Barcelona (AFP) – A near 50-metre banner pleaded for "Dialogue, Respect, and Sport" as Barcelona's Camp Nou opened its doors Wednesday for the first time since a violent crackdown of an independence referendum in Catalonia on October 1. However, heavy rain in the hours before kick-off against Olympiakos in the Champions League turned thousands of […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan coach Vincenzo Montella defended blundering skipper Leonardo Bonucci and said his team just needed to find a "spark' ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash against AEK Athens. "It'll come, right now we need a flame, and we have to be good to spark it," said Montella ahead of the game […]

Baku (AFP) – Atletico Madrid suffered a fresh blow to their chances of reaching the Champions League last 16 as 10-man Qarabag held on for a 0-0 draw to secure their first ever point in the competition in Baku. It could have been even worse for the 2014 and 2016 finalists had South African striker […]

Algiers (AFP) – Algeria have brought back former player Rabah Madjer as their new national coach, succeeding the sacked Lucas Alcaraz, the Algerian federation confirmed on Wednesday. Madjer, 58, becomes the country's fifth national coach in three years and must pick up the pieces after their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. That […]

Baku (AFP) – Atletico Madrid suffered a fresh blow to their chances of progressing to the Champions League last 16 as 10-man Qarabag held on for a 0-0 draw to secure their first ever point in the competition in Baku. It could have been even worse for the 2014 and 2016 finalists had South African […]

Milan (AFP) – Uruguayan Diego Lopez has been appointed coach of Serie A strugglers Cagliari in place of the sacked Massimo Rastelli, the club said on Wednesday. The 43-year-old Lopez played for the club for 12 seasons from 1998 to 2010, and previously coached the Sardinian outfit from 2013 to 2014, with a spell also […]

London (AFP) – Former England women's football coach Mark Sampson made remarks that were "discriminatory on grounds of race" towards two black players but was not racist, a report published on Wednesday said. Sampson, who guided the team to the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup and this year's European Championships, was sacked last month […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain president and beIN Media chief Nasser al-Khelaifi will be questioned by Swiss prosecutors on October 25 in a World Cup media rights probe, his lawyer told AFP Wednesday. Khelaifi, a Qatari, "wanted to be heard as soon as possible by the Swiss attorney general's office", the lawyer said, adding that […]

London (AFP) – Former England women's football coach Mark Sampson made remarks that were "discriminatory on grounds of race" towards two black players but was not racist, a report published on Wednesday said. Sampson, who guided the team to the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup and this year's European Championships, was sacked last month […]

London (AFP) – Everton manager Ronald Koeman believes he is not in immediate danger of being sacked after holding talks with the club's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri. The Dutchman has been under pressure after his team's poor start to the campaign despite extensive transfer spending in the close season. Everton have won just twice in […]

Saitama (Japan) (AFP) – Brazilian Rafael Silva snatched the winner as Japan's Urawa Reds shocked star-studded Shanghai SIPG 1-0 at home on Wednesday to reach the Asian Champions League final. The Reds advance to face Saudi giants Al Hilal in next month's two-leg championship clash after holding on for a 2-1 aggregate win that ended […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain president and beIN Media chief Nasser al-Khelaifi will be questioned by Swiss prosecutors on October 25 in a World Cup media rights probe, his lawyer told AFP Wednesday. Khelaifi, a Qatari, "wanted to be heard as soon as possible by the Swiss attorney general's office", the lawyer said, adding that […]

Moscow (AFP) – The mayor of the Russian World Cup host city of Kaliningrad advised locals Wednesday to leave the city on match days — and not to hit fans. "Be hospitable and friendly — don't hit anyone," said the city's mayor Alexander Yaroshuk. "If you speak English, have a chat," he added, giving his […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund coach Peter Bosz admits the Germans face an uphill Champions League battle after struggling to a draw at APOEL Nicosia while Tottenham Hotspur earned a point at Real Madrid. Bosz said Dortmund have now got their work cut out in their next two home games — against APOEL in a […]

Sorong (Indonesia) (AFP) – Boaz Solossa, Indonesia's football captain, is known for his quick turn of pace and sharp instincts — as well as his eye for goal. But he's not alone: Solossa is just one of many outstanding players born and bred in the far-flung, rebellious province of Papua, which has become known as […]