Milan (AFP) – The makers of iconic Panini sticker albums revealed on Tuesday they have reached the one-billion euro ($1.14 billion) mark in 2018 thanks to the explosion in sales generated by the FIFA World Cup in Russia. "The Panini Group will achieve a turnover of about one billion euros for 2018 thanks to the […]

Dubai (AFP) – Three-time winners Saudi Arabia laid down a marker as they ruthlessly dismissed 10-man North Korea at the Asian Cup on Tuesday, while Iraq overcame stage fright to edge past Vietnam. The Saudis, humbled at last year's World Cup in Russia, looked far more at home in neighbouring United Arab Emirates as they […]

Milan (AFP) – Italian international striker Stefano Okaka has joined Udinese on loan from Premier League club Watford until the end of the season, the Serie A side confirmed on Tuesday. The 29-year-old, who has played the last two seasons at Watford after arriving from Belgian outfit Anderlecht in mid-2016, has fallen out of favour at […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Ali Adnan swept home a brilliant, last-minute free-kick as former champions Iraq twice hit back to beat Vietnam 3-2 in the Asian Cup on Tuesday. It was a heart-breaking way for Vietnam to lose in Abu Dhabi, but no more than Iraq deserved for going for the jugular after Humam Tareq […]

Dakar (AFP) – Egypt football boss Hany Abo Rida admitted Tuesday that his country faced a race against the clock to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations during June and July. They scored a landslide 16-1 victory over sole rivals South Africa in a vote in Dakar to replace Cameroon, who were dropped as […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona will sign promising French centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo on a free transfer from French top flight outfit Toulouse this summer, the Spanish club announced on Tuesday. The 19-year-old who models himself on Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian centre-half Thiago Silva will move to Barca on July 1. He only made his first-team debut in […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic forward Timothy Weah says he will have no problem shouldering the weight of the famous name adorning the back of his new shirt. The 18-year-old's father George, now the president of Liberia, shot to fame with AC Milan during the 1990s, helping the Rossoneri lift two Serie A titles while claiming […]

Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) – Qatar are out to prove a point on the pitch as they begin their Asian Cup campaign under the cloud of the Gulf crisis and with the added scrutiny of hosting the next World Cup. Coach Felix Sanchez said his players were determined to stay focused on the job […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Ali Adnan swept home a brilliant, last-minute free kick as former champions Iraq twice hit back to beat Vietnam 3-2 in the Asian Cup on Tuesday. Vietnam's Golden Dragons took a shock lead after 24 minutes in the Group D clash in Abu Dhabi, defender Ali Faez panicking under pressure from […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Brahim Diaz's departure for Real Madrid is a sign of good work being done by the club's academy despite the loss of another bright prospect. City had attempted to persuade the 19-year-old Spaniard to extend his contract with the club but admitted defeat and sold him […]

Abuja (AFP) – Victor Moses would be welcomed back into Nigeria national team, especially if he played more regular club football, coach Gernot Rohr said on Tuesday. The 28-year-old was a crucial part of Chelsea's 2017 Premier League-winning side and in 2013 won both the Europa League for his club and the Africa Cup of […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari on Tuesday called for the video assistant referee rules to be made clearer after admitting he has no idea how the system works following penalty controversy at the weekend. Madrid fell to a limp 2-0 defeat 2-0 at home to Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday, […]

Doha (AFP) – Veteran Dutch winger Arjen Robben has said he is "proud" of the offers he has received from other clubs since announcing he will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season. Robben, who turns 35 on January 23, is out of contract in June with Bayern, but has reportedly already been […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have warned their supporters to behave during Tuesday's League Cup semi-final first leg at Wembley after recent incidents of discriminatory behaviour. Blues supporters have been under the spotlight in recent weeks after a number of high-profile incidents, including a derogatory chant about Spurs supporters that featured alleged anti-Semitic […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Japan captain Maya Yoshida has called on his side to cope with pressure to perform at the Asian Cup as they look to make up for their flop four years ago. The Southampton defender admitted on Tuesday that several of the Japan team were still smarting from their shock penalty shootout […]