Singapore (AFP) – Mesut Ozil thanked Arsenal fans for their "love" at a pre-season friendly after a torrid week following his racism allegations against Germany's football body. Ozil watched Arsenal's penalties defeat to Atletico Madrid on Thursday from the bench but he received one of the biggest cheers of the night when his image was […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped launch another dramatic fightback as Los Angeles Galaxy overturned a 2-0 deficit to snatch a 2-2 draw with Los Angeles Football Club in their "El Trafico" derby on Thursday. In another pulsating edition of Major League Soccer's newest city rivalry, Galaxy conjured two goals in the final eight […]

San Felice sul Panaro (Italy) (AFP) – Newspapers recalling decades of sporting glory line the walls, cupboards overflow with stickers of footballing legends and on a desk, pristine packets lie tantalisingly waiting to be opened: welcome to the home of Gianni Bellini, the man with a claim to the biggest football sticker album collection in […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Alex Morgan scored a hat-trick as the United States defeated Japan 4-2 in the opening round of the Tournament of Nations quadrangular competition at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City on Thursday. US captain Morgan struck in the 18th, 26th and 56th minutes as the American women overpowered Japan in a […]

Miami (AFP) – Phil Foden went to this summer's World Cup as a fan but the Manchester City teenager is determined to play a starring role for England at Qatar 2022. England's run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia came despite the absence of a recognised creative midfielder, a vacancy seen as […]

Rome (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo will kick his first ball in Serie A at troubled Chievo on the weekend of August 18/19 when new club Juventus begin their bid for a record eighth straight league title. The fixture list for the 2018-19 season of the Italian championship was announced on Thursday with all eyes on […]

Sofia (AFP) – Bulgaria on Thursday strengthened measures against hooliganism at football matches, after violence marred last season and saw two police officers injured in April. The parliament passed legal amendments that allow detention up to 25 days, community work up to 220 hours and fines up to 5,000 leva (2,500 euros), six times the […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona's first mixed-sex tour was overshadowed by controversy Thursday after it emerged that the men's football team flew in business class to the United States while the women's team was relegated to the back of the plane in economy. The Spanish giants posted photos and videos of the two teams boarding the […]

Rome (AFP) – AC Milan's new sporting director Leonardo revealed Thursday that team captain Leonardo Bonucci wants to return to Juventus just one season after signing for the club from the Serie A champions. "I've met with a range of clubs, including Juventus," the Brazilian said at a press conference in which he was unveiled […]

Singapore (AFP) – Arsenal boss Unai Emery said Emile Smith Rowe had earned his success after the 17-year-old announced himself with a stunning strike in Thursday's penalties defeat to Atletico Madrid in Singapore. Two days before his 18th birthday, Smith Rowe curled Arsenal's equaliser from the edge of the box in a 1-1 draw, before […]

Berlin (AFP) – The collapse of Germany winger Karim Bellarabi during a pre-season match this week has forced Bundesliga clubs to rethink their training schedules due to the heatwave currently gripping northern European. The 28-year-old broke down during a friendly 2-0 win for Bayer Leverkusen at fourth-division minnows Wuppertal on Tuesday. He was later diagnosed […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Ghanaian international Andre Ayew was heading to Istanbul on Thursday where he will join Fenerbahce after the club announced a one-year loan from Swansea City. The 28-year-old midfielder was Swansea's top last season but could not prevent their relegation and as he commands a large salary the Welsh club have allowed him […]

Berlin (AFP) – Having been called up to Canada's senior squad the day he became a citizen, Bayern Munich's latest signing, teenage wunderkind Alphonso Davies, even comes endorsed by Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger. Ghana-born Davies has signed a deal until 2023 from Vancouver Whitecaps in the North American MLS league as Bayern saw off the […]

London (AFP) – Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson thanked medics for saving his life and said he felt humbled by the huge outpouring of sympathy in his first public comments since undergoing emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage in May. The 76-year-old Scot, who won 38 trophies in 26 years in charge at United, […]

Singapore (AFP) – New-look Arsenal left out controversy-hit Mesut Ozil but still impressed before they were edged 3-1 on penalties by Europa League champions Atletico Madrid in a friendly on Thursday. Ozil, who caused a furore when he quit German national duty claiming racism, was rested after his World Cup exertions as 17-year-old midfielder Emile […]