Sydney (AFP) – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called on his Thai counterpart to release a refugee footballer held for more than two months on an extradition request from Bahrain. Hakeem al-Araibi, a Bahraini refugee and Australian resident, fears torture and even death if he is returned to his homeland. He was detained by […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola insisted Manchester City's title hopes were still intact despite admitting Liverpool are poised to take a significant lead in their two-way battle for the Premier League crown. Jurgen Klopp's side can extend their advantage at the top to seven points with victory at home to Leicester on Wednesday after the reigning champions' […]

Madrid (AFP) – Rodrigo scored a hat-trick as Valencia staged a stunning late fightback at the Mestalla to stun ten-man Getafe 3-2 on aggregate to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Tuesday. Valencia went into the game looking to fight back after a 1-0 first-leg defeat and keep alive their hopes of winning a […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saluted Manchester United's fighting spirit as they rolled back the years with two goals in the final five minutes of a thrilling 2-2 draw against Burnley. United manager Solskjaer is most famous for scoring the winning goal for the Old Trafford club in the closing seconds of […]

London (AFP) – Cardiff manager Neil Warnock revealed his pride despite losing 2-1 at Arsenal on Tuesday as the Welsh side returned to action for the first time since a plane carrying the club's record signing Emiliano Sala disappeared over the Channel Islands. Sala never got the chance to play for the Bluebirds as the […]

Paris (AFP) – Guingamp denied returning Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim a third straight French League Cup final, beating the Principality side on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw on Tuesday. Portugese boss Jardim returned to the team he led to the French title in 2017 three months after his sacking in a period where Thierry […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City handed the advantage firmly to Liverpool in the Premier League title race as they surrendered the lead in a stunning 2-1 loss away to Newcastle United on Tuesday. Pep Guardiola's second-placed side looked likely to keep the pressure on Jurgen Klopp's leaders as Sergio Aguero got them off […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United preserved Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's unbeaten start as manager with two goals in the final five minutes of a dramatic 2-2 draw against Burnley on Tuesday. The result ended Solskjaer's perfect streak of eight successive victories since the Norwegian took over from the sacked Jose Mourinho before Christmas. But […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City's Premier League title challenge was rocked by a stunning 2-1 defeat at Newcastle, while Manchester United's late escape preserved Ole Gunner Solskjaer's unbeaten start in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Burnley on Tuesday. City needed a win at St James' Park to close the gap on leaders Liverpool to one […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal condemned Cardiff to a 2-1 defeat on Tuesday as the Welsh side returned to action for the first time since a plane carrying the club's record signing Emiliano Sala disappeared over the Channel Islands over a week ago. Sala never got the chance to play for Cardiff as the aircraft carrying […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Baroka became the eighth top-flight club to crash out of the South African FA Cup in the first round when they fell 1-0 at home Tuesday against second-tier Jomo Cosmos. Inky Masuku scored the lone goal on 29 minutes, taking advantage of being unmarked in the penalty area to fire a low […]

London (AFP) – A minute's silence was held before Cardiff's first match on Tuesday since the plane carrying the club's record signing Emiliano Sala disappeared over the Channel Islands over a week ago. After completing a £15 million ($20 million) move from Nantes on January 19, Sala was on his way from France to take […]

Doha (AFP) – Doha exploded in noisy celebration on Tuesday as jubilant Qataris flooded the streets and roads after their national team's victory over bitter sporting and political rivals, United Arab Emirates. Traffic along one of the city's main highways, the Corniche, was jammed bumper-to-bumper with exultant fans celebrating the thumping 4-0 Asian Cup semi-final […]

Barcelona (AFP) – New Espanyol signing Wu Lei said on Tuesday that he wants to show the football world that there are Chinese players "capable of shining" at the highest level. The China striker said he is confident he can thrive in Spain after finishing as the Chinese Super League's top goalscorer last season. "Pressure […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde hopes the Copa del Rey holders can make Wednesday's quarter-final second leg against Sevilla a night to "remember" as they attempt to erase a 2-0 deficit at the Camp Nou. Barca's four-year reign in the competition is under threat after goals by Pablo Sarabia and Wissam Ben Yedder […]