Milan (AFP) – Italy's traditional derby match between footballing giants Inter and AC Milan now has a distinct Asian flavour and following, fuelled by multi-million dollar investments by the Chinese owners of the two clubs. Sunday's derby has gripped Milan including the city's Chinatown district — and the football fever has spread as far as […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has admitted his surprise that Marouane Fellaini was used by Belgium manager Roberto Martinez in a World Cup qualifier which ended with the Manchester United midfielder suffering an injury. Prior to the last international break, Mourinho had said he expected Fellaini to be rested by Martinez. Belgium had […]

Paris (AFP) – Nabil Fekir's last-gasp free-kick delivered three crucial points to Lyon in Ligue 1 Friday as their captain sealed a 3-2 home win over champions Monaco. The defeat of the second-placed southerners offers Paris Saint-Germain the chance to climb six points clear at Dijon on Saturday. Lyon, who last won the title in […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has moved to placate Mauricio Pochettino after the Manchester City manager was accused of disrespect by his Tottenham Hotspur counterpart. Pochettino is annoyed that Guardiola recently described Spurs as "the Harry Kane team" after citing Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United as City's main rivals for the Premier League […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russian champions Spartak Moscow claimed a 2-1 win at Akhmat Grozny on Friday, as substitute Lorenzo Melgarejo scored the winner. Captain Denis Glushakov gave the visitors an early lead, and although Brazilian Rodolfo equalised from the penalty spot for Akhmat, Paraguayan Melgarejo grabbed all three points just four minutes after coming off […]

Rome (AFP) – PSG chairman and beIN Media chief Nasser al-Khelaifi faced new accusations Friday as Italian police seized a villa in Sardinia used as "a means of corruption" in a World Cup media rights scandal. Italian police, who have searched the luxury villa in Porto Cervo, said Khelaifi had put the property at the […]

Chicago (AFP) – Bruce Arena, called upon last November to replace Jurgen Klinsmann as coach of the United States, resigned Friday, three days after the Americans failed to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia. The 66-year-old Arena, who guided the US team into the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals and also coached the squad […]

Rome (AFP) – PSG chairman and beIN Media chief Nasser al-Khelaifi faced fresh accusations Friday as Italian police said he had put a Sardinian villa at the disposal of disgraced ex-FIFA executive Jerome Valcke. Italian police, who searched the villa on Thursday, said Khelaifi had used the property as "a means of corruption". Khelaifi and […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain will play 2018 World Cup hosts Russia on November 14 as part of their build-up for next summer's finals, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) announced Friday. The RFEF said they had also organised a game against 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica on November 11 in Malaga. Both Russia and Spain […]

Doha (AFP) – A senior Qatar World Cup official took to social media Friday to re-assert the Gulf state will host the 2022 tournament, even as it faces a torrent of fresh criticism. A defiant Nasser al-Khater, assistant secretary-general at Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, responded on Twitter after a noted critic claimed […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez says Jamaal Lascelles and Mohamed Diame have patched up their differences after a training ground flare up. Senegal international Diame and Newcastle's combative English captain Lascelles came to blows during a recent training session. The tiff ended with Magpies midfielder Jonjo Shelvey suffering a broken finger as the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has indicated his main priority in the January transfer window will be to buy a replacement for injured defender Benjamin Mendy. France left-back Mendy will be out for the next six months after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage during City's victory over Crystal Palace on […]

Madrid (AFP) – On the eve of his 100th match in charge of Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane insisted he maintains the same desire to succeed having already won seven trophies in his short coaching career. Zidane's Madrid became the first side to retain the Champions League in May, whilst he also ended a five-year wait […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has criticised England boss Gareth Southgate for overusing Jordan Henderson during the recent World Cup qualifiers. Klopp is frustrated that Liverpool captain Henderson played the full 90 minutes in England's matches against Slovenia and Lithuania. The German was particularly unhappy with the midfielder's selection for the fixture against […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has described Liverpool's Anfield stadium as a 'beautiful place' and insisted his Manchester United stars will relish playing in such an intense atmosphere on Saturday. Former United players Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre spoke this week about the extraordinary hostility generated by their club's visits to Anfield, and […]