Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain have omitted veteran midfielder Thiago Motta from their squad for the trip to face Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16, first leg on Wednesday. The French giants opted to leave the 35-year-old Italy international behind in Paris, even though he apparently is no longer injured and trained normally […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette will be out of action for up to six weeks after undergoing an operation on his left knee, the club said on Tuesday. The 26-year-old had an arthroscopy in London and the procedure was described as a "success" by the Gunners. "The minor procedure was a success and […]

Berlin (AFP) – Having helped save Borussia Dortmund from bankruptcy Hans-Joachim Watzke has now extended his stay as chief executive of the now successful Bundesliga club until 2022. Watzke, 58, has signed a four-year extension alongside Thomas Tress, Dortmund's chief financial officer. "Borussia Dortmund's sporting and economic success since 2005 is directly linked to the […]

London (AFP) – Olivier Giroud is focused on nailing down a first-team place at Chelsea after a dramatic full debut against West Brom, during which he was forced to have five stitches for a head wound. The France striker, who moved from Arsenal for £18 million ($25 million) last month, impressed during Monday's 3-0 win […]

Lisbon (AFP) – From a king of Europe in Madrid to the substitutes' bench with Porto, it's been a rocky transition for three-time Champions League winner Iker Casillas following his departure from boyhood club Real in 2015. "San Iker", the captain of Spain's World Cup-winning side in 2010 and of back-to-back European Championship triumphs, now […]

London (AFP) – Hull City and England midfielder Ryan Mason on Tuesday announced his retirement from football after failing to recover from a fractured skull. The 26-year-old was involved in a sickening clash of heads with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill at Stamford Bridge in January 2017 and has not played since. "I can confirm that […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho backs the controversial video assistant referee system because it helps officials make "fair decisions" but says the system needs adjustments to preserve the flow of the game. United will play in a match in which VAR is being trialled for the first time when play at Huddersfield […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane insists he is not letting the pressure get to him as he prepares his Real Madrid side for Wednesday's huge Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the Santiago Bernabeu. "I'm very happy. We all live for these moments. I don't feel any particular pressure," a relaxed Zidane said at […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Chinese Super League teams who evade the country's 100 percent levy on foreign player transfers face crippling point deductions under new measures aimed at plugging loopholes in the restrictions. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) said clubs could be docked up to 15 points in the league table depending on the value of […]

Idlib (Syria) (AFP) – At the referee's whistle, the young forward leans on his crutches and punts the football with his only leg, kicking off a match between war amputees in Syria's battered northwest. What follows is a different take on the beautiful game: men of all ages, some using crutches, deftly pass the ball […]

Madrid (AFP) – With Cristiano Ronaldo on one side and Neymar on the other, Wednesday's heavyweight Champions League showdown between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain sees two of the game's biggest global superstars collide. Ronaldo, the current world player of the year, has rediscovered something like his best form just at the right time for […]

Madrid (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain smashed the world-record transfer fee last year to sign Neymar from Barcelona, but despite the big spending driven by their Qatari owners, the French club still lag behind Real Madrid in terms of financial muscle. Reigning European champions Real (647.6 million euros) made almost 200 million euros more in turnover […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte is relieved to have options again up front in Olivier Giroud and fit-again Alvaro Morata ahead of what the Italian says is a "massive" few weeks for Chelsea. Giroud's touch set up Eden Hazard for the opening goal as Chelsea rolled over rock-bottom West Bromwich Albion 3-0 on Monday. It […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane inspired France to World Cup glory as a player, but his extraordinary career has to a large degree been defined by the Champions League. His magnificent volleyed goal for Real Madrid in their 2002 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park in Glasgow is one of the greatest to be […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte thanked the Chelsea fans for their loyal support as Eden Hazard's double eased the pressure on the Italian with a 3-0 win over rock bottom West Brom on Monday. Three-goal thrashings at the hands of Bournemouth and Watford saw odds slashed on Conte becoming the latest Chelsea boss to be […]