Los Angeles (AFP) – Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez was named Major League Soccer's MVP for 2018 following his record-breaking goalscoring season, it was confirmed on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Venezuelan international lit up MLS this season with 31 goals, smashing the single season record of 27 previously held by Roy Lassiter, Chris Wondolowski and Bradley Wright-Phillips. Martinez is […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku were both on Wednesday dropped to the bench for the second time in three matches by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho as he seeks a reaction to the Red Devils' wretched form against Arsenal. United haven't won any of their last three league games and […]

Madrid (AFP) – Boca Juniors landed in Spain on Wednesday as they prepare to end the long-running Copa Libertadores final saga over two weeks after a fan assault threw the fixture into doubt. Boca players were greeted by an army of fans outside their hotel in Madrid as they prepare to finally dispute the second […]

Moscow (AFP) – Disgraced Russian footballers Pavel Mamaev and Alexander Kokorin will spend a further two months in prison after a Moscow court extended their detention for assault on Wednesday. "The court has deliberated and grants the request of investigators to extend the detention...until February 8, 2019," said judge Alexei Krivoruchko, quoted by Russian news […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal could be bolstered by the return of club captain Laurent Koscielny for the busy festive period after seven months out due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Koscielny missed out on France's World Cup victory in Russia and is yet to feature for new Arsenal boss Unai Emery. The 33-year-old defender limped […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatar has not held talks with any other countries to share football matches at the 2022 World Cup, a senior tournament organiser in Doha said on Wednesday. Despite coming under pressure from FIFA president Gianni Infantino to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams — which could mean some matches […]

Bangkok (AFP) – Malaysia moved into the final of the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup on Wednesday in dramatic fashion, eliminating defending champions Thailand courtesy of away goals after drawing the second leg of the semifinal in Bangkok 2-2. Four days after a first-leg goalless draw in Kuala Lumpur, a 95th minute penalty miss from Thailand […]

London (AFP) – Ralph Hasenhuttl has been tasked in reviving Premier League strugglers Southampton's fortunes after being named their new manager on Wednesday. The 51-year-old Austrian — who comes into the role on the back of Mark Hughes being sacked on Monday — has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club. Hasenhuttl attracted Saints' interest […]

London (AFP) – Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard must make up his mind whether he wishes to commit to Chelsea and extend his contract worth a rumoured £350,000 ($450,000) a week, the club's manager Maurizio Sarri said. The 27-year-old — whose present deal runs till June 2020 — was linked with a move to Real Madrid […]

New York (AFP) – Ex-Guatemala soccer chief and former FIFA executive committee member Rafael Salguero, 72, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in a US court, and will be sentenced by a judge in New York this week, it was revealed Tuesday. Accused in 2015 of joining a criminal conspiracy to commit a crime, two counts […]

New York (AFP) – Ex-Guatemala soccer chief and former FIFA executive committee member Rafael Salguero, 72, pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting bribes in a US court, and will be sentenced by a judge in New York. Accused in 2015 of joining a criminal conspiracy to commit a crime, two counts of conspiracy to commit bank […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hopes a swift conclusion to UEFA's investigation over alleged Financial Fair Play (FFP) irregularities committed by the Premier League champions will silence the speculation surrounding the case. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said after an Executive Committee meeting of European football's governing body on Monday that […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho insists his Manchester United players are giving their maximum effort despite repeated criticism by him of their performances. The 55-year-old United manager claimed any accusation his players were underperforming because they did not like him would be "dishonest". Mourinho has been withering in his assessment of United’s performances […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City opened up a five-point lead at the top of the table with a seventh straight Premier League victory, but were made to work for a 2-1 win at Watford on Tuesday. City's goals came either side of half-time as Leroy Sane chested home to end Watford's resistance before Riyad Mahrez […]

Paris (AFP) – Radamel Falcao scored a pair of penalties as Thierry Henry's Monaco won 2-0 at fellow strugglers Amiens to climb out of the bottom three in Ligue 1 on Tuesday. The Colombian had missed twice from the spot this season but calmly converted on 43 minutes at the Stade de la Licorne after […]