Manama (AFP) – FIFA's decision to remove its ethics team was a "setback" in the fight against corruption as "hundreds" of cases were being investigated, ousted investigator Cornel Borbely said on Wednesday. World football's governing body has recommended that Borbely, along with the ethics judge who helped bring down Sepp Blatter, Hans-Joachim Eckert, not be […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to prevent civil demonstrations disrupting next month's Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup. The decree, published Wednesday on the government's legal information internet portal, said that demonstrations, rallies and pickets that are not tied to the football tournaments can only be held in […]

Milan (AFP) – Roma striker Edin Dzeko has been sidelined for 10 days with a calf strain, damaging the Serie A side's bid for a top-two finish and his hopes of the top scorer's award. Dzeko went two goals clear of the chasing pack last weekend with a brace in a 4-1 win at AC […]

Sydney (AFP) – Western Sydney Wanderers pinched only their second win of this season's AFC Champions League with a late winner over big-spending Shanghai SIPG in their final group game in Sydney on Wednesday. Jaushua Sotirio had a tap-in in the 89th-minute to claim a 3-2 win for the 2014 AFC Champions League winners who […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Cardiff beckons for Gianluigi Buffon and an elusive Champions League winners' medal is not the only prestigious prize within the gangly reach of one of the great goalkeepers. At 39, Buffon feared his chance to win club football's biggest competition might have gone after featuring in losing Juve teams in the […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Malaysia has lodged an appeal against having to play an Asian Cup qualifier against North Korea in Pyongyang, Asian football's governing body said Wednesday. "There is an appeal from FAM. We are looking into it," said Windsor John, secretary-general of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) made […]

Manama (AFP) – FIFA's decision to remove its ethics team was a "setback in the fight against corruption", one of those dismissed, investigator Cornel Borbely, told a press conference in Bahrain on Wednesday. World football's governing body has recommended that Borbely, along with the ethics judge who helped bring down Sepp Blatter, Hans-Joachim Eckert, not […]

Shanghai (AFP) – A Chinese football official has said there is no evidence that Shanghai SIPG striker Hulk broke any rules after the Brazilian was accused of punching a rival team's coach. Guizhou Zhicheng's then head coach Li Bing had accused the muscular Brazilian of punching his assistant Yu Ming in a racially-motivated attack […]

London (AFP) – Ander Herrera wants Manchester United's supporters to turn Old Trafford into a cauldron when his side look to complete victory over Celta Vigo in Thursday's Europa League semi-final return leg. Marcus Rashford's sweet second-half free-kick brought United a 1-0 win in last week's first leg, putting Jose Mourinho's side within touching distance […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – These should be the best of times for Italian football. Juventus reached their second Champions League final in three years on Tuesday evening, new investors are promising a revival of AC Milan and and Serie A is casting off its reputation for sterile defensive fare. But the renaissance risks being clouded […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – A stunning Dani Alves volley helped Juventus stroll into their second Champions League final in three years on Tuesday, a 2-1 win on the night completing a 4-1 aggregate victory over outclassed Monaco. Brazilian wing-back Alves's 25-yard strike followed Mario Mandzukic's opener for the treble-chasing Italian champions as any semblance of […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan have sacked coach Stefano Pioli and his technical staff three games before the end of the season, the Serie A giants announced on Tuesday. Pioli took over from Dutchman Frank De Boer two months into the campaign but the club, after initially targeting a Champions League spot, risk falling short […]

Manama (AFP) – FIFA bosses on Tuesday recommended replacing the ethics judge who helped bring down Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, prompting a response that his removal was "politically motivated". A five-hour long meeting of the all-powerful FIFA Council in Bahrain, chaired by president Gianni Infantino, has decided to replace German Hans-Joachim Eckert and ethics […]

Manama (AFP) – FIFA said on Tuesday it was "premature" to take any final decision on the controversial issue of Israeli clubs in the West Bank, according to a statement. The communique came after a five-hour long FIFA Council meeting in Bahrain, ahead of the issue being scheduled for discussion by its annual Congress, which […]

Manama (AFP) – FIFA are to investigate the world-record transfer of Paul Pogba to Manchester United, a source at world football's governing body told AFP on Tuesday. French midfielder Pogba was transferred for more than £89.3 million ($111 million, 105.2 million euros) in August 2016 from Italian club Juventus.