Madrid (AFP) – Diego Costa scored for Atletico Madrid just five minutes into his return as the club cruised to a 4-0 win at Lleida Esportiu in the Spanish Copa Del Rey on Wednesday. Costa, who rejoined from Chelsea in September but could not play until the transfer window opened this month, came on as a 64th-minute […]

Rome (AFP) – Serie A club Verona have been fined 20,000 euros ($24,000) for racist chants by their fans toward Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi last weekend. The abuse of the French international took place as he opened the scoring six minutes into the game which the six-time reigning champions won 3-1. Sporting Judge Gerardo Mastrandrea […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde shrugged off speculation over an imminent swoop for Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho on Wednesday by insisting: "I prefer the players I currently have in the team." Brazilian international forward Coutinho has been linked with a 150 million euro (£134 million; $180 million) switch to the Spanish giants in […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Former Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland midfielder Steven Pienaar was freed by South African champions Wits Wednesday after failing to make an impact in seven months at the club. The 35-year-old former national team star made only four starts and six appearances off the bench in 18 Premiership and League Cup matches […]

London (AFP) – England midfielder Jake Livermore climbed into the crowd to confront a West Ham fan over a remark he made regarding the player's baby son who died in 2014, his club West Bromnwish Albion said in a statement on Wednesday. The fan — who has been identified by the London club — was […]

Cagliari (Italy) (AFP) – Sought-after Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella has extended his contract with the Serie A side until 2022, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The 20-year-old, who received his first call-up to the Italian national team last October, had been linked with top Serie A clubs Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan. But he opted […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City's Spanish international forward David Silva missed four matches recently because his prematurely-born baby son is fighting for his life, he revealed on Wednesday. The 31-year-old — who returned to the runaway Premier League leaders starting line-up for Tuesday's 3-1 win over Watford — thanked everyone for their support on his […]

Istanbul (AFP) – The chairman of Turkish champions Besiktas on Wednesday said there was still no deal with English Premier League side Everton for the highly rated Turkish international striker Cenk Tosun. Everton have reportedly been in intense talks in recent days to sign Tosun for a deal worth some 30 million euros ($40.7m). But […]

London (AFP) – Sergio Aguero says he would like to see out his present contract with runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City which runs until 2020. The 29-year-old Argentinian striker had been rumoured to be unhappy at not always being a first-choice starter. However, he looks set for a long run in the starting line-up […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is renowned for his livewire touchline behaviour, sometimes diving into the crowd when his side score, and he has revealed that he finds relaxation in yoga. The 48-year-old Italian has apparently alienated some members of the Chelsea dressing room with his demanding training sessions but has admitted that […]

London (AFP) – Former England international Trevor Sinclair has been dropped as a football pundit by the BBC after he racially abused a policeman who arrested him for drink-driving. Sinclair, 44, was ordered on Tuesday to do 150 hours' community service and given a 20-month drink-driving ban after being found to be twice over the […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan defender Atsuto Uchida is set to complete a return to Kashima Antlers after a seven-year spell in Germany, the J-League club said Wednesday. The 29-year-old fan favourite, who has struggled with injury over the past two seasons, joined Bundesliga side Schalke in 2010 before moving to second-tier Union Berlin last summer. […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino does not believe fatigue will be an issue for Tottenham when they face West Ham in Thursday's London derby. Pochettino's side will host their rivals at Wembley just 48 hours after their 2-0 victory at Swansea on Tuesday, which lifted the visitors above Arsenal into fifth place in […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola saw Manchester City return to winning ways at the end of the Premier League's exhausting holiday schedule, but warned the English game is in danger of destroying its top stars. City beat Watford 3-1 on Tuesday, 48 hours after the leaders saw their 18-game winning streak come to […]

London (AFP) – West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jake Livermore was involved in an alleged row with West Ham fans during his side's 2-1 defeat on Tuesday. England international Livermore, who had been substituted during the second half, had to be escorted down the tunnel following the incident. Albion boss Alan Pardew admitted he saw Livermore, […]