Dubai (AFP) – An Arab club has for the first time signed an Israeli footballer, Diaa Sabia, less than two weeks after the UAE normalised ties with the Jewish state. Sabia, an 28-year-old Israeli Arab attacking midfielder with China's Guangzhou R&F, signed a two-year contract with Dubai's Al-Nasr, the club said in a statement Sunday. […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Iran's Persepolis were drawn against Uzbek team Pakhtakor in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Monday after their shock win over Al Sadd, who are coached by Barcelona legend Xavi. Issa Alekasir's brilliant late header ousted Al Sadd on Sunday, leaving Xavi furious as the Qatari team were denied a second-half […]

London (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers hailed Jamie Vardy's "incredible view of football" after the Leicester talisman scored a hat-trick for the Premier League pacesetters in their 5-2 victory against Manchester City. The 33-year-old former England international converted two penalties and scored one from open play as the 2016 champions came from 1-0 down at the […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to salvage a point for 10-man Juventus in a 2-2 draw at Roma as Napoli hammered Genoa 6-0 in Serie A on Sunday. Champions Juventus were trailing 2-1 and a man down after an hour at the Stadio Olimpico after a Jordan Veretout brace for the hosts and […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – In a last-minute ruling, a Brazilian court overturned an earlier decision and allowed a league match featuring top club Flamengo to go ahead Sunday, despite 19 players testing positive for coronavirus. The ruling, which came 10 minutes before kickoff, was the latest twist in a dramatic saga around the match between […]

Paris (AFP) – Mauro Icardi broke a long scoring drought by netting both goals in Paris Saint-Germain's comfortable 2-0 Ligue 1 win at Reims on Sunday night. Earlier, Monaco hung on desperately to beat Strasbourg 3-2 after having two players sent off and Lille moved into second place a more straightforward 2-0 win over Nantes. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored in his first game since trying to leave Barcelona as Ronald Koeman began his tenure as coach by overseeing a 4-0 Liga demolition of Villarreal on Sunday. Messi converted from the spot 10 minutes before half-time and then the Argentine's cross forced Pau Torres into an own-goal, after an […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to salvage a point for 10-man Juventus in a 2-2 draw at Roma as Napoli hammered Genoa 6-0 in Serie A on Sunday. Champions Juventus were trailing 2-1 and a man down after an hour at the Stadio Olimpico after a Jordan Veretout brace for the hosts and […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored in his first game since trying to leave Barcelona as Ronald Koeman began his tenure as coach by overseeing a 4-0 La Liga demolition of Villarreal on Sunday. Messi converted from the spot 10 minutes before half-time and it was the Argentinian's cross that then forced Pau Torres into […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luis Suarez said on Sunday he needed a change when he left Barcelona after marking his Atletico Madrid debut with two goals and an assist. Suarez's sensational 20-minute cameo came as Atletico started their La Liga season with a thumping 6-1 victory over Granada. He set up a goal two minutes after […]

London (AFP) – Leicester stormed back to the top of the Premier League table by scoring five against a Pep Guardiola team for the first time in the Catalan's coaching career as Manchester City's title challenge hit an early stumbling block in a 5-2 defeat. City conceded three penalties, but none of them were as […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus insisted on Sunday that they had done 'nothing wrong' after an investigation was opened into possible fraud concerning an Italian exam taken by former transfer target Luis Suarez. The exam was a first step required for 33-year-old Suarez to receive a passport ahead of a possible transfer from Barcelona to Juventus, […]

Doha (AFP) – Xavi said it was a "shame" that VAR is not being used in the Asian Champions League after his Al Sadd team were denied a penalty during their last-16 exit to Iran's Persepolis on Sunday. The normally calm and collected Xavi was furious after Qatari side Al Sadd crashed out of the […]

Milan (AFP) – Hirving Lozano scored twice as Napoli swept past coronavirus-hit Genoa 6-0 as AC Milan continued their winning run 2-0 against promoted Crotone in Serie A action on Sunday. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen got his first start for Napoli, having come off the bench to lift the southerners past Parma in their opener […]

Berlin (AFP) – European champions Bayern Munich suffered a first defeat for 10 months when their 23-match winning run was ended by a shock 4-1 Bundesliga loss at Hoffenheim on Sunday. Hoffenheim raced into a 2-0 lead with early goals by defender Ermin Bicakcic and striker Munas Dabbur. Although Joshua Kimmich gave Bayern a lifeline […]