Manama (AFP) – FIFA bosses on Tuesday recommended replacing the ethics judge who helped bring down Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, sources at football's governing body told AFP. 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 with Vasilios Skuris of […]

Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) – Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier is to quit after seven and a half years in charge, the club confirmed on Tuesday. Galtier, who sports daily L'Equipe said announced the news to his players on Tuesday morning, will walk away at the end of the season. "Today is not a good day for […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois reckons winning the Premier League title with Chelsea this season will be all the sweeter after their struggles last term. The Blues were crowned champions of England in the 2014/15 season only to suffer a dramatic slump in form the following season that led to the sacking of […]

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

Guangzhou (AFP) – A Ricardo Goulart double steered two-time winners Guangzhou Evergrande into the AFC Champions League last 16 as they drew 2-2 with Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Tuesday. After cancelling out Yeom Ki-Hun's opener, Goulart looked offside as he headed Evergrande 2-1 ahead on 68 minutes, before Kim Jong-Woo's late equaliser caused some late […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos insists the European champions will not be cowered by an intimidating atmosphere as they visit Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon for the final time on Wednesday. Los Blancos are looking to seal their place in the Champions League final once more and enjoy a commanding 3-0 first leg […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has ruled out working alongside a director of football if he stays at Arsenal, saying he must have full control of the Premier League club. The Frenchman's hardline stance puts him on a potential collision course with members of the Arsenal hierarchy who reportedly want to bring in a director […]

Zeist (Netherlands) (AFP) – Dick Advocaat has been named coach of The Netherlands for a third time aiming to kick them into shape fast and save their World Cup hopes, with Ruud Gullit as assistant. Advocaat, 69, and Dutch legend Gullit have signed contracts until the end of the year, the football federation said on Tuesday, […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said his side were "another little step" from the Premier League title after they crushed Middlesbrough 3-0 to move to within touching distance of glory. Tottenham Hotspur's surprise defeat at West Ham United last week handed Chelsea the initiative and they can now seal a second title triumph in […]

Madrid (AFP) – For all coach Diego Simeone has changed at Atletico Madrid, one thing remains the same — an inferiority complex when faced with their richer, more successful cross-city rivals Real Madrid. Atletico have a huge task to overturn a 3-0 semi-final first-leg deficit if they are to avoid elimination at the hands of […]

London (AFP) – Pescara's Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari has promised to walk off the pitch again if he has to endure any more racial abuse during a match. Muntari was sent off last week for leaving the field after claiming he was racially abused during a Serie A game against Cagliari. The 32-year-old, who was […]

London (AFP) – Cesc Fabregas sparkled as Chelsea moved to within touching distance of the Premier League title and condemned Middlesbrough to relegation with a breezy 3-0 home win on Monday. Fabregas made sure Chelsea capitalised on Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 defeat at West Ham United on Friday by supplying assists for Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic, […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatar's Al Rayyan crashed out of the Asian Champions League after being handed a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat by Saudi giants Al Hilal on Monday. The Michael Laudrup managed side needed a win to secure their first ever last 16 berth but a brace each by Nicolas Milesi and Omar Khribin in a […]

London (AFP) – Blackburn Rovers' Indian owners Venky's insist they are "deeply hurt" after the club's shocking decline hit a new low with relegation to England's third tier for the first time since 1980. Crowned English champions 22 years ago when they memorably pipped Manchester United to the Premier League title, Blackburn suffered a humiliating […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Even Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim rates it as only a one in 20 shot. And most people in football would say that is taking an optimistic view of his young side's chances as they seek to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Juventus in their Champions League semi-final, second leg here on […]