Milan (AFP) – Serie A club Roma postponed the club's return to training for the new season on Friday after four players tested positive for coronavirus. After goalkeeper Antonio Mirante announced he was positive last week, Spanish striker Carles Perez on Thursday confirmed he also had COVID-19. On Friday, Brazilian left-back Bruno Peres said on […]

Lyon (AFP) – Midfielder Houssem Aouar was ruled out of Lyon's first match of the Ligue 1 season against Dijon on Friday after testing positive for Covid-19, his club announced shortly before kick-off. Aouar, 22, returned a positive result following a round of testing carried out on members of the Lyon squad and coaching staff […]

Abidjan (AFP) – FIFA have called on the Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) to halt its election campaign after Didier Drogba's bid was rejected, a letter seen by AFP on Friday showed. FIF's election has turned into a soap opera marred by incessant infighting and on Thursday the former Chelsea forward's candidacy was thrown out […]

Milan (AFP) – Fabio Liverani has been appointed coach of Serie A club Parma on a two-year contract, the Italian top-flight club confirmed on Friday. "Parma Calcio 1913 announces that it has reached an agreement until 30 June 2022 with Fabio Liverani," the club said in a statement. The 44-year-old was sacked by Lecce last […]

Strasbourg (France) (AFP) – Strasbourg coach Thierry Laurey is expected to stick with Eiji Kawashima between the posts for Saturday's Ligue 1 visit of Nice, the 37-year-old Japan international emerging as an unlikely starter having entered the season as the club's third-choice goalkeeper. Kawashima, a veteran of three World Cups with Japan, made his first […]

London (AFP) – Australia midfielder Aaron Mooy has joined Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG from Brighton for an undisclosed fee, the English club said on Friday. Mooy's move, which is dependent on international clearance, comes after he helped Brighton avoid relegation from the Premier League last season. The 29-year-old scored twice in 32 appearances […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp says there is "no chance" of Liverpool signing Lionel Messi, but the German admits the unsettled Barcelona star would be a great addition to the Premier League. Messi has told Barca he wants to leave after growing unhappy with the club's problems on and off the pitch. The Argentina forward […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire's claims he was "scared" for his life when he was arrested on a Greek holiday island have been ridiculed by the lawyer who prosecuted him. The 27-year-old United captain was on Tuesday given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days after being found […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta fears the spike in Premier League players contracting coronavirus is a sign the forthcoming season might be damaged by the pandemic. Several top-flight players have tested positive for COVID-19 since returning from holiday ahead of the Premier League campaign's opening matches on September 12. Manchester United star Paul […]

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard's Chelsea makeover gathered pace on Friday with the free transfer signing of former Paris Saint Germain captain Thiago Silva. Silva, 35, has agreed an initial one-year contract with the Premier League club, who have the option of extending the deal by a further season. "I am so happy to be […]

Milan (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic will remain at AC Milan next season having reached agreement on a new deal reportedly worth 7 million euros ($8.3m) without bonuses, according to multiple reports in Italy on Friday. Ibrahimovic, who turns 39 years in October, on Friday posted a photo of himself on social media wearing an AC […]

London (AFP) – Eberechi Eze became Roy Hodgson's most expensive signing in his time as Crystal Palace manager on Friday, joining for a reported £20 million ($26.5 million) from second-tier Queens Park Rangers. Hodgson saw off rivals West Bromwich Albion and West Ham to secure the signature of the 22-year-old forward, who penned a five […]

London (AFP) – Real Salt Lake City defender Nedum Onuoha said he was "brought to tears" and wanted to leave the club after its owner criticised players for boycotting a game over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Real and visiting team Los Angeles FC decided not to play about an hour before their scheduled […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Chinese Super League referees are under coming under increasing fire, with state media Friday accusing "the judges in black" of damaging the reputation of the country's top football competition. Former Marseille forward Romain Alessandrini was sent off Thursday during Qingdao Huanghai's 2-1 defeat by Hebei China Fortune, among three red cards and […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Major League Soccer will investigate a report of racist comments by Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen, the league said Thursday. In the report by The Athletic, former RSL head scout Andy Williams recounted incidents of racist comments that he alleged were made by Hansen. "We are deeply concerned about […]