Sheffield (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United mounted yet another rescue mission on Thursday, beating Sheffield United 3-2 to win their sixth consecutive Premier League away match of the season. The Blades took a shock lead through David McGoldrick after a horrendous error by returning goalkeeper Dean Henderson but two goals from Marcus Rashford and […]

London (AFP) – Wayne Rooney's son Kai has followed in his father's footsteps by signing for Manchester United. United's record goalscorer posted a picture on social media of the 11-year-old, the oldest of Rooney's four sons, signing a contract at his father's former club. Rooney accompanied the image with the caption: "Proud day. Kai signing […]

Berlin (AFP) – Nicknamed 'The Body' and dubbed a 'machine' by his wife, Robert Lewandowski has done what many thought impossible — relegating superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to supporting roles at a football awards show. On Thursday, Bayern Munich's Polish striker claimed FIFA's 'The Best' prize for the year's top footballer, a season […]

Paris (AFP) – Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was named men's player of the year on Thursday at FIFA's 'The Best' awards ceremony in Zurich. The 32-year-old Lewandowski, top scorer in Europe and winner of the Champions League with Bayern, came out ahead of the other two nominees, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. England defender […]

Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Aston Villa squandered multiple chances as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by battling Burnley on Thursday. The hosts dominated without being at their best but were thwarted by the Clarets, who climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone. Anwar El Ghazi and Kortney Hause hit the […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League and Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports on Thursday announced a TV rights deal worth a reported $500 million for the Middle East and North Africa region that will run until 2025. The agreement, for the 2022-2025 rights cycle, means beIN, which has been the league's broadcast partner since 2013, can […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig, who have drawn Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League, announced on Thursday they have signed winger Dominik Szoboszlai from sister club RB Salzburg as he becomes the 18th player to move from the Austrian side to the Bundesliga outfit. The 20-year-old Hungary attacker reportedly cost 20 million […]

Milan (AFP) – Napoli's record goal scorer Dries Mertens has been ruled out for at least three weeks with a sprained left ankle, the Serie A club confirmed on Thursday. The 33-year-old Belgian international limped off in the first half of Napoli's 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan on Wednesday. "(Tests) revealed a first/second degree sprained […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League said Thursday that it had agreed to permit permanent concussion substitutes from next month after football's lawmakers authorised extensive trials using them. However in a meeting on Thursday club bosses in England's top flight voted for a third time against increasing the number of allowed substitutes from three to […]

London (AFP) – Premier League holders Liverpool must use the momentum gained from Wednesday's 2-1 win over fellow highflyers Tottenham Hotspur in the series of matches coming up defender Andy Robertson says. The 26-year-old Scotland left-back believes it is important his team-mates listen to him as this year's title race will "go the whole way." […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund caretaker coach Edin Terzic wants to get club captain Marco Reus and England winger Jadon Sancho back in form as quickly as possible, starting with Friday's tricky away match at Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. Terzic, 38, made a winning start in Tuesday's 2-1 victory at Bremen, two days since […]

London (AFP) – Edinson Cavani has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for a now-deleted social media post containing a Spanish phrase that is offensive in some contexts and for which the Manchester United star apologised. The 33-year-old Uruguayan striker's Instagram post thanked a friend for his congratulations after scoring twice as United […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta has promised his glittering career won't be cut short by the thigh injury that has left him facing four months on the sidelines. The World Cup-winning Spanish midfielder, 36, said he planned to be back for his Japanese club Vissel Kobe next season after undergoing surgery in […]

Madrid (AFP) – Former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta will be sidelined for four months after injuring his thigh while playing for Vissel Kobe in the final stages of the Asian Champions League. Iniesta, 36, underwent successful surgery in Barcelona after tearing a tendon in his right thigh, his club said, and recovery time was expected […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jose Mourinho said Tottenham must learn to kill games off if they are to win a first league title in 60 years after Roberto Firmino's late winner earned Liverpool a 2-1 win over his side on Wednesday. The Brazilian's towering header ended an 11-game unbeaten league run for Mourinho's men and opened […]