London (AFP) – Chelsea pledged to help authorities investigate after a report Friday said three former youth-team players had launched legal claims against the club alleging they were bullied and racially abused. Britain's Guardian newspaper said former youth coach Graham Rix and ex-chief scout Gwyn Williams had allegedly abused the black players in the 1990s. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain said Friday that they have chosen Krasnodar, not far from the Black Sea, as their base for the World Cup which starts on June 14. "The national team has decided on the south of Russia and more precisely Krasnodar for their headquarters from which they will radiate to the main cities […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund's boss admits record signing Andre Schuerrle has been a flop since his arrival in 2016 with the Germany winger linked to a loan spell at Inter Milan. The 27-year-old returned as a hero from the last World Cup after his pin-point cross at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium was volleyed […]

London (AFP) – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says Liverpool can cope without Philippe Coutinho as they prepare for the daunting task of hosting Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday. The Brazil playmaker, who scored 12 goals this season for the club, completed a 160 million-euro ($194 million, £142 million) move to Barcelona on Monday to leave […]

London (AFP) – Everton are in talks with Arsenal to sign out-of-favour England forward Theo Walcott as Sam Allardyce seeks to bolster his side's goal threat. Talks have opened with the Gunners over a potential £20 million ($27 million, 22 million euros) deal for the 28-year-old, who has just 18 months remaining on his contract. […]

Rabat (AFP) – Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will debut in Africa midway through the Nations Championship (CHAN), which kicks off Saturday with hosts Morocco among the title favourites. The system allows off-field match officials to assist referees in "game-changing" situations such as goals, penalty kicks, straight red cards and cases of mistaken identity. It […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain resume their relentless drive towards the French Ligue 1 title after the traditional three-week winter break at fifth-placed Nantes this weekend. PSG head to the Loire on the back of a 6-1 rout of Ligue 1 rivals Rennes in the French Cup and a 2-0 midweek defeat of […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona conclude a busy week on and off the pitch with a visit to Real Sociedad, where the runaway Spanish league leaders are winless in La Liga going back to 2007. Philippe Coutinho completed his 160-million-euro ($192 million) move from Liverpool on Monday in the third richest transfer in history, although a […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has challenged his misfiring team-mates to rediscover their cutting edge in Saturday's clash with Leicester. Antonio Conte's side were held to a frustrating goalless draw in the League Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal on Wednesday despite creating a host of chances. The Blues were also held to […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham entertain Everton on Saturday with assurances from chairman Daniel Levy that the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli will not be leaving this month or at the end of the season. Mauricio Pochettino's side are currently out of the Champions League places, although they can draw level on points with […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi put on a masterclass in front of new recruit Philippe Coutinho as Barcelona trounced Celta Vigo 5-0 Thursday to ease into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals 6-1 on aggregate. Coutinho, dressed in a black shirt dotted with white stars, was in the stands at the Camp Nou for the first […]

Milan (AFP) – Atalanta's Slovenia international Jasmin Kurtic on Thursday signed for Serie A rivals SPAL in a deal until June 2021. The 29-year-old has spent two and a half seasons in Bergamo, playing 92 matches and scoring 10 goals. The move is initially a loan with the obligation to buy at the end of […]

Paris (AFP) – The debate on using technology to help football referees took a twist on Thursday as the French league suspended its use of goal-line reviews following some "serious dysfunctions". The goal-line technology (GLT) system, provided by German company GoalControl, was "suspended immediately" by French football authorities after incidents in League Cup games on […]

Lyon (AFP) – Former French international Steve Marlet has been placed under investigation for "gang rape" by a court in Auxerre, prosecutors said. "A second man was also placed under investigation...and a third has been given the status of assisted witness," a prosecutor Estelle Meyer told AFP confirming a report in a local newspaper. "At […]

London (AFP) – British football coach Barry Bennell repeatedly raped and indecently assaulted a former youth player, a court heard Thursday at his trial for a string of alleged offences. Chris Unsworth, 45, said Bennell, 64, preyed on him after scouting him for Manchester City as a junior and the abuse began "straight away" after […]