Madrid (AFP) – Florentino Perez's first task after being reelected unopposed as Real Madrid president on Monday will be to appease superstar Cristiano Ronaldo amid speculation the four-time world player of the year wants to leave. "As no other candidature was put forward to the board ... it is proclaimed that Mr Florentino Perez Rodriguez […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich on Monday rubbished reports they are set to swoop for Cristiano Ronaldo — with the German giants' chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insisting it's pure fantasy. The 32-year-old Real Madrid star has threatened to leave Spain after running into problems with tax authorities. Italy's "Gazzetta dello Sport" had speculated that Bayern are […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Croatian prosecutors said Monday they were opening an investigation into whether Real Madrid's Luka Modric gave false testimony at the trial of Dinamo Zagreb's powerful former boss, Zdravko Mamic. The 31-year-old midfielder is suspected of "committing the criminal offence of giving false testimony" on June 13 at the tribunal in eastern Croatia, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Florentino Pérez's first task after being reelected unopposed as Real Madrid president on Monday will be to appease superstar Cristiano Ronaldo amid speculation the four-time world player of the year wants to leave. "As no other candidature was put forward to the board ... it is proclaimed that Mr Florentino Pérez Rodríguez […]

Madrid (AFP) – Florentino Pérez will remain as president of Real Madrid until 2021 after no other candidates ran against him, the Spanish champions announced on Monday. "As no other candidature was put forward to the board ... it is proclaimed that Mr Florentino Pérez Rodríguez is president of Real Madrid," the club said in […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Brazilian international Oscar triggered a mass brawl in the Chinese Super League as players and staff from his Shanghai SIPG side and opponents Guangzhou R&F scrapped on the pitch. After the former Chelsea midfielder appeared twice to fire the ball deliberately at Guangzhou players, he was rushed by several opponents. Oscar fell […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Brazilian international Oscar triggered a mass brawl in the Chinese Super League as players and staff from his Shanghai SIPG side and opponents Guangzhou R&F scrapped on the pitch. After the former Chelsea midfielder appeared to fire the ball deliberately twice at Guangzhou players, he was rushed by several opponents, fell to […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Carlos Tevez faced growing calls Monday to be shipped out as angry Shanghai Shenhua fans turned on the Argentine forward and under-pressure manager Gus Poyet. Shenhua fans are fast losing patience with Tevez, who only moved to the Chinese club at the start of the year from Boca Juniors on a reported […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo brushed off speculation about his Real Madrid future, although Portugal conceded a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Mexico at the Confederations Cup on Sunday. Ronaldo teed up Ricardo Quaresma to fire Portugal ahead in the first half in Kazan, but the goal was cancelled out before the […]

Moscow (AFP) – Arturo Vidal's late header helped Chile to a 2-0 win over Cameroon in their Confederations Cup Group B opener in Moscow on Sunday, as the video assistant referee played a prominent role. Chile dominated an entertaining, but goalless, first half as Eduardo Vargas saw his strike ruled out by the video assistant. […]

Abidjan (AFP) – Ivory Coast international Cheick Tiote, whose sudden death in China at just 30 years old shocked his country, was laid to rest Sunday as he was hailed a "worthy son" of the African nation. Tiote, a 52-time capped player who featured at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, was honoured with a […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew described the Confederations Cup as 'a gift' in his side's bid to defend the World Cup next year, ahead of Monday's clash against Australia. Loew has left most of his World Cup-winners at home and brought an inexperienced squad, who have made just 179 international appearances between […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – World champions Germany will field an inexperienced line-up against Australia in their Confederations Cup opener on Monday with striker Timo Werner fearing a robust challenge from the Socceroos. With an average age of just 24 years, four months, and a combined total of 179 international appearances, Germany have the most youthful […]

Madrid (AFP) – Enraged by Spanish tax authorities and a perceived lack of support from Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo is threatening to leave the European champions, but is it genuine or part of a greater ploy? Ronaldo's departure from Real, reportedly a given according to a Portuguese newspaper, triggered an avalanche of speculation over the […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Socceroos veteran Tim Cahill says the time is right for Australia to shock inexperienced Germany on Monday and prove themselves at the Confederations Cup. The ex-Everton midfielder, 37, is just three short of winning his 100th cap — a milestone he could reach in the three Group B games against Germany, […]