Istanbul (AFP) – Turkish champions Besiktas reached the Champions League last 16 for the first time in 31 years on Tuesday, as a 1-1 draw with Porto in Istanbul wrapped up top spot in Group G. Porto silenced the vociferous home crowd with the opening goal through defender Felipe, but Besiktas equalised before half-time as […]

Paris (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers thinks Moussa Dembele will go on to become one of the best strikers in the world and he is hoping the Frenchman will thrive against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Dembele, 21, was born in the Paris suburbs and was on PSG's books as a youngster before opting to […]

Rome (AFP) – Former Italian football chief Carlo Tavecchio has denied claims of sexual harassment made by a former executive of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) that were published in Italian media on Tuesday. "In relations to what has been reported in some press articles, I maintain that I behave in a correct manner and […]

Berlin (AFP) – German football authorities have been told to find a compromise with the visiting China Under-20 team over the issue of pro-Tibet protests, or scrap their remaining friendlies. The Chinese junior team is touring southwest Germany as part of an initiative aimed at advancing China's chances at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Angela […]

London (AFP) – Burnley became the first Premier League club to install security barriers to protect fans from Nice-style terrorist attacks at the weekend. The barriers, which were used outside Turf Moor for Burnley's 2-0 win over Swansea on Saturday, were installed in order to prevent terrorists from ramming vehicles into supporters making their way […]

Geneva (AFP) – FIFA's ethics committee on Tuesday slapped lifetime bans on three former world football executives who have all pleaded guilty to corruption charges in US courts. Rafael Esquivel, a former head of the Venezuelan Football Association, Nicaragua's Julio Rocha, a former FIFA development officer, and Richard Lai of Guam, who served on FIFA's […]

London (AFP) – Everton striker Oumar Niasse was Tuesday charged with simulation after he won a controversial penalty and could become the first Premier League player to be hit with a retrospective ban. Niasse went down inside the Crystal Palace box on Saturday, with referee Anthony Taylor deeming the Senegal international had been fouled by […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley believes his team have absorbed the lessons of past disappointments as they prepare for their playoff showdown with Columbus Crew on Tuesday. The Canadian side finished with the best record in Major League Soccer this season and are favourites to advance to the championship game from […]

Wellington (AFP) – World Rugby on Tuesday dismissed as "inaccurate" claims from Samoa's prime minister that the sport is bankrupt in the Pacific nation and the governing body interfered in coach selection. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who is also chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU), outlined the sport's financial woes earlier this month, […]

Dublin (AFP) – The Football Association of Ireland has referred racist abuse sent to Republic of Ireland defender Cyrus Christie on social media to the country's Gardai police. After scoring an own goal in Ireland's 5-1 loss to Denmark in their World Cup qualifying play-off, Middlesbrough right-back Christie received tweets telling him to "play for […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Izquierdo earned Brighton and Hove Albion a point as Chris Hughton's side twice came from behind to record a 2-2 draw against visitors Stoke City on Monday. Stoke twice went ahead at the Amex Stadium, first through Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and then Kurt Zouma, but Brighton hit back on […]

Nicosia (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insists he is still "optimistic" as the Spanish giants look to shrug off a poor run of form in La Liga by securing their place in the Champions League last 16. European champions in each of the last two seasons, Madrid will be guaranteed a place in […]

London (AFP) – A British businesswoman has made a formal offer of around £300 million ($397 million, 338 million euros) for Premier League club Newcastle United, according to British media reports on Monday. Several media outlets, including the BBC, said Amanda Staveley's financial firm PCP Capital Partners had made a bid to Newcastle owner Mike […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are still not among the favourites to win the Champions League despite their eye-catching form in domestic and European competition. The Premier League leaders face Feyenoord on Tuesday unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions and with an increasing number of observers tipping them to […]

Paris (AFP) – Marcelo Bielsa's Lille slipped back into the automatic relegation places in Ligue 1 on Monday after crashing to a 3-0 defeat away at Amiens in a rearranged game. The match had initially been abandoned in late September after a pitch-side barrier collapsed under the weight of Lille fans celebrating their team taking […]