London (AFP) – Championship club Wigan Athletic have gone into administration following the "significant impact" of the coronavirus pandemic, it was announced on Wednesday. Paul Stanley, Gerald Krasner and Dean Watson of insolvency firm Begbies Traynor have been appointed as joint administrators. "Our immediate objectives are to ensure the club completes all its fixtures this […]

Berlin (AFP) – Werder Bremen are treating the Bundesliga relegation/promotion play-off "as a gift" in their fight to stay up, but for spirited underdogs Heidenheim, Thursday's first-leg behind closed doors is a chance to "believe in the unbelievable". Last Sunday, FC Heidenheim, from a small town of 50,000 inhabitants in south-west Germany, finished above fallen […]

London (AFP) – Football fans are raising money to erect a statue of Jack Leslie, who was chosen to play for England but dropped when selectors discovered he was black. The Plymouth player, who had an English mother and a Jamaican father, was called up to the national side in 1925 but the invitation was […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich announced the signing of French teenager Tanguy Kouassi, 18, on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday with the defender signing a four-year contract with the Bundesliga champions. "In our eyes, he is one of the biggest talents in Europe," said Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic. "His main position is […]

Beijing (AFP) – The Chinese Super League season will begin on July 25 after the coronavirus pandemic delayed it by five months, the country's football association said on Wednesday. It is a major boost for sport in China and another sign of life returning to normality in the country where COVID-19 emerged late last year […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich are expected by the club's own hierarchy to take the next step towards the treble in Saturday's German Cup final before they attempt more Champions League glory in August. The German press dubbed Bayern 'FC Nimmersatt' (never satisfied) after celebrating an eighth straight league title last Saturday, the 30th in […]

Madrid (AFP) – After 118 years, Real Madrid will launch a professional women's team on Wednesday by absorbing CD Tacon and launching a fresh Galactico project at the club. Madrid, the best team of the 20th century according to FIFA, has so far been one of the only elite clubs to resist the creation of […]

Madrid (AFP) – Eden Hazard and Luis Suarez were both circled as potential deciders of La Liga's title race when the season resumed but few looked at Karim Benzema. Lionel Messi was expected to be formidable again and there was excitement even around Gareth Bale following reports from Valdebebas he was the fittest Real Madrid […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal but Barcelona suffered another blow to their La Liga title hopes after a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Messi chipped in a penalty to reach another astonishing milestone at Camp Nou but twice Atletico hit back with spot-kicks of their own, Saul Niguez […]

Rome (AFP) – Juventus maintained their four-point lead at the top of Serie A on Tuesday after strolling to a 3-1 win at Genoa that keeps chasers Lazio at bay despite their comeback triumph at Torino. Three stunning individual goals from Paulo Dybala, Cristiano Ronaldo and Douglas Costa downed relegation-threatened Genoa and kept Maurizio Sarri […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Bruno Fernandes has brought a winning mentality to Manchester United after his brace inspired an impressive 3-0 win at Brighton on Tuesday. Cajoled by the dazzling Fernandes, United produced one of their best performances of the season at the Amex Stadium. Mason Greenwood opened the scoring […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists unhappy Mesut Ozil will not be selected just because he has a huge salary. Ozil is reportedly the highest-paid player in Arsenal history on a weekly salary of £350,000 ($433,000). But the German World Cup winner has rarely justified that contract and is yet to play a […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Bruno Fernandes boosted Manchester United's bid to qualify for the Champions League as his brace inspired an impressive 3-0 win at Brighton on Tuesday. Cajoled by the dazzling Fernandes, United produced one of their best performances of the season at the Amex Stadium. Mason Greenwood opened the scoring early in […]

Marseille (AFP) – The man behind a reported bid to buy storied Ligue 1 club Marseille told AFP on Tuesday he was not operating as an intermediary for Saudi Arabia, while the current owner insisted the team are not for sale. Following reports of a mega Saudi-backed bid to buy the former European champions at […]

Rome (AFP) – Roma announced on Tuesday that they have agreed a deal with Arsenal to extend midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan's loan with the Serie A club until the end of the season. There is also a "preliminary agreement" for the Armenian international to stay at the Stadio Olimpico for next season. "I'm happy to stay […]