Beijing (AFP) – Slaven Bilic was named coach of Chinese Super League Beijing Guoan on Wednesday, three weeks after he was sacked by Chinese-owned West Bromwich Albion. The 52-year-old from Croatia has signed a contract until the end of 2022 and replaces Frenchman Bruno Genesio, Beijing said. Bilic, who was an imperious central defender as […]

Shanghai (AFP) – In January 2017 Brazil international Oscar moved from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG for an Asian-record 60 million euros, prompting a warning from Arsene Wenger that Chinese clubs were distorting the global transfer market. But four years later it is a very different story after the Chinese Football Association imposed a series of […]

Avellaneda (Argentina) (AFP) – Brazil's Palmeiras beat 10-man River Plate of Argentina 3-0 Tuesday in the first leg of their semi-final clash in the 2020 Copa Libertadores. The teams battled it out an empty stadium in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, the match preceded by a minute's silence observed for victims of the coronavirus pandemic. The team […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Alex Morgan, a two-time World Cup winner with the US women's football team, has tested positive for Covid-19, the star striker said on Twitter on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, my family and I closed out 2020 learning that we had contracted Covid while in California over the holidays," Morgan, 31, said in a […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich head to Borussia Moenchengladbach for Friday's Bundesliga match aiming to end their current trend of conceding the opening goal, which has angered head coach Hansi Flick into shouting fits in the dressing room. "I can also get loud — no problem — that's something you learn over the years," said […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Tuesday hit back at Jurgen Klopp's jibes about Manchester United's penalty record as the Old Trafford boss claimed Premier League managers are trying to influence referees. Liverpool boss Klopp highlighted the large number of penalties given to United since Solskjaer took charge in a rant that following the […]

London (AFP) – England defender Kieran Trippier told a friend to "lump on" (bet heavily) his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Atletico Madrid, according to a written statement by the English Football Association's independent regulatory commission published Tuesday. Trippier was banned for 10 weeks and fined £70,000 ($94,000) in December for breaching betting rules, although […]

Miami (AFP) – US football hopefuls for the Tokyo Olympics will gather alongside a dozen national team players for a training camp starting Saturday ahead of North American regional qualifying in March. USA Soccer announced Tuesday the under-23 US lineup will be joined by national team veterans such as Jozy Altidore, Jordan Morris and Paul […]

London (AFP) – Son Heung-min fired Tottenham into the League Cup final as the South Korean's decisive goal sealed a 2-0 win over Championship side Brentford on Tuesday. Moussa Sissoko put Jose Mourinho's team ahead in the semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But Tottenham were still searching for the knockout blow against spirited Brentford […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Greg Vanney was named coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday, returning to the Major League Soccer club where he began his football career as a defender in 1996. The 46-year-old American spent the past six years as manager of Toronto FC, guiding the Canadian club to the 2017 MLS […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League confirmed on Tuesday that 40 players and staff tested positive for coronavirus in two rounds of testing over the past week but insisted the season would continue as planned. That figure is more than double the previous record of 18 positive cases and comes as England enters a nationwide […]

London (AFP) – Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has questioned Celtic's decision to jet off for a mid-season training camp in Dubai as the country struggles with tough coronavirus restrictions. The Premiership club insisted on Monday that they had received Scottish government approval for the trip. However, Sturgeon indicated the go-ahead was given in November, […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola expects Kevin De Bruyne to commit his long-term future to Manchester City despite reports the Belgium midfielder's contract talks have stalled. De Bruyne's current contract runs until 2023, but City have already offered him a new deal. That contract extension remains unsigned amid claims De Bruyne was "disappointed" City's offer […]

Paris (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino insisted that "any big player in the world is always welcome at Paris Saint-Germain" as the new coach of the French giants responded to questions about the possibility of a sensational move for his compatriot Lionel Messi. The Argentine was asked several times about Messi at his first press conference […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League confirmed on Tuesday that 40 players and staff tested positive for coronavirus in two rounds of testing over the past week but insisted the season would continue as planned. That figure is more than double the previous record of 18 positive cases and comes as England enters a nationwide […]