Seoul (AFP) – North Korea have pulled out of next month's qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Asian Football Confederation said Sunday. "The Asian Football Confederation has today confirmed the withdrawal of the DPR Korea Football Association from the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022," the AFC said […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Three police officers were injured and more than 20 arrests made after Rangers fans packed into the streets of Glasgow on Saturday to celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership with an unbeaten record. Steven Gerrard's side had already been confirmed as champions over two months ago, but fans gathered in large numbers outside […]

London (AFP) – Leicester players Hamza Choudhury and Wesley Fofana showed support for the Palestinians after winning the FA Cup final on Saturday. English midfielder Choudhury and French defender Fofana were seen holding a Palestinian flag. Choudhury had the flagged draped over his shoulders as he collected his winner's medal after beating Chelsea 1-0. Tens […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish media claimed early Sunday that Zinedine Zidane has already told his players that he intends to quit as coach at the end of the season. According to Onda Cero radio and Goal online, the Frenchman, who has a contract until 2022, informed his squad a week ago that he was going […]

Milan (AFP) – Juan Cuadrado scored twice, including a late penalty, as Juventus beat Inter Milan 3-2 to keep their Champions League hopes alive on Saturday in a game where three spot kicks were awarded and both teams finished a man down. Juve moved up to fourth equal on points with third-placed AC Milan and […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Kaizer Chiefs stole the show as they, title-holders Al Ahly and Chabab Belouizdad used home advantage to build CAF Champions League quarter-finals first-leg leads on Saturday. South African club Chiefs stunned Tanzanian visitors Simba 4-0 in Soweto with Serbian Samir Nurkovic scoring twice and creating another goal. A late goal from Salah […]

London (AFP) – Wembley Stadium came alive with the largest sports crowd in England since the coronavirus pandemic hit on Saturday as 22,000 spectators descended on the home of English football to witness Leicester lift the FA Cup for the first time. Youri Tielemans's stunning strike that beat Chelsea 1-0 was met with a wave […]

London (AFP) – West Ham's hopes of a place in next season's Champions League were all but ended after a 1-1 draw at Brighton on Saturday, while Leeds thrashed Burnley 4-0 at Turf Moor in a match overshadowed by an ugly incident between Ezgjan Alioski and Dwight McNeil. The Hammers are now five points adrift […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek said Saturday a formal offer to buy Arsenal had been rejected by the Premier League club's American owners. In a statement on Twitter, the Swedish tycoon said the club's owners, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE), had rebuffed his bid. "This week an offer was made to (KSE […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – A Confederation of African Football executive committee meeting in Kigali on Saturday chose Moroccan city Casablanca to host the 2020-2021 CAF Champions League final. The July 17 showpiece of African club football could feature a local side as Wydad Casablanca appear the strongest team in one half of the knockout draw. The […]

London (AFP) – Kasper Schmeichel described leading Leicester to the club's first ever FA Cup as a dream come true after he played a huge role in beating Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday. Youri Tielemans's stunning strike just after the hour mark separated the sides in front of the largest sports attendance in England since the […]

Milan (AFP) – Juan Cuadrado scored twice, including a late penalty, as Juventus beat Inter Milan 3-2 to keep their Champions League hopes alive on Saturday in a game in which both teams finished a man down. Juve moved up to fourth equal on points with third-placed AC Milan and two points ahead of Napoli […]

London (AFP) – Leicester won the FA Cup for the first time in the club's 137-year history on Saturday as Youri Tielemans's sensational strike beat Chelsea 1-0 in front of 22,000 fans at Wembley. The largest crowd for a sports event in England since the coronavirus pandemic hit 14 months ago were treated to a […]

Berlin (AFP) – Gerd Mueller remains one of football's greatest strikers of all time, even after Robert Lewandowski equalled his 49-year-old Bundesliga record of 40 goals in one season, a landmark which many thought would never be matched. Lewandowski wouldn't have it any other way. "What Gerd Mueller did is incredible. Sharing the record with […]

Berlin (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski, dubbed a "machine" by his wife, has added the Bundesliga record for most goals in a season to the long list of major honours and achievements he has claimed in his illustrious career. Gerd Mueller's mark of 40 goals in a campaign, set in the 1971/72 season, had withstood the […]