London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate will consider selecting Tammy Abraham and Jadon Sancho for England's Nations League clash against Belgium after the pair returned to the fold following their breach of coronavirus protocols. Chelsea striker and Borussia Dortmund forward Sancho were both left out of England's 3-0 friendly win over Wales at Wembley on Thursday […]

New Delhi (AFP) – Former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler said Saturday that preparing new club East Bengal for their first season in the Indian Super League during the coronavirus pandemic will be a supreme challenge. Fowler has made India the latest stop of his much travelled career after he gave up as manager […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino scored a brace as Brazil romped to a 5-0 victory over Bolivia in their opening 2022 World Cup qualifier on Friday. Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos also got on the scoresheet while star forward Neymar set up two goals in a totally one-sided […]

New York (AFP) – A fourth Major League Soccer match involving the Colorado Rapids was postponed on Friday due to a Covid-19 outbreak that has closed the club's training facility for more than two weeks. The Rapids had their scheduled Saturday home game against the Los Angeles Galaxy postponed after one new coronavirus case in […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Algeria extended an unbeaten run to 19 matches with a 1-0 victory over Nigeria Friday in an international friendly between two of the top five ranked African countries. In another high-profile warm-up match behind closed doors ahead of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying next month, Morocco triumphed 3-1 over a depleted […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II on Friday in recognition of his campaign to feed vulnerable children, alongside hundreds of key workers who helped in the fight against the coronavirus. The England international is one of the highest-profile figures in the monarch's birthday honours list, which was […]

London (AFP) – Edinson Cavani has revealed a last-minute conversation with former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera helped convince him to decide on a move to Old Trafford. The prolific striker ended protracted speculation about his future by signing for United on transfer deadline day following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain. The 33-year-old was linked […]

Rome (AFP) – AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been given the all-clear to end his quarantine period and return to action after testing negative for coronavirus, the Serie A club announced on Friday. Milan confirmed in a statement that the Swedish striker had "tested negative" twice in a row, as stipulated in the protocol […]

London (AFP) – Everton's Carlo Ancelotti was named the Premier League Manager of the Month for September, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it a clean sweep for the club as the in-form striker won the Player of the Month prize on Friday. Ancelotti is the first Everton boss to win the award since David Moyes in […]

Nürburgring (Germany) (AFP) – Both practice sessions at the Eifel Grand Prix were cancelled on Friday when thick fog prevented the use of a medical helicopter at the Nurburgring circuit. Consistent rain and low temperatures combined with a thick low mist to prevent any on-circuit action at the track in the Eifel mountains, delivering the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Champions League holders Bayern Munich must start the defence of their European title behind closed doors after city officials extended the ban on spectators until at least October 25. Bayern host Atletico Madrid on October 21 in their opening Champions League group match, but the terraces at the Allianz Arena must remain […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany are set to field a full-strength team as they hunt a Nations League win in Kiev against a Ukraine squad which has lost 14 players either injured or suffering from the coronavirus. The Ukrainian FA (UAF) said Thursday that Shakhtar Donetsk pair Mykola Matvienko and Brazilian-born Junior Moraes will not face […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luis Suarez has admitted he cried because of the way Barcelona handled his departure from the club. Suarez, who joined Atletico Madrid last month, said he was excluded from training games and was not surprised Lionel Messi stood up for him by taking another swipe at the Barca board. After scoring 198 […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has suffered a thigh injury while on international duty with Senegal. Mendy picked up the injury during a Senegal training session and has returned to London for assessment by Chelsea's medical team. Blues boss Frank Lampard will hope Mendy can recover in time to face Southampton at Stamford Bridge […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – Asian football risks throwing away years of progress if leagues and clubs fail to look after their players during the coronavirus pandemic, the head of the global footballers' union has warned. Talent pools will dwindle and foreign imports will dry up if players continue to face pay cuts and instability, FIFPro […]