Paris (AFP) – Marseille are never far away from a crisis and the southern French giants are in trouble again after a run of defeats which have led to coach Andre Villas-Boas admitting to some uncertainty about his future. Former Chelsea boss Villas-Boas had to be persuaded to stay at Marseille for this season despite […]

Berlin (AFP) – Julian Nagelsmann says his RB Leipzig team are ready to push Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich all the way this season as they prepare for Saturday's trip to lowly Mainz. "We're still within striking distance (of Bayern) and want to keep attacking," said Leipzig coach Nagelsmann. Mainz are second-from-bottom and winless in their […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan and Inter Milan resume their duel for the Serie A summit on Saturday days before they face off in their Italian Cup quarter-final clash at the San Siro. Leaders Milan are three points ahead of Inter before the weekend's 19th round of games which marks the half-way point of the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Eibar goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic scored a penalty against Atletico Madrid on Thursday but a brace from Luis Suarez saw the La Liga leaders come from behind to win 2-1 at Ipurua. Dmitrovic drove an early spot-kick past fellow goalkeeper Jan Oblak, only for Suarez to inspire the comeback, his second also a […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp admitted the end of Liverpool's 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield was a "massive punch in the face" as the Premier League champions crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat against Burnley on Wednesday. Klopp's side were beaten in a home league game for the first time since Crystal Palace won at […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool's 68-game unbeaten run in the Premier League at Anfield came to a stunning end as Ashley Barnes's late penalty earned struggling Burnley a 1-0 win on Thursday. Jurgen Klopp's men have now failed to win in five consecutive league games to see their title defence collapse as they remain six points […]

Milan (AFP) – Parma goalkeeper Simone Colombi's late own goal sent Lazio through to the Italian Cup quarter-finals on Thursday after a 2-1 win in Rome. Lazio midfielder Marco Parolo had nodded in the first goal from a curling Andreas Pereira cross on 23 minutes in the last-16 tie. But Parma fought back, with Valentin […]

Marseille (AFP) – Marseille have signed Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik on an 18-month loan from Napoli with an option to buy, the Ligue 1 club announced on Thursday. The 26-year-old Milik has not played for Napoli this season and joins a Marseille side who have slipped off the title pace in France in recent weeks. […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool's 68-game unbeaten run in the Premier League at Anfield came to a stunning end as Ashley Barnes's late penalty earned Burnley a 1-0 win on Thursday. Jurgen Klopp's men have now failed to win in five consecutive league games to see their title defence collapse as they remain six points behind […]

Douala (AFP) – Amadeu Masasi drilled the ball into the net deep into stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw for the Democratic Republic of Congo against Libya Thursday in the African Nations Championship. The Congolese midfielder took possession outside the box on 94 minutes and gave goalkeeper Ahmed Azzaqa no chance with a shot […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Swiss prosecutors said Thursday they had dropped an investigation into ailing former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, accused of defrauding world football's governing body by paying for a private jet used by the now-banned Jack Warner. Prosecutors alleged Blatter paid the $365,000 (300,000-euro) bill for the jet that Warner, the Trinidadian who served […]

Berlin (AFP) – The German FA (DFB) on Thursday said there was "no evidence" that Union Berlin's Florian Huebner racially abused Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Nadiem Amiri, but gave the defender a two-match ban and 20,000-euro ($24,292) fine. Huebner was alleged to have used a racist insult against German-born Amiri, whose parents are from Afghanistan, after […]

London (AFP) – The English football season below the top four divisions is under increasing threat of being cancelled after the UK government said any future funding for National League clubs would be in the form of loans rather than grants. Fifth-tier National League and sixth-tier National League North and South clubs received £10 million […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA has gone on the offensive amid ongoing speculation about a European Super League, insisting any breakaway by leading clubs "would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation" while players would risk being banned from the World Cup and other major tournaments if involved. The threat came in a […]

London (AFP) – English minnows Chorley host mighty Wolves in the FA Cup on Friday, with manager Jamie Vermiglio hoping to rekindle the spirit of a famous win against the same opponents 35 years ago. Vermiglio, who doubles up as a primary school headteacher, is sad that the club's fans cannot share in the occasion […]