Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona on Wednesday announced they had signed Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang until June 2025 as a free agent. "It's Auba time!" declared the club in a tweet which included a video of Aubameyang declaring "I'm here Barcelona fans! Forza Barca!" "The player will sign a contract until June 30, 2025, with an option […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has been released on bail after being questioned over the alleged rape and assault of a young woman, police said on Wednesday. The 20-year-old was arrested on Sunday after images and videos were posted online, and while he was still in custody on Tuesday he […]

Mexico City (AFP) – Mexico are playing World Cup qualifiers in front of a limited number of tightly controlled fans — part of efforts to stamp out an anti-gay slur in the football-loving nation. When Mexico meet Panama on Wednesday in the Azteca Stadium in the Mexican capital only around 2,000 of the 87,000 seats […]

Beijing (AFP) – Angry Chinese football fans lashed out Wednesday at their country's "shameful" record after a 3-1 defeat at Vietnam ended any slim hope they had of reaching the 2022 World Cup. The heavy loss on Tuesday caused outrage on Chinese social media as millions took to platforms such as the Twitter-like Weibo to air […]

Yaoundé (AFP) – Forget Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane, because the most prolific strikers at this Africa Cup of Nations are the two players leading the attack for the hosts as they face Egypt in the semi-finals on Thursday. Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar is the tournament's top marksman with six, while Karl Toko-Ekambi scored both […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Young winger Facundo Pellistri stole the show on only his second appearance for Uruguay as the twice former World Cup winners boosted their hopes of reaching Qatar 2022 with a 4-1 win over Venezuela on Tuesday. Chile also gave themselves a lifeline as Alexis Sanchez scored a brace in a 3-2 win […]

La Paz (AFP) – Veteran Alexis Sanchez scored a brilliant brace to relaunch Chile's hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup with a 3-2 win away to Bolivia on Tuesday. Sanchez opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a wicked free-kick before netting the killer third goal five minutes from time to give the […]

Lyon (AFP) – A heavily depleted Lyon came from behind to beat visitors Marseille 2-1 in the French top flight on Tuesday with Xherdan Shaqiri scoring and assisting for the hosts. The defeat meant Marseille missed out on climbing to second place in Ligue 1, led by PSG on 53pts, while Nice have 42 in […]

London (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has left Arsenal, the club announced on Tuesday, clearing the way for the striker to sign for Barcelona as a free agent. The 32-year-old former Gunners captain was visible in pictures from Barcelona training posted on social media on Tuesday. The Gabonese striker arrived in Spain on Monday just ahead […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has been further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill as police were again granted more time to question the 20-year-old. The player was first arrested on Sunday after Greater Manchester Police were made aware of "online social media images and videos […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United's Mason Greenwood has been further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill as police were given a fourth day to question the 20-year-old. The forward was initially arrested on Sunday afternoon on suspicion of the rape and assault of a young woman after social media […]

Hanoi (AFP) – Vietnam rattled China in a 3-1 upset during a World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday, sparking jubilation among Hanoi crowds as both countries celebrate Lunar New Year. The surprise win gave Vietnam's national team their first scalp in the qualifiers after seven straight losses. It was also the first time the team […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona's previous board, led by former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, showed "very serious criminal behaviour", a lawyer hired by the club said on Tuesday. At the presentation of the club's 'forensic report' into the financial management of Barca under Bartomeu, current president Joan Laporta also said "payments without cause, payments with a […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic and Rangers will renew their rivalry on Wednesday in a crucial battle for supremacy in the Scottish Premiership with a new legion of fans set to rise at the crack of dawn to tune in from Japan. The Hoops have already claimed the first silverware of the Scottish season, lifting the […]

Saitama (Japan) (AFP) – In-form Japan took a huge step towards World Cup qualification with a 2-0 home win over group leaders Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino gave the four-time Asian champions the lead midway through the first half, before Junya Ito bagged another shortly after the break in Saitama, north of […]