Milan (AFP) – Lorenzo Pellegrini's agent on Tuesday dismissed speculation that the Italian international midfielder was set for a move from Roma to Manchester United. Jose Mourinho's United were reported to be preparing a January swoop for the 22-year-old, who has a 30 million euro ($34 million) release clause. "I'm sorry that rumours have spread […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan's former owner Li Yonghong wanted to sign Cristiano Ronaldo a year before the five-time Ballon d'Or winner joined Juventus but was persuaded they could not afford him, ex-club chief executive Marco Fassone said on Tuesday. Fassone — ousted along with Li from the debt-ridden Italian club last summer — was […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Marcello Lippi will face fresh scrutiny after his insipid China side were held to a stale 1-1 home draw by 99th-ranked Palestine in a friendly on Tuesday. With less than 50 days until the Asian Cup in the UAE, China's failure to defeat the Palestinians will trigger another spasm of soul-searching about […]

Sydney (AFP) – Veteran Tim Cahill bid an emotional farewell Tuesday on his 108th and final appearance for Australia as Scottish striker Martin Boyle scored twice for his newly-adopted country. Cahill, the Socceroos all-time top scorer with 50 goals, came out of international retirement to play the final nine minutes of Australia's 3-0 win against […]

Sydney (AFP) – Veteran Tim Cahill bid an emotional farewell Tuesday on his 108th and final appearance for Australia as Scottish striker Martin Boyle scored twice for his newly-adopted country. Cahill, the Socceroos all-time top scorer with 50 goals, came out of international retirement to play the final nine minutes of Australia's 3-0 win against […]

London (AFP) – There will be no breakaway European Super League, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and Andrea Agnelli, the chairman of the influential European Club Association has told the BBC. Instead their joint plans for the future of European football from 2024 onwards will see a revised football schedule which will possibly involve less domestic football […]

Gelsenkirchen (Germany) (AFP) – Virgil van Dijk hailed the Netherlands' belief as his 91st-minute equaliser fired them into the semi-finals of the Nations League after their dramatic 2-2 draw with Germany. The point in Gelsenkirchen was enough for the Dutch to advance to the last four at the expense of world champions France after scoring […]

Gelsenkirchen (Germany) (AFP) – Virgil van Dijk equalised in the 91st-minute to send the Netherlands into the Nations League semi-finals, at the expense of France, after sealing a dramatic 2-2 draw away to Germany on Monday. The Dutch advance at the expense of world champions France after scoring twice in the final six minutes in […]

Geneva (AFP) – A former head of FIFA's Ethics Committee has stepped down from his position on Switzerland's prosecution supervisory authority in order to not hamper ongoing investigations into football, it was announced Monday. Cornel Borbely presided on the investigation chamber of world football governing body's ethics committee from May 2015 until his dismissal alongside […]

Paris (AFP) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday that he had pitched the idea of a joint bid between his country, Portugal and Morocco to host the 2030 World Cup. "I made the proposal, firstly to the government then to King Mohammed VI to launch a shared application with Morocco, Portugal and […]

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) – Luis Suarez, a three-time biter of opposition players, said Monday that Barcelona teammate Ousmane Dembele should be "more responsible" after he reportedly missed training following a marathon nocturnal video gaming session. Dembele was dropped by the Spanish champions for last week's shock 4-3 home defeat to Real Betis following what coach […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Lowly ranked Burundi and Lesotho are among 23 countries chasing 11 places at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament during the final qualifying round in March. The penultimate series of matches at the weekend ended with 13 countries, including first-time qualifiers Mauritania, securing places and former champions Zambia eliminated. Burundi need […]

London (AFP) – Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman on board a train, British Transport Police said on Monday. The ex-Tottenham and Lazio player was charged with "one count of sexual assault by touching", said a spokeswoman for the force. The 51-year-old, who has struggled with alcoholism since […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australia's football governing body elected a new chairman and several board members Monday as it drew a line under its long-running reform battle with FIFA. The end of Steven Lowy's chairmanship comes after football's world governing body successfully pushed Football Federation Australia into democratic reforms, and marks the end of his family's […]

Sydney (AFP) – Tim Cahill's farewell appearance for Australia will be limited to the last five minutes as the Socceroos look ahead to life without their record scorer — and wonder how to replace his goals. Cahill, 38, will earn his 108th and final cap in Tuesday's friendly against Lebanon in Sydney, but coach Graham […]