London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has ended speculation over his Manchester City future after signing a new two-year contract extension on Thursday. Guardiola was due to be out of contract at the end of this season and it had been suggested the Spaniard might be ready to leave City. But the 49-year-old has now agreed […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa manager Dean Smith wants more evidence to prove players are at risk from serious injury before he supports the reintroduction of five substitutions in the Premier League. Several Premier League bosses including Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola have criticised the decision to […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA plans to introduce a series of measures to protect pregnant footballers including mandatory maternity leave "of at least 14 weeks", the sport's world governing body announced on Thursday. "We want to see more women play football but in the same time have a family," Sarai Bareman, FIFA's chief women's football officer, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany fans want to show national team coach Joachim Loew a red card with former players also suggesting the 60-year-old should step aside amid the fall-out of their historic thrashing in Spain. Loew's Germany offered little resistance as they were trounced 6-0 in Tuesday's Nations League tie. It was the Germans' heaviest […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – 'Dirty tricks' are an unfortunate part of the African football DNA with bottle-hurling spectators, airport redtape and blaring music among methods used to intimidate visiting teams. The issue came to the fore this week when a Gabon squad including Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were forced to sleep on the floor at […]

Berlin (AFP) – Teen prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko could become the youngest debutant in Bundesliga history this weekend as Borussia Dortmund hint that the German goal-scoring sensation may make his senior debut. Moukoko turns 16 on Friday and if he plays at Hertha Berlin on Saturday evening, he will set a new Bundesliga record having already sent […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa winger Jack Grealish insists he needs to star at a major tournament before he is worthy of comparisons to England legend Paul Gascoigne. Grealish finally seems to have convinced England manager Gareth Southgate of his quality after shining during the international triple header. The Villa captain backed up his dazzling […]

Berlin (AFP) – Teen prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko could become the youngest debutant in Bundesliga history this weekend as Borussia Dortmund hint that the German goal-scoring sensation may make his senior debut the day after his 16th birthday. If he plays at Hertha Berlin on Saturday evening, Moukoko will set a new Bundesliga record having already sent […]

Sarajevo (AFP) – Roberto Mancini hailed an "extraordinary" performance as Italy brushed aside injury and coronavirus woes to reach next year's Nations League finals on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. Andrea Belotti volleyed in a Lorenzo Insigne cross after 22 minutes with Domenico Berardi adding a second on 68 minutes […]

Miami (AFP) – David Beckham's Inter Miami get another chance to extend their maiden season on Friday when they take on fellow expansion debutants Nashville as Major League Soccer's postseason kicks off. Having scraped into the play-offs with a dramatic final-day victory earlier this month, Miami now have the chance to book a place in […]

Paris (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku helped fire Belgium into the UEFA Nations League finals by scoring twice in a 4-2 win over Denmark on Wednesday, while Italy also secured a place in the last four with victory away to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The world's number one-ranked side, Belgium only required a draw from their last […]

Netanya (Israel) (AFP) – Steve Clarke admitted Scotland have to start scoring goals to ensure the progress he has made as national team boss does not stall after a 1-0 defeat in Israel on Wednesday. A week on from reaching a first major international tournament since 1998 by qualifying for Euro 2020, Scotland blew the […]

Sarajevo (AFP) – Italy sealed their ticket to next year's Nations League finals on Wednesday with a confident 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. Andrea Belotti volleyed in a Lorenzo Insigne cross after 22 minutes with Domenico Berardi adding a second on 68 minutes to ensure the Azzurri finished top of League A group […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wales stand-in manager Robert Page believes Gareth Bale's love for football has been rekindled by a return to Tottenham after playing his part in a 3-1 win over Finland that secured promotion to the top tier of the Nations League. Bale teed up Harry Wilson for the opener in Cardiff […]

London (AFP) – Phil Foden thanked Gareth Southgate for keeping faith in him after the England midfielder made amends for "one of the hardest moments of his life" by scoring his first international goals in Wednesday's 4-0 win against Iceland. Foden was sent home by Southgate in disgrace along with Manchester United's Mason Greenwood after […]