Berlin (AFP) – Germany's Bibiana Steinhaus insists she is no feminist trailblazer as she prepares to become the first female ref in Europe's top leagues having already tamed Bayern Munich's stars. The 38-year-old is on the official list of Bundesliga referees for the 2017/18 season, which starts Friday, meaning she will become the first female […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Liverpool FC minority owner LeBron James reacted swiftly Tuesday to US President Donald Trump's repeated claim that there was "blame on both sides" in the deadly racial unrest in Charlottesville. "Hate has always existed in America. Yes we know that but Donald Trump just made it fashionable again!" James tweeted shortly […]

Berlin (AFP) – Liverpool took a significant step towards the Champions League group stages as James Milner helped seal their 2-1 win at Hoffenheim on Tuesday in their play-off, first-leg. Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool are in pole position ahead of the return at Anfield on Wednesday, August 23. After goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had saved a first-half […]

London (AFP) – Everton have finally agreed a deal to sign Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson for around £45 million ($57 million), according to reports on Tuesday. Sigurdsson has been high on Everton manager Ronald Koeman's wanted list for several months, but protracted negotiations over the transfer fee had delayed the Iceland international's move. The former […]

London (AFP) – West Bromwich Albion signed former England midfielder Gareth Barry from Everton for an undisclosed fee on Tuesday. Barry has agreed a one-year contract with the Baggies after being told he could leave Goodison Park following Everton's summer spending spree. The 36-year-old missed Everton's opening Premier League match against Stoke on Saturday because […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo is banned, but it would take a huge upset for Real Madrid's trophy-winning streak to be ended by Barcelona on Wednesday (kick off 2100GMT) as they carry a 3-1 lead into the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup. Ronaldo's five-match ban for pushing the referee after being controversially sent-off […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets reiterated his call for the club's board to strengthen in the transfer market on Tuesday, but warned replacing the departed Neymar will be almost impossible. The Brazilian's absence was noticeable as Barca fell to a 3-1 Spanish Super Cup, first leg defeat at home to Real Madrid in […]

Geneva (AFP) – Neymar-mania, which has engulfed France, landed briefly in neighbouring Switzerland on Tuesday where the Brazilian star became Handicap International's first-ever ambassador at a ceremony at the United Nations in Geneva. Paris Saint-Germain's new prize acquisition told reporters the opportunity to work with the organisation that advocates for the rights of disabled people […]

Paris (AFP) – Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been named as one of three nominees for the 2016/17 UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, European football's governing body announced on Tuesday. The 39-year-old Buffon was a key member of the Juventus side that reached last season's Champions […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane expressed his anger on Tuesday at a five-game ban handed to Cristiano Ronaldo for pushing a referee after being sent-off against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. Madrid hold a 3-1 first leg lead going into the second leg against their fierce rivals on Wednesday (2100 GMT), […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Brazilian star Alexandre Pato refuses to give up hope of a recall to the national side, saying he's at the peak of his career following his move to China. The 27-year-old forward is enjoying football and life again in the Chinese Super League, having signed for Tianjin Quanjian on an 18-million-euro transfer […]

Mexico City (AFP) – French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac has received a rare tribute from hundreds of Mexican schoolchildren, who voted to name a newborn Bengal tiger at their local zoo after the Mexico-based star. But there's one big difference between Gignac the footballer and Gignac the tiger: their personalities. Soon after Gignac the tiger cub […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Chinese clubs made headlines by splashing out on the likes of strikers Carlos Tevez, Hulk and Alexandre Pato, but cut-price Israeli Eran Zahavi is outgunning them all at the top of the scoring charts. His feat in smashing 23 Chinese Super League (CSL) goals in 22 appearances this season is all the […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australia called up five uncapped players and welcomed back captain Mile Jedinak from injury in a 30-man squad named Tuesday for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Thailand. The Australians will face Japan in Saitama at the end of this month before returning to Melbourne to play Thailand on September 5 […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Olivier Ntcham is aiming to emulate Moussa Dembele by becoming the latest French import to make an impact at Celtic. The 21-year-old midfielder followed in the footsteps of his under-21 international team-mate as he made a £4.5 million ($5.8 million) move from Manchester City to the Scottish champions in the summer. The […]