Madrid (AFP) – Prosecutors called on a Madrid judge on Thursday to jail Spanish football federation president Angel María Villar and his son Gorka following their arrest on corruption charges. Federation chief and UEFA vice president Angel Maria Villar was examined throughout the day along with his son Gorka by high court judge Santiago Pedraz […]

London (AFP) – West Ham United are close to agreeing a deal to sign former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, according to widespread media reports. The Premier League side have been chasing the 29-year-old frontman throughout the summer, and appear confident of landing Mexico's all-time leading goalscorer from Bayer Leverkusen. No fee has yet been […]

London (AFP) – French champions Monaco have turned down a bid from Manchester City for French defender Benjamin Mendy, according to media reports on Thursday. Pep Guardiola is desperate to add Mendy to his full-back options after releasing Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta this summer, but their £44.5 million ($55.7 million, 49.7 million […]

New York (AFP) – Paris Saint Germain need to sign a player of the calibre of Neymar or Kylian Mbappe in their quest to win the Champions League, according to their coach Unai Emery. In an interview published in French sports daily L'Equipe on Thursday Emery named Neymar as a world top-five player, just the […]

Rome (AFP) – Italian police are investigating football clubs for allegedly getting young African players false papers in a probe that could involve Serie A teams, national media reported Thursday. The inquiry centres on AC Prato, which plays in the Lega Pro league, amid suspicions managers "favoured the illegal entry into Italy of African minors, […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City are close to signing Real Madrid full-back Danilo, according to widespread media reports on Thursday. Pep Guardiola made full-backs his top transfer priority in the close season having released Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, and Brazilian international Danilo is on the verge of joining Kyle Walker as City's […]

Houston (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said he plans to treat Thursday's exhibition match against Manchester City as a training session as the two Premier League rivals prepare to clash in Houston. The two teams meet at the NRG Stadium — home of the Houston Texans NFL team — in the first ever […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain edged Roma 5-3 on penalties on Wednesday after they played to a 1-1 draw in a friendly international football match in Detroit, Michigan. Brazilian defender Marquinhos gave the Ligue 1 giants the lead in the 36th minute, but Roma responded with a strong second-half performance that saw Sadiq Umar […]

Philadelphia (AFP) – The United States overcame a battling display from El Salvador to advance to a CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final showdown with Costa Rica here Wednesday. First-half goals from defenders Omar Gonzalez and Eric Lichaj secured a hard-fought quarter-final win for the hosts, who are chasing their first Gold Cup title since 2013. However […]

Washington (AFP) – Anibal Godoy headed agonizingly into his own net to give Costa Rica a 1-0 victory over Panama on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Philadelphia. The Central American rivals were deadlocked in the second half when Costa Rica's David Guzman swung a long free kick toward the Panamanian […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers says Celtic are in a much better place to make an impression in the Champions League than last year after watching his side ease past Linfield into the third qualifying round of the competition. The Hoops cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Northern Ireland champions at Celtic Park thanks […]

Doetinchem (Netherlands) (AFP) – Jodie Taylor scored a hat-trick as England demolished newcomers Scotland 6-0 at the women's European Championship while Spain cruised past Portugal in their opening Group D match in the Netherlands on Wednesday. In Utrecht, Arsenal striker Taylor struck an 11th-minute opener, capitalising on a run by Lucy Bronze, before firing home […]

Liverpool (AFP) – England midfielder Ross Barkley underwent groin surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss the start of the Premier League season amid ongoing speculation over his future. Everton said the 23-year-old is set to be sidelined for around four weeks after missing the club's pre-season trips to Tanzania and the Netherlands. Barkley's […]

Houston (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Wednesday he had no plans to sell Sergio Aguero but confirmed the club was in talks with "three or four" potential new signings. Speaking to reporters ahead of Manchester City's Houston derby with Manchester United on Thursday, Guardiola attempted to draw a line under speculation about […]

Doetinchem (Netherlands) (AFP) – First-half goals from Vicky Losada and Amanda Sampedro handed Spain a convincing 2-0 win against Euro newcomers Portugal in the Group D opener at the women's Euro tournament on Wednesday. Losada opened the score on 23 minutes after a long pass from Andrea Pereira and the Barcelona midfielder slammed the ball […]