London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has slammed Premier League referees by claiming they are stuck in the 1950s. In a lengthy blast at the game's authorities, Wenger also called for the handball rule to be changed after the controversial late penalty conceded by Arsenal's Calum Chambers in Sunday's draw at West Bromwich Albion. […]

Rome (AFP) – Serie A leaders Napoli crashed out of the Italian Cup when a weakened side was beaten 2-1 at home by Atalanta in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri made a host of changes but did select Marek Hamsik, who recently became the club's all-time top scorer, but the Slovak was […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City bounced back quickly after their 18-game winning streak come to an end, beating Watford 3-1 on Tuesday to establish a 15-point lead in the Premier League. After City were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace 48 hours earlier, prolific Raheem Sterling scored quickly and Sergio Aguero added […]

London (AFP) – Raheem Sterling scored the fastest goal of the Premier League season as leaders Manchester City got back on track with a 3-1 win against Watford on Tuesday, while Fernando Llorente put Tottenham on course for a 2-0 victory at his former club Swansea. Sterling struck after just 38 seconds before Christian Kabasele's […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente returned to haunt Swansea and Dele Alli added a late second as Mauricio Pochettino's side won 2-0 on Tuesday to rise to fifth in the Premier League. Former Swansea star Llorente's 12th minute opener should have been ruled out for offside. But there was no dispute […]

London (AFP) – Preston defender Kevin O'Connor has struck it rich after winning one million euros ($1.2 million) in the Irish lottery. Former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international O'Connor landed the winning ticket in the National Lottery Christmas Millionaire Raffle on New Year's Eve. O'Connor was the given the ticket by his godfather and uncle, […]

Cairo (AFP) – An Egypt court has sentenced to jail 28 football fans for paying tribute to dozens killed in stadium riots five years ago, accusing them of "incitement", official sources said Tuesday. Judicial and security sources said the 28 Al Ahly club fans wore T-shirts bearing messages "offending the state and inciting rioting" during […]

Paris (AFP) – Whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, who says he has information on doping in Russian football, is now free from legal restraints and can give evidence to FIFA, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) told AFP on Tuesday. "The fact is that Dr. Rodchenkov has only recently become available to testify in legal proceedings being undertaken […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona striker Ousmane Dembele, who has been sidelined since September, has been cleared to make his comeback in Thursday's Copa del Rey clash against Celta Vigo. The French international has not played since tearing his hamstring at Getafe on September 16, just three games into his Barca career following a 105-million-euro ($124 […]

Piraeus (Greece) (AFP) – Iran defender Ehsan Hajsafi, who helped his country reach this year's World Cup finals, formally signed for Greek champions Olympiakos on Tuesday. Hajsafi, 27, has made 89 appearances for Iran and scored six goals for his country. At club level he played the first half of the current season with another […]

London (AFP) – Huddersfield signed Netherlands defender Terence Kongolo on loan from Monaco on Tuesday. Kongolo only joined Monaco from Feyenoord last year, but he will spend the rest of the season in the Premier League. Huddersfield manager David Wagner expects the 23-year-old, who played six times for Monaco this term, to prove a valuable […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan admitted on Tuesday a charge of assaulting his girlfriend last month and will be sentenced on January 17. The 25-year-old, who spent last year on loan with Burnley, was captured on CCTV footage in Liverpool city centre beating and kicking Rachael Wall, his girlfriend of 18 months. Judge […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte will not countenance selling any players unless there are replacements brought in, the Chelsea manager said on Tuesday. The 48-year-old Italian's comments may not be music to Brazil central defender David Luiz's ears as he has played just once since October, although Conte has insisted it is not because of […]

London (AFP) – Former England manager Steve McClaren says he is ready to tackle another managerial post after learning a lot from a spell with Jordi Cruyff and his Spanish coaching team at Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv. The 56-year-old Englishman — who has been linked with the vacancy at second-tier side Sheffield Wednesday — […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been charged by the Football Association (FA) over his conduct following the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, English football's governing body announced Tuesday. The 68-year-old Frenchman reacted furiously to referee Mike Dean's decision to award a penalty to West Brom in the 89th minute […]