, days after a row erupted over racist abuse aimed at starlet Moise Kean in Cagliari. Massimiliano Allegri's side return to their home comforts of the Allianz Stadium in Turin to host AC Milan […]