Moscow (AFP) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino vowed on Monday to crack down hard on racist incidents when Russia hosts the World Cup next year. "This is a very high priority and we will make sure no incidents will happen," Infantino said in a video statement. "It is absolutely not tolerable and we will be […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has hailed the prodigious work rate of striker Romelu Lukaku despite the striker's struggles in front of goal following an electric start to his Manchester United career. The 24-year-old endured another frustrating afternoon on Saturday when United's eked out a 1-0 win against promoted Brighton as Ashley Young's strike looped […]

London (AFP) – Everton caretaker boss David Unsworth says the club could be forced to spend again in the January transfer window if they are to pull themselves away from the Premier League relegation zone. The Merseyside club, who sacked manager Ronald Koeman last month, were soundly beaten 4-1 by Southampton on Sunday and are […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Dutch football giants Ajax announced a five-year partnership with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F on Monday that will attempt to build the best youth academy in China. The multi-million-euro deal is the latest in a series of football link-ups between Europe and China, as the Asian superpower — under football fan […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Haunted Andre Villas-Boas shouldered the blame after he failed to inspire big-spending Shanghai SIPG to silverware in his first season in China, with his future likely to be resolved this week. The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager refused to say if he would stay on as coach of the Chinese Super […]

Paris (AFP) – The money men began sniffing around Hannibal Mejbri when he was just nine — it was "way too soon" complains his father, who was fielding dozens of phone calls and pitchside advances as word of his son's potential spread. The boy from the French capital rapidly attracted interest as scouts flocked to […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – First they dug up the bones and defused the bombs. Then Russia erected a light-as-air stadium for the 2018 World Cup that rises from the ground around which two million people died over 200 days in the Battle of Stalingrad — the tragic turning point of World War II. "Every millimetre […]

Huddersfield (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola says Manchester City's 2-1 win at Huddersfield gave him more satisfaction than other more high-profile victories because of the way they fought back in adversity. City secured an 11th successive league win, equalling a club record, and an 18th straight victory in all competitions after coming from a […]

London (AFP) – The goals having dried up for Manchester United in their recent matches, manager Jose Mourinho will hope to find the right attacking formula at high-flying Watford on Tuesday. It took a fortuitous Lewis Dunk own goal for United to beat Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 on Saturday and they had paid for […]

Burnley (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsene Wenger heralded Arsenal's strength of character after his side recorded a dramatic 1-0 victory at Burnley without Mesut Ozil. After a morale-boosting local derby win over Tottenham a week earlier, Wenger was looking for Arsenal to build on that victory and improve on a record of just four points away […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City will bid to hammer home their advantage at the top of the Premier League against Southampton, while Manchester United head to Watford hoping to cling onto the leaders' coat-tails in a crucial midweek programme. City underlined their determination to win the title with a gutsy 2-1 victory at Huddersfield on […]

Milan (AFP) – Jorginho fired Napoli back top of Serie A on Sunday with a 1-0 win at Udinese as champions Juventus returned to winning ways 3-0 against Crotone. Napoli move ahead of Inter Milan who had gone top on Friday with Argentina striker Mauro Icardi bagging a brace in a 3-1 win at Cagliari. […]

Valencia (Spain) (AFP) – Jordi Alba's late equaliser maintained Barcelona's four-point lead over Valencia at the top of La Liga in a 1-1 draw at Mestalla on Sunday overshadowed by the league's lack of goal line technology. Lionel Messi's first-half effort clearly crossed the line, but wasn't allowed to stand as, unlike other major European […]

Paris (AFP) – Edinson Cavani and Neymar were both on target as Paris Saint-Germain edged champions Monaco 2-1 to climb nine points clear atop France's Ligue 1 on Sunday. But it was a frustrating night in the principality for the world's most expensive teenager, as Kylian Mbappe missed a raft of chances on his return […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sevilla produced their second stunning comeback in five days by overcoming a 2-0 half-time deficit to win 3-2 at Villarreal on Sunday. In the first match since the club confirmed Sevilla boss Eduardo Berizzo had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, Villarreal's players and fans showed their support for the Argentine before kick-off. […]