London (AFP) – Aston Villa pledged to investigate and issue a lifetime ban against a supporter after Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha revealed a shocking series of racially-aggravated messages before Sunday's Premier League clash between the two sides. Zaha posted on Twitter three screenshots of messages containing racial abuse from an Instagram account belonging to a […]

London (AFP) – Wolves bounced back form back-to-back defeats to move into the Premier League's top six on Sunday by inflicting another miserable away day on Everton in a 3-0 win at Molineux. Raul Jimenez's penalty and Leander Dendoncker's header a minute either side of half-time put the game out of Everton's reach before Diogo […]

Madrid (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann looks set to miss the rest of the season afer Barcelona said on Sunday the France attacker had a thigh injury. The World Cup winner went off at half-time of Saturday's 1-0 win over Valladolid after apparently asking to be subbed. "He came off because he had a problem," Barcelona […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Reduced matchdays due to the coronavirus pandemic may force the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to rethink the format of its club competitions for the 2020/2021 season. "Dropping the group stages and, in the Confederation Cup, the play-offs are possibilities," a senior CAF official, who requested anonymity as he is not […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – The South African Premiership — the richest league in Africa — is seeking a new sponsor after Absa Bank announced it is ending a 13-year partnership. League chairman Irvin Khoza said there are four contenders to take over the 16-club championship, which runs from August to May and is screened throughout the […]

Sydney (AFP) – Former Australia captain and Crystal Palace stalwart Mile Jedinak announced his retirement Sunday, saying it was "time for a new chapter". The 35-year-old spent five seasons at the London club, joining from Turkey's Genclerbirligi in 2011, skippering Palace to promotion back to the Premier League via the playoffs in 2013. He moved […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City's Abu-Dhabi project and the future of UEFA's financial fair play (FFP) rules face a pivotal day on Monday when the Court of Arbitration for Sport delivers its verdict on City's appeal against a two-season ban from European competitions. The stakes could not be higher for the English side, who have […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Juventus snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw against Atalanta on Saturday to take a massive step towards a ninth straight Serie A title. Lazio's 2-1 loss to Sassuolo earlier in the day gave Atalanta, on an 11-match winning streak heading into the game, the chance to move […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City deserve their place in the Champions League next season as the club wait to find out whether their two-season ban against playing in European competitions will be overturned. City were handed the two-season saction by UEFA in February over alleged breaches of financial fair play […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick as Manchester City ensured they will finish in the Premier League's top four with a 5-0 win over Brighton on Saturday as the club wait to find out whether they will be allowed to compete in the Champions League next season. City were handed a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi made it 20 assists for the season in Barcelona's stodgy 1-0 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday, even as his team's La Liga challenge appears almost over. Messi teed up Arturo Vidal's winner at Jose Zorilla to become the first player to provide 20 assists in Spain's top flight since […]

Milan (AFP) – Lazio's title dream suffered yet another setback on Saturday as Francesco Caputo's injury-time header grabbed Sassuolo a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico to hand Juventus the chance to move 10 points clear at the Serie A summit. The midweek loss at lowly Lecce appeared to signal the end of Lazio's title […]

London (AFP) – Sheffield United dealt a major blow to Chelsea's chances of a Premier League top-four finish by thrashing the Blues 3-0 at Bramall Lane, while Liverpool's long winning run at Anfield came to an end in a 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday. At the bottom of the table, Norwich were relegated as […]

Sheffield (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Chelsea suffered a setback in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as Sheffield United rekindled their own European ambitions with an impressive 3-0 win on Saturday. Frank Lampard's side were punished for some dismal defending at Bramall Lane as David McGoldrick struck twice, either side of Oli McBurnie's […]

Milan (AFP) – Lazio's title dream suffered yet another setback on Saturday as Francesco Caputo's injury-time header grabbed Sassuolo a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico to hand Juventus the chance to move 10 points clear at the Serie A summit. The midweek loss at lowly Lecce appeared to signal the end of Lazio's title […]