Los Angeles (AFP) – Bruce Arena says he accepted blame for American's World Cup failure by resigning quickly, but added there were also had a "few bad eggs" on the roster who helped spoil the team chemistry. Three months after the US's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the former head coach opened […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur could be without France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris when manager Mauricio Pochettino takes the London side to his former club Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday. Lloris missed training on Friday due to illness and Pochettino said: "I don't know about Hugo. It's difficult to say, we need to wait […]

London (AFP) – Theo Walcott may have ended his 12-year Arsenal career carrying his personal belongings in bin bags, but the England international insisted he bore no ill will towards his old club after joining Premier League rivals Everton. There was no time for the 28-year-old to say his goodbyes to the Gunners following a […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has confirmed Manchester United club captain Michael Carrick will retire at the end of the season prior to joining his coaching staff as he pursues a post-playing career. The 36-year-old veteran has been plagued by injury and illness concerns this season and has been limited to one appearance, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has suggested Manchester City gave up on trying to sign Alexis Sanchez because of the player's high wage demands. Sanchez looked set to leave Arsenal for the Etihad Stadium until Premier League leaders City ended their pursuit on Monday, leaving the way clear for second-placed Manchester United to […]

Paris (AFP) – Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin netted second-half goals as Marseille defeated Caen 2-0 on Friday to climb above Lyon and into second place in France's Ligue 1. Former West Ham winger Payet broke the deadlock on 55 minutes from the penalty spot after Bouna Sarr was brought down in the area by […]

London (AFP) – Brighton and Hove Albion have signed PSV Eindhoven striker Jurgen Locadia for a club-record fee on a four-year deal, the Premier League side announced Friday. The south coast club, promoted last season, did not disclose the figure it took to bring Locadia to England from the Netherlands, but it is thought to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund insisted that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has a future at the club, after he was left out of the squad for the trip to Hertha Berlin on Friday. Aubameyang, the top scorer in the Bundesliga last season, was also dropped for last Sunday's goalless draw at home to Wolfsburg. Dortmund coach Peter […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Pele's spokesperson dismissed reports the footballing legend had been hospitalised on Friday, saying the 77-year-old was resting at home. The Brazilian cancelled a trip to London this weekend for a dinner in his honour with the English Football Writers' Association (FWA), with the FWA saying he had collapsed from exhaustion […]

The Hague (AFP) – Netherlands' record goalscorer Robin van Persie will complete a deal to join Feyenoord from Turkish side Fenerbahce next week, the Rotterdam club announced Friday. "Robin van Persie will sign a contract with Feyenoord on Monday," the Dutch club said in a statement, signalling the striker's return to his boyhood stomping ground. […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain accused Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas of peddling "fake news" on Friday, after he attacked the Ligue 1 leaders over their big transfer spending. Aulas had denounced "the dangerous inflation PSG creates in France", and the capital club hit back on Twitter. PSG responded with an angry tweet that suggested Lyon […]

Dubai (AFP) – Dubai club Al Nasr on Friday sacked Italian coach Cesare Prandelli amid a disappointing season, reinstating Serb Ivan Jovanovic who was previously in charge from 2013 to 2016. "Al Nasr football company has decided to relieve Italian Cesare Prandelli from the post of technical director," read a tweet from the club in […]

Berlin (AFP) – At 72, Jupp Heynckes is the object of Bayern Munich's desire and the club is launching a charm offensive launched to persuade the coach to stay. Since Heynckes returned as head coach for his fourth stint at the club, stars like Javi Martinez and James Rodriguez have bloomed and Bayern have won […]

Rome (AFP) – Italian football federation prosecutors have requested Lazio play two games behind closed doors and fined 50,000 euros ($61,000) following the Anne Frank photo scandal, a lawyer for the club said Friday. Lazio ultra fans were involved in the fly-posting of photos of Holocaust victim Frank in a shirt of bitter city rivals […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola accepted he had lost out in the race to sign Alexis Sanchez as Jose Mourinho insisted Friday it was still not certain the Chile forward would join Manchester United. Runaway Premier League leaders City, currently 12 points clear of United, play at home to Newcastle […]