London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admits players will have to find motivation without the urgency provided by fans when the Premier League restarts on Wednesday. Arteta's side will feature in the second game of the Premier League relaunch when they face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, just hours after the opener between […]

London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can be convinced to stay at Arsenal despite the Gabon striker's admission that he faces a tough decision over his future. Aubameyang is out of contract in June 2021 and is yet to sign a new deal at the Premier League club. Linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre insists he will resist the urge to rush Erling Braut Haaland back into the starting side to avoid putting the teenage striker under unnecessary strain. Haaland, 19, came off the bench to score Dortmund's last-gasp winner at Fortuna Duesseldorf on Saturday which secured Champions League qualification for […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick believes a revamped Champions League format could be an 'advantage' for his side, who are still in the hunt for the treble this season. The Bavarian giants are just one win from an eighth straight Bundesliga title and Flick can win the German league in his first […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona coach Quique Setien rejoiced Monday in having key players like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez fit for the hectic La Liga title run-in ahead of hosting struggling Leganes at a Camp Nou devoid of fans. Suarez made his first appearance since knee surgery in January, replacing Antoine Griezmann in the second […]

London (AFP) – Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder and Aston Villa boss Dean Smith said they were aware the eyes of the world would be on their match when they relaunch the Premier League on Wednesday. The high-flying Blades travel to Villa Park for the first game in the English top-flight after a three-month suspension […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid and Barcelona will have tougher tests to come but emphatic victories on their return to action at the weekend suggest there may not be much margin for error in what is left of La Liga's title race. Leaders Barca hammered Real Mallorca 4-0 on Saturday before second-placed Madrid swept Eibar […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain's World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas announced on Monday he was ending his bid to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) due to the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. "I would like to inform you that I have decided not to run for the upcoming RFEF elections," […]

London (AFP) – Sheffield United coach Chris Wilder knows the eyes of the world will be on his side as they relaunch the Premier League against Aston Villa on Wednesday. The high-flying Blades travel to Villa Park for the first game in the English top-flight after a three-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic. Later […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has pleaded with the British government to continue to supply free meals for children in poorer families during the summer holidays in a letter "written from the heart". Children eligible for free school meals have received food during the coronavirus lockdown, often in the form of vouchers […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australia's domestic football league plans to restart on July 16, officials said Monday, with the 27 remaining regular season games crammed into less than a month. The A-League was the country's final active sport when the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold before being suspended on March 24. But it is one […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League finally makes its long-awaited return on June 17 following a three-month coronavirus lockdown. The landscape has changed since March — clubs have welcomed back injured players, others have had a chance to regroup and Liverpool have had to come to terms with a low-key title celebration. AFP Sport looks […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick wants his side to "seal the deal" and wrap up an eighth consecutive Bundesliga title on Tuesday with victory at relegation-threatened Werder Bremen. Top scorer Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller, one shy of the record for assists in a single season, are both available again after missing […]

Paris (AFP) – The European club football trophies should already be stowed in the cabinets, instead most of the top leagues are only just resuming after the coronavirus interruption. While the Germans returned on May 16, the top two Spanish divisions have only just resumed, and the English Premier League and Serie A reappear this […]

London (AFP) – Watford striker Troy Deeney believes there is probably "one gay player in every football team". Deeney suspects gay footballers are worried about the scrutiny that would follow if they reveal their sexuality while still playing. But the 31-year-old claims one top player coming out would lead to others following their lead. Talking […]