London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has warned Tammy Abraham not to let protracted contract talks affect his performances. Abraham has scored 15 goals during a breakthrough season with Chelsea, but the England striker has failed to find the back of the net since January 11. The 22-year-old reportedly came close to agreeing an […]

Berlin (AFP) – Relieved Werder Bremen sealed their Bundesliga survival for next season on away goals after a dramatic 2-2 draw at second-division Heidenheim in Monday's nerve-racking relegation/promotion play-off, second-leg with the crucial second goal scored in added time. "I'm just happy and glad that we made it after all that," said Bremen coach Florian […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham forward Son Heung-min was involved in a furious row with team-mate Hugo Lloris at half-time in their side's 1-0 win against Everton on Monday. As Son walked towards the players' tunnel at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, France goalkeeper Lloris confronted the South Korea star, shouting at him and shoving his shoulder. […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Los Angeles FC star Carlos Vela has withdrawn from Major League Soccer's restart tournament in Orlando as the region grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases and his wife expects a baby. "I would like nothing more than to be with my teammates in Orlando," Vela, the 2019 MLS Most Valuable […]

London (AFP) – Former Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is leading calls for an investigation into the controversial decision to place the struggling Championship club in administration. Belgium boss Martinez does not believe the timing of the decision by Wigan's owners to go into administration was "normal". Martinez is a revered figure among Wigan fans after […]

Doha (AFP) – The organisers of the 2022 World Cup will lay off an undisclosed number of staff as gas-rich Qatar cuts costs amid the coronavirus economic downturn, several sources have told AFP. The job losses, which have not previously been reported, follow similar redundancies at state-run organisations including Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Airways. The […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has praised the professionalism of Jorginho as he looks set to recall the midfielder in place of the injured N'Golo Kante. Kante suffered a hamstring problem in Saturday's Premier League win over Watford and, while Lampard revealed it is only a "low-level" issue, the France star is expected […]

London (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers has backed Leicester to qualify for the Champions League despite a late-season wobble in the Premier League. The Foxes travel to Arsenal on Tuesday as they battle to return to Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 2016/17. Leicester are third in the Premier League table after Saturday's […]

Milan (AFP) – Gambian teenager Musa Juwara said he dedicated his first Serie A goal to "all who helped" him after an incredible journey to the top level of Italian football was capped in style when he scored for Bologna on Sunday. The 18-year-old forward, who arrived in Italy after travelling unaccompanied across the Mediterranean […]

Rome (AFP) – Franck Ribery on Monday raised questions over his future in Serie A after a burglary at the home of Fiorentina's French star. Ribery posted a clip on Twitter of the scene he was met with when he returned to his house in the foothills around Florence after his club's win at Parma […]

Paris (AFP) – Liverpool sharpshooter Sadio Mane broke the deadlock in a 2-0 English Premier League win over Aston Villa at Anfield by scoring his 20th goal of the season in all competitions. It was the third straight campaign in which the Senegal forward and reigning African Footballer of the Year has bagged at least […]

London (AFP) – Celtic will kick off their bid for a historic 10th successive Scottish Premiership title at home to Hamilton on August 2 after fixtures were released on Monday. Neil Lennon's side were crowned champions for the ninth season in a row in May when the campaign was ended prematurely by the coronavirus pandemic. […]

Berlin (AFP) – German Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt has said he quit as Bayern Munich team doctor in 2015 amid a spat with Pep Guardiola because the Spaniard "knew better". "I couldn't put up with the fact that a young coach (Guardiola) — who was very successful and who is probably one of the very, very big […]

London (AFP) – Nemanja Matic has signed a new contract with Manchester United to keep him at the club until June 2023. The 31-year-old Serbia midfielder joined United from Chelsea in 2017 and has made 114 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils. "I am very happy that I will continue to be part […]

London (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers says Jamie Vardy's decision to stay at Leicester has cemented his legacy at the King Power Stadium after the striker joined the Premier League's "100 club". The striker turned down the chance to join Arsenal in 2016, just weeks after spearheading the Foxes' Premier League title success. Other members of […]