Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery is hopeful captain Thiago Silva will return from injury for Wednesday's final match of the year at home to Caen before the French league heads into its winter break. The Brazil international hasn't featured since hobbling off during a 3-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Gylfi Sigurdsson's stunning goal against his former club maintained Everton's unbeaten record under Sam Allardyce with a 3-1 win on Monday that left Swansea rooted to the foot of the Premier League. The 28-year-old Icelandic international left Swansea for a record £45 million ($60 million) in the close season and his 30-yard […]

Cairo (AFP) – Egypt's military prosecutors have released more than 200 football fans who had spent over five months in detention accused of vandalising a stadium and attacking police, a lawyer said Monday. Police had detained hundreds of supporters of Cairo's Zamalek club following a July 9 game against Libya's Al Alhi SC, keeping 236 […]

Lima (AFP) – Peru announced on Monday friendlies against fellow World Cup qualifiers Croatia and Iceland in the US ahead of the global showpiece in Russia next year. Peru qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1982 by beating New Zealand 2-0 on aggregate in an inter-continental play-off last month. They will […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – The troublesome pitch at the 2018 World Cup venue in Saint Petersburg will be relaid for a third time, officials said on Monday. The state of the art 68,000-capacity stadium hosted this year's Confederations Cup final, but the pitch was so cut up it was changed ahead of the tournament. Further […]

Rome (AFP) – Juventus president Andrea Agnelli saw his one-year ban over a ticket sales scandal ended after less than three months on Monday, following an appeal to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). However, his 20,000 euro ($23,600) fine for his role in the bulk sale of tickets to 'ultras' fans with links to organised […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona midfielder Rafinha was given the all clear to return to action on Monday after eight months on the sidelines due to a knee injury. The Brazilian international hasn't featured since limping off early in April's 4-1 win at Granada with a meniscus problem. "FC Barcelona player Rafinha was medically cleared by […]

London (AFP) – Claude Puel says he has unfinished business in the League Cup ahead of Leicester's quarter-final clash with Manchester City after a painful defeat in last season's final as Southampton boss. The Foxes host Pep Guardiola's high-flying City on Tuesday, aiming to re-find their form after a surprise 3-0 Premier League defeat to […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Prolific goalscorers Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon were named on Monday among the three finalists for the African Player of the Year award. Sadio Mane of Senegal completes a list announced in Ghana for the highest annual Confederation of African Football (CAF) individual honour. Liverpool sharpshooter Salah is […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Galatasaray sacked Croatian coach Igor Tudor on Monday after less than a year in charge, following a defeat that saw the side slip from the top of the Super Lig table. A meeting of the club board voted to part company with Tudor, who had only joined the Istanbul giants in February, […]

London (AFP) – West Ham's Manuel Lanzini has been charged over diving to win a penalty against Stoke City, the second Premier League player to be targeted under new rules aimed at stamping out cheating. The 24-year-old Argentine went down when challenged by Erik Pieters and West Ham captain Mark Noble converted from the spot […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon has been charged with assault and possessing a weapon after a fight erupted near a nightclub at the weekend. Puncheon was arrested in the early hours of Sunday and taken into custody after officers were called to the disturbance in Reigate, a town near London, Surrey Police […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City are planning talks with manager Pep Guardiola at the end of the season as the Premier League leaders seek to tie him to a long-term deal, reports said on Monday. City are 11 points clear of nearest challengers Manchester United, are on a record run of 16 consecutive wins in […]

London (AFP) – British police are investigating an alleged racially aggravated assault on Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling before the Premier League leaders' victory against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. "On Sunday 17 December 2017, police were made aware that a 23-year-old man had been subject to a racially aggravated assault," a police spokesman said. The […]

The Hague (AFP) – Firebrand football manager Louis van Gaal says he is "most likely done as a coach" but would step back into the ring for one exception: a chance to get back at Manchester United. "I most likely won't coach any club again," Van Gaal, nicknamed the "Iron Tulip", told popular daily tabloid […]