Johannesburg (AFP) – Rival centre-backs Clayton Daniels and Happy Jele played pivotal roles as SuperSport United edged Orlando Pirates 1-0 Wednesday in a dramatic South African Premiership match. Daniels scored the only goal after 65 minutes at Mbombela Stadium in northeastern city Nelspruit, heading powerfully into the net off a corner. Jele spurned a chance […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Wissam Ben Yedder scored his second goal of the tie as Sevilla eased to a 2-0 second-leg win over Lazio on Wednesday to reach the Europa League last 16. The record five-time winners had claimed a 1-0 first-leg victory in Rome last week thanks to a Ben Yedder strike, and the […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Rudiger has added to Maurizio Sarri's problems by comparing the beleaguered Chelsea manager's intense training methods to being at school. Sarri is fighting to save his job after a dismal first season in charge at Stamford Bridge. A tame FA Cup fifth-round defeat against Manchester United on Monday was the latest […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane is back in training ahead of schedule as the Tottenham striker targets a return to action at Burnley on Saturday. Kane has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury in the closing moments of Tottenham's Premier League defeat against Manchester United on January 13. It was initially expected the England […]

Milan (AFP) – Problems are not resolved by text messages and 'likes' on social media, Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti on Wednesday warned unsettled forward Mauro Icardi, who was stripped of the captain's armband last week amid protracted contract negotiations. The Argentine has refused to play for the team since and underwent a scan and […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Unai Emery has challenged troubled star Mesut Ozil to prove his worth after a season marred by injuries and illness. Ozil has failed to repay Arsenal's decision to hand him a lucrative new contract last season that made him one of the Premier League's top earners. The German midfielder has […]

Lyon (AFP) – Three Lyon players were burgled while their club was playing Barcelona in the Champions League, continuing a recent pattern for players and officials at big French clubs. Police said they were called at 0045 on Wednesday morning to the home of attacker Memphis Depay, in the Lyon suburb of Ecully. Thieves had […]

London (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri insists he expects to avoid being sacked as Chelsea manager if his troubled side can put together a sustained winning run. Reports on Wednesday claimed Sarri will be axed if Chelsea are beaten in any of their next three matches after losing the backing of the club's hierarchy. Chelsea owner […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira has undergone successful treatment for a heart problem and will be out of action for a month, the Italian champions confirmed on Wednesday. The Germany World Cup winner had already been ruled out of the midweek Champions League tie at Atletico Madrid because of atrial arrhythmia – an […]

London (AFP) – The tragedy of the plane crash that killed Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala has now entered an ugly aftermath as Premier League club Cardiff City and French side Nantes threaten to go to court over his £15 million ($19 million) transfer fee. Sala, who was buried at the age of 28 in the […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson insists his side can still get past Bayern Munich in the Champions League despite their disappointing Anfield stalemate. Jurgen Klopp's team were forced to settle for a goalless draw at Anfield in the last 16 first leg on Tuesday after failing to break down Bayern's massed defence. Bayern […]

Lyon (AFP) – The image of a frustrated Lionel Messi with his hands on his hips in Barcelona's 0-0 Champions League draw in Lyon on Tuesday may reverberate the most around the world, but it is Luis Suarez's form in front of goal that is causing most concern in Catalonia. Suarez laboured throughout much of […]

Doha (AFP) – Newly-crowned Asian Cup winners Qatar could play friendlies against Brazil or Uruguay in June ahead of playing in the Copa America, the team's coach and officials said on Wednesday. The South American giants are among a list of teams Qatar are trying to secure matches against — others include Colombia, Panama and […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira could be out of action for over a month while he undergoes treatment after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, according to reports in Italy on Wednesday. Former World Cup winner Khedira has been ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League tie at Atletico Madrid because of atrial arrhythmia. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has warned Bayern Munich not to let history repeat itself against Liverpool in their home Champions League last 16, second leg after a goalless draw at Anfield. Bayern earned the draw in a nervy first leg on Merseyside to put the German giants in a good position for the return […]