Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has said he is ready to follow through on his pledge to create a "luxury tax" aimed at curbing the power of the continent's biggest clubs. "We are preparing a very important strategic document for the future. Because, and this might surprise you, UEFA in the past had […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte accepted Pedro dived in a controversial FA Cup tie that has left Chelsea without the forward and fellow striker Alvaro Morata for a Premier League match at Brighton on Saturday. Pedro and Morata were both sent off after they each received an initial yellow card for diving on Wednesday night […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho insists the pending signing of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez must not distract from Manchester United's league campaign when they visit Burnley on Saturday. Victory for Mourinho's team at Turf Moor would cut leaders Manchester City's advantage at the top of the Premier League to nine points — the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Schalke 04 confirmed Friday that Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka will join Bayern Munich for next season on a free transfer, with the Bundesliga leaders beating Liverpool to his signature. "Leon Goretzka informed us at the start of the week that he wants to leave the club and will join FC Bayern," said […]

London (AFP) – Pele is in hospital after collapsing due to exhaustion, preventing him from travelling to London for an engagement this weekend, the English Football Writers Association (FWA) revealed on Friday. The 77-year-old, a three-time World Cup winner, collapsed on Thursday according to the FWA and is being monitored in hospital in Brazil. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Schalke 04 confirmed Friday that Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka will join Bayern Munich at the end of this season on a free transfer, with the Bundesliga leaders beating Liverpool to his signature. "Leon Goretzka informed us at the start of the week that he wants to leave the club and will join […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has backed the decision by Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund to drop star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang amid reports he is chasing a move to Arsenal. Aubameyang was again omitted from the Dortmund squad for Friday's German league clash at Hertha Berlin having also been suspended by Borussia head […]

London (AFP) – Amanda Staveley hit back on Friday saying her bid to buy Premier League side Newcastle United remained live despite a source close to present owner Mike Ashley saying it was dead in the water. Staveley, whose company PCP Capital Partners were instrumental in the deal that saw Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour buy […]

London (AFP) – Brazilian international Fernandinho, rated by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as one of the three best defensive midfielders in the world, signed a two year extension to his contract on Friday. The new deal will see the 32-year-old — who has been at City since joining from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk for […]

Berlin (AFP) – Runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich can expect a goal bonanza as they look to build on their 13-point lead at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday. Bremen, who are third from bottom, have leaked 32 goals on their last six visits to the Allianz Arena. Here are five things to look for […]

Paris (AFP) – Lyon will look to inject fresh life into the Ligue 1 title race at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday when the focus will once again fall on world record signing Neymar. The Brazilian scored four times in Wednesday's 8-0 rout of Dijon but was whistled by his own fans after taking […]

Madrid (AFP) – Andres Iniesta has insisted that nobody at Barcelona is panicking after the runaway leaders of La Liga saw their long unbeaten run come to an end. Lionel Messi missed a penalty as the Catalans lost 1-0 away to local rivals Espanyol in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, although […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's turbulent January hasn't affected his desire to remain in charge of the troubled Premier League club beyond this season. Wenger's side head into Saturday's clash with Crystal Palace in crisis with their star forward Alexis Sanchez preparing to join Manchester United. Since beating Palace on December 28, Arsenal […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City plan to give Pep Guardiola a belated birthday present when the leaders try to bounce back from their first Premier League defeat in more than nine months against Newcastle on Saturday. City boss Guardiola, who turned 47 on Thursday, watched as his side's 30-game unbeaten league record was […]

Abidjan (AFP) – At the age of 39, Didier Drogba is in the twilight years of a glittering football career that has spanned two decades and six countries and brought him a harvest of trophies. Such moments are typically occasions of nostalgia, even sadness, for many ageing football greats. But, in an interview with AFP, […]