Geneva (AFP) – FIFA will try to find a consensus on controversial plans to stage the World Cup every two years, in time for a December 20 summit, its president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday. The head of world football's governing body said there had been heated discussions and sharply contrasting opinions on the idea emanating […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Uruguayan Gaston Sirino scored to give Mamelodi Sundowns a 1-0 victory at Golden Arrows on Wednesday, and a four-point lead after seven rounds of the South African Premiership. The slightly built 30-year-old midfielder fired a low shot past Namibian goalkeeper Maximilian Mbaeva on 58 minutes to win the match in Indian Ocean […]

Moscow (AFP) – Patson Daka scored four goals as Leicester revived their Europa League campaign by fighting back from two goals down to beat Spartak Moscow 4-3 in the Russian capital on Wednesday. Zambia striker Daka, a close-season signing from Salzburg, became only the fifth player to score four goals in a Europa League game […]

Paris (AFP) – The United Arab Emirates will host the next Club World Cup early in 2022, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Wednesday. The latest edition of the tournament — which features the champions of the six continental confederations along with the top team in the host nation — was due to be played […]

Paris (AFP) – The United Arab Emirates will host the next Club World Cup early in 2022, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Wednesday. The latest edition of the tournament — which features the champions of the six continental confederations along with the top team in the host nation — was due to be played […]

London (AFP) – The pilot of the plane that crashed killing Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala had never held a licence to fly at night, a British court was told on Wednesday. David Ibbotson, 59, was killed with the 28-year-old striker, when the single-engined Piper Malibu plane came down in the Channel en route from Nantes, […]

Versailles (France) (AFP) – Former France international Mathieu Valbuena told a court Wednesday he "felt in danger" after being targeted in a blackmail attempt involving a sex tape over which his former teammate, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, has gone on trial. France striker Benzema is accused of complicity in an attempt to extort money […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle have asked fans celebrating the club's Saudi-backed takeover not to wear Arab-style clothing to matches in case it causes offence. Some supporters wore traditional robes and others donned headdresses for Sunday's Premier League clash with Tottenham, the Magpies' first game under their new owners. The £305 million ($420 million) Newcastle takeover […]

Dubai (AFP) – Dubai's Madame Tussauds said Wednesday it will soon change the shirt of the wax figure of Cristiano Ronaldo after online backlash that the Portuguese footballer was wearing the "wrong" jersey. London's renowned waxwork museum opened this week in its first outpost in the Arab world in Dubai, with Ronaldo's wax figure donning […]

London (AFP) – The owner of a plane that crashed with Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala on board told a UK court on Wednesday she had ordered the operator not to use the pilot. The plane — a single-engined Piper Malibu — came down in the Channel in January 2019, killing the 28-year-old striker and the […]

Jeonju (South Korea) (AFP) – South Korea's Pohang Steelers will face Saudi giants Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League final after defeating title-holders Ulsan Hyundai 5-4 on penalties on Wednesday. The two sides, rivals on South Korea's east coast, were locked at 1-1 after 120 tense minutes with Pohang equalising with just a minute […]

Berlin (AFP) – Jesse Marsch admits his RB Leipzig team face their own mission impossible if they are to reach the knock-out stages of the Champions League after defeat at Paris Saint-Germain meant a third straight loss in Europe. Leipzig briefly led in Paris on Tuesday before two second-half goals by superstar Lionel Messi consigned […]

Versailles (France) (AFP) – Real Madrid star Karim Benzema went on trial in France on Wednesday accused of complicity in the attempted blackmail of former international teammate Mathieu Valbuena who said he felt "in danger" in a case known as the "sex tape affair". Benzema, 33, is suspected of helping a group of alleged blackmailers […]

Tours (France) (AFP) – French footballer Kylian Mbappe will act as godfather to the twin pandas recently born at Beauval zoo, the animal park authorities said on Wednesday. Chinese Olympic diving gold medallist Zhang Jiaqi will be the godmother alongside the Paris Saint-Germain star at a naming ceremony on November 18. "It's an honour for […]

London (AFP) – Steve Bruce has left his position as Newcastle manager by "mutual consent", 13 days after a Saudi-led takeover at St James' Park, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday. "Newcastle United can confirm that Steve Bruce has left his position as head coach by mutual consent," said a club statement. "He leaves […]