Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed on Monday two of the club's board members resigned in the wake of his decision to play a match behind closed doors after a violent crackdown by police of an independence referendum for Catalonia on Sunday. Police fired rubber bullets and forced their way into polling […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany have injury woes up front for their key World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland after first-choice striker Timo Werner pulled out on Monday. After eight straight wins, Germany need just a point in Belfast on Thursday to be sure of a place at Russia 2018. However, the world champions have both […]

Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines (France) (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps enthused over the attacking versatility of teenage starlet Kylian Mbappe as Les Bleus look to secure World Cup qualification this weekend. Deschamps's team face Bulgaria and Belarus in their final two World Cup qualifiers, knowing a pair of victories would book France's ticket to Russia. The pacey […]

London (AFP) – Everton manager Ronald Koeman still has the "total support" of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri despite the club's dismal start to the season. The big-spending Toffees have won just twice in the league and their record of seven points from seven matches leaves them two points clear of the drop zone, in 16th […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich confirmed on Monday that veteran winger Franck Ribery will be out for "the coming weeks" after tearing a knee ligament. The 34-year-old had to be helped off in the 62nd minute of Bayern's 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin on Sunday and German media expect the Frenchman to be out for […]

Bergamo (Italy) (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri fears the use of video refereeing is turning football into a long-drawn out American sports extravaganza after the Serie A champions drew 2-2 at Atalanta. Sunday's game in Bergamo was dominated by the use of VAR — video assistant referee — once to cancel a Mario Mandzukic […]

London (AFP) – Nemanja Matic says Manchester United fans have not yet seen the best of him as he has been forced to play catch-up following a disrupted pre-season. Matic joined United from Premier League title rivals Chelsea in the summer transfer window for £40 million ($53 million, 45 million euros) in a move that […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain coach Julien Lopetegui drafted in Alvaro Odriozola, Jonathan Viera and Aritz Aduriz on Monday to replace the injured Dani Carvajal, Andres Iniesta and Alvaro Morata respectively for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Israel this week. Lopetegui also has the task of calming tensions around the squad in the wake of […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich can expect to be without veteran winger Franck Ribery for up to three months with Sky reporting on Monday he has torn a knee ligament. The 34-year-old had to be helped off in the 62nd minute of Bayern's 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin on Sunday which left them five points […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are ready to silence the critics who wrote them off in the aftermath of their humiliating loss against Liverpool. Wenger's side have been revitalised since the 4-0 mauling at Anfield in August and they maintained that momentum with a 2-0 win over Brighton on Sunday. Nacho Monreal's first […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp assessed Liverpool's latest failure to win a Premier League game after a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United by saying: "Football is not fair." Liverpool's German manager found it difficult to accept that the visitors emerged with only a point thanks to a spectacular long-range goal from Philippe Coutinho […]

Milan (AFP) – Napoli took sole possession of top spot in Serie A on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Cagliari as champions Juventus's winning run stalled 2-2 at Atalanta. The stalemate ended the six-time defending champions' run of six consecutive wins leaving them joint second with Inter Milan — who beat Benevento 2-1 — […]

Paris (AFP) – Ten-man Marseille moved up to third in Ligue 1 after Lucas Ocampos hit a brace in a thrilling come-from-behind 4-2 win at Mediterranean rivals Nice on Sunday. Players joined fans in a minute's applause in memory of the two victims of a knife attack in Marseille earlier on Sunday, after which the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Isco scored twice as Real Madrid reduced the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to seven points courtesy of a 2-0 win over Espanyol on a day where football was dragged into violent political clashes in Catalonia. Barca had earlier extended their perfect start in La Liga to seven games in extraordinary […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Etoile Sahel edged Egyptian visitors Al Ahly 2-1 in a CAF Champions League semi-final first leg thriller on Sunday to succeed where fellow Tunisians Esperance failed. Alaya Brigui gave the home team the lead on 16 minutes at the Stade Olympique in Mediterranean resort Sousse. Substitute Salah Gomaa levelled on 66 minutes […]