London (AFP) – Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said on Tuesday there could be no "blank cheque" to bail out the English Football League (EFL) despite the financial crisis engulfing clubs. The top-flight is in negotiations with the EFL over a financial package to ensure no sides go out of business due to the […]

Helsinki (AFP) – The postponement of Euro 2020 put Finland's major tournament debut on ice but, when the finals do come around, the Nordic nation have their sights set on emulating the remarkable recent achievements of Iceland. One of the enduring memories of the last European Championship in France in 2016 is that of Iceland […]

Banda Aceh (Indonesia) (AFP) – Hit by a coronavirus-sparked match freeze and huge pay cuts, Indonesia's out-of-work footballers have been forced to take up menial jobs like selling street food or working as security guards, with little end in sight. Many leagues around the world have resumed play, mostly in empty stadiums. But Indonesia's Liga […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Alex Song used to play for marquee European clubs Arsenal and Barcelona. Now, he is preparing to line up with Arta Solar 7 of Djibouti in the CAF Confederation Cup. It will be a tall order for the 33-year-old Cameroonian as the team from the tiny Horn of Africa nation drew Al […]

Rome (AFP) – Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has returned to the Fiorentina bench after 10 years away following the sacking of Giuseppe Iachini, the Serie A club announced on Monday. Fiorentina said Prandelli would be back in charge of training on Tuesday, after his last spell with the 'Viola' between 2005-2010 when the club […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Reigning Brazilian and South American champions Flamengo said Monday they had sacked coach Domenec Torrent, after the long-time assistant to Pep Guardiola capped a lukewarm start with two humiliating defeats in a row. "Domenec Torrent and his coaching staff are no longer managing the club's first team," Flamengo announced on […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – There was no luck for South African fallen giants Kaizer Chiefs when the CAF Champions League preliminary round draw was made in Cairo Monday as they were paired with Cameroon outfit PWD Bamenda. It promises to be a tough two-leg tussle with the overall winners facing 2018 semi-finalists Primeiro Agosto of Angola […]

London (AFP) – Wales caretaker manager Rob Page says it will be business as usual during the forthcoming internationals despite the absence of boss Ryan Giggs. Page will be in charge for Wales' next three games after Giggs was arrested and bailed over an alleged row with "on-off girlfriend" Kate Greville at his Manchester home […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona expect Ansu Fati to be out for four months after the club confirmed the 18-year-old underwent surgery on his knee injury on Monday. Fati had the operation after tearing the internal meniscus of his left knee during Barca's 5-2 win over Real Betis on Saturday. He will miss the majority of […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Gabon coach Patrice Neveu has hailed Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a "humble superstar" ahead of an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Gambia Thursday. Aubameyang is the stand-out player in the Panthers squad and the French handler will be looking to him for goals in the top-of-the-table Group D clash […]

Copenhagen (AFP) – Denmark and Sweden will be without Premier League-based players for Wednesday's friendly in Copenhagen due to travel restrictions imposed by the UK government over a new coronavirus strain linked to Danish mink farms. "We have seven players who have to stay in England and we have called up nine others for the […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scotland will be without Newcastle winger Ryan Fraser and Norwich defender Grant Hanley for Thursday's must-win Euro 2020 play-off against Serbia. Fraser had started Scotland's last two games but he missed Newcastle's defeat at Southampton on Friday due to a hamstring injury, while Hanley is struggling with a similar problem. Scotland assistant […]

Paris (AFP) – Bayern Munich emerged victorious in the 'Klassiker', Real Madrid were sunk by a hat-trick of penalties, Lionel Messi looked more like his old self and a fairytale league title is about to be won in the Arctic Circle. AFP Sport rounds up some of the main talking points from the weekend across […]

London (AFP) – Andy Robertson says Liverpool are well-placed to mount a Premier League title challenge as they grapple with a gruelling fixture schedule that provoked angry complaints from Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. Klopp's side were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against title rivals Manchester City on Sunday after Gabriel Jesus cancelled […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy coach Roberto Mancini on Monday called up three more players as cover for his squad which has been hit by coronavirus withdrawals ahead of their Nations League games, the Italian Football Federation said. Uncapped Hellas Verona midfielder Mattia Zaccagni has been summoned for the first time and is joined by defenders […]