Paris (AFP) – The chaos that has followed the tragic death of Emiliano Sala has shone an unflattering light on the murky dealings of player agents and reinforced calls to properly licence them. Even though France has stricter rules governing agents than other leading Western European football nations, at least six intermediaries have been named […]

London (AFP) – After the miracle of Paris, Manchester United have no time for a hangover when they travel to Arsenal on Sunday if their chances of even qualifying for next season's Champions League are not to suffer significant damage. Should United repeat their 3-1 success at the Emirates in the FA Cup six weeks […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Nkana FC take the confidence of never losing a CAF match at home into a crucial Confederation Cup matchday 5 showdown with fellow Zambian club Zesco United Sunday. The remarkable run by the Kitwe outfit began in 1983 and spans 59 matches over 36 years in four current and past pan-African competitions. […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has warned against the Champions League becoming an obsession as his team desperately look to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid in the last 16 second leg in Turin on Tuesday. Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo last summer for 100 million euros ($112 million) from Real Madrid in […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Rangers captain James Tavernier was confronted by a pitch-invading Hibernian fan in his side's stormy 1-1 draw at Easter Road on Friday. The supporter leapt out of the home stands to challenge Tavernier in a shocking incident on the stroke of half-time. After kicking the ball away from Tavernier as he prepared […]

Milan (AFP) – Moise Kean scored a brace as Juventus warmed up for next week's Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid by easing past lowly Udinese 4-1 to up open a 19-point lead at the top of Serie A on Friday. Cristiano Ronaldo, Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala started on the bench ahead of next […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola insists his achievements as Manchester City manager will not be tarnished even if a UEFA investigation confirms alleged financial fair play breaches by the English champions. City launched a furious defence this week after European football's governing body opened an inquiry into the allegations made in German magazine Der Spiegel […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – Paulo Sousa took over as coach at Bordeaux on Friday in a season at the club which has not offered vintage football on the field but has been a whirlwind off it. Sousa, 48, is the club's fourth manager in a season in which the ownership has also changed. He is a […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Trophy-holders Esperance of Tunisia became the first qualifiers for the CAF Champions League quarter-finals after a routine 2-0 home win over Horoya of Guinea in Group B Friday. Malian Hamed Assoko conceded an own-goal midway through the first half to put the three-time African champions ahead at the Stade Olympique in the […]

Milan (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri urged Roma's fans to get behind the team after returning as head coach of his hometown club on Friday looking to rescue their season and seal Champions League qualification. Eusebio Di Francesco was sacked after the team's last 16 Champions League elimination midweek, with the club's Spanish sporting director Monchi […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – The unbeaten record of Algerian club CS Constantine in the CAF Champions League ended Friday when they surprisingly fell 1-0 at home to Tunisian outfit Club Africain. Burkina Faso-born Bassirou Compaore scored on the stroke of half-time as the visitors avenged a home defeat by the Algerians in Group C two […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham will finally play their first Premier League match at their long-delayed new stadium against either Crystal Palace or Brighton in April. The north London club had hoped to open the new arena on the site of their old White Hart Lane home last September. But a series of delays involving safety […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League has launched an investigation into the reports surrounding Manchester City's alleged financial misconduct. UEFA, European football's governing body, said on Thursday it is looking into "several alleged violations" concerning Financial Fair Play at City. That probe came after German magazine Der Spiegel, using material purportedly obtained from the whistleblowing […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – All 28 members of the US women's national team filed a discrimination lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation (USSF) on Friday, just three months before defending the Women's World Cup title. US midfielders Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe, who helped the Americans capture the crown in Canada four years ago and have […]

Milan (AFP) – Former Roma boss Claudio Ranieri was reappointed head coach of the Serie A club until the end of the season on Friday, after Eusebio Di Francesco was sacked in the wake of their Champions League exit. Ranieri, who memorably guided outsiders Leicester City to the 2016 English Premier League title, returns to […]