Sydney (AFP) – Usain Bolt is on the verge of sealing a deal to trial with the A-League's Central Coast Mariners, the Australian club said Tuesday, as the sprint legend pursues his dream of playing professional football. Eight-time Olympic champion Bolt, 31, who retired from athletics after August's World Championships in London, is an avid […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Hundreds of thousands of Croatians took to the streets in Zagreb on Monday to greet their players as they returned home from Russia after losing the World Cup final. A crowd estimated by police at more than 550,000 people cheered the team during its parade on an open-top bus from the airport […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Rangers manager Steven Gerrard believes his team can exploit the gaps in the home defence as Shkupi chase the game in Macedonia on Tuesday. Gerrard's side lead 2-0 in the Europa League first qualifying round after James Tavernier's stoppage-time penalty in the first leg gave them a priceless two-goal advantage following Jamie […]

London (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez did not fly out with his Manchester United team-mates for their United States tour because of a "personal administrative issue", the English Premier League giants announced Monday. The Chilean forward did not board the plane with his United team-mates on Sunday, amid speculation he faced visa problems after he accepted […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russia on Monday jailed members of Pussy Riot feminist punk group for 15 days after they invaded the pitch during the World Cup final dressed in police uniforms A Moscow court sentenced Veronika Nikulshina, Olga Kuracheva and Pyotr Verzilov to 15 days in police cells and also banned them from visiting sports […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo said Monday that he's "different" from other players of his age who move to China or Qatar for mega-money deals, during an official unveiling as a Juventus player in which he said he wanted to help bring Champions League success to his new club. With the World Cup over, […]

Paris (AFP) – The World Cup-winning French team returned home to a heroes' welcome on Monday, parading down the Champs-Elysees as hundreds of thousands of cheering fans gave a raucous welcome to the country's newest idols. France overcame a determined Croatia to win 4-2 in Sunday's final in Russia, with teenager Kylian Mbappe applying the […]

Brest (Belarus) (AFP) – Hotfoot from creating a stir at the World Cup Diego Maradona arrived in Belarus on Monday to begin the latest chapter in his colourful career. Argentina's 1986 World Cup winner insisted that his new role as president of first division Dinamo Brest was "very serious" and said he hoped his presence […]

Paris (AFP) – Retired France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry said on Monday that he was quitting as a football analyst with British broadcaster Sky Sports to focus on a coaching career. Henry, who had worked for Sky since 2015, has also been an assistant to Belgium manager Roberto Martinez since 2016 and helped lead […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo said that he's "different" from other players of his age who move to China or Qatar for mega-money deals, during his official unveiling as a Juventus player on Monday. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was his usual confident self at a press conference in Turin attended by media from […]

Abuja (AFP) – Nigeria's government has stepped in to repatriate scores of its nationals who were tricked into buying football World Cup passes to travel to Russia, the president's spokesman said on Monday. Some of the visitors spent days sleeping at Moscow's Vnukovo airport while others were forced to stay outside in front of the […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Croatia may have fallen short in the World Cup final but the team's feats in the tournament has boosted the small Balkan nation's morale and many hope it could help its struggling economy and image abroad too. During their run through the competition, captain Luka Modric and co. wowed fans around the […]

Rome (AFP) – Juventus are dreaming of Champions League glory ahead of the official unveiling Monday of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Serie A champions' superstar summer signing from European kings Real Madrid. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner will be presented to the world media at a press conference scheduled for 6:30 pm (1630 GMT). Juventus fans gave […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Tens of thousands of Croatians gave a heroes' welcome to their team in Zagreb on Monday after the squad returned from Russia following their World Cup final defeat. A crowd estimated at more than 100,000 thronged the capital's main square to see the players, led by captain and World Cup Golden Ball […]

London (AFP) – New Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has spoken of his excitement at facing many of the world's leading managers now that he in charge of a Premier League side. The Italian's arrival at Stamford Bridge, where he replaces compatriot Antonio Conte, sees him join a multi-national cast of managers in English football's top-flight, […]