Los Angeles (AFP) – US soccer chiefs on Friday postponed the start of this year's US Open Cup from its planned kick-off in May due to Covid-19, but said the tournament may still be held later this year. The knockout tournament, the oldest ongoing football competition in North America dating back to 1914, was due […]

Madrid (AFP) – Ronald Koeman has said he finds it "strange" that his future as Barcelona coach is being linked to the result of Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao. Koeman took charge only last year but despite an encouraging first season, his position is uncertain after the arrival of new club president […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to do his talking on the pitch after a contentious tweet was posted by his social media company aimed at Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe. Foden played a starring role in Manchester City's Champions League quarter-final win over Borussia Dortmund, scoring the winning goal in both […]

Rome (AFP) – Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic has forfeited a month's salary at AC Milan after he picked up an injury, with the club then offering the sum to a charity. The 34-year-old arrived at Milan in January on a six-month deal worth 300,000 euros a month. "This exceptional gesture shows Mario Mandzukic's professional ethics," […]

London (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers says shamed Leicester trio James Maddison, Ayoze Perez and Hamza Choudhury can earn redemption on the pitch after their coronavirus breach as he prepares his side for an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton. Rodgers axed the three players for last weekend's 3-2 Premier League defeat to West Ham after they […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel admits Chelsea still lag behind Manchester City as he prepares to face the runaway Premier League leaders in an FA Cup semi-final but vowed to hunt down Europe's "benchmark" club next season. Chelsea face City at Wembley on Saturday, with Tuchel chasing a maiden managerial win over Pep Guardiola, whose […]

Madrid (AFP) – The president of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales said on Friday he will do "everything humanly possible" to ensure Spain hosts its four Euro 2021 games this summer. Bilbao is due to host three group games and a match in the last 16 but the possibility of supporters attending is in […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says giving up on the Premier League title is "not in our DNA" even though their pursuit of runaway leaders Manchester City appears hopeless. United head into Sunday's home game against struggling Burnley second in the table, 11 points behind City but with a game in […]

Berlin (AFP) – The last few weeks of the German Bundesliga season were thrown into chaos Friday as a coronavirus outbreak at Hertha Berlin forced the capital club into a two-week quarantine. The German Football League (DFL) said it would postpone Hertha's next three games after defender Marvin Plattenhardt became the fourth member of playing […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United and Bayern Munich fans are among supporters from across Europe who have accused their clubs of a "blatant power grab" over plans to radically reform the Champions League. The clubs, also including Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, are part of the European Club Association (ECA), which meets on Friday to see […]

Bogota (AFP) – The Copa America will be played "with or without fans," regardless of Covid-19, Colombia's sports minister said shortly after less optimistic comments from the president of co-host Argentina. "The Copa America is still as planned from the start: Argentina and Colombia," Ernesto Lucena told El Tiempo newspaper on Thursday. "The analysis of […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka after the youngsters blooded by his predecessor Unai Emery helped set up a Europa League semi-final between the two managers Saka, 19, scored and 20-year-old Smith Rowe was a commanding presence in midfield as the Gunners beat Slavia Prague 4-0 on […]

London (AFP) – Paul Pogba has attacked Jose Mourinho's man-management style, accusing him of "going against players" and making them feel like "they don't exist any more". After Mourinho's appointment as Manchester United manager in 2016, he made Pogba the world's most expensive player. Pogba was instrumental as United claimed a League Cup and Europa […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea potentially have two chances to torpedo Manchester City's bid for an unprecedented quadruple — but can end the chase as early as Saturday, when the two sides clash in an FA Cup semi-final. In-form Chelsea will fancy their chances at Wembley in a match that could serve as a […]

Paris (AFP) – Lille can dial up the pressure on the Ligue 1 chasing pack, Bayern Munich face a thorny test following their Champions League exit and Athletic Bilbao will again try to win the Copa del Rey. AFP Sport selects some of the standout action in Europe this weekend: Lille in game of cat […]