Caracas (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Friday defended his plan to hold the World Cup every two years during a visit to Venezuela, a country that has never qualified for the global showpiece. The biennial World Cup project, which has the backing of former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, has come in for heavy […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he will not be pressured into playing Cristiano Ronaldo if he believes the Portugal star should be left out. Solskjaer caused a storm when he started with Ronaldo on the bench for United's 1-1 draw against Everton in the last match before the international break. […]

Paris (AFP) – Czech club Sparta Prague will not face any action from UEFA over alleged abuse of Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara in a recent Europa League game after a disciplinary investigation by European football's governing body ruled there was "insufficent evidence". "The investigation has now concluded that there was insufficient evidence of racism or discriminatory […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira is looking forward to an emotional return to Arsenal as he prepares to face his old club for the first time in his managerial career. Vieira heads to the Emirates Stadium on Monday for an occasion that will stir countless memories for the former Arsenal and France […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle manager Steve Bruce says he will fight to keep his job as speculation swirls that he faces the sack despite being allowed to take charge of Sunday's game against Tottenham. Bruce will reach 1,000 matches as a manager this weekend, but that landmark could be a bittersweet moment if it proves […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola says he wants Raheem Sterling to fight for his place at Manchester City after the frustrated forward admitted he "would be open" to leaving the Premier League champions. England forward Sterling has been with City since 2015, when he moved from Liverpool, and has won three Premier League titles with […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle have confirmed Steve Bruce will take charge of his 1,000th match as a manager when Tottenham visit St James' Park on Sunday for the first game since the club's Saudi-led takeover. Bruce was reportedly set for the sack following last week's £305 million ($419 million) takeover of the Premier League strugglers. […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned Newcastle that money does not buy success as the Magpies dream of joining the European elite after their Saudi-led takeover. Struggling Newcastle are the talk of the Premier League following the £305 million ($419 million) takeover as the new owners prepare to start their reign against […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich defender Lucas Hernandez will travel to Madrid to appear in court for violating a restraining order in 2017, said club president Herbert Hainer. "He's going now, then he'll be heard, then we'll see," Hainer said Thursday night on the sidelines of a protest at the club's training centre. A […]

Madrid (AFP) – Ronald Koeman said his players will benefit from knowing he is staying on as Barcelona coach and his theory will be tested by a pivotal week that starts with a trip to Valencia on Sunday. After Valencia, Barca face Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Wednesday before hosting Real Madrid in […]

Milan (AFP) – Simone Inzaghi takes defending Serie A champions Inter Milan to former club Lazio this weekend, while Jose Mourinho's Roma travel to a resurgent Juventus who are hoping to climb back into title contention. Free-scoring Inter, unbeaten through seven matches with five wins and two draws, have plundered a league-high 22 goals — the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann backed Polish poacher Robert Lewandowski to win this year's Ballon d'Or as the Bundesliga leaders prepare for a top-of-the-table clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. "Robert deserves to win it, because in my view he has been more unbelievably consistent than any other player," said Nagelsmann of […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Argentina took their unbeaten run to 25 matches and moved a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Peru on Thursday. Lautaro Martinez scored the only goal of the game two minutes before the break with a powerful header while Yoshimar Yotun missed a second […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Argentina took their unbeaten run to 25 matches and moved a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Peru on Thursday. Lautaro Martinez scored the only goal of the game two minutes before the break with a powerful header while Yoshimar Yotun missed a second […]

London (AFP) – Struggling Newcastle find themselves in the unusual position of being the Premier League's headline act at the start of their Saudi-led revolution this weekend. So often consigned to the margins during decades of underachievement, all eyes will be on the club on Sunday when they host Tottenham in their first match since […]