Abu Dhabi (AFP) – United Arab Emirates fans vented their anger on Tuesday as they slumped to an embarrassing Asian Cup defeat by bitter Gulf rivals Qatar — in a blizzard of shoes, boos and water bottles. Projectiles rained down as the hosts crashed to a 4-0 loss in the semi-finals at a sold-out, 42,000-capacity […]

Madrid (AFP) – Struggling Villarreal on Tuesday fired coach Luis Garcia after just 50 days in charge and turned to Javi Calleja, the man they axed in December. "The decision I have made is to rehire the coach we had at the beginning, called Javier Calleja, who will take over the squad from tomorrow for […]

The Hague (AFP) – Lyon forward Memphis Depay wants a transfer this summer to a big club such as Real Madrid or Manchester City, he said in an interview published in a Dutch magazine Tuesday. "I want a new transfer to a top level club this summer. Lyon is a big club but it's not […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Qatar punished unwelcoming hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 in a politically charged clash marred by disgraceful behaviour from shoe-throwing fans Tuesday to reach their first Asian Cup final. The Qataris, whose national anthem was drowned out by boos before the game, face Japan in Friday's final after goals from Boualem Khoukhi, […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino claims he won't walk out on Tottenham despite being a "victim" of his own success. Pochettino has been criticised after Tottenham crashed out of two cup competitions in the space of four days last week. Defeats against Chelsea in the League Cup semi-finals and Crystal Palace in the FA Cup […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Qatar punished unwelcoming hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 in a politically charged clash marred by disgraceful crowd behaviour on Tuesday to reach their first Asian Cup final. The Qataris, whose national anthem was drowned by boos before the game, face Japan in Friday's final after goals from Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali, […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Manchester City will provide relentless opposition in the race for the Premier League title this season. Klopp's table-toppers lead second-placed reigning champions City by four points heading into this week's matches. But this week, for the first time since December 15, City will play a league match […]

Tehran (AFP) – A prominent Iranian politician on Tuesday called for players in the country's national football team to be punished for clashing with their Japanese opponents after losing in the Asia Cup semi-finals. In the dying minutes of Iran's 3-0 defeat to Japan on Monday, striker Sardar Azmoun slapped Japan midfielder Gaku Shibasaki in […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Asian football officials on Tuesday called for the release of refugee player Hakeem al-Araibi, who has spent more than two months detained in Thailand while Bahrain seeks his extradition. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had come under fire over their silence on the case of Araibi, a Bahraini refugee and Australian […]

London (AFP) – Leicester City manager Claude Puel believes his side will be inspired by facing the Premier League's top teams as they begin a tough run of fixtures. First up for the Foxes is a trip to league leaders Liverpool on Wednesday, with in-form Manchester United visiting the King Power Stadium on Sunday before […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain have completed the signing of Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes from Zenit Saint Petersburg on a four-and-a-half-year deal, the French champions announced on Tuesday. The 25-year-old put pen to paper on a contract until 2023 after completing a medical in Qatar. No transfer fee was disclosed, although press reports have put […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Superstar Dutch winger Arjen Robben is lining up a move to J-League outfit FC Tokyo after he leaves Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, local media reported on Tuesday. The 35-year-old has already confirmed he is leaving Bayern at the end of the season after a glittering career that saw him win seven Bundesliga […]

Shanghai (AFP) – South Korean defender Kim "Monster" Min-jae on Tuesday snubbed interest from the Premier League and the advice of his team-mates to sign for Beijing Guoan in China. The 22-year-old centre-back, whose club Jeonbuk Motors said they had received a bid from Watford reported to be about $8 million, instead plumped for the […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo locks horns again with Colombian ace Duvan Zapata as Juventus travel to Atalanta on Wednesday with a Coppa Italia semi-final berth at stake. Juventus have won the last four editions of the competition — sealing a record 18th last season by beating AC Milan in the final. But their path […]

London (AFP) – Callum Hudson-Odoi's second senior goal for Chelsea should have been a moment to savour for the club's academy which has nurtured a prodigious talent since the age of eight. However, instead the 18-year-old's clinical finish against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday could have been his parting gift to Stamford Bridge with Hudson-Odoi reportedly […]