London (AFP) – Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley said Monday he is planning on selling the club, by the end of December, after more than a decade of ownership. Speaking on Sky News, Ashley said he was hopeful a deal could be concluded before the end of the year. "I'd like it to be before […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – President Mauricio Macri said Monday the Argentine parliament will this month put the finishing touches to a draft law to fight football-related violence after the incidents that led to the postponement of the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final. The Boca Juniors bus was attacked by fans of their Buenos […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was charged by the Football Association on Monday after he raced onto the pitch to celebrate his side's late winner against Everton in the Merseyside derby. The German was overjoyed by Divock Origi's 96th-minute goal that sealed the 1-0 win and raced over to Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker. […]

Dublin (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate lauded Ronald Koeman for his transformation of the Netherlands' fortunes after the two nations were paired together in the semi-finals of the inaugural Nations League on Monday. The draw in Dublin also produced a meeting of host nation Portugal and Switzerland in the last four for the right […]

Madrid (AFP) – Former Barcelona president Josep Lluis Nunez, the club's head for 22 years and during the success of their iconic 1992 team, has died aged 87, the Catalan club announced on Monday. "FC Barcelona expresses its pain after the death of Josep Lluis Nunez (1931-2018), president of the club between 1978 and 2000," […]

Zagreb (AFP) – A Zagreb court has dropped charges that Croatia football captain and Real Madric star Luka Modric gave false testimony in a corruption trial, a court spokesman said on Monday. "There is not enough evidence that he (Modric) committed the criminal offence of perjury," Kresimir Devcic told AFP. The ruling, which closes the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola challenged in-form Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling on Monday to improve his game even further, despite his sparkling form for club and country. Sterling has recently been rewarded with a new five-year contract, worth a reported £300,000 ($382,000) a week, by the Premier League leaders and is currently […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Rennes have effectively sacked their coach Sabri Lamouchi after he was suspended in the wake of poor recent form, the French Ligue 1 club announced on Monday. In a statement, Rennes said Lamouchi had been "suspended" and reserve team coach Julian Stephan been put in temporary charge of the first team. […]

Paris (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the star African performer in Europe at the weekend, netting twice for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur and becoming the leading Premier League scorer. The Gunners came from behind in the north London derby to triumph 4-2 and the Gabon star lifted his season league goal tally to 10, two […]

Dublin (AFP) – England will meet the Netherlands for a place in the inaugural Nations League final with hosts Portugal facing Switzerland in the other semi-final after Monday's draw in Dublin. Portugal and Switzerland will meet in Porto on June 5 with England and the Netherlands clashing in Guimaraes on June 6. The third-place playoff […]

Madrid (AFP) – Diego Costa will undergo an operation in Brazil this week to aid his recovery from a foot injury, Atletico Madrid said on Monday. The club would not estimate how long Costa might be out but said the striker had been feeling discomfort in his left foot for several weeks. A statement from […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola said he was warned by club doctors that top scorer Sergio Aguero could be ruled out until January if he aggravated a muscle injury. The Argentina international missed Saturday's 3-1 win over Bournemouth and is doubtful to face Watford and Chelsea this week. "The doctors told me (on Friday) Sergio […]

London (AFP) – Mark Hughes has been sacked as manager of Southampton, the struggling Premier League club announced on Monday, despite an improved performance in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United. The Welshman, 55, took over at St Mary's in March and guided them to Premier League survival and an FA Cup semi-final but was […]

London (AFP) – A football fan has been arrested after a banana skin was thrown onto the pitch at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrated scoring a penalty in front of Tottenham fans. The Gunners won a memorable match 4-2 on Sunday and London's Metropolitan Police afterwards confirmed there were seven arrests […]

San Luis Potosí (Mexico) (AFP) – Diego Maradona's new club, Dorados, fell just short of winning the Mexican second-division final and a shot at promotion on Sunday, abruptly ending the Cinderella story of the Argentine legend's latest foray into coaching. Dorados, from the western state of Sinaloa, lost their second-leg final to Atletico San Luis, […]