London (AFP) – Nobby Stiles, whose celebratory dance on the Wembley pitch holding the World Cup trophy in one hand and his dentures in the other, and described as the "heart and soul" of England's 1966 World Cup winning team, has died, aged 78. Stiles was a tough-tackling midfielder and an integral part of the […]

Bellinzona (Switzerland) (AFP) – The suspended sentence for Jerome Valcke, the former FIFA number two, in a corruption verdict on Friday in Switzerland may have spared the football world serious embarrassment but the case was only part of an ever-growing list of court proceedings involving the governing body to which an indictment of president Gianni […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola said Friday he would like to "stay longer" amid speculation at least one of the candidates to be the next president of Barcelona would like to bring the celebrated manager back to the Nou Camp. Guardiola is in the final year of his contract with City, a situation […]

London (AFP) – Premier League leaders Everton will be without dynamic playmaker James Rodriguez for Sunday's away game with Newcastle said manager Carlo Ancelotti. The 29-year-old Colombian international played in last weekend's loss to Southampton despite being a doubt beforehand. However, Ancelotti — whose side lead city rivals and champions Liverpool on goal difference — […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel said on Friday he expects Neymar to be sidelined until the international break after injuring his thigh in Wednesday's Champions League win in Istanbul. The Brazil forward came off just 25 minutes into PSG's 2-0 victory over Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir and will likely miss his team's […]

London (AFP) – Trent Alexander-Arnold has had a "great ride so far" said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on the eve of what is likely to be the defender's 100th Premier League appearance for the club. The 22-year-old England international has enjoyed a remarkable run since making his debut for his hometown club aged 18. He […]

Cairo (AFP) – The president of the Confederation of African Football Ahmad Ahmad learned on Friday that he had tested positive for Covid-19, he said on his Twitter account. "This morning, I've been declared positive to #Covid19. I have mild symptoms, but I'm well," he wrote. A CAF press release said Ahmad, who had been […]

Bellinzona (Switzerland) (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was on Friday acquitted by a Swiss court of corruption over the allocation of World Cup TV rights, while former FIFA number two Jerome Valcke was handed a suspended sentence for a secondary charge. Al-Khelaifi, the chairman of beIN Media, was cleared of aggravated criminal mismanagement, […]

London (AFP) – Virgil van Dijk has undergone successful knee surgery and will begin rehabilitation, Premier League champions Liverpool said on Friday. The club would not say how long the 29-year-old central defender would be out. Van Dijk, who was pivotal in both Liverpool's Champions League success in 2019 and their title triumph last season, […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick on Friday urged defender David Alaba to quit stalling over his contract extension and commit to the European champions, despite reports linking him to the Premier League. The 28-year-old Alaba is out of contract at the end of the season and is reportedly insisting on a […]

Milan (AFP) – Argentina legend Diego Maradona put former club Napoli ending their three-decade wait to win the Italian league title on his birthday wish list as he turned 60 on Friday. Maradona, who led Napoli to their only two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990, celebrated his birthday in self-isolation to protect himself […]

London (AFP) – The days when the winners of the two league matches between Arsenal and Manchester United decided where the title was destined are over, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Friday. The former United striker featured in many of those matches when managerial legends Alex Ferguson and Wenger were in charge in games […]

Berlin (AFP) – The Bundesliga goes back behind closed doors this weekend with Borussia Dortmund leading the complaints against the government's decision to lock out fans in an attempt to help curb record coronavirus numbers. On Friday, Germany reported a record 18,681 new cases of Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours. Amid measures announced Wednesday, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid will be hoping to leave their sticky patch behind them when they play Huesca in La Liga on Saturday, with an early six-point lead to preserve over Barcelona. The resignation of Barca's club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has overshadowed what has been a dramatic week for Madrid, who barely salvaged […]

Paris (AFP) – Barcelona look to build on a morale-boosting midweek win in the Champions League, while Napoli meet a Serie A surprise package and record-breaking Ajax may fancy their chances of another big victory. AFP Sport previews the standout action on the continent this weekend: – New hope for Barcelona? Alaves v Barcelona, Saturday […]