Paris (France) (AFP) – Arsenal survived a scare as they progressed to the last four of the Europa League on Thursday after coming back to draw 2-2 with CSKA Moscow in Russia. Fedor Chalov and Kirill Nababkin scored for CSKA to set Arsenal nerves jangling in the Russian capital, as the hosts looked to overturn […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan's Chinese owner Li Yonghong insisted Thursday he remains committed to the Serie A club as he marked the first anniversary of his takeover. Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's 30-year ownership ended last April when he sold the club to Li's Chinese-led consortium for 740 million euros ($913m). Since then, […]

Doha (Qatar) (AFP) – Middle Eastern emirate Qatar will play in the 2019 Copa America in Brazil after accepting an invitation to take part, a football association spokesman in Doha said on Thursday. "Qatar will play in the 2019 Copa America, it's a great opportunity for us to participate in such a tournament," the spokesman […]

London (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Harry Kane has been awarded Tottenham Hotspur's second goal in their 2-1 Premier League victory at Stoke City after the England star appealed against the decision to give it to Christian Eriksen. Kane claimed he got the final touch on Eriksen's free-kick at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday, but the […]

Rome (AFP) – Roma chairman James Pallotta on Wednesday offered to donate 230,000 euros ($285,000) to the city of Rome as well as paying a small fine for diving into a historic fountain after his club's epic win over Barcelona. Pallotta was filmed, surrounded by a crowd of delirious supporters, falling backwards into the fountain […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has fractured a finger in his left hand and will need an operation, the club announced on Wednesday. Rakitic sustained the injury during Barca's shock 3-0 defeat to Roma on Tuesday as the Catalans were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals. A statement from […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Pep Guardiola's current torrid time as Manchester City manager took a further turn for the worse Wednesday with news that UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings into his "improper conduct". Guardiola was dismissed from the field of play after a half-time tirade at the referee in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat by Liverpool in the […]

Doha (Qatar) (AFP) – Qatar's national team coach Felix Sanchez said Wednesday he would welcome the chance for the 2022 World Cup hosts playing in next year's Copa America in Brazil. Amid growing speculation that wealthy Middle Eastern emirate will be invited to take part in the South American tournament, Sanchez said the possibility of […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Arjen Robben says Bayern Munich can take nothing for granted against Sevilla in Wednesday's home quarter-final after the Spaniards dumped Manchester United out of the Champions League in the previous round. Bayern have one foot in a seventh European semi-final in nine years after earning a 2-1 away win at Sevilla […]

Paris (France) (AFP) – "The fall of Rome" was how one Catalan daily described Barcelona's shock 3-0 defeat to Serie A side Roma on Tuesday which ended the Spanish league giants' bid for a place in the semi-finals. As Roma look forward to their first semi-final since 1984, Barcelona are licking their wounds having failed […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – In a week of new experiences for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, a comprehensive Champions League 5-1 aggregate exit at the quarter-final stage to Liverpool was an all too familiar feeling. City have now lost three consecutive games under Guardiola for the first time – having also blown the chance to […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona's shock Champions League exit at the hands of Roma on Tuesday does not discount what is likely to be a double-winning season but the loss should serve as a warning for what comes next. After the 3-0 defeat at Stadio Olimpico, which sent Roma through on away goals, Ernesto Valverde paid […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp admits the clock is ticking on his target of winning a trophy within the first four years of his Liverpool tenure but after eliminating Manchester City he says he dare not dream that it will be the Champions League. The 50-year-old German refuses to contemplate a sixth European […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy has spent five months grieving over the failure of the national team to take their customary place at the World Cup, but Roma have restored some pride with a heroic victory over Barcelona in the Champions League. The Azzurri, four-time world champions, are not going to Russia, but after Roma won […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola blasted Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz and lamented decisions that cost his side dear after a 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool on Tuesday sealed a 5-1 aggregate Champions League quarter-final win for the five-time European champions. Guardiola was forced to watch the second half from […]