New York (AFP) – Former South American football boss Juan Angel Napout must remain in a US prison as he appeals a nine-year sentence for corruption, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. US District Judge Pamela K. Chen denied Napout's request to be released on bail, four days after she rejected the 62-year-old's application for compassionate […]

Paris (AFP) – French football clubs are making plans to resume playing and finish the current season by late July despite President Emmanuel Macron's announcement on Monday night that the country's coronavirus lockdown would continue until May 11. In a television address four weeks after the strict lockdown began, Macron said the measures would be […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Major League Soccer said Tuesday it's hoped for return in mid-May looked "extremely unlikely," acknowledging it might not be possible to play its full season. "Major League Soccer continues to regularly evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including how it will affect our plans for the 2020 season," the league […]

London (AFP) – Clubs in the English Football League (EFL) agreed a deal with players' union the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) on Tuesday for 25 percent of wages to be deferred in April. Many clubs in the three divisions of English football below the Premier League have already reached individual agreements with their squads to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Chelsea and Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Germany captain Manuel Neuer, whose contract extension talks have stalled at Bayern Munich, according to magazine Kicker. The goalkeeper's current deal expires in June 2021 and Neuer, 34, is said to be angry that details of the renegotiations have been leaked to the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Football fans and concert-goers could be barred from seeing their favourite teams and bands play live in Germany for 18 months due to the coronavirus, according to a science expert. Keeping Germany's stadiums and music venues closed until well into 2021 "would certainly be very wise" according to Gerald Haug, president of […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is bemused as to why he remains a constant source of criticism despite missing most of the campaign through injury. The 27-year-old has been restricted to just eight appearances this season due to a persistent ankle injury. Former Liverpool captain and manager Graeme Souness has been one […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – The Asian Football Confederation announced Tuesday the indefinite postponement because of the coronavirus of all matches scheduled for May and June, plunging the AFC Champions League into further disarray. The region's premier club competition was put on hold in March as the pandemic spread, and the latest reshuffle means the 32-team […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini was discharged on Tuesday after three weeks in a Chinese hospital being treated for coronavirus, his club said. The 32-year-old Shandong Luneng midfielder, the only player known to have contracted the disease in the Chinese Super League (CSL), will now spend 14 days in quarantine for […]

Milan (AFP) – A leading Italian doctor specialising in infectious diseases said on Monday he would be against Serie A restarting its season next month. Football across the country, which has recorded more than 20,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, has been postponed since March 9 due to the outbreak. According to local reports the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea said on Monday Gianluca Vialli's recovery from cancer was "amazing news" after the former Blues striker revealed he had been given the all-clear from his second battle with the disease. Vialli, 55, who also managed the Premier League club, beat cancer in 2018 before announcing last year he was fighting it […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham on Monday reversed a much-criticised decision to cut the wages of non-playing staff at the Premier League club by 20 percent and use UK government money to prop up the rest of their salaries. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said at the end of March the club planned to use the British […]

London (AFP) – Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes the Premier League may force clubs who are looking to cut player wages during the coronavirus crisis to accept transfer embargoes. Clubs in England's top-flight have requested players take up to a 30 percent pay hit in cuts and deferrals to help soften the estimated […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates have donated half of their bonus for qualifying for the Euro 2020 finals to help amateur football in the country that has been hit by the coronavirus shutdown. The Portuguese football federation said on Monday the money would go towards a fund that it hopes will […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard believes the Blues can be proud of their response to the coronavirus crisis. The London club quickly offered the use of a hotel at their Stamford Bridge stadium to health workers once Premier League matches were suspended last month and have promised to match all donations made to […]