London (AFP) – Far from the showpiece razzmatazz of this year's World Cup in Russia, 16 teams kicked off Thursday at an alternative world championship for those sidelined by the official competition. The CONIFA World Football Cup 2018, being contested at non-league grounds around London, sees the likes of Tibet and Northern Cyprus mix with […]

London (AFP) – English Premier League giants Chelsea announced Thursday they had shelved plans for a new 60,000-seater stadium in London due to an "unfavourable investment climate". "Chelsea Football Club announces today that it has put its new stadium project on hold," the Blues said in a statement. "No further pre-construction design and planning work […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps has backed former teammate Zinedine Zidane to step into his shoes "one day", only hours after the latter's shock decision to step down as coach of Real Madrid. Deschamps, however, played down suggestions that Zidane's decision had heaped more pressure on his shoulders ahead of the June […]

Drammen (Norway) (AFP) – Usain Bolt hopes to play in a friendly against the Norway Under-19 team next week as part of his ongoing bid to become a professional footballer and prepare for his Old Trafford debut in a charity match. The 31-year-old eight-time Olympic gold medallist took part in training on Thursday with Norwegian […]

Rome (AFP) – Spanish veteran defender Ivan Marcano has signed for Serie A giants Roma, the Italian side confirmed on Thursday. Marcano has agreed a three-year contract until June 2021, that includes an option for a fourth year. The 30-year-old arrives on a free transfer from Portuguese champions FC Porto where he has played for […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany team director Oliver Bierhoff said Thursday he is angry about a poster of the national team which hints at the four names to be cut from the World Cup squad. Germany play Austria away on Saturday in their penultimate friendly before the World Cup and four names must be trimmed from […]

London (AFP) – Everton on Thursday appointed Marco Silva as the new manager, the Premier League club announced on their website. The 40-year-old Portuguese coach, who replaces Sam Allardyce at Goodison Park, has Premier League experience, with Watford and Hull City. Before that, Silva enjoyed trophy-winning spells with Sporting Lisbon and Olympiakos having also helped […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Peru captain Paolo Guerrero has won a last-ditch appeal to play at the World Cup despite being suspended after testing positive for traces of cocaine, a Swiss federal tribunal announced Thursday. Guerrero appealed to the tribunal following a recent ruling by the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that saw him […]

Madrid (AFP) – Just days ago Zinedine Zidane was basking in the glory of becoming the first coach in history to win three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid and staking a claim as one of the great coaches in history. On Thursday, he said he was quitting the Spanish giants in an announcement […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane dropped a bombshell Thursday, quitting the Spanish giants just days after winning the Champions League for a record third year in a row. The 45-year-old former international decided to quit at the top saying that it was time for a change for himself and the club and […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said Thursday he was leaving the Spanish giants in a surprise move announced just days after winning the Champions League for the third year in a row. "I have taken the decision to not continue next year as Real Madrid coach," the Frenchman told a hastily convened […]

London (AFP) – Former England captain John Terry said Thursday he was leaving Aston Villa and admitted he was "still hurting" after failing to help the Championship club reach the Premier League. The former Chelsea defender came to the former European champions on a one-year deal last July and made 35 league appearances, the last […]

Berlin (AFP) – Joachim Loew believes Germany will be hunted "like never before" when they attempt to become the first team for 56 years to successfully defend the World Cup in Russia. Brazil, who lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in 1958 and 1962, were the last team to win back-to-back titles, but Germany's head coach […]

London (AFP) – Former England midfielder Frank Lampard is taking his first step into management by taking the reins at Derby County, the Championship club announced on Thursday. The 39-year-old, who won three Premier League titles with Chelsea, has signed a three-year contract at the second-tier English outfit two years after retiring in 2016. Derby […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Trouble-hit Japan will hope star power can reverse their flagging fortunes after new coach Akira Nishino named his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia on Thursday. The former JFA technical director, who took charge after predecessor Vahid Halilhodzic was controversially fired last month, took no risks as he turned to […]