Dakar (AFP) – Ten football fans have been arrested in connection with a stampede last month which killed eight supporters attending a cup match in Dakar, Senegalese police said Tuesday. Those detained, all followers of local team US Ouakam, were detained Monday on suspicion of murder and premeditated assault, a police official told AFP. One […]

Rome (AFP) – Mario Balotelli has again been caught speeding in his Ferrari, police told AFP Tuesday as media reports claimed the striker had been caught doing 170-200kmh (105-125mph) in a race with a friend's Lamborghini. The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker, now at French club Nice, was stopped by a highway patrol on […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Chinese football fans anticipating the first clash between the "Fabios" — Italian heavyweight coaches Cannavaro and Capello — will have to wait as their sides have been bumped from a stadium this weekend by China's hottest boy band. The Tianjin-Jiangsu clash was scheduled for Sunday at the stadium on the grounds of […]

London (AFP) – Under pressure to turn tantalising potential into tangible prizes, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp face the acid test of their talents this season. Despite being feted as teams on the rise, Tottenham and Liverpool have yet to win a single trophy under their current managers. Pochettino has been […]

London (AFP) – After qualified success in his maiden campaign as Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho will hope to dust off his tried and tested second-season formula in 2017-18. Mourinho led United to victory in the League Cup and Europa League last season, the latter yielding a place in the Champions League, but their football […]

London (AFP) – Theo Walcott has backed Sead Kolasinac to bring some much-needed steel to Arsenal's defence after the intimidating Bosnian made his presence felt in the Gunners' Community Shield victory over Chelsea. Kolasinac joined Arsenal on a free transfer from Schalke in the close-season and already looks an ideal fit for the physical demands […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona eased into life without Neymar by honouring Chapecoense, the Brazilian side still reeling from a devastating plane crash that killed 19 players and 24 club officials last year, in a 5-0 friendly win on Monday. On an emotional night for the visitors, Chapecoense were captained by Alan Ruschel, one of only […]

Utrecht (Netherlands) (AFP) – Thousands of orange-clad fans flooded the central Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday to celebrate the Netherlands' first women's Euro title, a much-needed win to boost the football-mad country's flagging fortunes. The first "Lioness" supporters — many of them young women and girls — scurried past as the gates opened to […]

Ramatuelle (France) (AFP) – Brazilian superstar Neymar partied alongside the jetset in France's upmarket resort of Saint-Tropez on Monday ahead of his highly-anticipated debut for Paris Saint-Germain, an AFP photographer said. The 25-year-old, who moved from Barcelona to Paris in a world record deal last week, was spotted on the beach in the glitzy French […]

Skopje (AFP) – Jose Mourinho is relishing the chance for his Manchester United side to test themselves against the cream of Europe again as they face Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup in Skopje on Tuesday. United endured an underwhelming first season under the Portuguese manager as they finished sixth in the Premier League, […]

Skopje (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane indicated that Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in the UEFA Super Cup against Manchester United after travelling with the squad to Skopje on Monday. Ronaldo was surprisingly named in the reigning European champions' group for Tuesday's match in the Macedonian capital after only returning to training with his […]

Piraeus (Greece) (AFP) – Belgian international midfielder Guillaume Gillet has signed a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee with Olympiakos, the Greek champions announced Monday. The contract has an option for an additional year if both sides agree. Gillet, 33, has 22 appearances with the Belgian national squad, scoring one goal. Last season he played […]

Monaco (AFP) – Monaco signed Algerian attacking midfielder Rachid Ghezzal on a free transfer Monday, as coach Leonardo Jardim looks to rebuild after losing several of last season's title-winners in the close season. The 25-year-old, who has played 11 internationals, signed a four-year deal with the principality club after being released by Lyon at the […]

London (AFP) – Southampton's in-demand defender Virgil van Dijk has submitted a transfer request, the Netherlands international announced on Monday. "I am incredibly ambitious and want to achieve as much as I possibly can to fulfil my potential in what is a very short career as a professional footballer," Van Dijk said in a statement […]

Skopje (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has sent a message in the direction of UEFA Super Cup opponents Real Madrid by declaring his readiness to bring Gareth Bale to Old Trafford. Speaking to reporters in the Macedonian capital of Skopje on Monday, Mourinho said he would wait to see what Bale's role in […]