Rome (AFP) – Italian international footballer Mario Balotelli has blasted the country's first black senator, who was elected in Sunday's general ballot for the far-right, anti-immigrant League party. Balotelli, who was born in Palermo to Ghanaian parents and has played 33 times for Italy, has long been a target for racist abuse. He took to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany great Jurgen Klinsmann's Californian-born son Jonathan is "too American" and must work harder to make an impact in the Bundesliga, the Hertha Berlin goalkeeper's coach said on Wednesday. The 20-year-old Klinsmann, whose father won the 1990 World Cup as a striker and coached Germany at the 2006 tournament, joined Hertha last […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov has dismissed fears that racism and hooliganism in domestic football are serious enough to mar the World Cup later this year. "I do not think that we have racism on a scale that needs to be fought," Cherchesov told Brazil's Globo TV. "Hooligans? I have not seen any […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo is setting records again and Zinedine Zidane is back in favour after Real Madrid brushed aside Paris Saint-Germain to reach their eighth consecutive Champions League quarter-final. After a bruising few months, in which Real have limped out of the running for every domestic honour, they saved their best for the […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain's Qatari-bankrolled bid to put themselves among Europe's elite foundered again as Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid comfortably beat the French club to move into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Ronaldo administered the killer blow with a 51st minute header at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday that saw PSG's chances […]

Sydney (AFP) – Goals from Shoma Doi and Naomichi Ueda doomed Sydney FC to their second defeat in the AFC Champions League as the hosts crashed 2-0 to Japan's Kashima Antlers on Wednesday. Doi and Ueda, who are both targeting places with Japan at this year's World Cup, struck shortly before half- and full-time respectively […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan's superb recent run faces a stiff test against Arsenal in the Europa League last-16 first leg in Italy on Thursday amid a backdrop of murky finances which are threatening one of Italy's most successful clubs. Former AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has turned around the fortunes of the struggling former […]

Paris (AFP) – After an honourable defeat to Barcelona on away goals in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013, Paris Saint-Germain's Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated the club's objective was to win the competition "in the next five years". That deadline expired with Tuesday's limp defeat to holders Real Madrid in the last 16, leaving […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain invested 400 million euros ($496 million) this summer to try to buy European supremacy, only to crash out of the Champions League at the same last-16 stage as last season. AFP Sport looks at where it went wrong for the Qatari-owned club as they were eliminated 5-2 on aggregate by […]

Paris (AFP) – Beleaguered Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery insisted there was no shame in losing to Real Madrid after the expensively-assembled French side crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of the holders. "To be eliminated in the last 16 is a disappointment, but to lose against Real Madrid is not. They […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – The joint Canada-Mexico-US bid for the 2026 World Cup announced a reshuffle of its leadership on Tuesday, emphasising diversity as they seek to woo voters at a key FIFA vote in just over three months' time. A statement on the "United 2026" bid website said the leaders of the US, Canada […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted the Champions League quarter-finals is where his side belong after ending a nine-year wait to reach the last eight on Tuesday. Despite settling for a goalless draw in an uninspiring last 16, second leg at Anfield, Liverpool eased past Porto 5-0 on aggregate thanks to a comprehensive […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot said his side's late collapse in the first leg against Real Madrid was crucial as the French side bowed out to the holders in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday. Despite their domestic struggles, record 12-time European champions Real advanced to the quarter-finals 5-2 on aggregate […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in nine years 5-0 on aggregate over Porto, despite settling for a goalless draw in an uninspiring last 16, second leg at Anfield on Tuesday. Sadio Mane inflicted most of the first-leg damage on the Portuguese league leaders with a hat-trick […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro got the goals for Real Madrid as the holders won 2-1 away to a Paris Saint-Germain side missing Neymar to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday. Ronaldo had scored twice — including his 100th goal for Real in the competition — as they won […]