Berlin (AFP) – German league football is ready to resume without spectators on May 9 but the final say rests with political leaders, the Bundesliga's chief executive said Thursday. Following a meeting with Germany's top clubs, Christian Seifert said the league was "ready" to return next month, which would make it the first major European […]

Paris (AFP) – The next women's European Championship in England has been put back a year to 2022, UEFA confirmed on Thursday, after initially being postponed as a knock-on effect of the coronavirus crisis. European football's governing body confirmed that the competition will be staged from July 6-31, 2022, following a meeting of its Executive […]

Berlin (AFP) – The German football league is set to announce plans Thursday for the Bundesliga to restart without spectators in the first half of May, but a move hailed as a welcome return to normality by some is meeting opposition from some scientists and fans. The Bundesliga would be the major European league to […]

London (AFP) – Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes footballers should be trying to learn new skills during the game's coronavirus-enforced shutdown to prepare for a potential financial hit. The economic crisis caused by the indefinite suspension of matches will be felt at all levels of the sport. And Neville, who owns a stake […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League is considering screening some behind-closed-doors matches on free-to-air television in Britain when the season restarts, the culture secretary has said. Sky Sports and BT hold the UK television rights for live Premier League matches in what remains of the 2019/20 season, which is currently suspended due to the coronavirus […]

London (AFP) – Phil Neville will leave his role as England women's manager when his contract expires next year, according to widespread reports on Thursday. The former Manchester United and England defender's deal would have seen him take charge of the Lionesses' European championship campaign on home soil next year. However, the reorganisation of the […]

Paris (AFP) – Ten years ago this week, Barcelona limped home from a Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat blaming a volcano thousands of kilometres away and stoking the smouldering fires of Jose Mourinho's feud with their club and their coach. The eruption of Eyjafjallajoekull on Iceland had sent a plume of ash drifting across Europe, […]

London (AFP) – Watford became the latest Premier League club to agree a wage deferral with players on Wednesday to help ride out the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Southampton, West Ham and Sheffield United have also agreed deferrals, while Arsenal's players will take a 12.5 percent pay cut over the next year. […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora warned on Wednesday caution was needed as he promised a decision "in the coming days" on whether Italian football clubs can return to training amid the coronavirus pandemic. Spadafora held a two-hour video-conference with representatives of Italian football, including federation chiefs, professional and amateurs leagues, players and […]

London (AFP) – Wales attacker Gareth Bale said on Wednesday that he had donated £500,000 ($615,000) to the hospital where he was born to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Real Madrid's Bale, 30, who has won four Champions League titles since joining the Spanish giants in 2013, made the announcement in a […]

Berlin (AFP) – How do you support your football team when you are not allowed inside the stadium or even anywhere near it? German football fans are having to come up with innovative ways to cheer on their clubs, with hopes the Bundesliga can return behind closed doors next month as the coronavirus pandemic forces supporters to […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle United's sale to a Saudi-backed consortium appears to be close to completion — a deal that could turn the long-time underachievers into a major Premier League power. The potential £300 million ($370 million) takeover will reportedly see Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund take a controlling stake in the club in northeast […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora said on Wednesday that a decision will be made "in the coming days" on whether Italian football clubs can return to training amid the coronavirus pandemic. Spadafora held a two-hour video-conference on Wednesday with representatives of Italian football, including federation chiefs, professional and amateurs leagues, players and […]

London (AFP) – The English non-league football season is over after clubs voted in favour of ending the campaign on Wednesday. No decision has yet been made on whether the league tables in the National League, National League North and National League South will be upheld as they stand or the competition declared null and […]

London (AFP) – Michael O'Neill has stepped down as Northern Ireland manager to focus on his role as Stoke boss after the coronavirus ruined his plan to remain in charge for the European Championship playoffs. O'Neill's eight-year reign was ended by mutual agreement with Northern Ireland chiefs following international fixture changes proposed by UEFA. "After […]