Monrovia (AFP) – Liberian football star-turned-president George Weah has won world headlines by conferring his country's top honour on his former boss Arsene Wenger — but back home, not everyone is happy. On Friday, Weah will award Arsene Wenger and Claude Le Roy, the two French coaches who gave his football career an early boost, […]

Milan (AFP) – Dutch football great Patrick Kluivert said Wednesday he believes his son Justin made the right call in snubbing Manchester United to join AS Roma. Kluivert, 19, had looked set to head for the Premeir League this summer but instead the winger opted to move to Italy after two years in Ajax. "I […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Northern Irish international Kyle Lafferty secured his return to Rangers on a two-year deal from Hearts, both clubs confirmed on Wednesday. Lafferty, 30, won three league titles in a four-year spell in his first stint at Rangers between 2008 and 2012 and becomes Steven Gerrard's 12th new signing since taking charge in […]

London (AFP) – Brazil international Fred chose Manchester United ahead of several other top clubs based on the advice of his compatriot and agent Gilberto Silva, the player said on Wednesday. The 25-year-old midfielder — United's major signing in a close season transfer market that left manager Jose Mourinho underwhelmed — said Silva, a former […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich's star striker Robert Lewandowski has broken his silence about wanting to leave the Bundesliga giants in May — but insists he is ready to win titles again this season with the Bavarians. "In April, May, almost everyone took a shot at me," Lewandowski, who turned 30 on Tuesday, told German […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo said it had been an easy decision to leave Real Madrid for Juventus as he bids to become just the second player to win the Champions League with three different clubs. "I want to win the Champions League with Juventus and we will do everything to win it," the 33-year-old […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Football's world governing body FIFA has taken control of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) after the organisation was plunged into chaos following the sudden resignation of president Wilmar Valdez last month. A letter from FIFA reported in local media said the body had set up a "regularisation committee" aimed at restoring order […]

London (AFP) – QPR manager Steve McClaren is in danger of being sacked less than a month into the new Championship season after his struggling side were beaten 3-0 by Bristol City on Tuesday. McClaren's team are rooted to the bottom of the second-tier table following their fourth successive league defeat. The former England coach, […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina's interim coach Lionel Scaloni refused to be drawn on Lionel Messi's international future after leaving the five-time World Player of the Year out of his squad for upcoming friendlies next month. Local media had claimed the Barcelona star asked to be excused from international duty for Argentina's four remaining friendlies […]

Milan (AFP) – Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic has signed a contract extension to keep him at Juventus until 2023, the Italian champions announced on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has won back-to-back Serie A and Italian Cup doubles since joining the Bianconeri from Roma in 2016. Known as a set-piece specialist, Pjanic has scored 15 league goals […]

Paris (AFP) – The Slovenian Football Association (NZS) on Tuesday announced that its former head, Aleksander Ceferin, has been nominated for re-election as UEFA president by several European federations. The NZS said in a statement on its website that a group of federations had sent an "official proposal" of support for Ceferin, the 50-year-old lawyer […]

London (AFP) – The English Premier League said Tuesday it is taking steps to bring legal action in Saudi Arabia to resolve a piracy issue over the televising of its matches and to protect its authorised broadcaster Qatar-based beIN Media Group. The EPL said it had seen "compelling evidence" that all 20 of its matches […]

Paris (AFP) – Former England captain David Beckham is to receive the 2018 UEFA President's Award in honour of his achievements in the game and his work since retiring as a player, European football's governing body said on Tuesday. The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder, who is now 43, will receive the award in […]

Yaoundé (AFP) – New Cameroon coach Clarence Seedorf has named France cap Paul-Georges Ntep in his first squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away against Comoros, but there is no place for two China-based stars. Dutchman Seedorf, who was appointed on August 4 as the successor to Belgian Hugo Broos with compatriot […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic says he prefers playing without Video Assistant Referee (VAR) even though his side felt hard done by in going behind to a controversial penalty in the 2-0 loss to Liverpool. The 27-year-old Serbian midfielder said he had asked Egyptian Mohamed Salah to tell match referee Michael Oliver […]