London (AFP) – The future of cycling giant Team Sky was thrown into doubt on Wednesday after British media company Sky announced it was ending a partnership that has delivered six Tour de France titles in the past seven years. Team Sky have clocked up eight Grand Tour wins since their formation, but they have […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths is taking a break from football as he seeks help for ongoing personal issues, Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers revealed on Wednesday. Griffiths has endured a difficult season marred by injury problems, but Rodgers said the Scotland international's decision to step away from the sport was prompted by off-field […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny will make his first appearance since May when the injury-plagued French international starts Thursday's Europa League tie against Qarabag. Koscielny ruptured his Achilles in Arsenal's Europa League defeat against Atletico Madrid last season. The 33-year-old missed France's World Cup-winning campaign due to the injury. He finally returned for […]

The Hague (AFP) – France on Wednesday arrested a member of Africa's top footballing body on war crimes charges in the Central African Republic, the International Criminal Court said. Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, a former minister, is accused of being a top coordinator of armed groups in the conflict-hit country, the Hague-based court said in a statement. […]

Milan (AFP) – Carlo Ancelotti conceded it was a bitter pill to swallow as Napoli came so close before being denied a place in the Champions League knock-out rounds with a dramatic 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday. Former Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker's superb late save on Arkadiusz Milik ensured Liverpool advanced to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund are hoping to avoid ex-coach Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool when the last 16 of the Champions League is drawn on Monday. Liverpool's tense 1-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday at Anfield, thanks to a great save by Reds' goalkeeper Alisson Becker and a goal from Mohamed Salah, saw Klopp's team […]

London (AFP) – The future of cycling giant Team Sky was thrown into doubt on Wednesday after British media company Sky announced it was ending a partnership that has delivered six Tour de France titles in the past seven years. Team Sky have clocked up eight Grand Tour wins since their formation, but they have […]

Barcelona (AFP) – The poster had become an embarrassment for Tottenham but perhaps they will have the last laugh after all. "The only place to watch UEFA Champions League in London", it read, popping up on screens all over the capital, a mischievous dig at Arsenal and Chelsea after each failed to qualify for Europe's […]

London (AFP) – West Ham have given captain Mark Noble a contract extension that ties him to the Premier League club until 2021. Noble made his Hammers debut in 2004 after graduating from the club's youth academy and has gone to make 446 appearances for the team he supported as a boy. The 31-year-old midfielder […]

London (AFP) – Virgil Van Dijk believes Liverpool can use their Champions League escape against Napoli as a springboard to win Europe's elite club competition. Jurgen Klopp's side booked their place in the last 16 with a tense 1-0 win over Napoli at Anfield on Tuesday. A fine finish from Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead, […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool were saved the ignominy of an early Champions League elimination against Napoli by the slimmest of margins, as the huge money invested in goalkeeper Alisson Becker came good in a tense 1-0 win over the Italians. The Brazilian number one rushed from his goal and spread his 6ft 3in (1.91 metre) […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan dropped former Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa from the Blue Samurai's bid to reclaim the Asian Cup, opting instead for a squad filled with young Europe-based talents. Coach Hajime Moriyasu on Wednesday selected several players with only a handful of caps to their names for Asia's showcase football tournament in the […]

Milan (AFP) – Mauro Icardi rescued a 1-1 draw for Inter Milan against PSV Eindhoven in Tuesday's final group game but it proved not enough as the Chinese-owned Italian giants crashed out of the UEFA Champions League. "One player doesn't make a team," said coach Luciano Spalletti after Inter's first foray into Europe's elite competition […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino revelled in Tottenham defying what he said many had dubbed "mission impossible" on Tuesday as they drew away to Barcelona and qualified for the Champions League's last 16. Spurs needed to match Inter Milan's result at home to PSV Eindhoven, which they did, thanks to Lucas Moura's 85th-minute equaliser snatching […]

Belgrade (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel said his side need to "stay humble" after they thumped Red Star Belgrade 4-1 on Tuesday and qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, finishing ahead of Liverpool and Napoli to top a tight Group C. First-half goals from Edinson Cavani and Neymar set the […]