Tehran (AFP) – Iran became the first team from Asia to qualify for the 2022 World Cup finals on Thursday with a 1-0 victory over Iraq as Japan and South Korea moved a step closer to Qatar. Porto forward Medhi Taremi scored the winner after 48 minutes in Tehran to send his country through to […]

Quito (AFP) – Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker had two red cards overturned by VAR reviews as Brazil hung on for a controversial 1-1 World Cup qualifier draw with Ecuador on Thursday, with both teams having a player dismissed. Alisson could count himself lucky after a straight red card in the first half, for a high […]

Freetown (AFP) – Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger launched on Thursday an educational foundation to support sports literacy in Sierra Leone, the west African nation where his mother was born. Rudiger, 28, arrived on Monday during the Premier League's international break. "It's a huge pleasure for me and my family to be here, I don't see […]

Madrid (AFP) – Denmark's Daniel Wass has signed for Atletico Madrid from La Liga rivals Valencia, the capital city side announced on Thursday. The 32-year-old utility player, who can play in midfield or defence, "signs for the remainder of the campaign and another season," Atletico said without giving details on the transfer. "He is a […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa signed versatile defender Calum Chambers from Arsenal on Thursday to take their tally of new recruits this month to five. The 27-year-old, who can play in both central defence and at right-back, joins Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Digne, Robin Olsen and Kerr Smith at Villa Park as manager Steven Gerrard reshapes […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan said on Thursday they had signed Germany's Robin Gosens from fellow Serie A club Atalanta. Gosens, 27, who has been sidelined since September with a hamstring injury, will leave the Bergamo side after joining from Heracles Almelo in 2017. "Inter Milan are delighted to announce that an agreement has been […]

Washington (AFP) – Australian international defender Brad Smith, who helped the Seattle Sounders capture the 2019 Major League Soccer title, was sent from Seattle to DC United on Thursday. United sent $750,000 in allocation funds to the Sounders for Smith, 27, who made a top-level debut at 19 with Liverpool in 2013 and also had […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iranian women were allowed to attend a national team football match for the first time in almost three years Thursday — and cheered their side to victory. "It was perfect. Now our voice is gone," said two flag-carrying female students who gave their names as Kimia and Hasti. The Islamic republic has […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iran became the first team from Asia to qualify for the 2022 World Cup finals on Thursday with a 1-0 victory over Iraq as Japan and South Korea moved a step closer to Qatar. Porto forward Medhi Taremi scored the winner after 48 minutes in Tehran to send his country through to […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United teenager Amad Diallo has joined Scottish champions Rangers on loan for the rest of the season. The highly rated 19-year-old winger joined United a year ago for a fee that could reach 41 million euros ($46 million, £34 million) with add-ons. Diallo made eight appearances last season and […]

Tehran (AFP) – Mehdi Taremi was on target as Iran confirmed their spot in the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar with a 1-0 victory over Iraq at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Thursday. Porto forward Taremi scored the winner after 48 minutes to send Iran through to a World Cup finals for the […]

London (AFP) – Britain's head of football policing has called for an urgent meeting with Premier League chiefs over rising incidents of crowd disorder. Figures recently released by the UK Football Policing Unit showed a 36 percent rise in fan-related trouble in the first half of this season compared with the same period in the […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iranian women were allowed Thursday for the first time in almost three years to attend a football match of their country's national team in a Tehran stadium. "I am very happy. This is the first time I have attended a match at the Azadi Stadium," said a 26-year-old civil engineer who gave […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iranian women were allowed Thursday for the first time in three years to attend a football match of their country's national team in a Tehran stadium. "I am very happy. This is the first time I have attended a match at the Azadi Stadium," said a 26-year-old civil engineer who gave her […]

Saitama (Japan) (AFP) – Japan took a step closer to the World Cup with a 2-0 qualifying win over a toothless China while South Korea were on the brink of sealing their spot in Qatar on Thursday. Yuya Osako buried a first-half penalty to put four-time Asian champions Japan in control in Saitama, north of […]