London (AFP) – Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick as England started what they hope is a road back to Wembley for the Euro 2020 final with a comprehensive 5-0 win over the Czech Republic to open their qualifying campaign. Harry Kane was also on target from the penalty spot as England carried the momentum from […]

Basel (Switzerland) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho is gunning for a return to top level management and a third Champions League title, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager revealed on Friday in an interview with AFP. Mourinho has been out of work since being sacked by United in December and said he would like […]

Asaba (Nigeria) (AFP) – Nigeria needed 90 minutes to quell the Seychelles and a 3-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying home victory on Friday. Nigeria took the lead, but the Indian Ocean islanders equalised before half-time and trailed by only one goal until the final minute when Moses Simon put the outcome beyond doubt. The […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Rui Pinto, the Portuguese hacker linked to the Football Leaks whistleblower website, made his first appearance before a Lisbon judge on Friday. The 30-year-old who was arrested in Hungary on 16 January and extradited to Portugal on Thursday, faces charges of data theft and attempted extortion. The appearance on Friday was to […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar was charged by UEFA on Friday for making "insulting" comments about the match officials following Paris Saint-Germain's shock Champions League loss to Manchester United. The Brazil forward missed the 3-1 second-leg defeat in the last 16 earlier this month through injury, but told match officials "to go fuck yourselves" on social […]

London (AFP) – Championship side Birmingham have been docked nine points for breaching financial rules, the English Football League announced on Friday. The Championship side broke the EFL's profitability and sustainability regulations and faced a possible 12-point deduction and a transfer ban. The penalty drops the club from 13th in the second-tier table to 18th, […]

London (AFP) – Disgraced former England international Adam Johnson has been released from prison after serving three years for engaging in sexual activity with a besotted 15-year-old fan. The former Sunderland and Manchester City winger, 31, was sentenced to six years behind bars in 2016. Friday's release comes exactly halfway through the jail term. Witnesses […]

Yokohama (Japan) (AFP) – Captain Radamel Falcao smashed home a second-half penalty as Colombia beat Japan 1-0 on Friday to give Carlos Queiroz the perfect start as coach of the South American side. The talismanic striker scored from the spot in the 64th minute in Yokohama, providing Colombia with some crumbs of comfort after they […]

London (AFP) – Former Newcastle coach and England international Peter Beardsley has been charged by the Football Association with racially abusing youth-team players. The 58-year-old, whose departure from the Premier League club was confirmed earlier this month after he was placed on leave while an investigation into bullying was carried out, has been charged with […]

Berlin (AFP) – Three men who shouted racist abuse at Germany's Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan during the friendly with Serbia turned themselves in after another fan posted a video on Facebook, police said Friday. After the images, taken during Germany's 1-1 draw with Serbia in Wolfsburg on Wednesday, appeared online, "they presented themselves and […]

London (AFP) – Scotland must make a statement against San Marino after they failed in the basic aspects of football during their embarrassing 3-0 drubbing by minnows Kazakhstan, said assistant manager Peter Grant. Alex McLeish's squad have a quick turnaround following the disastrous start to their European Championship qualifying campaign in the Astana Arena on […]

Milan (AFP) – At 36, Fabio Quagliarella has put his years of torment at the hands of a stalker behind him as he prepares to line up for Italy over eight years after his last cap thanks to the best season of his career in Serie A, where he is the top scorer ahead of […]

Rotterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) – Memphis Depay dazzled for the Netherlands with a brace and two assists as they cruised past Belarus 4-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Thursday despite having to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men. Depay set the Dutch on their way just seconds into the match and slotted […]

Paris (AFP) – Eden Hazard ensured Belgium kicked off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2020 on Thursday with a brace in a home victory over Russia, while a Memphis Depay-inspired Netherlands romped to a 4-0 win over Belarus. World Cup semi-finalists Belgium earned a battling 3-1 win over Russia in Brussels as Hazard struck twice […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi will start Friday's friendly against Venezuela in Madrid as he makes his return for Argentina following a self-imposed eight-month exile, coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed. Scaloni said that Messi would line up alongside Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez and Atlanta United's Gonzalo Martinez in attack as he revealed his full starting […]