Paris (AFP) – The close-season transfer window saw $4.71 billion (3.96 billion euros) spent worldwide, over three quarters of which were from the top five European leagues, FIFA announced on Thursday. Paris Saint-Germain's world-record signing of Neymar from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($264 million) dominated the headlines, but many of Europe's other big clubs […]

Rotterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hailed his two-goal Champions League hero John Stones — but warned he has some way to go before he can be called world-class. England defender Stones found the net with two powerful headers as City thrashed Dutch champions Feyenoord 4-0 in Rotterdam on Wednesday to send […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp says the transfer market is not the magic solution to Liverpool's defensive woes after familiar problems returned to haunt his side on their return to Champions League action against Sevilla. Dejan Lovren's slip allowed Wissam Ben Yedder to score early in Wednesday's match at Anfield but goals from Roberto Firmino, […]

Shanghai (AFP) – The Asian Football Confederation said Thursday it was launching disciplinary action against Shanghai SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas for his outburst after the epic Champions League quarter-final win over Guangzhou Evergrande this week. The Portuguese, a former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager, strongly criticised the AFC and the referee, and levelled allegations at […]

Jerusalem (AFP) – The professional adviser of an Israeli football club known for its far-right fan base has resigned after saying he would never sign a Muslim player, a spokesman said on Thursday. Eli Cohen, a veteran manager who was hired to the position at Beitar Jerusalem earlier this month, had said that past attempts […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Shanghai Shenhua cross the city into enemy territory on Saturday to face Shanghai SIPG for China's biggest derby, an intense rivalry spiced by money and identity. Shenhua make the trip in turmoil: former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gus Poyet quit as manager on Monday under pressure with the club languishing below […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp claimed he had made peace with opposite number Eduardo Berizzo and the Sevilla coaching staff after a stormy conclusion to Liverpool's 2-2 Champions League draw with the Spanish side at Anfield. Young Liverpool defender Joe Gomez was sent off in the dying seconds of the group game, the second 'dismissal' […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham's 3-1 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund has finally killed off their Wembley curse. Pochettino's side opened their Group H campaign with an impressive display at their temporary Wembley home on Wednesday as Harry Kane's double and a Son Heung-Min strike sealed the points. It was only Tottenham's […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a brace on his return from suspension for Real Madrid, as Tottenham Hotspur ended their Wembley jinx and Liverpool were held on their Champions League comeback on Wednesday. Real have sorely missed their Portuguese superstar as he serves a five-match domestic ban for pushing a referee. But he wasted […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo wasted no time in showing Real Madrid what they have been missing during his five-game domestic suspension, by scoring twice as the holders began their Champions League defence with a routine 3-0 win over APOEL Nicosia on Wednesday. Ronaldo, banned for pushing a referee after being sent off in the […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Roberto Firmino's first-half penalty miss proved costly for Liverpool as Joaquin Correa scored a dramatic equaliser to grab Sevilla 2-2 Champions League draw on Wednesday. Anfield was in jubilant mood as the English club welcomed back Champions League football after a two-year absence, but it took Sevilla just four minutes to dampen […]

Rotterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) – Manchester City thrashed Dutch champions Feyenoord 4-0 as defender John Stones scored twice to get Pep Guardiola's side off to a flying Champions League start on Wednesday. Stones headed home on two minutes after a sublime chip by skipper David Silva, and after Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus had made the […]

London (AFP) – An abuse victim on Wednesday accused late England football manager Graham Taylor of telling him to sweep his warnings about a paedophile coach "under the carpet". Tony Brien said he was abused as a child by Ted Langford, a football scout who was jailed in 2007 for sexually abusing four young players […]

Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – Youri Tielemans levelled a minute after Emil Forsberg's opener for RB Leipzig to salvage a 1-1 draw for French champions Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday. With Leipzig making their competition debut, Forsberg's goal raised the roof at the Red Bull Arena. It will go down in history as his […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane banished Tottenham's Wembley curse as the England striker's double sealed a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League opener on Wednesday. With White Hart Lane being redeveloped, Tottenham are playing their home matches at the English national stadium this season and that had been bad news for Mauricio […]