London (AFP) – The British government on Thursday said the English Premier League has been permitted in principle to roll over its domestic television deal for another three years due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Under normal circumstances the rights would have been contested in an open tender, but ministers said they were […]

London (AFP) – The British government on Thursday said the English Premier League has been permitted to roll over its present lucrative domestic television deal with broadcasters because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. A new deal would have been due to be tendered this year in the middle of the present three-year agreement. […]

Yangon (AFP) – Myanmar's football coach Antoine Hey said he hasn't given up hope of ending a 55-year absence from the Asian Cup despite a withdrawal by players in protest at the country's military coup. Hey will take a weakened squad to the joint 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers in Japan after […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel said Chelsea face a "big fight" to finish in the Premier League's top four after their damaging 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Wednesday. Tuchel's side missed a chance to climb above Leicester into third place as Emile Smith Rowe bagged the first half winner at Stamford Bridge. Smith Rowe punished […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has played down talk of a summer spending spree in a bid to revive the Anfield club's fortunes. The German boss believes it will be a relatively quiet transfer window despite speculation linking Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Jadon Sancho with big-money moves. But, with clubs across Europe […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid held their nerve to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 on Wednesday and move within touching distance of winning La Liga. Yannick Carrasco and Angel Correa made a dominant first half count for Atletico, who retreated in the second and were left hanging on after Igor Zubeldia blasted in for La Real […]

Milan (AFP) – Ante Rebic scored a hat-trick and Theo Hernandez a double as AC Milan thrashed Torino 7-0 to keep their push for a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2014 on track. The battle for elite European football remains tight with just three points separating second-placed Atalanta and Juventus […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain squeaked past Montpellier 6-5 on penalties in Wednesday's French Cup semi-final to keep alive their hopes of ending the season with silverware. Spot kicks were required after the two sides were all square at 2-2 after normal time in Montpellier. The holders will learn on Thursday the identity of […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal dented Chelsea's bid to finish in the Premier League's top four as Emile Smith Rowe punished Jorginho's blunder to seal a 1-0 win on Wednesday. Midfielder Jorginho was guilty of a woefully misplaced back-pass that ended with Gunners youngster Smith Rowe slotting home early in the first half at Stamford Bridge. […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Steven Gerrard challenged his Rangers side to "leave a legacy" after a 3-0 win at Livingston on Wednesday left the Scottish Premiership champions on the brink of an unbeaten league season. James Tavernier scored his 19th goal of the season from the penalty spot before Ryan Kent and Ianis Hagi were on […]

Quito (AFP) – Former Ecuador and Manchester United skipper Antonio Valencia on Wednesday announced his retirement from football. The 35-year-old, who was playing for Queretaro in Mexico, had been suffering from long-standing injury problems. "I'm ending my career in Queretaro," he wrote on Twitter. "I didn't think this moment would come so soon, but my […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – With the Copa America due to begin in one month, uncertainty remains over whether it will actually go ahead as hosts Argentina and Colombia struggle respectively with the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest. A final decision is expected to be taken on Thursday when South American football's governing body CONMEBOL's Council […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatari side Al-Sadd announced on Wednesday former Spain midfielder Xavi has signed a contract extension to keep him as their coach until 2023. Xavi, 41, has been linked with a move back to Barcelona to replace Ronald Koeman but the 2010 World Cup winner denied the reports in the Spanish press. "This […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – South African Premiership Golden Boot frontrunner Bradley Grobler ended a lengthy injury-induced goal drought on Wednesday, scoring in SuperSport's 1-0 home win over TTM. The 33-year-old netted after 52 minutes in Pretoria as sixth-placed SuperSport snapped a 10-match winless league run and recent FA Cup winners TTM dropped to the relegation zone. […]

Quito (AFP) – Former Ecuador and Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia on Wednesday announced his retirement from football. The 35-year-old, who was playing for Queretaro in Mexico, had been suffering from a long-standing foot problem. "I'm ending my career in Queretaro," he wrote on Twitter. "I didn't think this moment would come so soon, but […]