Berlin (AFP) – With Borussia Dortmund having sold their self-styled "Batman" Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang, his replacement Michy Batshuayi, another aspiring "Caped Crusader", answered their call for goals on his debut. "I heard the Batman job was vacant at Borussia Dortmund so I decided to take over," Batshuayi, who already liked to call himself "Batsman", wrote on […]

Geneva (AFP) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Saturday it had rejected a request from Swiss club Sion's president to suspend his nine-month ban for hitting a television pundit, setting a new hearing in the case. "CAS rejects the suspension request," the international sports court said in a statement. Christian Constantin's assault of […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – The world of Latin American football is often criticized as one in which violence against women is tolerated, and now there is a new case to further soil its reputation. Two top players — Colombians Edwin Cardona and Wilmar Barrios — who play for one of Argentina's storied teams, Boca Juniors, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has hit out at the quality of officials in England, claiming players could miss the World Cup because they’re being "butchered" by bad challenges. City star Leroy Sane was sidelined for up to seven weeks after a bad tackle by Cardiff’s Joe Bennett in their […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho is using illustrious predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson as inspiration to turn the balance in power from Premier League champions-elect Manchester City to his Manchester United side next season. For the first time on Friday, Mourinho all but conceded this season’s title to Pep Guardiola’s side after United’s loss […]

Berlin (AFP) – Michy Batshuayi scored twice on his Borussia Dortmund debut in Friday's 3-2 Bundesliga win at bottom side Cologne — just two days after signing on loan from Chelsea. Head coach Peter Stoeger, who was sacked by Cologne in December, threw the Belgian striker in at the deep end to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. […]

Marseille (AFP) – Florian Thauvin took his season's league goal tally to 13 with a hat-trick as Marseille enjoyed a 6-3 rout of rock-bottom Metz in French Ligue 1 on Friday. The win moved Marseille into second place in the table, eight points behind bitter rivals Paris Saint-Germain who have a game in hand and […]

Berlin (AFP) – Michy Batshuayi scored twice on his Borussia Dortmund debut in Friday's 3-2 Bundesliga win at bottom side Cologne — just two days after signing on loan from Chelsea. Head coach Peter Stoeger, who was sacked by Cologne in December, threw the Belgian striker in at the deep end to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. […]

London (AFP) – West Ham United on Friday sacked their director of player recruitment Tony Henry after investigating allegations that he made racist comments about African players. "West Ham United have today terminated the contract of Director of Player Recruitment, Tony Henry, with immediate effect following his unacceptable comments that were widely reported in the press," […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy's under-21 coach Luigi Di Biagio has been asked to take temporary charge of the senior team until a full-time replacement is found, the Italian federation said on Friday. Without a coach since their shock World Cup qualifying elimination in November, Italy take on both England and Argentina in friendlies in March. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund have opted to register new striker Michy Batshuayi, but not Swiss centre-back Manuel Akanji, for their Europa League squad, according to the list released on Friday by UEFA. Both Akanji and Batshuayi could make their Bundesliga debuts on Friday at bottom side Cologne. Dortmund head coach Peter Stoeger could only […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola rubbished Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho's concession of the Premier League title to his Manchester City side as too soon and warned against complacency ahead of Saturday's trip to Burnley. Mourinho, whose rivalry with Guardiola stretches back to a stormy relationship as bosses of Real Madrid and Barcelona […]

London (AFP) – Riyad Mahrez will not be included in Leicester City boss Claude Puel's squad for the visit of Swansea City as the Algerian's standoff with the Foxes for their refusal to entertain a deadline day bid from Manchester City rumbles on. Mahrez has not trained since City's withdrew their interest on Wednesday's due […]

Berlin (AFP) – Jupp Heynckes said Friday that the charm offensive to persuade him to stay as Bayern Munich coach will be "in vain" as he insists on leaving when the season finishes. The 72-year-old has turned Bayern's fortunes around, from trailing in the Bundesliga by five points when he took over in October, to […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp laughed off suggestions from former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher that club-record signing Virgil van Dijk needs to slim down to recover his top form. Carragher told Sky Sports' "The Debate" programme that the world's most expensive defender "needs to lose a bit of weight". "I am sure Jamie […]