London (AFP) – Aberdeen's trip to face St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday has been postponed after two players from the visiting team tested positive for coronavirus. The Scottish government and football authorities had agreed on Thursday that the game should go ahead as planned but that decision has been reversed. "This weekend's […]

London (AFP) – Scottish ministers have accused Aberdeen players of putting the return of football at risk following a "clear breach" of coronavirus protocols. The Scottish football authorities were summoned to a meeting by sports minister Joe Fitzpatrick on Friday after eight Dons players were instructed to self-isolate for up to two weeks following two […]

Doha (AFP) – Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla said "Xavi was very important in my decision to come to Qatar" as he signed for the country's highest-profile team Al-Sadd, where his fellow Spaniard is head coach. "He was my reference when he was a player, and I'm sure he'll be the same as a coach," […]

Milan (AFP) – Gennaro Gattuso's reign as Napoli coach may have started amid turmoil but the former Italy international has put the Serie A club on the path towards a potential Champions League triumph against Barcelona. The southern Italians head for the Camp Nou on Saturday with a first ever Champions League quarter-final berth beckoning. […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Wei Shihao was accused of "evil behaviour" and suspended last year for breaking an opponent's leg, but a lightning start to the season means he could be China's next export to Europe. China has a population of 1.4 billion but is hardly blessed with football talent, with Wu Lei its best player. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich are hoping Champions League success can convince Thiago Alcantara and David Alaba, who are stalling over extensions, to stay. Bayern host Chelsea at Munich's Allianz Arena on Saturday in the last 16, second leg of the Champions League holding a 3-0 lead after hammering the Blues in London in February […]

Madrid (AFP) – If Barcelona have been weighed down by the burden of expectation in recent years in the Champions League, they should feel freer than ever ahead of Saturday's last 16, second leg against Napoli. Few expect an easy passage into the quarter-finals and if they get there, even fewer expect them to survive […]

Paris (AFP) – Wolves battled into the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday while Sevilla, Bayer Leverkusen and Basel enjoyed far more comfortable victories in the matches that brought the Europa League round of 16 to a belated close. Raul Jimenez scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the ninth minute and […]

Paris (AFP) – Sevilla cruised past Roma 2-0 in a one-off Europa League round of 16 tie on Thursday while Bayer Leverkusen beat visiting Rangers 1-0 in a second-leg game to win 4-1 on aggregate and also make the quarter-finals. The two matches were played 50 kilometres apart in the Rhineland region of Germany, which […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane has said Gareth Bale told him he did not want to play for Real Madrid against Manchester City in the Champions League last 16 on Friday. But Zidane said Eden Hazard is fit to face City, despite concerns regarding the Belgian's right ankle. Bale was left out of the squad […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri dismissed talk that his future would depend on the result of Friday's Champions League last 16, second leg match against Lyon in Turin. Juve trail the Ligue 1 side following their 1-0 defeat in France six months ago before the coronavirus lockdown. "I don't think my future […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – South African club football resumes Saturday in a coronavirus pandemic epicentre amid a warning from the sports minister and the suspension of a high-profile official. The most popular sport in the republic will restart after a five-month suspension with the Nedbank (FA) Cup semi-finals behind closed doors at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. […]

Paris (AFP) – It was the one major European league to opt in the spring not to restart when its season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, and now an outbreak of new cases at French clubs is providing cause for concern as the 2020/21 Ligue 1 campaign draws ever closer. In the firing […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Nkana were crowned Zambian champions Thursday for the first time since 2013 despite not kicking a ball in the final round of a reduced Super League season. The club from central city Kitwe received a walkover when relegated Nakambala Leopards failed to turn up and the three points lifted Nkana to 50. […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatar's Football Association fined former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez and several other top-flight players and staff $2,700 each for breaching coronavirus rules, it said in a statement on Thursday. Xavi, head coach of Qatari side Al-Sadd, revealed at the end of July that he had contracted the virus but just days later […]