Madrid (AFP) – Boca Juniors coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto has admitted that no matter who wins the Copa Libertadores in Madrid on Sunday, Argentinian football will have lost to violence. River Plate and Boca will play the delayed second leg of the final at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium after the original game was postponed […]

Bangkok (AFP) – A Thai court will rule next week on a request by Bahrain to extradite a former national team footballer, an immigration official said Friday, as FIFA urged his release back to Australia where he has refugee status. Hakeem Alaraibi was stopped by Thai immigration on November 27 after arriving in Bangkok from […]

Milan (AFP) – Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was appointed coach of Serie A strugglers Genoa on Friday, a day after Ivan Juric was sacked following the club's Italian Cup exit to a third division side. The 61-year-old Prandelli will be officially presented by the northwestern port side on Saturday with his first game in […]

London (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri said he knew he would face challenges at Chelsea despite a bright start to the season as he prepares his team to face Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday. Chelsea were unbeaten in their first 12 Premier League games but lost 2-1 at Wolves on Wednesday — their second […]

The Hague (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain could pip Manchester City to the signing of Ajax and Netherlands midfield star Frenkie de Jong in a record 75 million euro deal, a Dutch newspaper report said Friday. "It is almost certain that De Jong, 21, will exchange Ajax for Paris Saint-Germain," popular tabloid De Telegraaf said. If […]

London (AFP) – Mesut Ozil has missed Arsenal's last four matches and may be absent again when the Gunners host Huddersfield Town on Saturday. The 30-year-old playmaker is being treated for a back problem and manager Unai Emery has hinted that he could be passed fit on Friday if he comes through sessions with the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho suggested Friday that Manchester United must get stronger defensively before he is ready to give Fred more games. United spent £52 million ($66 million) on buying the Brazil midfielder from Shakhtar Donetsk in June but he has made just six Premier League starts. Fred was left on the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea's Premier League title challenge to Manchester City has faded dramatically in recent weeks as Eden Hazard's goals have dried up to leave Maurizio Sarri's men 10 points adrift of the champions ahead of Saturday's clash between the sides at Stamford Bridge. Even in the midst of an 18-game unbeaten run after […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal said Friday they will "remind players of their responsibilities" after a video emerged that appears to show a number of stars inhaling nitrous oxide. Players including Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Matteo Guendouzi feature in the footage, which appears to come from CCTV footage and was published by the […]

Bangkok (AFP) – A Thai court is considering a request by Bahrain to extradite an ex-national team footballer, the kingdom's immigration chief said Friday, as FIFA threw its support behind a return to Australia where he has refugee status. Hakeem Alaraibi was stopped by Thai immigration on November 27 after arriving in Bangkok from Australia […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Naby Keita has started to show he can add creativity to Liverpool's midfield but Jurgen Klopp may question his squad's strength in depth despite securing two Premier League wins in four days. Klopp is likely to revert to his tried-and-trusted first choices at Bournemouth on Saturday, having been a little […]

Berlin (AFP) – Schalke 04 plot to become the first Bundesliga side to beat Borussia Dortmund this season and extend the German league leaders' recent misery in Gelsenkirchen in Saturday's Ruhr derby. This is the first time in six years Dortmund go into the derby top of the table, but they last won at the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho will be desperate for his struggling Manchester United side to put their defensive woes behind them against the Premier League's bottom club Fulham but the form book suggests they may struggle to do so. An exciting, if error-strewn, 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford in midweek means […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luka Modric has been voted the best player on the planet and Real Madrid crowned European champions three times in a row but in Huesca on Saturday they will meet a team from the opposite end of the ladder. Madrid´s stars gathered in Paris on Monday, dressed in shiny black suits and […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp will be desperately hoping Chelsea can slow down Manchester City's title charge this weekend as he balances his Premier League ambitions with a Champions League decider against Napoli. Unbeaten Liverpool are clinging on in the title race — scoring deep into added time against Everton last week and recovering from […]