London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta admitted he has failed to get the best out of Mesut Ozil after the German expressed his anger at being left out the Gunners' Prmeier League squad. The 32-year-old is the highest-paid player in Arsenal's history on a reported £350,000 ($450,000) a week, but has also been omitted from the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid made an embarrassing start in the Champions League on Wednesday by losing 3-2 at home to a depleted Shakhtar Donetsk, their second consecutive defeat ahead of the Clasico against Barcelona on Saturday. Shakhtar were without 10 first-team players and nine members of staff due to coronavirus infections but recorded a […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has warned MPs not to "turn a blind eye" to vulnerable families as the House of Commons prepared to vote on an opposition to extend free school meals over the holidays The 22-year-old Rashford, who has led a campaign on the issue, said Wednesday he would be […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has insisted there was nothing "Spursy" about the club's extraordinary draw with West Ham. Spurs squandered a 3-0 lead in the final 10 with the Hammers on Sunday. That led some observers to say it had been a "Spursy' display, a tag used to describe Tottenham's habit […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward on Wednesday branded the mixed messaging of the UK government "frustrating" as the impact of closed doors games showed in the English giants' latest financial figures. United posted a £23 million ($30 million) loss for the financial year to June 30 as revenues fell due to […]

Paris (AFP) – Mediapro on Wednesday reiterated its desire to renegotiate its TV rights deal for Ligue 1 as French football reels from its decision to not make this month's scheduled payment. In a packed press conference in Paris, the firm's CEO Jaume Roures said that the company had no intention of abandoning its four-year, […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Moroccan club Raja Casablanca said Wednesday that they cannot travel to Egypt for a CAF Champions League semi-final against Zamalek this weekend after eight of the squad tested positive for coronavirus. "The Moroccan authorities have withdrawn the special authorisation given to the club to travel outside the country," an official told AFP. […]

London (AFP) – Mesut Ozil said Wednesday he was deeply disappointed" to be axed from Arsenal's Premier League squad amid speculation he has played his last game for the London club. The 32-year-old is the highest-paid player in Arsenal's history on a reported £350,000 ($450,000) a week, but has also been omitted from the Gunners' […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United posted a £23 million ($30 million) loss for the financial year to June 30 as revenues fell due to the coronavirus pandemic and a lack of Champions League football. Income crashed by £118 million to £509 million as the 2019/20 season was halted for three months and then resumed behind […]

Paris (AFP) – Manchester United were in disarray just a couple of weeks ago, but it was Paris Saint-Germain who were a mess as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side won 2-1 in their Champions League clash in the French capital on Tuesday night. Solskjaer owed his permanent appointment as United boss to Marcus Rashford's injury-time penalty […]

Suzhou (China) (AFP) – China wants to unite its 1.4 billion people through football while also using the sport as "a bridge to work with the rest of the world", a top FA official says. Chinese Football Association Secretary General Liu Yi explained to AFP what lies behind the country's aggressive push to become a […]

Paris (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was full of praise for his "excellent" Manchester United side on Tuesday after Marcus Rashford's late strike saw them win at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. "The performance was good and we deserved to win it. It was a better performance […]

Rome (AFP) – Ciro Immobile scored early against his former club Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday as Lazio marked their return to the Champions League after a 13-year absence with a 3-1 Group F win. Italy's Immobile beat Marwin Hitz in the Dortmund goal after six minutes in Rome, with a deflection off the Germans' keeper […]

Paris (AFP) – Marcus Rashford once again sank Paris Saint-Germain after netting the decisive goal in a 2-1 Champions League win in the French capital, while Barcelona sent a message with a thumping 5-1 victory over Ferencvaros. Rashford, who scored the winning spot-kick when United knocked PSG out in 2019, drilled home a low shot […]

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard admitted he was happy to take a point and a clean sheet from Chelsea's goalless Champions League opener against Sevilla after so much criticism of his side's defensive capabilities. Edouard Mendy returned from injury to replace the error-strewn Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, but the Senegal international was rarely troubled in […]