Asuncion (AFP) – Former South American football boss Juan Angel Napout, who is serving a nine-year corruption sentence in a US prison, has contracted coronavirus, his lawyer said on Monday. "He could barely speak when his wife called him. His throat was very sore" and he was struggling to breath, Napout's lawyer Jose Gonzalez told […]

London (AFP) – Wolvehampton Wanderers moved closed in on a place in the Europa League with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Monday, while Sheffield United's own European hopes were dashed by a 1-0 defeat against Everton. At the other end of the Premier League table, Brighton guaranteed their Premier League survival with a […]

London (AFP) – Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani said on Monday his club will need a cash injection if they are to be competitive in the Premier League next season. Marcelo Bielsa's side have ended their 16-year exile from the English top-flight after clinching promotion as Championship winners. But Radrizzani is not satisfied with that and […]

London (AFP) – Richarlison rocked Sheffield United's bid to qualify for the Europa League on Monday after sealing a 1-0 win for Everton, while Brighton guaranteed their Premier League survival with a goalless draw against Newcastle. The Blades were handed a second successive defeat as Brazil forward Richarlison struck early in the second half at […]

London (AFP) – Watford captain Troy Deeney has slammed reports there was a fight during half-time of Nigel Pearson's final match in charge of the Premier League strugglers. Pearson was surprisingly sacked on Sunday with just two games left in Watford's battle to avoid relegation. Hayden Mullins has been appointed interim boss, with the Hornets […]

Madrid (AFP) – Villarreal announced on Monday that Javi Calleja is no longer their coach despite taking the team to a fifth-placed finish in La Liga. "Javi Calleja is no longer Villarreal CF head coach. The Yellows would like to thank him for his hard work, dedication and professionalism during his time as Yellows first-team […]

London (AFP) – The late Jack Charlton is being honoured by the British and Irish postal services for his distinguished career as a player and manager. The central defender, who won the 1966 World Cup with England before transforming Ireland from international also-rans to 1990 World Cup quarter-finalists, died earlier this month aged 85. Charlton's […]

Lyon (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain lost a second young prospect this month when 18-year-old midfielder Adil Aouchiche, the club's youngest ever Ligue 1 player, signed for rivals Saint-Etienne on Monday. Saint-Etienne said on their website the French youth international was: "Coveted by a large number of top clubs, both French and especially foreign, he has […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on Monday Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa will be an "incredible" addition to the Premier League next season. Bielsa has masterminded Leeds' return to the English top-flight after a 16-year absence. The former Marseille, Lazio and Argentina boss brought the Elland Road outfit their first silverware since […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool defender Andy Robertson says there will be no drop-off in the club's motivation to win trophies next season after they ended a 30-year wait to be crowned English champions. Jurgen Klopp and his players will be presented with the Premier League trophy after their final home match against Chelsea on Wednesday. […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted both Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi could have a future at the club — pointing to Granit Xhaka's own remarkable turnaround as an example. Guendouzi has not featured since his bust-up with Brighton's Neal Maupay last month and Ozil has yet to kick a ball since […]

Paris (AFP) – The Ballon d'Or will not be awarded this year due to the extraordinary conditions created by the coronavirus pandemic, organisers France Football announced on Monday. It will be the first time the trophy given for the world's best men's footballer has not been awarded since Englishman Stanley Matthews won the inaugural edition […]

Paris (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hopes a stunning 2-0 FA Cup semi-final triumph over title-holders Manchester City will help convince star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to stay. "If he can see success and the direction we are taking is the right one, I think he will be more positive about it (staying)," said the […]

Doha (AFP) – Spanish star Santi Cazorla will join Qatar's Al-Sadd, the club said in a statement on Monday, where he will be coached by fellow countryman Xavi Hernandez. The midfielder bid farewell to Villarreal ahead of the team's final game of La Liga against Eibar on Sunday. The 35-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant third […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he will stick with error-prone Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea but with a Champions League place at stake many are urging him to drop the Spaniard. The 29-year-old's blunders at Wembley on Sunday were a hammer blow for in-form United, who went down 3-1 to Frank Lampard's […]