London (AFP) – Gianluigi Buffon has warned Tottenham that Juventus are confident of upsetting the odds in the Champions League last 16 second leg on Wednesday. Tottenham are in a good position to reach the Champions League quarter-finals following their dramatic 2-2 draw in the first leg in Italy last month. Juventus were in control […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has one last chance to salvage the worst year of his Arsenal reign and potentially save his job when the beleaguered Gunners boss faces AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday. Wenger has presided over a miserable campaign that threatens to bring a painful end to the Frenchman's near […]

Rome (AFP) – Italian footballer Davide Astori likely died from a cardiac arrest linked to the slowing of his heart rate, Italian media reported on Tuesday following the initial results of his autopsy. The 31-year-old Fiorentina captain and Italy international was found dead in his hotel room in Udine on Sunday ahead of a scheduled […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City can't yet consider themselves the equal of Barcelona or Real Madrid, City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted despite a stunning season that has seen his side installed as Champions League favourites. The runaway Premier League leaders will secure their place in the last eight of the Champions League […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid meet on Tuesday in a huge Champions League clash that will make or break both clubs' seasons, with severe consequences for the loser. Two-time reigning European champions Real are in the box seat coming into the round of 16, second leg match at the Parc des Princes, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted he will live by the English Football Association's (FA) rules even if he doesn't agree with an FA charge for wearing a yellow ribbon in support of imprisoned pro-independence campaigners in his native Catalonia. On Monday, Guardiola admitted the FA charge of wearing a […]

Moscow (AFP) – President Vladimir Putin played football with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino in the Kremlin on Tuesday as a festive Russia marked 100 days before the start of the World Cup. The footage from Putin's reception office was released by football's world governing body in a tweet featuring legends of the beautiful game juggling […]

Belo Horizonte (Brazil) (AFP) – News crews from around the world may have flocked to cover Neymar's foot operation but some Brazilians would rather see the spotlight on the country's woes. No-one here doubts the talent of the 26-year-old star of the Brazilian national team and Paris Saint-Germain. But people are sick of seeing him […]

Moscow (AFP) – Moscow clubs are promising supporters will behave perfectly on Thursday when they resume European action after clashes involving Russian supporters in Spain in which a policeman died of a heart attack. The violence between followers of Spartak Moscow and Athletic Bilbao on February 22 revived fears that hooliganism could mar the first […]

London (AFP) – N'Golo Kante did not feature in Chelsea's match against Premier League leaders Manchester City at the weekend after fainting at the club's training ground, reports said on Tuesday. The Daily Telegraph newspaper said shocked team-mates feared the France international had suffered a heart problem when he briefly passed out after training on […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he made a mistake in rushing Adam Lallana back from injury as the England midfielder hopes to make his first start in two months against Porto on Tuesday. Lallana has not been in the starting line-up since the FA Cup win over Everton in early January after […]

Baghdad (AFP) – Saudi Arabia has offered to fund a new football stadium in Iraq, as FIFA prepares to decide whether to lift its ban on Iraq hosting competitive international matches. The offer came in a telephone call between King Salman and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday evening, the prime minister's office said. It […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino faces a defining moment as the Tottenham boss aims to joins the managerial elite by masterminding a famous Champions League triumph against Juventus on Wednesday. Long regarded as one of the sport's brightest young managers, Pochettino can use this season's Champions League to reach the rarified air inhabited by the […]

Sydney (AFP) – New Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk named his first squad since taking the job Tuesday, with 38-year-old Tim Cahill included after the Dutchman and his scouts monitored 100 players. Van Marwijk was appointed in late January following the sudden departure of Ange Postecoglou and with the World Cup fast approaching, he has spent […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho revealed his expletive-filled half-time rant inspired Manchester United's dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Mourinho's side fought back from two goals down at Selhurst Park to snatch the points thanks to Nemanja Matic's blistering long-range strike in stoppage-time. United trailed to goals from Andros Townsend and Patrick van Aanholt before […]