Doha (AFP) – Up to 1.3 million fans will visit Qatar during the 2022 World Cup, an official said Thursday, equivalent to half the Gulf country's population. Nasser Al-Khater, a senior figure with the body organising Qatar's World Cup, also said that for the first time in tournament history many of the fans would come […]

Doha (AFP) – With a little under 2,022 days until the Qatar World Cup kicks-off, the tiny yet hugely ambitious Gulf state will officially unveil the tournament's first completed venue on Friday. The Khalifa International Stadium — complete with the much-talked-about cooling technology that was central to Qatar's controversial bid for the World Cup — […]

London (AFP) – England's governing Football Association has voted in favour of bringing in retrospective bans for players who dive or feign injury from next season. Thursday's annual general meeting at Wembley saw the FA create a new offence of "successful deception of a match official", which is based on a regulation already used in […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew said he would "not be sad" if the Confederations Cup is scrapped for 2021, warning his stars are playing too many international tournaments. Loew has effectively selected a Germany B team for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia from June 17 to July 2, naming just three members […]

London (AFP) – Sam Allardyce backed Jose Mourinho's complaint about the Premier League failing to move Manchester United's match against Crystal Palace to help their preparations for the Europa League final. United finish their league campaign at home to Palace on Sunday, three days before they face Ajax in the Europa League final in Stockholm. […]

Stockholm (AFP) – Thursday's top-flight clash between Swedish giants Gothenburg and AIK was postponed after at least one player was threatened and told to fix the result. There have been several similar incidents in Swedish football in the past but none involving the first division. "This is a very serious attack against Swedish football and […]

Paris (AFP) – Didier Deschamps took a swipe at Karim Benzema on Thursday as the French coach again left the Real Madrid forward out of his 26-man squad for three key matches next month. The 29-year-old Benzema has not figured for France since October 2015 over allegations of his involvement in a sex-tape scandal featuring […]

Stockholm (AFP) – Swedish football authorities postponed Thursday's top-flight game between IFK Gothenburg and AIK following a match-fixing attempt that included "veiled threats". An AIK player had been offered "a large sum of money" in exchange for trying to ensure that they lose, the Swedish Football Federation said. "This is a very serious attack against […]

Stockholm (AFP) – The Swedish Football Federation postponed Thursday's top-flight game between Gothenburg and AIK following a match-fixing attempt. "This is a very serious attack against Swedish football and we will never, never accept this," Hakan Sjostrand, secretary general of the federation, said in a statement. One of AIK's players had been offered "a large […]

Changsha (China) (AFP) – A top organiser of Russia's World Cup dismissed the threat of hooliganism as "overblown" and "fake" on Thursday despite concerns after Russian fans went on the rampage at Euro 2016. Alexander Djordjadze, deputy CEO of the Russia 2018 organising committee, gave assurances that fans would be safe at next year's tournament […]

Chicago (AFP) – MLS scoring leader Nemanja Nikolic scored twice as the Chicago Fire routed the Colorado Rapids 3-0 on Wednesday at Toyota Stadium. Midfielder David Accam also scored for the Fire who improved to 5-3-3 and have outscored their two opponents 7-1 in the last four days. Nikolic now has a league-leading 10 goals […]

Seoul (AFP) – The FIFA Under-20 World Cup kicks off in South Korea on Saturday and looks wide open after the 2015 champions Serbia and beaten finalists Brazil both failed to qualify. Some of the world's top young footballing talent will be on display with more than 500 players in 24 teams taking part, but […]

London (AFP) – When even international stars like former England goalkeeper David James are declared bankrupt it should make young footballers, suddenly flush with mind-boggling riches, sit up and take notice of the perils that lie ahead. James, who won 53 caps for England and lifted the 2008 FA Cup with Portsmouth earning an estimated […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho says the Premier League's unwillingness to help Manchester United prepare for their Europa League final will force him to pick youth players against Crystal Palace on Sunday. United finish their league campaign against Palace at Old Trafford before facing Ajax in the Europa League final in Stockholm next […]

Paris (AFP) – For Monaco, after the euphoria of a league title won in brilliant style will come the realisation that this could be the start of a glorious era. A thrilling young team coached by Leonardo Jardim clinched the Ligue 1 title on Wednesday, ending Paris Saint-Germain's recent domination of the French game. Having […]