Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola on Monday warned his on-fire Manchester City team they must guard against complacency or risk seeing a great start to the season disintegrate once again. City are top of the Premier League after winning five and drawing the other of their opening six matches, while also enjoying victories […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has been banned for a year for his role in the sale of tickets to fan groups, the Italian Football Federation said Monday. Agnelli was also fined 20,000 euros ($23,770) while champions Juventus copped a fine of 300,000 euros ($356,000). Agnelli was accused of helping sell tickets to […]

Milan (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed he misses his native Italy and plans to return home soon. "Yes, I miss Italy. And in my mind, there's no doubt I will be home before long," Conte said in an interview Monday with Italian radio station Anch'io Sport. "Italy is my homeland, so once […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has launched a thinly-veiled attack on Wednesday's Champions League opponents Paris Saint-Germain by slamming the "unacceptable" nature of recent inflated transfer fees. Qatar-owned PSG signed Neymar from Barcelona for a world record 222 million euros ($264m) and recruited Kylian Mbappe from Monaco just before the transfer deadline […]

Doha (AFP) – The draw for the Gulf Cup of Nations went ahead Monday despite serious doubts that the Qatar-hosted competition will take place largely due to ongoing regional political tensions. In bizarre circumstances an elaborate ceremony saw Qatar drawn with Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen in Group A, while Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab […]

Madrid (AFP) – Villarreal promoted B team coach Javi Calleja to first-team boss on Monday following the sacking of Fran Escriba and his backroom staff. A 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Getafe on Sunday left Villarreal just three points above the relegation zone in 14th with seven points from their first six games. "Villarreal […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will face no further action from the English Football Association following his dismissal in the Premier League clash at Southampton at the weekend. The 54-year-old was sent to the stands by referee Craig Pawson for encroaching on the pitch during stoppage time of his side's 1-0 win […]

Moscow (AFP) – As thousands of British fans head to Moscow for Champions League matches involving Manchester United and Liverpool, Russia faces a crucial test of its security measures just months ahead of the 2018 World Cup. Some 2,000 British fans are expected to arrive for matches on Tuesday and Wednesday against Moscow teams known […]

London (AFP) – FIFA has backed down in its row with British football authorities over the wearing of poppies by players in international matches as a tribute to those killed in war. Football associations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales were fined by FIFA for ignoring warnings not to commemorate Armistice Day during their […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has urged Manchester City's free-scoring forwards to stay hungry for goals and says there are many ways in which the Premier League leaders can improve despite their ominous early-season form. City, who lead Manchester United on goal difference, have been in impressive form in recent weeks, thumping Liverpool, Watford and […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Handsomely paid Carlos Tevez cannot expect to play every game for the Shanghai Shenhua side just because of his famous name, the Chinese team warned on Monday, the latest twist in his turbulent spell with the club. The Argentine, among the highest earners in football on a reported $850,000 a week, has […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Shanghai SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas faces a critical four weeks that will define his time in China, starting with the AFC Champions League semi-final first leg home to Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday. Villas-Boas's team, boasting the likes of the Brazilian internationals Hulk and Oscar, are in the hunt for the treble […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool approach the second game of their Champions League campaign away to Spartak Moscow on Tuesday with manager Jurgen Klopp under pressure to resolve their chronic defensive problems. Liverpool ended a four-game winless run by prevailing 3-2 at Leicester City on Saturday, but they have conceded 10 goals in three consecutive Premier […]

Madrid (AFP) – Two games without a goal is run of the mill for most footballers, but for Cristiano Ronaldo it constitutes a drought. Ronaldo will be looking to forget his early season struggles as Real Madrid aim to lay down a marker in their quest for a third consecutive Champions League at Borussia Dortmund […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Hosts Ghana decisively turned the tables on arch-foes Nigeria Sunday by romping to a 4-1 victory in the West African Football Union Cup of Nations final. Nigeria won a group game between the regional football powerhouses 2-0 and did not concede a goal in five outings leading to the title decider. The […]