Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Real Betis will play Valencia in the final of Spain's Copa del Rey after Borja Iglesias' dramatic 91st-minute goal sealed a 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano on Thursday and a 3-2 win on aggregate. After losing the first leg 2-1 at home, Rayo thought they had forced extra-time when Bebe stunned […]

London (AFP) – Jesse Marsch has admitted there is a stigma about Americans managing in English football after taking the reins at Premier League strugglers Leeds United. The 48-year-old former RB Leipzig boss has arrived at Elland Road with Leeds just two points above the relegation zone after the club sacked veteran Argentine manager Marcelo […]

Moscow (AFP) – The Russian football federation (RFU) said on Thursday that it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against its expulsion from the 2022 World Cup and all international competitions. Russia was due to face Poland on March 24 in a World Cup play-off. But on February 28, FIFA and UEFA […]

London (AFP) – Premier League chief executive Richard Masters welcomed Roman Abramovich's decision to put Chelsea up for sale on Thursday as fans thanked the Russian for the club's "unparalleled success" under his ownership. The billionaire has not been named on a growing British sanctions list targeting Russian banks, businesses and pro-Kremlin tycoons following Vladimir […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea's Supporters' Trust thanked Roman Abramovich for the "unparalleled success" under his ownership on Thursday after the Russian billionaire put the club up for sale following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich has not been named on a growing British sanctions list targeting Russian banks, businesses and pro-Kremlin tycoons. But the 55-year-old's concern […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League is looking at the suspension or termination of its Russian television deal following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, chief executive Richard Masters said on Thursday. The Russian rights for the current season are owned by a company called Rambler, and broadcast on streaming platform Okko. Match TV, owned […]

London (AFP) – UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin said Thursday he was sick of talking about a breakaway European Super League, accusing club chiefs still committed to the idea of living in a "parallel world". Twelve of Europe's biggest clubs signed up to the proposed new competition last April but it collapsed within days following a […]

Milan (AFP) – Napoli and AC Milan face off on Sunday night as another instalment of a thrilling Serie A title race unfolds on the bay of Naples. Chasing a first league crown since the days of Diego Maradona, a sold-out stadium which bears their hero's name will host two teams locked on 57 points, with […]

Paris (AFP) – As the invasion of Ukraine continues, foreign players and coaches are fleeing Russian football, handball and basketball clubs. The most high-profile departures are in football. Daniel Farke has left Krasnodar without coaching a game. The German, who was appointed in January, took his assistants Edmund Riemer, Chris Domogalla and Christopher John with […]

Luton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel admitted he cannot imagine life without Roman Abramovich after the Russian billionaire's stunning decision to put Chelsea up for sale. Abramovich has come to the "incredibly difficult" conclusion that he must sell Chelsea amid the political fall-out from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The 55-year-old revealed the shock news […]

Sydney (AFP) – Celtic and Rangers will play a derby outside Scotland for the first time when they meet at the Sydney Super Cup in Australia this year, local officials said. The two Glasgow powerhouses will take part in a four-team tournament with A-League sides Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers from November 16 to […]

Nantes (France) (AFP) – Nantes edged Monaco on penalties following a 2-2 draw on Wednesday to reach French Cup final for the first time since 2000 and continue their revival this season. After the home team won the shootout 4-2 to set up a meeting with another Riviera club Nice, a large part of the […]

Valencia (Spain) (AFP) – Goncalo Guedes' scintillating strike sent Valencia into the final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday after a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao sealed a 2-1 victory on aggregate. Guedes' thundering effort at the end of the first half decided the match at Mestalla and the tie after the first leg […]

Florence (Italy) (AFP) – Juventus took control of their Italian Cup semi-final on Wednesday after Lorenzo Venuti's late own goal gave the visitors a 1-0 first-leg win on Dusan Vlahovic's return to Florence. Venuti left the field in tears after he deflected Juan Cuadrado's cross into his own net in the first minute of stoppage […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich said on Wednesday he had made the "incredibly difficult" decision to sell the Premier League club, pledging that proceeds would go to victims of the war in Ukraine. The billionaire believes it is in the "best interest" of the Champions League holders if he parts ways with […]