Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA has opted to temporarily soften its financial fair play (FFP) rules to help clubs impacted by the economic fall-out of the coronavirus crisis, European football's governing body announced on Thursday. FFP rules mean that, over a three-year period, clubs competing in European competition are not permitted to lose more than 30 million […]

London (AFP) – After 100 days on hold, the first act of the Premier League's "Project Restart" in front of a huge global audience saw players, coaches and referees make a stand against racial injustice by taking a knee. The powerful image of all the Aston Villa and Sheffield United players as well as match officials […]

Milan (AFP) – AS Roma players will display a 'Black Lives Matter' anti-racism badge on their shirts for the remainder of the season which resumes this weekend, the Italian club announced on Thursday. "We feel it's a timely opportunity to communicate an important message to millions of television viewers around the world," said Paul Rogers, […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heaped praise on Marcus Rashford for his work to help feed vulnerable families during the coronavirus crisis, saying it was more important than anything he would do on the pitch. The Manchester United striker has helped raise around £20 million ($25 million) for charity and this week persuaded the […]

London (AFP) – British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Thursday sparked mockery and dismay by suggesting the anti-racism protest of taking the knee was a symbol of "subjugation" that originated with "Game of Thrones". Premier League footballers took a knee on Wednesday evening in solidarity with demonstrations across the world sparked by the killing of […]

Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA wants a harmonised European transfer window this summer closing on October 5, ahead of next season's Champions League and Europa League group stages, football's continental governing body said Thursday. Following an executive committee meeting held via videoconference, UEFA said clubs would have until October 6 to register players for the group […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea announced the signing of German international forward Timo Werner from RB Leipzig on Thursday in the first major move of the summer transfer market. Werner, 24, who has scored 32 goals in all competitions this season, had a 60 million euro (£53 million, $67 million) release clause in his contract with […]

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Thousands of Napoli fans swarmed onto the streets of Naples late Wednesday to wildly celebrate their team's first trophy in six years after a dramatic Italian Cup penalty-shootout victory over Juventus. The match in Rome's Stadio Olimpico was played behind closed doors because of the strict post-coronavirus health protocol. But in […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – It's March and as the coronavirus halts global sport, the media team at Juventus, the Italian football champions, are scrambling to react. After close discussions between Turin and their satellite office in Hong Kong, a plan emerges: tailored social media campaigns, targeting different countries, to keep locked-down fans engaged even when […]

Shanghai (AFP) – The delayed Chinese Super League (CSL) season is "shrouded in uncertainty", state media warned on Thursday, as a fresh coronavirus outbreak in Beijing throws the campaign into even further doubt. The CSL in January became one of the first sporting casualties of coronavirus when its February 22 start date was postponed indefinitely. […]

Rome (AFP) – Gennaro Gattuso hailed the 'God of football' after he lifted his first coaching trophy as Napoli beat Juventus 4-2 on penalties to win the Italian Cup for the sixth time on Wednesday. The final had ended 0-0 in an empty Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Paulo Dybala and Danilo both missed their spot-kicks […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City secured the first win of the Premier League's restart with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Arsenal at an empty Etihad on Wednesday as the English top flight's return was marked by protests against racial injustice. Both sets of players came together before kick-off to take a knee, as […]

Pamplona (Spain) (AFP) – Portugal youngster Joao Felix scored twice as Atletico Madrid moved into the Champions League places with a 5-0 La Liga thrashing of Osasuna on Wednesday. Felix, 20, was making his first appearance since the Spanish top-flight returned from its coronavirus hiatus having been suspended for the weekend's draw at Athletic Bilbao. […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he is "embarrassed and ashamed" at the historic treatment of black people as the Premier League's return was marked by protests against racial injustice on Wednesday. Players and coaches from all four sides in action took a knee prior to kick off to show […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League restart was engulfed in controversy on Wednesday when goal-line technology made an unprecedented blunder after players took the knee to protest against racism at both matches. The English top-flight was put on hold in March due to the coronavirus pandemic and all 92 remaining games are being crammed into […]