London (AFP) – More than 110,000 people have signed an online petition calling for West Ham defender Kurt Zouma to be prosecuted as part of a growing backlash over his abuse of his pet cat. The France international has been widely condemned after a video emerged of him dropping, kicking and slapping the animal. Police […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Soccer jerseys are everywhere in football-mad Brazil, often with the numbers of the country's all-time legends: Ronaldo's 9, Pele's 10, Romario's 11. But one number is off-limits: 24, the focus of a homophobic taboo whose origin story is a wacky roller-coaster ride through more than a century of Brazilian history, winding […]

London (AFP) – David Moyes insisted he is an "animal lover" as the West Ham manager defended his controversial decision to pick Kurt Zouma for Tuesday's 1-0 win over Watford despite the Frenchman's cat-kicking shame. Moyes selected Zouma just hours after police launched a probe into a sickening video showing the 27-year-old dropping, kicking and […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United dropped out of the Premier League's top four after a damaging 1-1 draw against struggling Burnley, while Newcastle boosted their survival bid with a crucial 3-1 win against Everton on Tuesday. Ralf Rangnick's side slipped down to fifth place after Jay Rodriguez cancelled out Paul Pogba's opener at Turf Moor. […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan marked the return of Jose Mourinho to the San Siro on Tuesday by dumping their idol's new team Roma out of the Italian Cup 2-0 and reaching the semi-finals. Mourinho coached in front of an Inter home crowd for the first time since leaving in 2010 but Roma limply exited […]

Burnley (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United slipped out of the Premier League's top four after being held 1-1 by bottom-of-the-table Burnley at Turf Moor on Tuesday. With Cristiano Ronaldo left on the bench, United were made to pay for not making more of a dominant first 45 minutes after Paul Pogba put them in […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Three years after the devastation of missing out on the Super Bowl through injury, Cooper Kupp has bounced back from that disappointment with one of the best seasons in NFL history. The Los Angeles Rams wide receiver has electrified the league this year with his dynamic play, amassing a mighty 1,947 […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Newcastle moved out of the Premier League relegation zone with a vital 3-1 win against Everton that plunged Frank Lampard's side deeper into trouble on Tuesday. Eddie Howe's team fell behind to Jamaal Lascelles' own goal in the first half at St James' Park. But, on a pulsating Tyneside evening, […]

Rabat (AFP) – Morocco attacker Hakim Ziyech said on Tuesday he would be dedicating his energy on his club Chelsea, and would not play for his country again. The 28-year-old was omitted from Morocco's squad for the recent Africa Cup of Nations by coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who reproached the winger for indiscipline. Morocco face a […]

London (AFP) – Kurt Zouma was named in the West Ham starting line-up for Tuesday's Premier League clash with Watford despite apologising for a video of him kicking and slapping a cat. The French international defender is seen in the clip dropping, kicking and hitting the animal, while laughter can be heard in the background. […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Dudu scored one goal and created another as Palmeiras defeated Al Ahly 2-0 on Tuesday to reach the Club World Cup final and set up a potential showdown with Chelsea. The playmaker released Raphael Veiga for the opening goal just before half-time and then fired in a second for Copa Libertadores […]

Madrid (AFP) – Rayo Vallecano coach Andoni Iraola has said he cannot defend the leaked comments made by the coach of the club's women's team, Carlos Santiso, in which Santiso encouraged staff to gang-rape a 15-year-old girl. Santiso was hired by Rayo last month, despite them being aware of the recording, which was sent in […]

Doha (AFP) – Fans have sought 17 million tickets for this year's World Cup finals in Qatar, FIFA said Tuesday, making it more than five times over-subscribed. Higher prices being demanded for the best tickets — which cost up to $1,600 for the final — and controversy over Qatar's bid did not deter followers of […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola said Manchester City's Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker would not be punished after video footage showed them on a night out, joking he should fine his players because he was not invited. The video, reportedly shot on Sunday, appears to show Grealish being refused entry to a Manchester […]

London (AFP) – Brentford manager Thomas Frank said on Tuesday he will not rush Christian Eriksen into action as the Denmark midfielder gets back to "doing what he loves the most" after his cardiac arrest. Eriksen joined Premier League club Brentford on transfer deadline day in January and is on track to return to the […]