London (AFP) – The English Football League said Wednesday it was satisfied that Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers' relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes has not breached regulations regarding intermediaries. Last month a number of clubs urged the league to investigate the influence at Molineux of the high-profile Portuguese agent, whose clients include Jose Mourinho and Cristiano […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger admitted Wednesday that the timing of his departure from Arsenal after more than two decades as manager was not his call. The 68-year-old Frenchman — who guided the Gunners to two domestic doubles and masterminded the 2004 "Invincibles", as well as winning a record seven FA Cups — will hand […]

Brussels (AFP) – Chelsea and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is to take action against his former international manager Marc Wilmots for libel and defamation following comments that appeared to blame him and his father for his country's elimination from Euro 2016. Courtois announced via his Facebook page on Tuesday night that he would be taking […]

Rome (AFP) – After Roma scored two late goals in the 5-2 defeat against a Mohamed Salah-inspired Liverpool on Tuesday, the Italian club's sporting director, Monchi, took a deep breath and summed up the hope they had given his side. "We were dead, but we have found a little bit of life again," he told […]

Marseille (AFP) – Quarter of a century on from giving French football its crowning moment in Europe, Marseille are dreaming of continental glory once again. But the club that won the inaugural Champions League in 1993 — still the only time the European Cup has been won by a French side — must first come […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Mohamed Salah could be the man to finally break the Ronaldo-Messi duopoly at the top of world football after the Liverpool forward burnished his soaring reputation with a mesmerising Champions League performance against Roma. Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi have locked down the Ballon d'Or award for a decade, […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid is a clash of European football royalty. Ahead of Wednesday's first leg at the Allianz Arena, here are five quick facts: Near-identical records This is the 25th time the clubs have met in European competition and both have 11 wins with two draws. […]

Jerusalem (AFP) – Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah’s devastating performance for Liverpool in the Champions League has brought him an unexpected fan — the Israeli defence minister. "I will be calling the chief of staff immediately to tell him to hire Mohamed Salah to the Israeli army," Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman wrote on Twitter after Salah […]

Liverpool (AFP) – A Liverpool fan was fighting for his life on Wednesday after suffering a serious head injury in a "vile" assault by Roma fans before the club's Champions League semi-final first-leg clash with the Italian club. The man is being treated for his injuries at a neurological centre, where his condition is described […]

Madrid (AFP) – Gareth Bale's future will come under fresh scrutiny when Real Madrid face Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday. Four years ago, Bale was powering through the heart of Bayern's defence at the Allianz Arena before setting up Cristiano Ronaldo to score in a thumping 4-0 […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool's giant step towards a first Champions League final for 13 years was marred by a likely season-ending injury to midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain that could also rule the England international out of the upcoming World Cup. Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, had to be stretchered off after just 18 minutes of Liverpool's 5-2 semi-final, first […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp saluted Liverpool's "fantastic" 5-2 demolition of Roma on Tuesday as the Reds manager soaked up a Champions League semi-final first leg goal spree that was beyond his expectations. Klopp's side are within touching distance of the final after crushing Roma at Anfield. Mohamed Salah's brace was followed by goals from […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool beat Roma 5-2 in a dramatic Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday to take a big step towards the final in Kiev, despite conceding two late away goals. Here are three things we learned from the Anfield showdown: Sublime Salah Asked if Roma would be able to subdue Mohamed Salah, […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Mohamed Salah came back to haunt former club Roma in spectacular style with two goals and two assists as Liverpool stormed towards the Champions League final with a 5-2 semi-final, first-leg win at Anfield on Tuesday. Roberto Firmino also scored twice and Sadio Mane netted Liverpool's other goal to make up for […]

Paris (AFP) – Greek giants Panathinaikos have been banned from European competition for three years by UEFA for failing to pay their debts, European football's governing body announced on Tuesday. The club were handed a suspended sentence in December and given until March 1 to settle their unpaid bills, but failed to do so and […]