Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's thigh injury picked up during Portugal's 1-1 Euro 2020 qualifier draw with Serbia has sparked alarm in Italy ahead of Juventus's Champions League quarter-final tie against Ajax in two weeks' time. The 34-year-old Juve attacker hobbled off 30 minutes into Monday's stalemate after pulling up chasing a ball on the […]

Paris (AFP) – The Montenegrin FA said on Tuesday that it would ban any supporters found to have racially abused England's black players after UEFA opened into an investigation into alleged racist chanting during Monday's 5-1 Euro 2020 qualifier defeat in Podgorica. In a statement, the Balkan country's football association said that should UEFA's probe […]

London (AFP) – England's 5-1 victory over Montenegro will likely be remembered for the racist abuse aimed at their players but it was another indicator of why Gareth Southgate's side should be considered among the favourites for Euro 2020. Just two games into their qualifying campaign, England's place at next year's championship already looks assured. […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate has called for education to stamp out racism in football as European governing body UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Montenegro following abuse aimed at black England players during his side's 5-1 Euro 2020 qualifier win in Podgorica. Raheem Sterling celebrated the fifth goal on Monday by cupping his ears towards […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA has opened an investigation into alleged racist chanting aimed at England players in Monday's 5-1 Euro 2020 qualifying win at Montenegro, European football's governing body said on Tuesday. "Disciplinary proceedings have been opened following the European Qualifiers group A match between Montenegro and England (1-5), played on 25 March in Montenegro," […]

Paris (AFP) – Can British sport, which has benefited massively from the opening of European borders, survive Brexit? Experts say the uncertainty created by Britain's probable EU exit could undermine the multi-billion-dollar Premier League and Formula One. Since its inception in 1992, the Premier League has become the richest football league in the world, a […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Manchester City will return to China this year for the first time since their ill-fated visit of 2016, when a game with cross-town rivals United was called off at the last minute. The first overseas Manchester derby was cancelled just hours before kick-off because of an unplayable surface at Beijing's "Bird's Nest" […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League is taking Europe by storm this season but the dark clouds of Brexit threaten the English top-flight's long-held position as the richest league in world football. No deal has yet been agreed on the terms under which the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, leading to uncertainty among […]

London (AFP) – Canny Premier League managers should be seeking to "manipulate" VAR technology to their advantage when it is introduced next season, according to analyst Rory Campbell. VAR (the video assistant referee system) was largely deemed a success at last year's World Cup in Russia and is being used in many domestic leagues including […]

Podgorica (Montenegro) (AFP) – Raheem Sterling believes UEFA should punish alleged racist chanting aimed at England players in Monday's 5-1 win over Montenegro in Podgorica with a stadium closure. Manchester City's Sterling celebrated the visitors' fifth goal by cupping his ears towards the home fans on a night when another impressive performance to start Euro […]

Paris (AFP) – Mesmerising Kylian Mbappe led France's rout of Iceland in Euro 2020 qualifiers Monday, but Cristiano Ronaldo hobbled off in Portugal's disappointing draw with Serbia and racist abuse overshadowed five-star England in Montenegro. Mbappe scored one and set up two more as the reigning world champions crushed Iceland 4-0 at the Stade de […]

Podgorica (Montenegro) (AFP) – England continued their perfect start to Euro 2020 qualifying with a 5-1 thrashing of Montenegro on Monday, but another impressive victory for the Three Lions was overshadowed by allegations of racist abuse in Podgorica. Raheem Sterling celebrated the visitors' fifth goal by cupping his ears towards the home fans, while England […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Captain Cristiano Ronaldo left the field with a thigh injury as Portugal drew 1-1 against Serbia in an Euro 2020 qualifier on Monday. Ronaldo was replaced after 30 minutes in Lisbon as Fernando Santos' reigning European champions drew for a second time in their opening two games of the campaign after they […]

Paris (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe scored one and set up two more as France routed Iceland 4-0 at the Stade de France on Monday night to move to the top of Group H in Euro 2020 qualifying. The result gives France six points from their first two matches and puts them ahead Turkey, who also won […]

Podgorica (Montenegro) (AFP) – England were forced to come from behind to continue their perfect start to Euro 2020 qualifying with Ross Barkley scoring twice in a 5-1 win in Macedonia on Monday. Marko Vesovic stunned Gareth Southgate's men early on, but after drawing on their two previous visits to Podgorica, England showed why their […]