Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid announced Thursday it had parted ways with Manuel Brinas, who trained its young players for decades and recognised in an interview he had sexually abused a student in the 1970s. "Once we were made aware of the accusations, Manuel Brinas stopped collaborating with Atletico Madrid," the Spanish football club said […]

Monaco (AFP) – The Russian Vadim Vasilyev has left his position as vice-president of Monaco, with the principality club saying "serious mistakes" led to his departure. French champions and Champions League semi-finalists in 2017, Monaco have since sold off most of their prized assets and currently lie in the bottom three in Ligue 1. The […]

Madrid (AFP) – Diego Simeone has extended his contract as coach of Atletico Madrid until 2022, the club announced on Thursday. Simeone has been in charge of Atletico since 2011 and has turned them into one of the most feared teams in Europe. Under him, they won the Europa League last season and La Liga […]

Paris (AFP) – Josh Maja is different to most young English footballers — at barely 20, he has already been a star on Netflix and has now chosen to join the restricted group of Brits looking to further their careers abroad. The striker, who featured prominently in the streaming service's 'Sunderland 'Til I Die' documentary […]

Berlin (AFP) – Werder Bremen are refusing to let striker Yuya Osako play for Japan at the Copa America in Brazil this June with the striker still sidelined by a back injury suffered on Asian Cup duty. The 28-year-old has not played since returning injured after Japan's 3-1 defeat to Qatar in the Asian Cup final […]

Monaco (AFP) – The Russian Vadim Vasilyev has left his position as vice-president of Monaco, sources close to the principality club told AFP on Thursday. French sports daily L'Equipe had earlier reported that Monaco's Russian owner, Dmitry Rybolovlev, had taken the decision to remove his compatriot from his role at the club in response to […]

Berlin (AFP) – French striker Antony Modeste was on Thursday given permission to play for German second division side Cologne, despite his on-going legal dispute with Chinese club Tianjin Tianhai FC. Football's governing body FIFA told Cologne that Modeste can play for them, even though Tianjin had protested after the Frenchman walked out on the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Gareth Bale risks being banned for an upcoming Clasico against Barcelona after being reported by La Liga on Thursday for inciting Atletico Madrid supporters following his goal in Real Madrid's 3-1 derby win last weekend. Bale scored Real's third goal after coming on as a second-half substitute in the game at the […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Sepp Blatter has been summoned to explain how Germany was awarded the 2006 World Cup as prosecutors in Switzerland investigate suspected corruption in the bidding process, the disgraced former FIFA supremo told AFP on Thursday. Swiss authorities are targeting Franz Beckenbauer, former captain and coach of the German World Cup winning sides, […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United revealed on Thursday that sacking Jose Mourinho cost the club nearly £20 million, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward hailing the impact of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The sum of £19.6 million ($25 million) which is listed under "exceptional items" in the club's second-quarter results, includes pay-outs for the members of Mourinho's […]

London (AFP) – Inspired by the boundless energy and predatory finishing of their South Korean talisman Son Heung-min, Tottenham are set for a thrilling climax to the season. With a major helping hand from the increasingly influential Son, Mauricio Pochettino's side are in the thick of the Premier League title race and on course for […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund are in danger of losing the Bundesliga title race and crashing out of Europe with goalkeeper Roman Burki demanding improvements in defence after their Champions League battering at Wembley. "I don't think we are defending at the moment with all our might," fumed Dortmund keeper Burki. "It's always the same […]

London (AFP) – Eric Harrison, the former youth team coach of Manchester United's 'Class of 92', which included David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, has died aged 81, the club announced on Thursday. Harrison, who helped forge the fledgling careers of Beckham, Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Gary and Phil Neville, was diagnosed with dementia […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has rowed back on his suggestion he deliberately earned a yellow card against Ajax on Wednesday to ensure he would be banned for the second leg. Madrid will carry a 2-1 advantage back to the Santiago Bernabeu but Ramos will miss the return, after being booked for […]

Paris (AFP) – NRL champions the Sydney Roosters prepared for this weekend's World Club Challenge match against the Wigan Warriors by training in France — and taking time to pay an emotional tribute to thousands of fellow Australians who died in World War I. "When you change environment you start having to make conscious decisions […]