Moscow (AFP) – Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who was banned for life from the Olympic Games this month over doping, said on Wednesday that he is stepping down as chairman of the 2018 World Cup organising committee. "(Organising committee director Alexei) Sorokin will be the chairman," Mutko was quoted by Russian agencies as […]

Madrid (AFP) – Defender Dani Carvajal insists Real Madrid can still win the Spanish league, despite the 3-0 El Clasico defeat by Barcelona that left them 14 points adrift in the La Liga title race. "We have not lost it nor has Barcelona won it. It is a lot of points. But we are going […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger knows Arsenal cannot afford a repeat of their last trip to Selhurst Park when they face Crystal Palace on Thursday. The Gunners have benefitted from extra rest compared to their rivals in the battle for a top four place and face the Eagles six days after the pulsating 3-3 draw […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he is not interested in the individual goal tallies of his attacking players because they will all get opportunities to find the net. Two goals from Roberto Firmino and one each from Philippe Coutinho, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain helped Liverpool to an emphatic 5-0 win over […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane insists he still has room for improvement after the Tottenham striker's treble set a Premier League record and took him above Lionel Messi to finish as Europe's leading scorer. Kane's 22nd-minute header in Tuesday's 5-2 win over Southampton at Wembley was his 37th goal of the year, moving him past […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte insists the battle for a top four finish is providing Chelsea with all the motivation they need, even if Premier League leaders Manchester City out of reach. Conte's side recovered from the disappointment of a pre-Christmas draw at Everton by beating Brighton 2-0 on Tuesday to move within a point […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho says Manchester United are struggling to compete with Manchester City's financial might and the sum of nearly £300 million he has spent on transfers is not enough to win the Premier League. A 2-2 draw with Burnley on Tuesday saw United lose further ground in the table to […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho underlined his importance to the Reds ahead of the transfer window with a fine individual display in a comfortable 5-0 win over Premier League strugglers Swansea City on Tuesday. The Brazil international scored his 12th goal of the season with a fine curling effort and provided an assist […]

London (AFP) – Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has agreed to come out of international retirement, according to the Manchester City star's agent. Dimitri Seluk, who represents Toure, said on Tuesday that the 34-year-old is willing to return to Ivory Coast duty if called upon, having last played for his country in September 2016. "Yaya […]

London (AFP) – Alvaro Morata struck his 10th goal of the Premier League campaign as Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory over Brighton that moved Antonio Conte's side to within one point of second-placed Manchester United. After struggling to break down Chris Hughton's side during a poor first half, the Blues took control with Morata heading […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho's troubles mounted as Manchester United needed a 91st minute equaliser from substitute Jesse Lingard to rescue a point in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Burnley on Tuesday. First-half goals from Ashley Barnes and Steven Defour had put Burnley on course for their first victory at Old Trafford in over 55 […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United came from two goals down to rescue a dramatic 2-2 draw against Burnley thanks to Jesse Lingard's double, while Tottenham striker Harry Kane shattered a Premier League record with a hat-trick in a 5-2 rout of Southampton on Tuesday. With Manchester City not in action until Wednesday's trip to Newcastle, […]

New York (AFP) – A US jury on Tuesday acquitted a Peruvian former soccer boss at the FIFA corruption trial in New York, just days after convicting two South American co-defendants. The panel found 60-year-old Manuel Burga, who led football in Peru until 2014 and once served as a FIFA development committee member, not guilty […]

Simferopol (AFP) – In the heyday of his favourite Crimea club Tavriya Simferopol, supporter Gennady Malakhov went all over Ukraine, watched home games at a packed stadium and even saw the team compete in the Champions League in the early 1990s. But annexation of the peninsula by Moscow in 2014 has "destroyed, broken, and buried […]

London (AFP) – Having once attempted — unsuccessfully — to get Lazio to furnish Paul Gascoigne with his own trout farm, Mel Stein knows more than most about the quirks and curiosities of footballers' contracts. Lazio were unable to meet Gascoigne's demands following his 1992 move from Tottenham Hotspur, explaining simply that there were "no […]