Paris (AFP) – Centre Mathieu Bastareaud returns as South Africa-born lock Paul Willemse is dropped to the bench in two of six changes for France's Six Nations fixture against England on Sunday, the French Rugby Federation announced. The experienced Bastareaud with 50 caps to his name was not included in the squad for last weekend's […]

Srinagar (India) (AFP) – Bullets are heard every day in the world's most militarised zone, but shots fired on goal by Danish Farooq have become a revelation in Kashmir. The 22-year-old striker symbolises a fairytale rise by Real Kashmir, the first club from the war-torn Himalayan region to make it into India's top football league. […]

London (AFP) – Jesse Lingard says his friendly rivalry with Marcus Rashford will be the driving force behind Manchester United's bid to climb into the Premier League's top four as they prepare to face Fulham on Saturday. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has earned praise for inspiring his side's 10-match unbeaten run since replacing the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Thibaut Courtois left Chelsea on bad terms last summer and he expects to feel the anger from Atletico Madrid too when he faces them in the white of Real Madrid on Saturday. Courtois developed into one of the world's finest goalkeepers during three years on loan at Atletico but he will be […]

Istanbul (AFP) – When Turkish businessman Ali Koc took over as chairman of Fenerbahce last summer, he was unpleasantly surprised to discover that the Istanbul club's debts were much higher than feared: 620 million euros, two thirds of which must be paid within a year. "The banks began to knock on the door," Koc said […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Ten days after blowing the chance to move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, Liverpool return to Anfield trailing Manchester City in the table when Bournemouth visit Merseyside on Saturday. After posting a perfect record of 16 straight wins against opposition outside the top six to start the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Struggling Schalke are hoping Welsh teenager Rabbi Matondo can help turn their season around against Bayern Munich and his former club Manchester City in the coming weeks. Having finished second to Bayern in last season's Bundesliga under 33-year-old coach Domenico Tedesco, Schalke have lost ten of their 20 league games this term. […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain's meeting with Bordeaux on Saturday is their last chance to do some fine-tuning before next week's showdown with Manchester United, but the Ligue 1 leaders have some major issues to contend with before heading to Old Trafford. PSG were the strong favourites when the draw for the Champions League last […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City face a stern test of their Premier League title credentials this weekend when the newly installed leaders host Chelsea. City's midweek win at Everton lifted them above Liverpool on goal difference and increased the pressure on Jurgen Klopp's spluttering side. After two successive damaging draws, Liverpool now have no margin […]

London (AFP) – Unai Emery insists he won't be affected by growing criticism of his Arsenal reign as the misfiring Gunners bid to get back on track at Huddersfield on Saturday. Emery's side head to Huddersfield confident they can use the Premier League's bottom club as a cure for travel sickness that has seen them […]

Portland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A body recovered by British investigators from the submerged wreckage of a plane that went down in the Channel has been identified as that of footballer Emiliano Sala, police said on Thursday. The Argentine striker's body was first spotted by rescuers with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on Sunday close […]

Paris (AFP) – Former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele continued his strong run of form with the opening goal as Lyon saw off Guingamp 2-1 to reach the French Cup quarter-finals on Thursday. Lyon, who are looking for a first major trophy since 2012, will face Caen in the last eight in three weeks' time. The […]

Madrid (AFP) – Valencia staged another late Cup comeback as Kevin Gameiro's injury-time strike snatched a 2-2 draw with Real Betis in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Benito Villamarin on Thursday. Betis, playing in the last four for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2005, grabbed the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on Thursday confirmed they will sign Germany Under-19 striker Jann-Fiete Arp — it just depends on when his current side Hamburg can win promotion from the second division. Arp will move to Munich, either this June or at the end of next season, in a deal reportedly […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentine football fans have demonstrated against a ban on their beloved 'choripan' sausage sandwiches, traditionally sold by illegal vendors but now outlawed because of alleged links to hooliganism. The choripan, made with chorizo sausage and bread, has been banned as a hygiene measure and as a move to cut funds to […]