Madrid (AFP) – Dutch international Frenkie de Jong said Thursday he was glad to resume training with Barcelona but is "not ready to play a game yet" after a two-month stoppage because of the coronavirus pandemic. Spanish clubs began training in groups of 10 players on Monday, in line with health protocols, as La Liga […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United expect to face a £20 million rebate to broadcasters due to the suspension of the Premier League even if the campaign can be completed behind closed doors. United were among the Premier League teams to return to training in small groups this week, with the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned his players that "personal agendas" will not be tolerated as he seeks a change of culture at Old Trafford. Solskjaer has overseen a huge turnover in his squad since taking charge in 2018. Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez were high-profile departures to Inter Milan, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Hertha Berlin will look to build on their winning return to Bundesliga action last weekend following the coronavirus suspension and avenge November's derby defeat by city rivals Union when the pair meet on Friday in the German capital. Union, the side from the east of Berlin, pulled off a famous 1-0 win over […]

London (AFP) – N'Golo Kante has been allowed to stay away from Chelsea's return to training due to his coronavirus fears. The French World Cup winner joined up with Frank Lampard's squad on Tuesday as Chelsea resumed training following the Premier League's decision to allow socially distanced sessions. But the 29-year-old missed Wednesday's small group […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain coach Luis Enrique says playing behind closed doors is "sadder than dancing with your own sister", as football faces the prospect of games without supporters for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic. Germany's Bundesliga became the first major European league to resume last weekend following the two-month shutdown, with […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – Livening up sport without fans is a challenge for competitions returning after the coronavirus, and organisers have tried several ways to make empty stadiums more appealing. After South Korean football club FC Seoul received a record fine for using sex dolls to fill seats, AFP Sport looks at some of the […]

Seoul (AFP) – South Korea's FC Seoul were fined a record 100 million won ($81,000) for using sex dolls to fill seats at a match held behind closed doors, with K-League officials saying the football club had "deeply humiliated women fans". With spectators barred because of the coronavirus, FC Seoul came under fire after dozens […]

Bern (Switzerland) (AFP) – A Swiss parliamentary commission on Wednesday decided to open proceedings that could see the country's attorney-general dismissed as part of an investigation over a number of alleged secret meetings with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The commission voted by 13 votes to four to initiate a case against Michael Lauber. It is […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud and goalkeeper Willy Caballero extended their contracts till the end of the 2020/21 season, the Premier League side announced on Wednesday. Giroud, 33, forced himself back into Frank Lampard's plans just prior to the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic and scored the Blues' last goal in a […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he will not put his players at risk or force them back into action against their will as the Premier League leaders returned to training in small groups on Wednesday. Klopp's side were just two victories away from ending a 30-year wait to win the title when […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy's football federation (FIGC) on Wednesday set a new date of August 20 for Serie A to finish with the possibility of playoffs in the case of another suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic. A meeting of FIGC's Federal Council stressed Italian football's desire for the top leagues to return to action […]

Paris (AFP) – Seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi insisted Wednesday that he has no intentions of merely bidding his legions of fans "ciao" when he steps away from the Yamaha factory team. Rossi, 41, already knows he has lost his seat at the elite outfit for next season with 20-year-old Frenchman Fabio Quartararo taking […]

London (AFP) – Willy Caballero has agreed a new one-year deal with Chelsea, the Premier League side announced on Wednesday after exercising their option to trigger a 12-month extension in the goalkeeper's contract. "I am very happy to make this announcement. It is a privilege to be part of this Chelsea squad and the Chelsea […]

Madrid (AFP) – Iconic Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz announced on Wednesday that he has retired from professional football after revealing he needs a hip replacement. Aduriz, 39, will be forever remembered in Bilbao for four glorious goals he banged past Barcelona while winning the 2015-2016 Supercup, and even last season he scored the goal […]