Paris (AFP) – Argentinian great Diego Maradona accepted on Tuesday that his infamous 'Hand of God' goal would have been ruled out with video technology, as he backed the use of video assistant referees (VAR). Maradona used his hand to score in Argentina's 2-1 quarter-final victory against England during their 1986 World Cup-winning campaign, and […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has extended his contract with the capital club until 2019, according to a report by Spanish radio station Cadena SER. The 47-year-old Argentinian had shortened his contract from 2020 to 2018 after his side's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid last year. But Cadena SER […]

Paris (AFP) – Real Madrid have reportedly reached a world record deal in principle to sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for 180 million euros ($210m, £160m), closing one of the hottest transfer sagas of the summer. Spanish sports daily Marca, citing sources close to the negotiations, said the gifted teenage striker who shot to stardom […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Stricken Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri, who suffered serious, lasting brain damage after collapsing during a friendly, has been transferred out of intensive care, and can breathe on his own, the club said Tuesday. The 20-year-old is being cared for at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, where he was brought on July […]

London (AFP) – Kenedy has been sent home from Chelsea's pre-season tour of Asia as punishment for his offensive social media posts about China, team boss Antonio Conte said Tuesday. The Brazilian defender was axed from Chelsea's tour as the Premier League champions fought to avoid further embarrassment after the social media slurs sparked a […]

Singapore (AFP) – Big-money signing Alvaro Morata made his debut for Premier League champions Chelsea on Tuesday but was upstaged by two-goal Thomas Mueller as Bayern Munich won 3-2 in Singapore. The Spanish international striker signed for Chelsea from Real Madrid in a deal reported to be worth up to 80 million euros ($92m) last […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid have reached agreement to sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for a world record 180 million euros ($210m, £160m), Spanish media reported on Tuesday. Sports daily Marca, citing sources close to the negotiations, said the teenage striker is expected to joining Real "in the next few days" on a six-year deal. […]

London (AFP) – Kenedy has been sent home from Chelsea's pre-season tour of Asia as punishment for his offensive social media posts about China, according to reports on Tuesday. Brazilian defender Kenedy was axed from Chelsea's high-profile tour as the Premier League champions fought to avoid further embarrassment after the social media slurs sparked a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo has told a Spanish newspaper he is staying put at Real Madrid to plunder more silverware, ending weeks of speculation about his future. "To win important trophies with my club and the personal honours last season was brilliant, to do it again would be nice," Ronaldo told the sports daily […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Jamaica are out to end North America's stranglehold on the CONCACAF Gold Cup when they take on the favored United States Wednesday in the final at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The arrival of Bruce Arena's men in the title match of the regional championship for North and Central America […]

Rome (AFP) – Former Italy international striker Antonio Cassano confirmed his retirement for the second time in a week on Monday, bringing an eventful end to a colourful career. The 35-year initially announced he was retiring last Tuesday, before backtracking on his decision just hours after breaking the news to his Verona team-mates. He then […]

Deventer (Netherlands) (AFP) – Hosts Netherlands beat neighbours Belgium 2-1 to advance to the women's Euro quarter-finals alongside Denmark, who edged 2013 runners-up Norway 1-0 in Group A on Monday. In Tilburg, Sherida Spitse converted a penalty — her second in two games — in the 27th minute to put the Netherlands ahead after Maud […]

London (AFP) – West Ham have completed the signing of former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez for £16 million ($20.8 million, 17.9 million euros), the Premier League club said on Monday. A deal to bring Mexico's record goalscorer to London Stadium was hammered out several days ago. Hernandez has penned a three-year […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace completed the signing of Dutch international defender Jairo Riedewald on a five-year deal from Ajax on Monday for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club announced. Riedewald will be reunited with new Palace manager Frank de Boer, who handed the 20-year-old his professional debut in 2013 while in charge of […]

Paris (AFP) – Five things on Benjamin Mendy, who signed a five-year contract to join Manchester City from Monaco on Monday to make him the world's most expensive defender: #BlueMendy – New Order Fans of Manchester band New Order will have been tickled to see the witty #BlueMendy hashtag the world's most expensive defender posted […]