The Hague (AFP) – Dutch winger Arjen Robben is preparing to come out of retirement at his formative club Groningen, he announced on Saturday. After leaving Groningen in 2002, Robben won league titles with PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea and Real Madrid before a hugely successful decade with Bayern Munich. He retired from Bayern a year ago […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich received the Bundesliga trophy following Saturday's victory at Wolfsburg while Werder Bremen pulled off a final day escape with help from Union Berlin to keep alive their hopes of avoiding a first relegation since 1980. AFP Sport looks at five standout moments from the last round of Bundesliga matches: Eight […]

London (AFP) – Leeds returned to the top of the English Championship with a convincing 3-0 home win against promotion rivals Fulham on Saturday. Patrick Bamford gave Leeds an early lead at before second-half goals from substitute Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison took them three points clear of West Brom. Only the top two clubs […]

London (AFP) – Premier League champions Liverpool were forced to criticise their fans' "wholly unacceptable" behaviour after police claimed glasses and bottles were thrown at them during title celebrations that turned violent. Liverpool supporters have ignored coronavirus social distancing guidelines since Jurgen Klopp's side were crowned English champions for the first time in 30 years […]

Berlin (AFP) – Werder Bremen gave themselves hope of avoiding relegation from the German Bundesliga by thrashing Cologne 6-1 to grab a play-off place on the last day of the season, while champions Bayern Munich routed Wolfsburg before lifting the trophy on Saturday. Japan striker Yuya Osako scored twice as Bremen stole the lifeline of […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane says being a coach is exhausting and insists he has no intention of doing it for 20 years. Zidane took charge of Real Madrid in 2016 before resigning two years later, explaining he felt the club needed a change. In his goodbye press conference, Zidane said he had […]

Milan (AFP) – Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo will arrive in Turin later Saturday for a medical before moving to Serie A champions Juventus in exchange for Miralem Pjanic, according to reports in Italy. Both medical visits have been set for Sunday with a deal expected to be closed by June 30, Sky Sports Italia and […]

Marseille (AFP) – French giants Marseille are "not for sale", the club's president Jacques-Henri Eyraud insisted Saturday following reports of a mega Saudi-backed bid to buy the former European champions. "Olympique de Marseille is not for sale," said Eyraud. "I thank those who have shown a financial interest in OM, but we are not interested […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – There have been seven positive tests for coronavirus at four clubs as the South African Premiership — the richest in Africa — prepares to restart. Orlando Pirates midfielder Ben Motshwari was the first player to be infected with the COVID-19 disease and has made a full recovery. Another midfielder, Given Mashikinya from […]

Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wolves stepped up their bid to qualify for the Champions League as Leander Dendoncker sealed a 1-0 win at Aston Villa that lifted them into fifth place in the Premier League on Saturday. Nuno Espirito Santo's side made it three successive victories since the Premier League restart thanks to Dendoncker's […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has backed the newly-crowned Premier League champions to enjoy a period of "sustained success" under boss Jurgen Klopp. Liverpool won the English title for the first time in 30 years on Thursday after Manchester City's defeat at Chelsea sealed the title for the Reds. Werner, part of the […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Africa Cup of Nations-winning captain Neil Tovey will not have his contract as technical director of South Africa renewed next month amid conflicting reports about the decision. South African Football Association (Safa) spokesman Dominic Chimhavi said health was the chief reason behind letting the skipper of the 1996 Cup of Nations team […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina's 1986 World Cup winning coach Carlos Bilardo has tested positive for coronavirus but without displaying any symptoms, according to local media reports. The 82-year-old suffers from a brain disorder and lives in a nursing home where 10 other occupants have tested positive for COVID-19. He received support from Estudiantes La […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – One of Brazil's top football clubs, Fluminense, won its battle Friday not to play matches at a stadium also serving as a coronavirus hospital, which it argued was disrespectful to victims and their families. Struggling to avoid the collapse of the health system as the pandemic surges in Brazil, authorities […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Juventus moved seven points clear at the top of Serie A on Friday after hammering struggling Lecce 4-0 in Turin and piling the pressure on title rivals Lazio. A superb Paulo Dybala strike and Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty just after the hour mark made sure of the result at the Allianz Stadium […]