London (AFP) – Gareth Bale's treatment by Real Madrid fans was "disgraceful" and the Spanish club did not help the situation, according to the Wales attacker's agent. The 31-year-old has returned to Tottenham on a loan deal, having left them in 2013 for a then world-record fee of £85 million ($109 million). The winger, whose […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain have sent French football authorities a video that some lip-reading experts say confirms Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez used a racial slur against Neymar, leading to an on-pitch brawl, Brazilian media reported. A week after PSG's 1-0 loss to their arch rivals ended with Neymar slapping Gonzalez on the […]

Wolverhampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola labelled Phil Foden as "incredible" after Manchester City survived a scare to start their Premier League title challenge with a 3-1 win against Wolves on Monday. City's delayed start to the campaign — due to their involvement in last season's Champions League — had allowed Liverpool to build […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League set a new record for the highest number of goals in a single round of matches on Monday as Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus scored the milestone 44th against Wolves. After 39 goals were scored across Saturday and Sunday's eight games, City, Wolves and Aston Villa all netted on Monday […]

Milan (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as AC Milan got their Serie A campaign up and running with a 2-0 win over Bologna on Monday. Ibrahimovic, who turns 39 next month, showed he has lost none of his goal-scoring skills having also netted last week against Irish side Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League. […]

Wolverhampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City survived a scare to start their Premier League title challenge with a 3-1 win against Wolves as Phil Foden enjoyed a moment of redemption on Monday. City's delayed start to the campaign — due to their involvement in last season's Champions League — had allowed Liverpool to build […]

Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Aston Villa kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Sheffield United on Monday as Ezri Konsa bagged the winner after Emiliano Martinez saved a penalty for the hosts. United were a man down early on after captain John Egan was sent off for a foul […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal signed Iceland goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson from Dijon on Monday to act as back-up for first choice Bernd Leno. Runarsson joins the Premier League club for a reported 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) after agreeing a four-year contract. The 25-year-old replaces Emiliano Martinez after the Argentine keeper joined Aston Villa last […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Bale's desire to play for the "club of his heart" could speed his recovery from a knee injury, Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho said Monday. Spurs initially indicated that Bale, who rejoined the club last week from Real Madrid on a season-long loan, was unlikely to be match fit until after next […]

London (AFP) – Thiago Silva has set his sights on winning the Premier League title with Chelsea, insisting he does not lack motivation in the twilight of his career. The defender joined Frank Lampard's side from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in August and is waiting to make his Blues debut after being granted […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder said Monday he was getting a "stomach ache" over fears that this week's UEFA Super Cup final in Hungary could become the next coronavirus superspreader event. Budapest is playing host to the Super Cup on Thursday between Champions League winners Bayern Munich and European League holders Sevilla. […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Croatia international Ivan Rakitic on Monday bid farewell to the national team with whom he reached the final at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the country's football federation said. "Saying goodbye to Croatia squad is the most difficult decision in my carrier. "But I felt that is the moment when I […]

London (AFP) – Celtic and Aberdeen have each been fined £8,000 by the Scottish Professional Football League following breaches of coronavirus protocols. Both clubs received £30,000 ($38,000) fines in total following disciplinary hearings but the bulk of the punishment is suspended and will only be invoked if there are further breaches. Eight Aberdeen players were […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Sporting announced on Monday they will re-name their academy after former attacker and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, who scored in Juventus' first Serie A game of the season on Sunday, joined the capital city side aged 12. "The Academy will thus immortalise the name of the greatest symbol it […]

London (AFP) – Taking the knee before football matches is not going to change attitudes to racism only actions will, Les Ferdinand, director of football at English second tier side Queens Park Rangers said on Monday. The 53-year-old former England striker was responding to criticism that neither players from QPR nor opponents Coventry took the […]