London (AFP) – Tomas Soucek scored the only goal as West Ham beat Wolves 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday to lift themselves to within two points of fourth-placed Manchester United. David Moyes' side, who had drawn their previous two matches, climbed above Arsenal thanks to Soucek's 59th-minute goal on his 27th birthday at […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea said Sunday they were "praying for peace" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine after owner Roman Abramovich's decision to hand over control of the Premier League club. The Russian-Israeli billionaire announced on Saturday that he was handing the "stewardship and care" of Chelsea to the trustees of the club's charitable foundation. But […]

London (AFP) – Leeds United on Sunday sacked manager Marcelo Bielsa following a poor run of results that has left the Premier League side teetering just two points above the relegation zone. Saturday's dispiriting 4-0 loss to Tottenham at Elland Road was their fourth straight defeat, a run during which their leaky defence has conceded […]

London (AFP) – Roman Abramovich rose from a penniless background in Russia's frozen north to become a multi-billionaire and a celebrity football tycoon, but his empire is teetering over his alleged Kremlin links. His decision to hand over control of Chelsea Football Club to trustees of its charitable foundation on Saturday hinted that the 55-year-old […]

Paris (AFP) – Russia should be expelled from the 2022 World Cup after invading Ukraine, French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet told Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday. On the fourth day of the invasion, Ukrainians and Russians said they were ready for talks to halt a conflict that has forced hundreds of thousands of […]

London (AFP) – Leeds United on Sunday sacked manager Marcelo Bielsa following a poor run of results that has left the Premier League side just two points above the relegation zone. Saturday's 4-0 loss to Tottenham at Elland Road was their fourth straight defeat, a run during which they have conceded 17 goals. "Leeds United […]

Prague (AFP) – The Czech Football Association said Sunday the national team would not play Russia in a potential 2022 World Cup play-off in March following the invasion of Ukraine. "The Czech national team will in no case play a potential game against Russia in the World Cup play-offs," the Czech FA said in a […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Carlos Vela fired a superb hat-trick as Los Angeles FC opened their Major League Soccer season with victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. Mexican international Vela took his tally to 60 goals in 87 appearances for Los Angeles in a comprehensive 3-0 win for the California side. The 32-year-old striker […]

Madrid (AFP) – Karim Benzema proved the difference again for Real Madrid on Saturday by scoring a late winner against Rayo Vallecano to send his team nine points clear at the top of La Liga. Atletico Madrid then backed up their encouraging performance against Manchester United in the Champions League by beating Celta Vigo 2-0 […]

Paris (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe scored twice from Lionel Messi assists as an impressive Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Saint-Etienne 3-1 and further extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday. Denis Bouanga put the struggling visitors in front at the Parc des Princes only for Mbappe to equalise just […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Thapelo Morena scored just four minutes after coming off the bench to give Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa a shock 1-0 triumph over CAF Champions League title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt in Cairo on Saturday. The substitute struck on 85 minutes of the Group A matchday 3 clash, firing past goalkeeper Mohamed […]

London (AFP) – Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich handed over control of Chelsea to trustees of its charitable foundation on Saturday as Premier League players showed their support for war-torn Ukraine. Elsewhere on a dramatic day in the English top-flight, Christian Eriksen made an emotional return to football eight months after suffering a cardiac arrest and […]

Paris (AFP) – Poland and Sweden insisted Saturday they will not play Russia in World Cup play-offs as Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich handed over control of the European champions in the latest shockwaves in sport following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Saturday saw the third day of hostilities since Russian leader Vladimir Putin unleashed a full-scale […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Frank Lampard described the decision not to award Everton a late penalty as "incompetence at best" as Manchester City ground out a 1-0 win at Goodison Park to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League. City's first league defeat since October last weekend against Tottenham has reawakened the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Leroy Sane grabbed a late winner as Bayern Munich won 1-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday to open up a nine-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, while Robert Lewandowski led the league's show of support to Ukraine in the wake of Russia's invasion. Sane came off the bench before sealing […]