Los Angeles (AFP) – The Los Angeles Galaxy parted company with midfielder Aleksandar Katai on Friday, days after the player's wife sparked outrage with a series of racist social media posts. A single sentence statement posted on the Galaxy's website said former Serbia international Katai had now left the club by mutual agreement. It came […]

London (AFP) – Premier League chief executive Richard Masters will "fully consider" calls for a proposed Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United to be blocked, according to a BBC report on Friday. Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has written to the league to oppose the deal, while Amnesty International said the Premier League […]

Berlin (AFP) – English midfielder Jadon Sancho and his Borussia Dortmund teammate Manuel Akanji were fined by the German league on Friday for breaking stringent health guidelines to get haircuts at home. Photos emerged of Sancho, 20, and 24-year-old Swiss defender Akanji having their hair styled in their respective homes, with neither the players nor […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane hopes Tottenham can benefit from focusing solely on the Premier League when the battle for a place in next season's Champions League resumes. The English top-flight is set to restart on June 17, with Jose Mourinho's Spurs hosting his former club Manchester United two days later. Tottenham have nine games […]

Madrid (AFP) – Benfica midfielder Julian Weigl has said a "line was crossed" when an attack on the team's bus on Thursday night resulted in him and Serbian forward Andrija Zivkovic going to hospital. Weigl confirmed on social media that he is now "ok", alongside a picture of him and Zivkovic giving a thumbs up. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga coaches have called for some easing of the league's strict hygiene regulations, citing the general improvement of the coronavirus situation in the country. Coaches and substitutes have to follow social-distancing guidelines and wear masks while on the bench and players are not allowed to hug each other during goal celebrations. Germany […]

Berlin (AFP) – English midfielder Jadon Sancho and his Borussia Dortmund teammate Manuel Akanji were fined by the German league on Friday for breaking stringent health guidelines to get haircuts at home. Photos emerged of Sancho, 20, and 24-year-old Swiss defender Akanji having their hair styled in their respective homes, with neither the players nor […]

Paris (AFP) – This season's postponed French Cup final could still go ahead with a limited number of spectators allowed into the stadium, the president of the French Football Federation said Friday. "That is what we are going to ask for. It is my wish anyway," Noel Le Graet told AFP. "We are in touch […]

London (AFP) – Premier League leaders Liverpool could claim a first title for 30 years at Anfield after the initial batch of fixtures of the restart was announced on Friday. Jurgen Klopp's men, with a commanding 25-point lead at the top of the table, were just two wins away from clinching the title before coronavirus […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea were awarded the Women's Super League title on Friday as the Football Association applied a points-per-game formula to decide standings from the curtailed season. The Blues were a point behind Manchester City at the top of the table when the campaign was stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic in March, but […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi has sustained a "minor" thigh injury, but Barcelona remain confident he will be fit for the team's first game back against Mallorca on June 13, the club said on Friday. Messi has not trained with the rest of the squad since Tuesday after working separately in the gym on both […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatar announced the completion of its third stadium for the 2022 World Cup, state media reported late Thursday, as the emirate prepared to mark three years of a regional feud. Education City stadium had been due to host the semi-final of the Club World Cup on December 18, but its opening was […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Hao Haidong faces being scrubbed from the history of Chinese sport after videos emerged showing the retired football star calling for the overthrow of the ruling Communist Party. Hao is China's all-time leading international goalscorer, hitting 40 goals in 106 matches and spearheading the country's attack at their only World Cup appearance […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Neymar, the world's most expensive footballer, was approved to receive a $120 welfare payment meant for low-paid Brazilian workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic, in an apparent case of identity theft, a report said Thursday. The Paris Saint-Germain star's name, date of birth and Brazilian ID number were used to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Various quirks of the Bundesliga's return after a hiatus of more than two months due to the coronavirus have included disinfecting match balls, banning handshakes and installing cardboard cutouts of fans, but one factor has impacted results from top to bottom — the disappearance of home advantage. Of the 37 fixtures played […]