Barcelona (AFP) – Interim Barcelona president Carles Tusquets said Thursday he would have sold Argentine star Lionel Messi in the summer. Messi made an attempt to leave Barcelona this summer before backing down. He can talk to other clubs in January and leave for free when his contract expires in June, with Manchester City expected […]

Doha (AFP) – Brazilian midfielder Adailton scored a brilliant solo goal in the first half as FC Tokyo edged past Perth Glory 1-0 to seal the second round-of-16 spot from Group F in the Asian Champions League on Thursday. South Korean giants Ulsan Hyundai had already made the cut as guaranteed group winners, leaving FC […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – "I love you, Diego" Pele has written on social media, a week after the death of his "great friend" Diego Maradona, a "genius who enchanted the world". In Brazil, it is common to pay homage to the deceased a week after their death, when a "seventh-day mass" is celebrated by […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League and the English Football League agreed a £250-million rescue package on Thursday, ending months of uncertainty for lower-league clubs struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic. The EFL said clubs in Leagues One and Two — the third and fourth tiers — would receive grants worth £50 million ($67 million). […]

Oslo (AFP) – Former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Copenhagen coach Stale Solbakken has been handed the reins of the Norwegian national team, the national federation announced on Thursday. The 52-year-old, who was sacked by Copenhagen in October, replaces the Swede Lars Lagerback, who has stepped down, even though his contract took him through to the 2022 […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League and the English Football League on Thursday agreed a £250-million rescue package to ease the financial pressure on lower-league clubs during the coronavirus pandemic. The EFL said clubs in League One and League Two — the third and fourth tiers — would receive grants worth £50 million ($67 million). […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund star striker Erling Braut Haaland is sidelined with a leg injury until January, but defender Mats Hummels has said his ankle injury is not as bad as first feared. Haaland, 20, has claimed 17 goals in 13 games this season, including six in four Champions League games as the competition's […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former Barcelona and Arsenal star Giovanni van Bronckhorst quit on Thursday after one season as coach of Guangzhou R&F so he can return to his family. The former Dutch international's spell in China was badly disrupted by the coronavirus, with the Chinese Super League starting five months late. "It's been a very […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Next season's Chinese Super League will take on a new look after the 16 teams were told to drop the corporate part of their names, infuriating some fans. The Chinese Football Association is making good on its order that clubs must remove references to investors and the companies that own them, and […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Next season's Chinese Super League will take on a new look after the 16 teams were told to drop the corporate part of their names, infuriating many fans. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is making good on its order that clubs must remove references to investors and the companies that own them […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Neymar dropped a bombshell on Wednesday as he followed up scoring twice for Paris Saint-Germain in their 3-1 Champions League win over Manchester United by revealing his desire to reunite with Lionel Messi next season. The Brazilian enjoyed four successful seasons alongside the six-time Ballon d'Or winner at Barcelona before […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar's brace helped Paris Saint-Germain to a vital 3-1 win over Manchester United on Wednesday that took the French club to within touching distance of the Champions League last 16, while Borussia Dortmund secured their qualification for the next round and Olivier Giroud scored all four goals in Chelsea's 4-0 thumping of […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday despite Lazio captain Ciro Immobile scoring a second-half penalty against his former club in a 1-1 draw in Germany. The result at Signal Iduna Park means leaders Dortmund need a win at Zenit St Petersburg next Tuesday to be […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men's Champions League game on Wednesday as Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 750th career goal in a 3-0 win for Juventus over Dynamo Kiev. The Italian champions were already through to the last 16, along with Group G leaders Barcelona, but can still […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Olivier Giroud scored four goals as Chelsea romped to an impressive 4-0 victory at Sevilla on Wednesday to secure top spot in Champions League Group E. The 34-year-old striker is the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the competition since Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas in 1965 for Real Madrid against […]