Milan (AFP) – AC Milan's Ignazio Abate has been ruled out for the remainder of the season as he recovers from eye surgery following an injury suffered against Sassuolo last month. Milan, currently seventh in Serie A at 20 points behind leaders Juventus, will welcome the defender back during the summer, according to a statement. […]

Shanghai (AFP) – German powerhouse Bayern Munich opened a Shanghai office Wednesday in a bid to capitalise on China's vast fan base and voracious hunger for top-flight football training. Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge announced the opening of its office in the German Centre, a complex in Shanghai's Pudong district, with support from the China Football Association […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate says the death threats Jamie Vardy received in the wake of Claudio Ranieri's sacking will not affect the striker in Wednesday's friendly away to Germany. In the international's build-up, Vardy revealed his alleged role in getting Ranieri sacked at Leicester City has earned him death threats. […]

Changsha (China) (AFP) – Chinese authorities have stepped up security for Thursday's tense World Cup qualifier against South Korea, whose fans will receive a police escort after protests over Seoul's decision to deploy a controversial missile defence system. The clash between the neighbouring countries is the most anticipated of Thursday's Asian games, which also include […]

Paris (AFP) – Costa Rican Shirley Cruz never thought she would earn a living from football. But on Thursday she will lead out Paris Saint-Germain for their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich. "In Costa Rica football is just a way of getting an education," she told AFP in the French capital, where PSG fans […]

Montevideo (AFP) – The unthinkable prospect of a World Cup without Argentina or Lionel Messi could move a step closer to becoming reality on Thursday as the South American giants prepare to face arch-rivals Chile in a crucial battle on the road to Russia 2018. Argentina, who last failed to qualify for the World Cup […]

Essen (Germany) (AFP) – Manager Gareth Southgate says England can learn from Germany's consistent success under counterpart Joachim Loew ahead of Wednesday's friendly against the world champions. The clash in Dortmund is a chance for Southgate to start to impose his vision for England after four unbeaten games as caretaker coach led to his full […]

Santiago (AFP) – Chile star Alexis Sanchez took part in training with his international team-mates on Tuesday ahead of this week's World Cup clash with Argentina, shrugging off fears an ankle injury would rule him out of the game. Sanchez limped out of Arsenal's 3-1 defeat against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday after scoring the […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Lukas Podolski will captain injury-hit Germany on his farewell international appearance in Wednesday's friendly against England, head coach Joachim Loew has confirmed. Podolski, 31, will make his 130th and final appearance by wearing the captain's armband against Gareth Southgate's Three Lions in Dortmund. "It's sensational, you can't ask for more," said […]

Dublin (AFP) – Ireland have no special plan to nullify Welsh superstar Gareth Bale in Friday's crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier because it would never work anyway, assistant manager Roy Keane said. Keane, himself a standout if different type of player to Bale when he played for Manchester United and Ireland, said many teams had […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations begins on Wednesday, just 45 days after Cameroon snatched victory over Egypt in the final of the previous edition. The "Indomitable Lions" of Cameroon and the "Pharaohs" of Egypt will not be involved, however, as they are among 45 countries given byes to the […]

Paris (AFP) – Under-pressure Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger dismissed as "fake news" reports that Paris Saint-Germain had offered him a two-year deal at the French champions. The Frenchman is facing a fan backlash at Arsenal after a rotten run of form and British tabloid The Sun said on Monday that PSG had offered him a […]

Abidjan (AFP) – Former Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has been appointed to lead Ivory Coast's World Cup qualifying bid, the country's football authorities said on Tuesday. Wilmots, 48, is one of an elite band of players to have played at four World Cups, and also led Belgium into the 2014 World Cup during his stint […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey being fully fit for the crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier against Ireland in Dublin on Friday is a real filip for the Euro 2016 semi-finalists, manager Chris Coleman said. Ramsey, instrumental in Wales's fairytale run to the last four in France last year, has only been […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea legend John Terry's captaincy of the Premier League giants is an impossible act to follow, his successor Gary Cahill said in Tuesday's London Evening Standard. Terry, 36, is Chelsea's most successful skipper, leading them to four Premier League titles and four FA Cup wins amongst others, but is no longer first […]