London (AFP) – The Premier League is set to use the Video Assistant Referee system from next season after clubs "agreed in principle" to the move on Thursday. During a meeting attended by key members of all 20 Premier League clubs, officials were presented with an update on the non-live VAR trials taking place. They […]

Berlin (AFP) – Former France international Franck Ribery on Thursday issued a public apology to French television pundit Patrick Guillou, who he reportedly insulted and assaulted following Bayern Munich's away defeat to Borussia Dortmund at the weekend. "I had a meeting with Patrick Guillou yesterday in Munich," Ribery said in a video posted on Bayern's […]

Berlin (AFP) – Uli Hoeness, the outspoken Bayern Munich president, has ramped up the pressure on their misfiring squad with a thinly-veiled threat, suggesting any under-performing stars will be shown the door when the season finishes. "One has to say to the players that they are under pressure for the next three or four months," […]

Meizhou (China) (AFP) – "You let Glasgow score, what were you thinking?" plays a video, as a class of budding Chinese footballers stare at a large screen, their backs ramrod straight and arms folded neatly on their desks. This is the daily lesson in football English at the youth academy of mid-table Chinese Super League […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Mauritania, a largely desert state that have never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations, are among 15 countries who could secure places at the 2019 tournament this weekend. A team guided by French coach Corentin Martins will be assured of a top-two finish in Group I and qualification if they defeat […]

Dublin (AFP) – Glenn Whelan will captain the Republic of Ireland against Northern Ireland on Thursday knowing that while it may be a last appearance for his country, he will never actually retire from international football. Many players call time on their international careers before finally calling it a day with their clubs but 34-year-old […]

London (AFP) – Wayne Rooney believes he left Manchester United at the right time, even though he wanted to finish his career at Old Trafford. The 33-year-old, who is set to make his final England appearance against the United States in a friendly international at Wembley on Thursday, is now playing for North American club […]

London (AFP) – The English Premier League is set to consider a controversial plan to reward outgoing chief executive Richard Scudamore with a 'golden goodbye' of some £5 million ($6.5 million) at a meeting on Thursday. News that Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, who also chairs the Premier League's audit and remuneration committee, had proposed each […]

Brussels (AFP) – Three people were arrested following a series of raids in Belgium that have intensified the spotlight on Israeli 'super-agent' Pini Zahavi amid reports of an illegally-held role at the Mouscron club. Zahavi, who played a key role in Neymar's record 222-million-euro move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, was not among […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Croatia captain Luka Modric has welcomed the return of home fans for Thursday's difficult Nations League meeting with Spain in Zagreb. The World Cup finalists have been forced to play their last two competitive home matches behind closed doors as part of their punishment imposed by UEFA after a swastika was marked […]

London (AFP) – United States boss Dave Sarachan is confident the decision by the Football Association to honour Wayne Rooney in no way devalues his side's friendly against England at Wembley on Thursday. It is now two years since Rooney, now playing his club football in the US for DC United, won the last of […]

London (AFP) – Fabian Delph will captain England in their friendly against the United States on Thursday, manager Gareth Southgate has announced. It will be the first time the Manchester City midfielder has led his country, although Delph has confirmed he will pass the armband over to Wayne Rooney when the striker comes off the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Diego Maradona says he "loves" Lionel Messi and described as "false" comments attributed to him attacking his Argentine compatriot and Barcelona legend. "Leo is a friend of mine and I'd never speak ill of a friend," Maradona assured Spanish sports newspaper Marca on Wednesday. Last month Maradona was quoted as telling Fox […]

Berlin (AFP) – Joachim Loew is set to again give youth a chance in Germany's last internationals of 2018, against Russia and the Netherlands, as his squad clear-out continues following the World Cup debacle. Having already dropped 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira, Loew left Jerome Boateng out of his latest squad and now Thomas […]

Berlin (AFP) – Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez is expected to be ruled out for the rest of the year after joining Bayern Munich's list of casualties with a knee ligament injury suffered in training. Rodriguez is the fourth midfielder at the German champions to be sidelined alongside Thiago Alcantara, Corentin Tolisso, Kingsley Coman and Arjen […]