Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool are working to ensure this season's Premier League title push is not a one-off as they lay the foundations for continued success after struggling in recent years to sustain a challenge. Within 20 months of running a Manchester United side containing Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney close in 2008/09, the core […]

Milan (AFP) – Moroccan centre-back Medhi Benatia has left Italian giants Juventus for Qatar's Al-Duhail in a deal worth up to 10 million euros ($11.4 million), the Serie A club announced on Monday. Juventus said in a statement that Al-Duhail will pay eight million euros in two instalments for Benatia as well as a further […]

Milan (AFP) – Serie A strugglers Bologna have sacked coach Filippo Inzaghi and replaced him with Serbian Sinisa Mihajlovic, the club announced on Monday. Bologna's Canadian owner Joey Saputo had blasted Sunday's 4-0 defeat to second-from bottom Frosinone as "pitiful". Under 45-year-old Inzaghi's guidance the team won just two games this season — last September […]

London (AFP) – Defending champions Chelsea will host Manchester United in the fifth round of the FA Cup, while fourth-division side Newport County could meet Manchester City. United defeated Arsenal in the fourth round last week to record an eighth straight victory under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but face another tough tie after Monday's […]

Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) – Veteran coach Carlos Queiroz quoted Frank Sinatra, gushed over his players and argued furiously with a critic as he said goodbye to Iran on Monday — and did it his way. "Now the end is here," said the 65-year-old Portuguese, who is stepping down after Team Melli's 3-0 defeat […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga strugglers Augsburg pulled a surprise on Monday by naming ex-Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as an assistant coach. The 49-year-old Lehmann, who last season worked as an assistant to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, has signed a contract until June 2020 with Augsburg currently battling relegation and just above the Bundesliga's […]

Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) – Japan cashed in on a defensive mix-up and a controversial penalty as they stunned favourites Iran 3-0 in the Asian Cup semi-finals to move one win away from their fifth title on Monday. Yuya Osako put Japan 1-0 up after half-time when the Iranian defence fatally stopped to remonstrate […]

Dubai (AFP) – Bahrain insisted Monday on the extradition of a footballer with refugee status who has been detained in Thailand for nearly two months over his alleged role in protests in the Gulf state. The demand came as the former captain of Australia's national side, Craig Foster, stepped up a campaign for the release […]

London (AFP) – A shipwreck hunter hired by the family of missing footballer Emiliano Sala to look for his missing plane said he was planning to begin an underwater search on Sunday. David Mearns of Bluewater Recoveries said on Monday that two fishing boats were searching the sea around the island of Guernsey as part […]

London (AFP) – Police on Monday condemned violent clashes between Millwall and Everton fans at their weekend FA Cup clash as "some of the most shocking football violence we have seen for some time". An Everton supporter suffered a "life-changing injury" after an attack from a Millwall fan during ugly scenes in south London before […]

Ploufragan (France) (AFP) – Cesc Fabregas believes Thierry Henry will still become "a top coach" despite lasting just three months in charge at struggling Monaco. "We are sad for 'Titi' because I really think he will be a top coach, I am sure of it," Fabregas said on Monday of Henry, with whom he played […]

Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) – Japan benefited from a controversial penalty as they sent favourites Iran crashing 3-0 in the Asian Cup semi-finals to move within one win of a record-extending fifth title on Monday. Yuya Osako put Japan 1-0 up after half-time but it was his penalty shortly afterwards, awarded following a video […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement with Chelsea for the loan signing of Alvaro Morata until the end of next season, the two clubs said Monday. The striker, who had a disappointing time at Chelsea, passed his medical on Sunday, Atletico Madrid, his first club, said in a statement on its website. […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City are set to cash in on the talent drain from the Premier League to German football by netting an astonishing 13 million euros (£11 million) for the sale of teenager Rabbi Matondo to Schalke. The 18-year-old winger has only played four recognised games for Pep Guardiola's club, all […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Qatar coach Felix Sanchez is happy for his team to be labelled favourites in Tuesday's Asian Cup semi-final against host the United Arab Emirates — and has backed his players to silence the haters once more. Qatar's run to their first Asian Cup semi-final is all the more remarkable given the […]