London (AFP) – A Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle United appears to be nearing completion at a time when the rest of the football industry is on its knees due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. For Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the crisis presents […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp believes there is still room for improvement from Liverpool despite their incredible Premier League campaign, which is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Reds were 25 points clear of second-placed Manchester City and on the verge of their first top-flight title since 1990 when football was halted last […]

Madrid (AFP) – The days of European clubs spending hundreds of millions on transfers are over with television companies set to scale back on their investments in football, according to Jaume Roures, chief executive of Spanish media company Mediapro. Mediapro could prove a key player in clubs surviving the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus […]

London (AFP) – West Ham and Crystal Palace have announced they will not be travelling to Australia after the pre-season Queensland Champions Cup in July was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Premier League clubs had been set to travel to Australia as part of their preparations for the 2020/21 season, with A-League side […]

Lima (AFP) – Peru's football federation has said it will set up a million-dollar fund to help first and second division clubs counter the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. "We have received the green light from CONMEBOL to dedicate the funds it allocates as part of its Evolution 2020 program in support of our […]

Berlin (AFP) – German football authorities are set to announce plans on Thursday for Bundesliga matches to restart in empty stadiums on May 9, but the potential first return of a major European league in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic is meeting some opposition. Chancellor Angela Merkel's government is slowly easing nationwide restrictions and […]

The Hague (AFP) – The Dutch football federation (KNVB) announced on Tuesday its intention to call an end to the season, subject to discussions with UEFA, following the government's decision to extend a ban on large gatherings until September due to the coronavirus pandemic. "The professional football committee intends to not continue playing the 2019/20 […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham stars Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko were forced on to apologise on Tuesday after flouting government guidelines on social distancing during the coronavirus. Ivory Coast defender Aurier posted a video of himself training with club team-mate Sissoko on Instagram earlier in the day. The 27-year-old, who was wearing a mask, has […]

Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA remains committed to completing the suspended football season in Europe despite the coronavirus pandemic after making "a strong recommendation" on Tuesday that leagues across the continent be played to a conclusion. "There was a strong recommendation given to finish domestic top division and cup competitions," European football's governing body said in […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham will speak to Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko after the Premier League stars flouted government guidelines on social distancing during the coronavirus. Ivory Coast defender Aurier posted a video of himself training with Tottenham team-mate Sissoko on Instagram on Tuesday. The 27-year-old, who was wearing a mask, has since deleted the […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace have made an audacious claim to be considered the oldest league club in existence still playing professional football after new research appeared to show they were founded in 1861. For decades Notts County, currently playing in England's fifth-tier National League, have been regarded as the oldest professional club following their […]

Paris (AFP) – Prevented from doing their jobs and often confined at home, there are concerns about the mental health of "isolated" and "lost" professional footballers during the coronavirus pandemic. A study by global players' union FIFPro published Monday warned of a sharp rise in the number of footballers reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona will raise money for the fight against coronavirus by selling the naming rights to their Camp Nou stadium next season for the first time in the club's history. The income generated from the re-naming of Barca's 99,000-seater home for one year will be put towards "research projects and other projects involved […]

London (AFP) – Amnesty International has warned the Premier League that it "risks becoming a patsy" unless it takes a serious look at Saudi Arabia's human rights record in connection with the proposed takeover of Newcastle. The Magpies are on the verge of being sold to a Saudi-backed consortium that involves Crown Prince Mohammed bin […]

London (AFP) – Sheffield United players will defer part of their wages until the end of 2020 to help the Premier League club ride out the economic storm caused by coronavirus. The Blades manager Chris Wilder, senior members of his coaching staff and chief executive Stephen Bettis have also agreed a wage deferral for six […]