Arbil (Iraq) (AFP) – Ali, a jubilant 24-year-old, is finally in the stands himself for an international football match in Iraq — the first to be held in the country in years. "Before, I watched these matches on TV. Today I'm at the stadium," says Ali, wearing an Air Force Club jersey and a flag […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar was reelected for an eighth term on Monday after being unopposed in elections. Villar, a long-term UEFA and FIFA vice-president, has been head of the Spanish FA for the past 28 years and was reelected with 112 votes in favour, with 11 abstentions and […]

London (AFP) – David Moyes has resigned as Sunderland manager following their relegation from the Premier League, the club announced on Monday. The 54-year-old Scot was appointed last July and oversaw a desperate season that saw Sunderland finish 16 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table. "I would like to thank (chairman) […]

London (AFP) – The Pompey Supporters' Trust (PST) has voted in favour of allowing former Walt Disney chief executive Michael Eisner to buy Portsmouth, the English fourth-tier club announced on Monday. The trust, which took control of Portsmouth in 2013, holds a 48.5 percent stake in the club and has three members on the board […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke responded Monday to speculation about a possible takeover by insisting his company KSE UK's shares in the English Premier League club "are not, and never have been for sale". In a brief statement to the London Stock Exchange, headlined "Response to media speculation", KSE said: "KSE UK […]

London (AFP) – Though he denies it, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has gambled the club's season on the outcome of Wednesday's Europa League final against Ajax in Stockholm. Having missed out on Champions League qualification via the Premier League, United must beat Ajax at the Friends Arena to secure a return to Europe's elite […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona face a summer of reconstruction after their grip on the La Liga title was ended by newly crowned champions Real Madrid. Here, AFP Sports looks at five key issues the Catalans have to address in the coming months to gain ground on their rivals from the Spanish capital. New deal for […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – One of the last places in Africa any coach wants to take a struggling side is the Stade des Martyrs in Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa. When packed to its 80,000 capacity, the venue ranks among the most intimidating football cauldrons imaginable. That is where CAF Champions League title-holders Mamelodi Sundowns […]

Orlando (AFP) – Reigning MLS MVP David Villa scored twice as New York City FC posted a 3-0 victory over Orlando City, which suffered its first loss at home this season. The former Barcelona striker opened the scoring on a first-half penalty kick, set up when Orlando's Kaka was called for a handball. Rodney Wallace […]

Madrid (AFP) – Thousands of Real Madrid fans, many decked in the famous white team jersey, converged in the centre of the Spanish capital to celebrate the club's 33rd league title after a 2-0 win over Malaga on Sunday. Elated fans cheered and lit flares when the squad arrived on an open-top bus bearing the […]

Sydney (AFP) – Dutch-based youngster Ajdin Hrustic was a surprise pick in Ange Postecoglou's 30-man squad named Monday for Australia's crucial World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia followed by the Confederations Cup. The 20-year-old Melbourne-born Groningen winger could make his debut in a squad that contains 24 overseas-based players and just six from the domestic […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola insisted that Manchester City are "decades" behind Europe's largest clubs despite the 5-0 win away to injury-hit Watford that clinched Champions League qualification. The City manager was delighted with the result on the final day of the Premier League season for one of the richest clubs in world […]

London (AFP) – Left in the starting blocks by Chelsea's Antonio Conte this season, the Premier League's all-star cast of super managers will be desperate to hit the ground running in 2017-18. The 2016-17 title race was billed in some quarters as a shootout between Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and Jose Mourinho's Manchester United, with […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said an "absolutely horrendous" atmosphere had been partly responsible for his club's failure to secure a Champions League place for the first time in 20 years. Speaking after a 3-1 victory over Everton on the final day of the Premier League season, Wenger accepted that uncertainty over his […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has immediately turned his attention to matching fellow Italian Carlo Ancelotti by winning the 'Double' in England after his record-breaking team were presented with the Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The west London club, crowned champions of England for the sixth time in their history, […]