Foligno (Italy) (AFP) – Massimiliano Allegri has called for treble-chasing Juventus to make amends for failing to secure the Serie A title last weekend, by beating Lazio in the Italian Cup final on Wednesday. Juventus, who face Real Madrid in the Champions League final on June 3, needed just a point at Roma on Sunday […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea icon John Terry scored in what is likely to be his penultimate game for the newly-crowned champions and suggested unless a good offer came along he might retire after Sunday's final Premier League match. The 36-year-old — who has spent 22 years at the club winning 15 trophies including this […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has suggested the results of his first season as Manchester City manager would have seen him sacked by either Barcelona or Bayern Munich. Guardiola won 14 trophies in four seasons as manager at the Nou Camp, and seven in three years with Bayern. He never finished lower than […]

London (AFP) – Substitute Cesc Fabregas scored an 88th-minute winner as new Premier League champions Chelsea edged Watford 4-3 in a richly entertaining game at Stamford Bridge on Monday. John Terry, who will leave Chelsea at the end of the season, crowned his 716th game for the club with the opening goal, but was then […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani was voted French players' player of the year on Monday with Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe winning the under-21's title. Cavani has flourished in the absence of departed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and has notched up 35 league goals so far since moving into the centre forward slot from […]

London (AFP) – Men's football is "probably a couple of decades" away from being as socially inclusive as the women's game, the chairman of England's Football Association said Monday. Greg Clarke, speaking on Monday at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality charity Stonewall's 'Rainbow Laces' summit at Old Trafford, said there was something "not […]

New Delhi (AFP) – Spanish football legend Carles Puyol launched ticket sales for the Under-17 World Cup in New Delhi Monday, as India prepares to host the FIFA event — its first ever — in October. The former Barcelona defender is on his first visit to India to promote the hotly-anticipated tournament, and enthralled fans […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea defender David Luiz accepted he would be a "liar" to say he was ignoring the prospect of winning a Premier League and FA Cup 'Double' with the Blues. The Blues are already halfway to that achievement after wrapping up the Premier League title ahead of their FA Cup final against London […]

Madrid (AFP) – Malaga's Argentina international Martin Demichelis announced Monday he will retire after next weekend's final match of the season, a La Liga title decider for opponents Real Madrid. "Alas, this day arrives for all of us. I've been thinking about it for a while because I've always been concerned about the end of […]

London (AFP) – Sunderland manager David Moyes said Monday he had no defence to former England striker Alan Shearer's damning criticism of his relegated side after their inept display during a defeat by Swansea. The Black Cats, who play Arsenal in the penultimate match of a miserable Premier League season on Tuesday, offered minimal resistance […]

Soweto (South Africa) (AFP) – England-born Stuart Baxter was officially unveiled as South Africa coach Monday on a five-year contract and said winning was all that mattered. Asked at a media conference in Soweto if he would encourage players to nutmeg opponents in the South African penalty area, he replied: "No, I would not. "Winning […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pablo Zabaleta deserves a victorious finale to mark the end of his nine-year Manchester City career, manager Pep Guardiola said Monday. The Argentinian full-back is leaving the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the season, with Premier League rivals West Ham the 32-year-old's likeliest destination. Zabaleta […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has called on Arsenal fans to turn out in force for Tuesday's game against Sunderland rather than take part in a boycott designed to hasten his removal as manager of the London giants. The veteran French boss has still to announce if he will be staying at the Emirates Stadium […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Argentina international Ezequiel Lavezzi has issued an apology through his Chinese club after publicity photos showing him in a slant-eyed pose caused outrage on social media. Lavezzi, who joined Chinese Super League (CSL) side Hebei China Fortune last year from Paris Saint-Germain, landed in hot water over the weekend as photos emerged […]

London (AFP) – Hector Bellerin has backed Arsenal to mount a final push to qualify for the Champions League as his side face a make or break clash with Sunderland on Sunday. Arsene Wenger's team are three points behind fourth placed Manchester City and four adrift of third placed Liverpool, who have played a game […]