Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Ahmad Al Salih's late strike dealt a body blow to China's faltering quest to reach a second World Cup on Tuesday, as Japan's serene progress received a jolt from Iraq. Marcello Lippi's China were within reach of only their second win in Group A when Al Salih curled home a free […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – Toulouse's pubic prosecutor on Tuesday called for teenage football star Odsonne Edouard to be jailed for four months for shooting a random passer-by with an air gun. Prosecutor Christine Chastenet also asked for a fine of 6,000 euros ($6,700) for the 19-year-old. "This is no laughing matter, this is not someone […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Ahmad Al Salih's injury-time free kick dealt China's already faint World Cup hopes another body blow as they were held 2-2 by Syria on Tuesday. China had fought back from Syria's first-half penalty to lead 2-1 before the bearded Al Salih skilfully converted from the edge of the 'D' in the […]

The Hague (AFP) – Top Amsterdam club Ajax are set to name the relatively inexperienced Marcel Keizer as new coach following the departure of Peter Bosz for Borussia Dortmund after a single season, Dutch media reports said Tuesday. "Ajax are going to name Marcel Keizer as new trainer, to follow Peter Bosz," both popular daily […]

Lausanne (AFP) – The Palestine Football Association (PFA) appealed to the world's top sports court on Tuesday, seeking to force FIFA to rule on the future of Israeli clubs playing in the West Bank. The case filed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is aimed at voiding a FIFA resolution, passed at its […]

Singapore (AFP) – Argentina shrugged off Lionel Messi's controversial absence by thumping six goals past minnows Singapore in a one-sided friendly on Tuesday. Messi's pre-game departure — reportedly to prepare for his wedding — prompted grumbles among fans but Argentina were not short of firepower as six different players found the net. Defender Federico Fazio […]

Bangkok (AFP) – Ali Mabkhout's stoppage-time equaliser gave the United Arab Emirates a stay of execution but a 1-1 draw with Thailand left their World Cup bid hanging by a thread on Tuesday. The UAE were seconds from dropping out of the running for Russia 2018 when Mabkhout scored from close range after a knockdown […]

Lyon (AFP) – Lyon confirmed on Tuesday the transfer of attacking midfielder Mathieu Valbuena to Turks Fenerbahce for 1.5 million euros. Istanbul giants Fenerbahce had announced on Monday an agreement in principle between the two clubs for the 32-year-old France international, who has been at the centre of a sex-tape blackmail scandal for the last […]

Tehran (AFP) – Diminutive midfielder Mahdi Kamil's late equaliser jolted Japan's World Cup qualifying bid as they were held to an unexpected 1-1 draw with Iraq on Tuesday. The Blue Samurai seemed to be cruising to victory in neutral Tehran after Yuya Osako's first-half goal, before the 164cm (5ft 4in) Kamil poached the equaliser on […]

Osijek (Croatia) (AFP) – Luka Modric swapped his football kit for a suit on Tuesday as he appeared in the witness box to testify in a multi-million-euro corruption trial against Dinamo Zagreb's former boss. The 31-year-old star midfielder, who is not a suspect, was visibly uncomfortable as he gave evidence at the trial of controversial […]

Madrid (AFP) – French star Antoine Griezmann has extended his contract with Atletico Madrid by a year, the Spanish club announced on Tuesday. Griezmann's contract now runs until June 30, 2022, and ends rumours linking him with a move away from Atletico. "The first thing that I want to do is apologise to the people who […]

Nantes (France) (AFP) – Italian Claudio Ranieri is the new coach of Nantes, the Ligue 1 side said on Tuesday, just four months after he was sacked by Leicester City. Nantes had to ask for — and received — special dispensation from French league officials to hire the popular Italian as he has reached the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was on Tuesday accused of a 14.7 million euro tax evasion through offshore companies, the public prosecutor's office in Madrid announced. The Portuguese footballer was accused of "four crimes against the public treasury between 2011-14... which involves tax fraud of 14,768,897 euros ($16.5m, £12.9m)", the office said […]

London (AFP) – Everton have agreed a £30 million ($38 million, 34 million euros) deal to sign Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, according to British media reports on Tuesday. Pickford was Everton manager Ronald Koeman's top target to take over from Maarten Stekelenburg and Joel Robles, who both endured inconsistent spells last season. Sunderland have accepted […]

Seoul (AFP) – South Korea's football association Tuesday said it wanted talks with China and Japan about a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup along with North Korea, an initiative aimed at easing tensions in the region. The South's new President Moon Jae-In first proposed the ambitious idea to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino […]