Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid needed two second-half penalties converted by Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez to open their Copa del Rey campaign with a 2-0 last 32, first leg win at third-tier Fuenlabrada on Thursday. Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane gave most of his star names the night off with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Toni […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar was handed a one-match ban on Thursday after being sent off in PSG's explosive 2-2 draw at bitter rivals Marseille at the weekend. The Brazilian forward will miss Friday's Ligue 1 visit from Mario Balotelli's Nice. Neymar grabbed a brilliant equaliser in a fiery encounter at Marseille Sunday before his side […]

London (AFP) – Championship side Bristol City's reward for eliminating three Premier League teams in this season's League Cup is a home quarter-final with holders Manchester United. City, who thrashed Crystal Palace 4-1 on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1989, learnt about their dream draw two hours later than planned […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Pedro Caixinha was sacked as Glasgow Rangers manager on Thursday after just seven months in charge, the Scottish Premiership club announced Thursday. "The decision to part company with Pedro was taken after careful consideration and the search for a new manager will begin immediately," read a statement from the Glasgow giants. Rangers […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona-based La Liga side Espanyol on Thursday called for supporters to make sure the political division sweeping Catalonia do not affect the atmosphere at upcoming home matches. The Catalan regional parliament will meet on Thursday evening to decide how best to deal with the prospect of Spain's central government seizing the region's […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted Thursday that his hunger to win trophies with the Gunners was "bigger than ever", despite revealing his performance will be subjected to an annual review. Wenger came under unprecedented pressure last season as Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League and many fans voiced their desire […]

Rome (AFP) – The scandal that rocked Italian football where Lazio fans posted anti-Semitic photos of Holocaust victim Anne Frank in a Roma shirt is just the latest in a long list of outrages by the club's supporters. The Lazio 'ultras' have previously been in hot water over Celtic crosses, monkey chants and fascist salutes […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal's long-serving manager Arsene Wenger received the unequivocal support on Thursday of majority shareholder Stan Kroenke who declared he is doing a "great job". But that did not stop other shareholders from criticising the club's board during Arsenal's annual general meeting at the north London club's Emirates Stadium home ground. They voted […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – The Houston Astros out-dueled the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 in an 11-inning thriller on Wednesday to level the World Series at one game apiece. George Springer smashed a two-run homer in the top of the 11th to cap the Astros' late charge. It proved just enough as the teams combined for […]

Chicago (AFP) – A seventh-minute New York Red Bulls goal for English striker Bradley Wright-Phillips and Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas Mezquida's brace for Vancouver sparked historic shutouts Wednesday in the Major League Soccer playoffs. Sixth-seeded Red Bulls stunned third-seeded host Chicago 4-0 with the most lopsided rout in MLS knockout-round playoff history, a record only until […]

Baghdad (AFP) – A decade ago, Iraqi footballers used to take refuge in neighbouring Syria to pursue their career but the tables have turned in the tumultuous world of Middle East conflicts. Nadim Sabagh remembers the Iraqis who played at Tishrin, his club in the northern metropolis of Aleppo that was to turn into a […]

Chicago (AFP) – English striker Bradley Wright-Phillips scored in the seventh minute and the New York Red Bulls inflicted a 4-0 rout on host Chicago in Wednesday's Major League Soccer playoff opener. Sixth seed New York imposed upon the Fire the most lopsided blowout in 17 all-time knockout round MLS matches, becoming only the fourth […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says his players showed they have the mentality to handle the big games as they turned on the style in a 3-0 win over nearest challengers Aberdeen on Wednesday. Much had been made of the test Celtic would face from the Dons, with only goal difference separating the […]

Milan (AFP) – Conor O'Shea believes he has found the right mix of youth and experience as Italy look for a breakthrough in three November tests against southern hemisphere sides to build towards the 2019 World Cup. Captain and number eight Sergio Parisse and hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini are both experienced campaigners and are back for […]

New York (AFP) – A US judge on Wednesday imposed the first sentence in the sweeping FIFA corruption scandal, sending a Guatemalan former official to jail for eight months and saying that he had destroyed people's faith in soccer. Hector Trujillo, 64, stood with his head bowed, eyes cast toward the floor and wiped away […]