Istanbul (AFP) – It's a common sight that has become a ritual. A foreign player set to sign for a Turkish side steps bleary-eyed into the arrivals hall at Istanbul airport to be greeted by a raucous welcome from thousands of fans. Slogans are chanted as if in a trance, flares let off and the […]

London (United Kingdom) (AFP) – It should have been a welcome day off for Lorenzo Libutti and a chance to spend some time with his wife shortly before the birth of their second child. But then English Premier League club Watford appointed Spaniard Javi Gracia as their new manager — their tenth since 2012 — […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal stars to keep their cool when they face bitter rivals Tottenham as the heated north London derby returns to Wembley for the first time in 25 years. Languishing in sixth place in the Premier League, Wenger's side are however just four points behind fifth placed Tottenham. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Just days before Paris Saint-Germain touch down in the Spanish capital, Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid have the chance to boost their fragile confidence when they face Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday. The reigning European champions have been shipping a worrying number of goals in the build-up to their Champions League […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The continued absence of star player Riyad Mahrez means Leicester City travel to Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday mired in a crisis created by their hosts. Mahrez, 26, has not featured for the mid-table Foxes, in matches or training, since his dream move to City was blocked by […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham host Arsenal at Wembley this weekend aiming to crush the optimism created by the Gunners' new-look forward line while the absent Riyad Mahrez will be missed by both teams at the Etihad. Elsewhere, Antonio Conte's Chelsea welcome West Brom with the Italian manager's job looking precarious following embarrassing back-to-back defeats to […]

Madrid (AFP) – Philippe Coutinho came off the bench to score his first goal for Barcelona in a 2-0 win at Valencia on Thursday that saw his new club ease into another Copa del Rey final. Coutinho broke the deadlock in the 49th minute of the semi-final, second leg at Mestalla, having only come on […]

Madrid (AFP) – Philippe Coutinho came off the bench to score his first goal for Barcelona in a 2-0 win at Valencia on Thursday that saw his new club ease into another Copa del Rey final. Coutinho broke the deadlock in the 49th minute of the semi-final, second leg at Mestalla, having only come on […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain, seeking a fourth straight French Cup, were drawn on Thursday against their bitter rivals and closest challengers in Ligue 1, Marseille, in this year's quarter-finals. This edition of the French "clasico" is also a repeat of the 2016 final which PSG won, 4-2. It also means that the two clubs […]

Marseille (AFP) – Marseille open the Ligue 1 weekend by taking one of the hottest attacks in Europe to the fortress of one of their ancient rivals, Saint-Etienne. Marseille's motto is "Straight to goal" and they are living up to it in 2018 with 27 goals scored in all competitions since the start of the […]

London (AFP) – West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez said he would fight to clear his name after being charged by the Football Association on Thursday over an incident involving Brighton's Gaetan Bong during which he was accused of using racist language. The FA said Rodriguez has been charged with using "abusive and/or insulting words which […]

Berlin (AFP) – The amount Bundesliga club RB Leipzig owe their backers Red Bull has leapt to 83.164 million euros ($101.9m), according to a government-backed magazine. The Bundesanzeiger, published by Germany's department of Justice, say the club added 30 million euros to the 52.384m they owed the Austrian energy drinks giants at the end of […]

London (AFP) – West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez was Thursday charged by the Football Association over an incident involving Brighton's Gaetan Bong during which he was accused of using racist language. Footage from the Premier League match on January 13 shows the pair arguing and bumping into each other, before Rodriguez holds his nose and […]

Berlin (AFP) – The president of the Iranian FA has reportedly flown to meet with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to urge him to intervene in a politically-charged Asian Champions League game. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have affected the forthcoming match between Tehran-based Esteghlal and Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. The teams are due to […]

Milan (AFP) – Italian football federation sub-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta said Thursday there were "six or seven names" in the hat for the Italy coaching job. Former AC Milan defender Costacurta has been given the task of finding a successor to Gian Piero Ventura who was sacked after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup. […]