Nantes (France) (AFP) – Raymond Domenech was unveiled as the new boss of struggling French Ligue 1 side Nantes on Thursday, 10 years after his rollercoaster reign as France coach ended in a player strike and World Cup humiliation. "I'm happy, it's a real pleasure....maybe I understand your problems better, I hope not to repeat […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani has been banned for three matches and fined £100,000 for using a racial term in a social media post, the Football Association announced on Thursday. The 33-year-old summer signing produced a match-winning display at Southampton on November 29, providing an assist for Bruno Fernandes before netting a […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says players cannot "fake" their way into the Manchester United team, pointing to fierce competition for places and a stronger mentality as factors in their rise. The Old Trafford giants will kick off against Aston Villa on Friday second in the Premier League, just three points behind leaders Liverpool […]

Rome (AFP) – Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan has rejoined Cagliari, where he played between 2010-14, on a second loan from Inter Milan, the Sardinian club announced Thursday. Nainggolan, who spent last season at Cagliari on loan, this time is on loan until the end of the season. Cagliari said that the club and player shared […]

London (AFP) – Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association over comments he made about referee Lee Mason. The Portuguese was highly critical of the official after his side's Premier League match against Burnley on December 21. The FA said in a statement: "Nuno Espirito Santo has […]

London (AFP) – Burnley's new US owners said Thursday they are "fully prepared" to back manager Sean Dyche after completing their takeover of the Premier League club. US investment group ALK Capital has acquired a controlling 84 percent stake in Burnley after the deal was approved and ratified by the Premier League. Alan Pace, who […]

London (AFP) – James Milner says Liverpool have to "kick on" in 2021 after two disappointing draws left Manchester United breathing down their necks at the top of the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp's defending champions head into the New Year with a three-point lead despite dropped points against strugglers West Brom and Newcastle. Arch-rivals United, […]

London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta says Arsenal's priority in the January transfer window is to trim their bloated squad as he seeks to build on a mini-revival at the Premier League club. The Gunners were able to offload Emiliano Martinez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the summer window while Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira departed on loan. […]

London (AFP) – US investment group ALK Capital has completed its takeover of Burnley, acquiring a controlling 84 percent stake in the Premier League club, it was announced on Thursday. Delaware-based ALK, which specialises in investments in the sport and media sectors, said its managing partner Alan Pace would take over from Mike Garlick as […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – South African Premiership strugglers Chippa United have hired coach Dan Malesela for a fourth stint at the Port Elizabeth club, who sacked him three times. Former sports minister Fikile Mbalula reacted to the announcement by telling Chippa they must stop "abusing" Malesela and treating him "like a dog". Chippa owner and millionaire […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Former Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda apologised for a disappointing spell at Brazil's Botafogo as he bowed out ahead of a reported move to Europe. Honda, 34, said he accepted fans' criticism after scoring only three goals in 27 matches during a coronavirus-disrupted year. "Criticism is natural and I am not making excuses, […]

Berlin (AFP) – The Bundesliga returns this weekend after a two-week break with Borussia Dortmund's American midfielder Giovanni Reyna leading a crop of talented teenagers rapidly becoming household names. Reyna, who marked his 18th birthday in November by extending his contract until 2025, scored his first Bundesliga goal on the opening day of this season. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga on Wednesday after Luis Suarez fired them to a 1-0 win over Getafe while Real Madrid could only draw 1-1 at Elche. Suarez struck in the 20th minute with a superb header from Yannick Carrasco's cross to move Diego Simeone's Atletico […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool squandered the chance to open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League in the final English top-flight match of 2020 after being held to a goalless draw by Newcastle on Wednesday. The 0-0 stalemate at St James' Park means the champions go into the New […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League said on Wednesday it had "no plans" to pause the season and had confidence in its protocols after a third English top-flight match was postponed due to coronavirus outbreaks. Tottenham's home match against Fulham was scrapped just three hours before the scheduled 1800 GMT kick-off after a number of […]