Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain signed Spanish left-back Yuri Berchiche from La Liga outfit Real Sociedad on Friday, making him the first recruit in their drive to win back the French title. The 27-year-old is a direct replacement for the retired Brazilian veteran Maxwell and has joined for a fee of around 15 million euros […]

London (AFP) – Bradley Lowery, who became one of the iconic images of last season's Premier League through his friendship with then Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, has died aged six, his family revealed on his Facebook page. The devoted Sunderland supporter suffered from a rare form of cancer neuroblastoma and had of late been receiving […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Ferroviario Beira of Mozambique and Zesco United of Zambia qualified for CAF club competition quarter-finals Friday after Sudan were banned from competing internationally. FIFA suspended the east African nation over government interference after national federation president Mutasim Gaafar Sir Eklkhatim was illegally replaced. The decision robbed Al Merrikh of a probable Champions […]

Barcelona (AFP) – A Spanish court said Friday it had replaced Barcelona star Lionel Messi's prison sentences for tax fraud with fines. The Argentine, one of the world's best-paid players, and his father had been convicted of hiding image rights royalties in offshore accounts and had been given jail terms of 21 and 15 months […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA said Friday it had suspended Sudan with immediate effect due to government interference in the Sudan Football Association (SFA). The decision bans the Sudanese national team from playing international matches and bars the country's clubs from all continental competitions. Al-Hilal, Al Merreikh and Al-Hilal Obeid won't be able to participate in […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi, who recently extended his contract with the Catalan club, is "the best paid player in the world," club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said Friday. Barcelona announced Wednesday that Messi had agreed to extend his contract until 2021, in a deal that will keep the five times winner […]

Shanghai (AFP) – China's national captain Zheng Zhi and Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz were both banned for several games as the Chinese FA dished out another round of draconian punishments. Brazilian internationals Oscar and Hulk and their Shanghai SIPG manager Andre Villas-Boas are all already suspended over a separate incident and the Chinese Football Association […]

Geneva (AFP) – Switzerland's highest court has rejected former UEFA chief Michel Platini's appeal against a four-year suspension from football, ending his efforts to overturn the penalty, the ATS news agency reported Thursday. Platini, 61, was hit with the penalty over a $2 million payment he received in 2011, authorised by then FIFA chief Sepp […]

London (AFP) – Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is set to join Manchester United for a record fee between British clubs of £75 million ($97m, 85.5m euros), according to media reports Thursday. Both the BBC and Press Association reported the deal was all but done for the 24-year-old Belgian international, who will be reunited with Jose […]

London (AFP) – England striker Jermain Defoe burst into tears at his unveiling by Premier League side Bournemouth on Thursday, as he revealed his 'best friend' Bradley Lowery had only a matter of days to live. Defoe, 34, and six-year-old devoted Sunderland fan Bradley were one of the bright lights of the Premier League last […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish left-back Yuri Berchiche is set to leave Real Sociedad for Paris Saint-Germain, the Basque club said on Thursday. The 27-year-old would be PSG's first signing of the close season and a replacement for Brazilian Maxwell, who retired at the end of last season. "We have received a written offer from PSG […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – CAF Confederation Cup title-holders TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo must defeat visiting Horoya of Guinea this weekend to be sure of a quarter-finals place. Every Group D match between leaders Mazembe, Horoya and third-place SuperSport United of South Africa has been drawn, setting the scene for a thrilling finale. […]

London (AFP) – Everton's Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku is set to join Manchester United instead of champions Chelsea for a fee of £75 million ($97m, 85.5m euros), according to the British media. Both the BBC and Press Association reported the deal was all but done for the 24-year-old Lukaku, who will be reunited with […]

London (AFP) – England and Manchester United's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney could be set for a return to Everton, the club where he made his name, according to the British media. The 31-year-old who flourished at Everton — bursting onto the scene as a teenager and scoring 15 goals in 67 appearances — has become […]

Tokyo (AFP) – German World Cup winner Lukas Podolski Thursday vowed to bolster enthusiasm for Japanese football after arriving to join Vissel Kobe, bucking a trend of big-name players moving to cash-rich China. "I know the J-League is the strongest in Asia and I am determined to enliven (the league) with my team," Podolski told […]