London (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate has revealed he is taking part in a research project looking at possible links between football and dementia. Southgate, who had a long playing career, has volunteered to be part of the HEADING study at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which is backed by the […]

London (AFP) – West Ham have turned Said Benrahma's loan into a permanent transfer, paving the way for Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard to join the club. Algerian forward Benrahma has signed a contract until 2026 in a deal worth a reported £25 million ($34 million) plus £5 million in add-ons The 25-year-old initially joined […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho faces a major challenge to keep Tottenham's season on track after a fresh injury to talismanic striker Harry Kane and reported tension in the camp. Thursday's 3-1 home loss to champions Liverpool could be a turning point for both clubs in the title race. Spurs, who topped the table in […]

Madrid (AFP) – Riqui Puig scored his first goal for Barcelona against Elche last weekend after being circled as one of the world's most exciting talents almost a decade ago. In 2014, the Barcelona newspaper Mundo Deportivo revelled in the 14-year-old born in Catalonia, who knew Xavi Hernandez personally and might even one day play […]

Paris (AFP) – Two defeats in four days have turned up the heat on Serie A leaders AC Milan, while Lionel Messi and Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao for the third time this month and the best of the rest clash in Germany. AFP Sport selects some of the standout football action in Europe this weekend: […]

Berlin (AFP) – As the architect of Bayern Munich's single defeat in 2020, Hoffenheim coach Sebastian Hoeness hopes to again down the European champions in the Bundesliga on Saturday when he returns to his former club. Bayern host mid-table Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena seeking revenge for September's 4-1 league defeat – their only loss […]

Paris (AFP) – Left in dire straits by the disastrous combination of the Covid-19 crisis and the collapse of a record TV rights deal, clubs in France's Ligue 1 are hoping a new broadcast partner can be found next week in order to pull them back from the financial brink. The French league (LFP) will […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Palmeiras and Santos, Brazil's two most successful clubs, go head to head at an empty Maracana stadium on Saturday in a Copa Libertadores final delayed more than two months by the coronavirus pandemic. For the third time in four editions the trophy will return to Brazil, as Palmeiras target a […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United may have surrendered top spot in the Premier League with a shock home defeat to bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, but the fact the Red Devils are even involved in a title race is testament to Bruno Fernandes's first 12 months at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men travel to Arsenal on […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – The Major League Soccer Players Association said Thursday it has proposed extending the current collective bargaining agreement with the league through 2021. The union said it was offering the proposal in a bid to avoid a lockout of players by the league, which in December demanded a reopening of negotiations because […]

Milan (AFP) – Leaders AC Milan look for a boost on Saturday at 13th-placed Bologna after a dramatic Italian Cup exit to city rivals Inter days after a league defeat to Atalanta. Stefano Pioli's side are just two points ahead of second-placed Inter who host 11th-placed Benevento. Inter bounced back from last weekend's goalless draw […]

London (AFP) – This season's Premier League race has been touted as one of the most open in years but Manchester City have quietly moved through the gears and are threatening to pull away from the pack. Pep Guardiola's men, who have won their past seven league games, host Manchester United's midweek conquerors Sheffield United […]

Milan (AFP) – Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso on Thursday furiously dismissed talk about his future as the Italian Cup holders advanced to the semi-finals with a 4-2 win over Spezia. "It really bugs me that every time I'm systematically asked if I intend to resign," Gattuso told journalists after his side advanced to meet Atalanta. […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said Thursday he was happy to be breaking stereotypes of older athletes along with NFL legend Tom Brady as the Italian marked his 43rd birthday. Former World Cup winner Buffon was given an early birthday present by his ex-Juventus team-mate and now coach Andrea Pirlo when he played […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool ended a five-game winless run in the Premier League to move back into the top four with a 3-1 win at Tottenham on Thursday as Spurs also lost Harry Kane to an ankle injury. The English champions had not even scored in their last four league games, but Jurgen Klopp said […]