London (AFP) – Scott Brown is to join Aberdeen as a player coach ending a success-laden 14 year spell at their Scottish Premiership rivals Celtic a club he says will "forever be in my heart." The 35-year-old former Scotland international signed a pre-contract with Aberdeen which is a "real coup" for the side according to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany's opening 2022 World Cup qualifier against Iceland on Thursday will go ahead despite German midfielder Jonas Hofmann testing positive for Covid-19, the association has confirmed. "The match will be held, without any doubt," Jens Grittner, a spokesman for the German Football Association (DFB), told AFP subsidiary SID after talks with local […]

Cairo (AFP) – Egypt coach Shawky Gharib told AFP on Thursday that Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah was ready to add significant weight behind the country's quest for a first ever Olympic football medal in Tokyo. "I have made it public that I'd like to have him on board in our Olympic campaign and he hasn't […]

Abuja (AFP) – Nigeria will travel by boat for this weekend's 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Benin after players raised concerns over the poor road network linking the neighbouring countries. "It will be the best way to go there," said Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr. "Last Saturday, I made the trip and we […]

Yokohama (Japan) (AFP) – Japan beat South Korea — minus Son Heung-min — 3-0 on Thursday to claim bragging rights in the first football friendly between the two rivals in 10 years. Miki Yamane scored on his debut to give Japan the lead in the 17th minute, before Daichi Kamada added a second 10 minutes […]

London (AFP) – The chairman of third tier English club Crewe Alexandra stood down on Thursday just over a week after the publication of an independent review of historical sexual abuse in football. The review, commissioned by England's governing Football Association, said Crewe had not done enough to protect boys from serial abuser Barry Bennell, […]

Paris (AFP) – The general secretary of global players' union FIFPro has reiterated calls for social media companies to do more to tackle abuse following recent cases involving some of football's leading names. Last week Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund condemned racist abuse aimed at Jude Bellingham after he posted a screenshot of comments on Instagram. […]

Washington (AFP) – US soccer star Megan Rapinoe brought her high-profile fight for women's equality to Washington Wednesday, testifying before Congress and joining President Joe Biden at a White House event urging an end to the gender pay gap. The events occurred on Equal Pay Day, which marks the extra weeks and months which American […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – European champions Portugal got their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start thanks to an Azerbaijan own goal in a tight 1-0 Group A victory in Turin on Wednesday. Azeri captain Maksim Medvedev turned the ball into his own net on 36 minutes, but that was all Portugal […]

Paris (AFP) – The Netherlands slumped to a dramatic 4-2 defeat by Turkey in their opening 2022 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, while reigning champions France were held by Ukraine despite a brilliant Antoine Griezmann goal and Belgium came from behind to beat Wales. European champions Portugal battled to a 1-0 victory over Azerbaijan, but […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – European champions Portugal got their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start thanks to an Azerbaijan own-goal in a tight 1-0 Group A victory in Turin on Wednesday. Azeri captain Maksim Medvedev turned the ball into his own net on 36 minutes, but that was all Portugal could […]

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann scored a superb goal but holders France were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ukraine on Wednesday as their qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar got off to a stumbling start. Barcelona star Griezmann curled in the opener in the 19th minute before Andriy […]

Paris (AFP) – The Netherlands slumped to a dramatic 4-2 defeat by Turkey in their opening 2022 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, while reigning champions France were held by Ukraine despite a brilliant Antoine Griezmann goal and Belgium came from behind to beat Wales. European champions Portugal battled to a 1-0 victory over Azerbaijan, but […]

Leuven (Belgium) (AFP) – Belgium exacted revenge on Wales for a shock exit at the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 by coming from behind to get their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday. Kevin De Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard and Romelu Lukaku were on target for the […]

Saint-Denis (France) (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann scored a superb goal but holders France were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ukraine on Wednesday as their qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar got off to a stumbling start. Barcelona star Griezmann curled in the opener in the 19th minute but Andriy […]