Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Sevilla overcame a red card, missed penalty and 2-0 deficit against Villarreal on Saturday to seal a valuable point in the race for Europa League qualification. Wissam Ben Yedder was booked twice, each time for dissent, eight minutes after coming on as a second-haf substitute, with Sevilla already trailing to Dani […]

Madrid (Spain) (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane believes the negative reaction to Real Madrid's last-gasp win over Juventus has been "disgraceful, upsetting and deceptive", and borne out of jealousy towards the European champions. Real sneaked into the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday after English referee Michael Oliver awarded the 12-times champions a controversial penalty in added-on […]

London (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and David Silva lead a six-strong cast that also includes the prolific Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane for the 2017-18 Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award. Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is the other nominee. Despite blowing the chance to […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manager Pep Guardiola has made the extraordinary suggestion that runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City could suffer a stunning collapse — even though they could be confirmed as champions this weekend if results go their way. City are 13 points clear at the top with six matches to play and […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has defended Gianluigi Buffon and labelled him "a role model for over 20 years" after the goalkeeper saw red against Champions League conquerors Real Madrid for a furious rant at the referee. Buffon was sent off for dissent in the final minute of a 3-1 quarter-final, second leg […]

Moscow (Russia) (AFP) – Russia's perpetually late World Cup stadium in Samara had some good news to report exactly two months before kickoff: it is finally getting its grass. Twelve gleaming white lorries filled with rolls of the precious pitch arrived Saturday in the Volga River city from Germany. Photographs proudly tweeted by the regional […]

Paris (France) (AFP) – When Paris Saint-Germain host Monaco on Sunday seeking to seal the Ligue 1 title, Alphonse Areola will be living his dream, but the young 'keeper still faces challenges. First, he has to keep out Monaco, who last season ended PSG's run of four consecutive titles and this time sit second, 14 […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has made the extraordinary suggestion that Manchester City could suffer a stunning Premier League title collapse. "Of course it can happen, I assure you," said Guardiola. Guardiola is concerned about the psychological effect that three defeats in a week might have on his players as they look to […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Neymar has told Brazilian television he still needs around a month to recover from a foot operation, as the Paris Saint-Germain superstar targets a return to full fitness in time for the World Cup. "I need about a month, but it is healing well. Everything is happening normally," Neymar, who […]

Buenos Aires (Argentina) (AFP) – The 10 countries of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) officially gave their backing Friday for the joint bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada for the 2026 World Cup. The CONMEBOL board announced in a statement that they had taken the decision "unanimously" to support the North American […]

London (United Kingdom) (AFP) – No action will be taken against Jay Rodriguez after the Football Association announced Friday that an allegation of racism against the West Bromwich Albion striker was "not proven". The 28-year-old had been accused of using "abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race" […]

Berlin (Germany) (AFP) – German giants Bayern Munich on Friday named Eintracht Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac as their new coach, succeeding Jupp Heynckes at the end of the season. "Niko was a player at Bayern, he is very familiar with the people involved as well as the structure and the DNA of the club," said […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Defending champions Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the Champions League while Liverpool play Roma in a repeat of the 1984 final. Real, who needed a dramatic late penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo to scrape past Juventus in the quarter-finals, will travel to Bayern's Allianz Arena for the […]

London (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool won't allow Mohamed Salah to become the latest star player to quit Anfield in search of silverware. Salah has enjoyed an incredible first season with Liverpool following a £34-million ($48 million) move from Roma that now looks a bargain deal for the Reds. The Egypt winger […]

Berlin (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes admitted he fears Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, after his side were handed a Champions League semi-final against the holders in Friday's draw. Last year, Ronaldo scored a second-leg hat-trick as Real edged out Bayern in a thrilling quarter-final after extra time. "I hope Ronaldo does […]