Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is "not confident" that goalkeeper David De Gea will sign a new contract when his current Old Trafford deal expires. The 27-year-old Spain international is now regarded as one of the best keepers in world football, having joined English giants United from Atletico Madrid in […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish police announced the arrest of ten suspects Friday in a fake tickets scam that cost Barcelona football club 1.5 euros million ($1.7 million). Fraudsters sold more than 2,800 fake tickets for a "Clasico" match between Barcelona and Real Madrid last May, at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium. At least eight businesses were involved in […]

London (AFP) – Under-fire French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris received the unqualified support of Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino on Friday stating he is "our captain, and no doubt our keeper". Pochettino issued his vote of confidence in the 31-year-old France captain after he attracted another bout of criticism for his red card in Wednesday's Champions […]

Berlin (AFP) – His Borussia Moenchengladbach team are higher in the Bundesliga than Chelsea are in the Premier League, but Thorgan Hazard admits his brother, Blues' midfielder Eden, is the more talented sibling. "I just have less talent than him," Thorgan Hazard, 25, told German broadcaster Sport1 of his 27-year-old brother. "I have to work […]

Kigali (AFP) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has delayed any decision over his plans for a lucrative new Club World Cup and global Nations League amid widespread opposition, instead setting up a taskforce to further look into the proposals. Speaking at a press conference in the Rwandan capital Kigali, where the FIFA Council has been […]

Kigali (AFP) – FIFA are opposed to La Liga's plans to stage the match between Barcelona and Girona later this season in the United States, Gianni Infantino confirmed on Friday. "Following a request of guidance from the Spanish FA, US Soccer and CONCACAF...the council emphasised the sporting principle that official league matches must be played […]

London (AFP) – Time-wasting is to be tackled by football's lawmaking body the International Football Association Board (IFAB), British daily The Times reported on Friday. Measures such as forbidding substitutions after 90 minutes — which is seen as a habitual tactic to wind down the clock — could be looked at, the board member who […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho believes the national coaches of Belgium, Scotland, Portugal and Chile are at least partly to blame for Manchester United's current injury problems. The United manager suggested several of his players were struggling with fitness issues going into their first game after the recent international break, a 2-2 Premier […]

Paris (AFP) – Romania will play their next home match behind closed doors as a punishment for "racist behaviour" by their supporters during a recent UEFA Nations League game against Serbia, European football's governing body said on Friday. The incidents happened during the 0-0 draw with Serbia in Bucharest on October 14. The game to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann ranks Bayern Munich only the third best team in Germany — behind Borussia Dortmund and Moenchengladbach — with the reigning German champions feeling the pressure both on and off the pitch. Bayern play strugglers Mainz, who are winless in their last five games, away on […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain's deepening Champions League woes have turned the focus back to the strength of competition — or lack of it — in the French top flight as they prepare to face bitter rivals Marseille this weekend. On Wednesday, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe were shut out and PSG needed a brilliant injury-time […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek's hopes of getting regular playing time in the Premier League are hindered by the club's wealth of talent in his position, says manager Maurizio Sarri. Sarri was speaking after 22-year-old Loftus-Cheek advertised his talents in the best possible manner by scoring a hat-trick in the 3-1 win over […]

London (AFP) – In an historic move football fans attending the England v United States friendly on November 15 will not be allowed to take bags into Wembley, according to Football Association (FA) chief executive Martin Glenn. Glenn said the action was being taken because security forces had informed the FA Wembley is a "prime […]

Sydney (AFP) – Former Ireland striker Andy Keogh blasted Usain Bolt as having "a touch like a trampoline" Friday as the coach of the Central Coast Mariners refused to say whether he believes the sprint star can make it as a footballer. Keogh, who plays for Perth Glory, said it would be a "kick in […]

Milan (AFP) – Fresh from upstaging Manchester United at Old Trafford in midweek Juventus resume their quest for an eighth consecutive Serie A title at strugglers Empoli on Saturday. Cristiano Ronaldo may not have scored against his former employers but he played a pivotal role in Paulo Dybala's winner as Juventus opened up a five-point […]