Milan (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic has picked up a calf injury and not ruptured his Achilles tendon as feared, AC Milan confirmed on Tuesday. "Ibrahimovic has sustained an injury to his right soleus muscle during yesterday's training session," the Serie A team said in a statement. "The Achilles tendon is perfectly intact. The player will […]

London (AFP) – Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale described finding out he had tested positive for coronavirus as "scary and worrying", despite displaying no symptoms. The England under-21 international was one of two positive cases from the second round of testing carried out by Premier League clubs as they gear up for a return to action […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool's Champions League game with Atletico Madrid and racing's showpiece Cheltenham Festival "caused increased suffering and death" by going ahead in March, a leading scientist told the BBC on Tuesday. Professor Tim Spector, who leads the United Kingdom's largest Covid-19 tracking project, said rates of cases locally "increased several-fold" following the events. […]

Wuhan (China) (AFP) – For nearly three months football enthusiasts in Wuhan were left kicking their heels indoors as the coronavirus raged in the Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak. But since the harsh lockdown on the city of 11 million people ended in early April amateur footballers have been gleefully ripping off […]

Shanghai (AFP) – When Tianjin Tianhai surprisingly thrashed Rafael Benitez's Dalian Yifang 5-1 to stay in the Chinese Super League in November, disgruntled fans were quick to allege corruption — the legacy of a murky past that exploded into scandal 10 years ago. Benitez, who led Liverpool to the 2005 Champions League title, was perplexed […]

Marseille (AFP) – Andre Villas-Boas will return as Marseille coach for next season, the club announced on Monday, despite widespread reports the Portuguese was set to leave after just one year in charge. "After several discussions in recent days with Frank McCourt and Jacques-Henri Eyraud, Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed that he wants to continue working […]

Berlin (AFP) – One of world football's fastest-rising young stars goes head-to-head with one of its most accomplished goalscorers on Tuesday as Erling Braut Haaland and Robert Lewandowski face off for the first time. Borussia Dortmund host Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich in a top-of-the-table clash which will see 19-year-old Haaland and the man 12 years […]

Marseille (AFP) – Supporters groups of French Ligue 1 club Marseille united on Monday in castigating the board for what they called "years of ruinous management". In a joint statement they also criticised the system of refunds for seat-holders deprived of matches after the Ligue 1 season was ended prematurely due to the coronavirus pandemic. […]

London (AFP) – The 2019/20 season in the top two tiers of English women's football was called to an end on Monday by the Football Association (FA), but no decision has yet been made on how final standings will be decided. "The FA Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship Board has today confirmed the decision […]

Madrid (AFP) – With Atletico Madrid ramping up their training for a potential La Liga restart their Portugal attacker Joao Felix has twisted his left knee, his club said on Monday. The 20-year-old forward was one of Atletico's key players as they reached the last eight of the Champions League, eliminating defending champions Liverpool on […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick says the absence of spectators for Tuesday's top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash at Borussia Dortmund will be a "missing factor". Reigning champions Bayern thrashed second-placed Dortmund 4-0 last November in front of 75,000 fans at the Allianz Arena. But the teams will meet again in Dortmund with the […]

London (AFP) – Premier League clubs will vote on proposals for a return to contact training on Wednesday as the English top-flight seeks to take another step closer to resuming the season next month. New UK government guidelines issued on Sunday allow for the return of "close contact" training, including tackling, to help players step […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid winger Angel Correa on Monday said that a return to football "is what we all need" ahead of a possible La Liga restart in mid-June. League president Javier Tebas on Sunday said he hopes the Spanish season can resume with the Seville derby on June 11, after Prime Minister Pedro […]

Berlin (AFP) – Second-placed Borussia Dortmund are set to include chief defender Mats Hummels for Tuesday's Bundesliga showdown at home to league leaders Bayern Munich behind closed doors with stars Jadon Sancho and Axel Witsel also poised to return. "With Mats, it's okay. We have to look at the short term, but he is 99 […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Coronavirus has indefinitely postponed the Chinese Super League (CSL) season but it has given the national team time to bond under coach Li Tie, the side's goalkeeper Yan Junling said on Monday. China are approaching the end of a two-week training camp in Shanghai and on Tuesday will face CSL side Shanghai […]