Glasgow (AFP) – Robust extra security measures are to be implemented for Saturday's 2018 World Cup qualifier between old rivals Scotland and England in Glasgow after recent terror attacks in Britain. The Scottish Football Association (SFA) said gates at Hampden Park would open earlier than usual — at 1400GMT for the 1600GMT kick-off — ahead […]

London (AFP) – Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote who died on Monday aged 30 was the 'kind of player everyone wants in their team, said former England manager Steve McClaren who managed him at two clubs. According to his second tier Chinese club Beijing Enterprises, Tiote "suddenly fainted" during training on Monday and was rushed […]

Beijing (AFP) – Ivory Coast international and former Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote died while training for his Chinese club on Monday. Here are five players who died during their careers: – Marc-Vivien Foe, June 2003 – Cameroon midfielder Foe collapsed after a heart attack during a Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia in Lyon, France. The […]

Beijing (AFP) – Ivory Coast international Cheick Tiote "suddenly fainted" at training and died later in hospital, his Chinese club said on Tuesday, as tributes flooded in for the player. Tiote, 30, who had only moved to China in February from England's Newcastle United, collapsed at training on Monday, second-tier Beijing Enterprises said. He was […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo soaked up the acclaim after his brace fired Real Madrid to a 4-1 Champions League final demolition of Juventus and capped his "spectacular" end to the season. Ronaldo led Madrid to their first La Liga and Champions League double since 1958 by scoring 16 goals in his last […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gareth Bale saluted Real Madrid's historic Champions League final victory over Juventus as the Spanish giants became the first side to retain the trophy for 27 years. Bale has been hampered by ankle and calf injuries for much of the season, but the Wales forward was able to play a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid made history on Saturday by beating Juventus to become the first side to retain the Champions League for 27 years. Victory also means Madrid have won three Champions Leagues in the past four years to solidify their status as Europe's most successful club with 12 European Cups in total. Here, […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Following Real Madrid's 4-1 win over Juventus to win a third Champions League crown in four years, AFP Sport looks at who were the Tops and Flops on the night in Cardiff. TOPS – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) The Portuguese maestro bagged a brace to leapfrog Lionel Messi as top […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Back on the Cardiff turf where he won the first major silverware of his astonishing career, Cristiano Ronaldo cemented his legacy as one of the game's all-time greats with a decisive brace in Real Madrid's 4-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final. Ronaldo's maiden trophy came at the […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid crushed Juventus 4-1 in Cardiff on Saturday to become the first team to retain the European Cup in the Champions League era. The Portugal superstar's opener was cancelled out by an astonishing Mario Mandzukic strike, but goals from Casemiro, Ronaldo and Marco Asensio […]

Rome (AFP) – Juventus and Italy legend Andrea Pirlo has told his former team-mates to win Saturday's Champions League final for him. "Here we are: Juve-Real in the Champions League final. I say 'we' because even if this time I will not be on the pitch, I will be the number one supporter," the veteran […]

London (AFP) – Former Italy striker Fabrizio Ravanelli would love to manage his former club Middlesbrough, freshly relegated from the Premier League, he told Britain's Press Association on Saturday. The 48-year-old, who scored 33 goals in 52 appearances for unfashionable Boro in the 1996/97 season after surprisingly leaving then European champions Juventus, has not had […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Europe should host the 2030 World Cup, not the country who is the highest bidder, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has told the BBC. The 49-year-old Slovenian, who replaced disgraced Frenchman Michel Platini at the top of European football last September, added he didn't want to single out China with regard […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos says an "appointment with history" awaits his side and Juventus in Saturday's glamour Champions League final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. Ramos is hoping to lift the trophy for the third time in four years, which would make Zinedine Zidane's team the first to have successfully […]

Belfast (AFP) – Liam Boyce's first international goal gave Northern Ireland a 1-0 win over New Zealand on Friday and an ideal boost ahead of a pivotal 2018 World Cup qualifier with Azerbaijan. The 26-year-old Ross County striker — who finished top scorer in the Scottish Premiership with 23 goals — struck in the sixth […]