Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA have extended the suspension of the Afghan Football Federation president who was charged with sexual assault against members of the national women's team, the governing body of world football said on Tuesday. FIFA said they had added 90 days to Keramuddin Karim's ban, imposed on December 12, at the recommendation of […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette will be available for the Gunners' Europa League rescue mission against Rennes on Thursday after the French international's three-match European ban was reduced to two by UEFA on appeal. Unai Emery's men trail 3-1 from the first leg of their last 16 tie against the French side. "The […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac and veteran 'keeper Manuel Neuer expect to make home advantage count in their Champions League last 16 return leg on Wednesday to bring down Liverpool at a packed Allianz Arena. After a goalless first leg draw at Anfield three weeks ago, Kovac expects both sides to […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Philippe Coutinho was always going to have a hard time filling the void left by Andres Iniesta but just over a year into his Barcelona contract, the Brazilian might not have expected this. Substituted during Barca's win over Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou on Saturday, Coutinho was whistled by a small […]

London (AFP) – Ryan Giggs has backed star man Gareth Bale to shine for Wales despite his problems at Real Madrid, where he has been targeted by disgruntled fans. Bale has won four Champions League trophies in Spain but has been consistently relegated to the bench in recent weeks as Real's season has unravelled. The […]

Seoul (AFP) – Brazilian striker Edgar scored a first-half double as newcomers Daegu FC stunned two-time former winners Guangzhou Evergrande 3-1 in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday. Edgar's brace sent Daegu on their way before China's Evergrande, Asian champions in 2013 and 2015, threatened a comeback when Anderson Talisca pulled one back eight minutes […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane stood for 29 minutes fielding questions but all of them really came down to two: Why now? And, what next? In a packed auditorium in the belly of the Santiago Bernabeu on Monday night, Raul and Roberto Carlos took their seats in the front row while journalists squeezed up against […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City have launched a compensation scheme for survivors of historical child sex abuse in football, the Premier League club have announced. The scale of abuse among youth teams in Britain came to light in 2016, when a string of ex-footballers, including England internationals, told of the crimes inflicted upon them, including […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish media on Tuesday hailed Zinedine Zidane's surprising restoration as Real Madrid coach as the "return of the hero" and said the "saviour" was also the "last shot" of the struggling European champions. Real president Florentino Perez "had pulled from his hat a rabbit called Zinedine Zidane," wrote Barcelona daily Mundo Deportivo. […]

London (AFP) – Clubs could spend the same money it pays for an "average Premier League full-back" to have more police at stadia and prevent the disgraceful scenes witnessed at the weekend according to Britain's leading football police officer. Mark Roberts told the Daily Mail the clubs were suffering the consequences of more and more […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former Italy striker Graziano Pelle struck twice to earn Marouane Fellaini's Shandong Luneng a 2-2 draw with holders Kashima Antlers in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday. Former Manchester United star Fellaini had a quiet game in midfield for the hosts, who had Pelle — another Premier League import — to thank […]

Melbourne (AFP) – A refugee footballer who was detained in Thailand and threatened with extradition to Bahrain said he feels sure "no one can follow me now," after becoming an Australian citizen on Tuesday. Hakeem al-Araibi, who was granted refugee status and residency in Australia in 2017 after fleeing Bahrain, became an Australian at a […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – The United Arab Emirates were fined $150,000 and ordered to play a match behind closed doors after home fans pelted Qatar players with shoes and bottles in ugly scenes during an Asian Cup semi-final defeat. The tournament hosts were punished following January's combustible 4-0 loss in Abu Dhabi, when plastic water […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp brings Liverpool to Germany to resume their battle against Bayern Munich with the hosts billing Wednesday's Champions League last 16 return leg as an 'all or nothing' showdown. After a goalless draw at Anfield in the first-leg three weeks ago, there is still everything to play for at Munich's […]

Lyon (AFP) – Lyon go to Barcelona for their Champions League last 16, second leg on Wednesday hoping to pull off a shock result with the tie still open after a goalless draw in France last month. The odds appear stacked against the French club — it is nine years since they won a Champions […]