Oldham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – World Cup winner Juan Mata is breaking the mould, challenging the general perception of spoilt, rich footballers and helping to awaken the sport's social conscience through the 'Common Goal' project. The Manchester United midfielder is encouraging players to follow his example and pledge a minimum of one percent of their […]

Moscow (AFP) – The world football governing body FIFA expressed "complete trust" Friday in Russia's ability to ensure a safe World Cup despite fan violence in Spain during which a policeman died. A Basque officer died Thursday as hundreds of security forces clashed with supporters of Russian club Spartak Moscow in Bilbao before the start […]

Milan (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri warned Juventus that their days of Serie A domination were numbered as Napoli switched their focus to winning a first league title in nearly 30 years after their European exit. "In Italy, in the last six years nobody has ever fought it out with Juventus," said the Napoli coach after […]

Oldham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – World Cup winner Juan Mata is breaking the mould, challenging the general perception of spoilt, rich footballers and helping to awaken the sport's social conscience through the Common Goal project. The Manchester United midfielder is encouraging players to follow his example and pledge a minimum of one percent of their […]

Casablanca (Morocco) (AFP) – The rubbish had been cleared away and spectators emerged from makeshift tents: it was time for kick-off in the daily football game at the Oulad Ziane migrant camp in Morocco's Casablanca. "We organise ourselves among the different nationalities," said Djabel Niang, 21, who left Senegal two years ago to pursue […]

Wellington (AFP) – New Zealand Football (NZF) named Switzerland's Fritz Schmid as the national team coach Friday, saying his brief was to get the All Whites to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. His appointment follows the departure of Briton Anthony Hudson in November after New Zealand lost an intercontinental playoff with Peru for a […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery says his side will be using two upcoming matches against arch-rivals Marseille at the Parc des Princes as preparation for the Champions League clash with Real Madrid. PSG's games with Marseille are usually the biggest fixtures on the French footballing calendar, but Spaniard Emery insists that Sunday's […]

Madrid (AFP) – Talk of a crisis at Real Madrid is over for now, but the form of Gareth Bale remains a cause of concern ahead of this weekend's meeting with Alaves in La Liga. The Welshman was back on the bench for Wednesday's 3-1 victory at Leganes, his involvement restricted to a late cameo […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United and Chelsea cross swords this weekend with all eyes on the dugouts after a war of words between Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte and Liverpool could take advantage. With one or both of the sides bound to drop points at Old Trafford, Jurgen Klopp's team are in prime position to […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Sadio Mane says his Champions League hat-trick has given him a confidence boost as Liverpool seek to climb to second in the Premier League — at least temporarily — by beating West Ham at Anfield on Saturday. Mane is just one goal short of matching his total for the whole of the […]

Bergamo (Italy) (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund striker Michy Batshuayi accused Atalanta fans of racist abuse on Thursday after his team's Europa League match in Lombardy. The Belgian international, who is on loan from Premier League champions Chelsea, wrote on Twitter that he heard "monkey noises" from the Atalanta supporters. He wrote: "2018 and still racists […]

Madrid (AFP) – Villarreal's Portuguese defender Ruben Semedo was Thursday charged with attempted murder and kidnapping, a Spanish justice spokesman said. The 23-year-old was arrested at his home in the early hours of Tuesday after a man alleged he had been "tied up, beaten and held by Semedo and two other men at the player's […]

Paris (AFP) – Arsenal scraped into the last 16 of the Europa League despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat by Ostersunds, but Thursday's action was marred by violent clashes at the match between between Athletic Bilbao and Spartak Moscow which left a police officer dead. Two quickfire first-half goals gave Swedish minnows Ostersunds hope of a […]

Madrid (AFP) – A Basque police officer died Thursday as security forces clashed with fans of Russian club Spartak Moscow in the Spanish city of Bilbao where a Europa League match was taking place. "We can confirm that a Basque policeman died Thursday," said a press spokesman for the Ertzaintza region. However, he refused to […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan's chief has insisted star striker Mauro Icardi is going nowhere despite his wife and agent revealing two offers from big clubs, rumoured to be Manchester United and Real Madrid. Speculation about the future of the 25-year-old Argentine — who is currently out injured — has increased as the Serie A […]