Frankfurt am Main (AFP) – Berlin plans to allow Germany's Bundesliga to restart behind closed doors in May after weeks of shutdown imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus, according to a draft government agreement seen by AFP Wednesday. Politicians believe restarting play in the first and second divisions to "limit the economic damage" […]

Beijing (AFP) – South Korea international Kim Min-jae apologised to his club Beijing Guoan but still faces "severe" punishment over remarks about his teammates, Chinese media said on Wednesday. The central defender, who was linked with Watford before moving to the Chinese Super League (CSL) last year, was at the centre of controversy in China […]

Angers (France) (AFP) – Algeria international Farid El Melali will be tried for indecent exposure after allegedly masturbating in public, AFP learned on Tuesday on the Angers winger's 23rd birthday. El Melali was questioned by police in Angers late on Monday after his neighbours claimed they caught him exposing himself in front of a building […]

Madrid (AFP) – Players and coaching staff of La Liga outfit Eibar said on Tuesday they are afraid that restarting competitive matches could contribute to a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus in Spain. In a statement released independently of the club, Eibar's players and coaches said it would be impossible to physically distance themselves from […]

Milan (AFP) – Giorgio Chiellini lead the way as Juventus players returned to individual training at the team's sports centre on Tuesday, while Cristiano Ronaldo began two weeks' coronavirus quarantine after returning to Italy. Captain Chiellini, 35, arrived early with Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci, wearing a black face mask, just after midfielder Aaron Ramsey. Playmaker […]

London (AFP) – Restarting the Premier League would be a boost to Britain's morale amid the coronavirus crisis, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Tuesday. Premier League chiefs have targeted a June return to action as they bid to finish the season over the summer. England's top-flight has been suspended since March 13 and there […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara is the latest Bayern Munich star to extend his contract, according to German media reports on Tuesday. German daily Bild and magazine Sport Bild claim the 29-year-old is set to join Thomas Mueller, Alphonso Davies and head coach Hansi Flick who have already committed to the defending […]

London (AFP) – Scottish football could be forced to seek a government bailout if supporters are unable to attend matches for the forseeable future, the chief executive of the Scottish Professional Football League warned on Tuesday. Neil Doncaster said that the high reliance of the Scottish game on gate receipts compared to other top leagues […]

Berlin (AFP) – Six of the ten positive tests for the coronavirus discovered among Bundesliga clubs have been accounted for with two cases of the virus reportedly at fourth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach. On Tuesday, regional paper The Rheinische Post cited sources close to the club in claiming an unnamed Moenchengladbach player and physiotherapist had tested positive […]

London (AFP) – The England men's team have made a "significant donation" to the National Health Service to help the fight against the coronavirus. Gareth Southgate's squad have used match fees dating back to September 2018 to make the donation. The cash will go to NHS charities and the move comes in conjunction with the […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City will face a High Court trial over damages claims from eight men who were sexually abused by paedophile football coach Barry Bennell. Bennell's abuse took place while he is said to have been working for City as a scout and coach of their "feeder teams", which featured players too young […]

Milan (AFP) – Welsh international Aaron Ramsey was the first Juventus player to return to individual training at the team's sports centre in Turin on Tuesday as Cristiano Ronaldo began two weeks' quarantine after returning to Italy. Ronaldo flew back to northern Italy by private jet on Monday night after almost two months in coronavirus […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Long one of the great underachievers in French football, Rennes are now looking forward to the Champions League thanks to the sterling work of young coach Julien Stephan, but the coronavirus crisis could make it harder to compete at Europe's top table. The club from Brittany are owned by luxury goods […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish fears Premier League clubs will suffer the same "doomsday scenario" as struggling airlines unless the top-flight returns soon. Premier League chiefs hope matches can restart in June after the competition was suspended in March because of the coronavirus. There are many uncertainties about the potential return, but […]

London (AFP) – Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Bill Sweeney warned of the "catastrophic" impact coronavirus could have on the sport if the professional game cannot return in the next year. Sweeney revealed England's RFU, which has already lost £15 million ($19 million) due to the crisis, will lose a total of £107 million […]