Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester's clash with Stoke on Saturday marks the beginning of another potentially historic month for the champions as they target domestic survival and shock European glory. Eight games are ahead in a busy period for Craig Shakespeare's rejuvenated side, who continue to combine their fight against Premier League relegation with […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea will aim to resume their steady march towards the Premier League title after an international break in which the focus was on the future of Eden Hazard. The 26-year-old Belgian star sat out Chelsea's last game at Stoke City as well as Belgium's fixtures during the recess with a calf problem […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Adam Lallana's thigh injury is a significant setback for Jurgen Klopp as he seeks to strengthen Liverpool's Champions League qualification chances with victory over Everton in Saturday's Merseyside derby. Lallana is expected to be out for a month, having suffered the injury during the closing stages of England's 2-0 victory over Lithuania […]

London (AFP) – Stoke City striker Saido Berahino says he was an innocent party and did not take drugs claiming to the BBC someone spiked his drink which led to an eight week ban earlier this season. The 23-year-old — who moved to Stoke from Premier League rivals West Brom in the January transfer window […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sevilla said Thursday that highly respected sporting director Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, better known as "Monchi", was leaving the club after guiding it through its most successful era. Spanish media reports say Monchi, who has admirers across Europe, will go to Roma in Italy in a similar role. "FC Sevilla and Ramon Rodriguez […]

Lisbon (AFP) – The man behind the grinning and now-infamous bronze bust of Cristiano Ronaldo said Thursday the Real Madrid superstar liked the sculpture — but did ask him to remove the wrinkles. Emanuel Santos defended his work following less-than-flattering reviews on social media after the bust was unveiled on Wednesday at Madeira's international airport, […]

Paris (AFP) – Michel Platini laid bare his anger at his spectacular downfall on Thursday, breaking his silence to accuse FIFA bosses of wanting to destroy him and claiming Sepp Blatter "always said I'd be his last scalp". Former UEFA boss Platini and erstwhile ally Blatter — once the most powerful man in football as […]

Zurich (AFP) – All football regions will see their World Cup slots increased when the tournament expands to 48 teams in 2026, with Africa the biggest winner, according to FIFA recommendations released Thursday. The plan to expand the competition beyond its current 32-team format, which is subject to approval at FIFA's May Congress in Bahrain, […]

London (AFP) – England's football authorities on Thursday invited applications for independent research into whether playing the sport heightens the risk of degenerative brain disease in later life. It follows a campaign by the family of former West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle, whose 2002 death from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was linked to repeatedly […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has quashed speculation linking him with the Barcelona job by insisting he could never manage the Spanish giants. Pochettino was pictured meeting with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu in the Catalan city last week amid reports he is a leading contender to replace Luis Enrique when he leaves […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid signed a 15-million-euro ($16 million) sponsorship deal with Spanish telecommunications giant Telefonica on Thursday, the European champions said. The two-year agreement will swell Real's coffers once more — Deloitte's Football Money League 2017 puts the Champions League winners third only to Manchester United and then great rivals Barcelona for annual […]

London (AFP) – Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury playing for Argentina. Funes Mori was stretchered off with a torn meniscus in the first half of Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz earlier this week. The centre-back is […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be out for two matches after sustaining an injury in training, but should be fit for the Champions League showdown with Real Madrid, the Bundeliga giants said Thursday. "Manuel Neuer underwent a successful minor operation ... on Wednesday evening after sustaining an injury to his […]

Bandung (Indonesia) (AFP) – Former West Ham United and Chelsea striker Carlton Cole has signed for Indonesia's Persib Bandung, the club announced Thursday. Cole joined Persib just two weeks after his former Chelsea teammate and ex-AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder Michael Essien signed for the club — the highest-profile player to make the move […]

London Colney (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his future was "not sorted completely" on Thursday as he ducked another opportunity to make an announcement about what he intends to do. Wenger, Arsenal's manager since 1996, has come under fire from fans after the club were humiliated by Bayern Munich in the […]