Paris (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Monday urged authorities to use "the power of football" to reinforce important messages in the fight against coronavirus, promising initiatives with the World Health Organization. "I highly recommend you to also at your level use the power of football to send out and spread these key messages," […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Hearts owner Ann Budge has threatened to take legal action if her Scottish Premiership club are relegated due to the chaos caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Football in Scotland is on hold due to the deadly pandemic and there have been reports the season could even be cancelled if the situation does […]

London (AFP) – Drastic measures to help curb the spread of the coronavirus have plunged football into crisis, with leagues across Europe suspended and uncertainty over when play will resume. A UEFA meeting on Tuesday bringing together Europe's 55 member associations is widely expected to delay Euro 2020, which was due to start in June. […]

Frankfurt am Main (AFP) – The 36 clubs in Germany's two top divisions have accepted the proposal by the German Football League (DFL) to put the competitions on hold until April 2 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the DFL's chief executive said on Monday. The Bundesliga and second-tier sides agreed on the move during a […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, the first Italian top-flight footballer diagnosed with coronavirus, said on Monday he was "doing well" and hoped his case "served to sensitise everyone" to the illness. "I'm fine, I reassure everyone. I've always been quite well, I haven't had any serious symptoms. I consider myself lucky," Rugani told […]

Frankfurt am Main (AFP) – The German Football League (DFL) believe this summer's Euro 2020 will be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the body's chief executive Christian Seifert said on Monday. Tournament organisers UEFA will hold a videoconference with representatives from all 55 member associations as well as from clubs and players bodies on […]

London (AFP) – English Football League (EFL) chairman Rick Parry has called for "cool heads" as he wrestles with the dilemma of how to finish the season with the coronavirus wreaking havoc. The second-tier Championship, League One and League Two last week suspended play until April 3 at the earliest in response to the pandemic. […]

Paris (AFP) – A decision over whether to postpone football's Euro 2020 by up to a year, with all the sporting and financial consequences that would entail, is set to be made when UEFA holds a crisis meeting on Tuesday as Europe battles the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. European football's governing body will hold a videoconference […]

Milan (AFP) – The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) are to request that Euro 2020 be postponed amid the escalating coronavirus pandemic, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said on Monday. European football's governing body and tournament organisers UEFA will hold a video-conference on Tuesday to discuss domestic and competitions across the continent, as well as Euro 2020, […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool could have been crowned Premier League champions on Monday for the first time in a generation at the home of local rivals Everton. Instead, the stadium will be silent. Jurgen Klopp's team would have needed Manchester City to lose to Burnley on Saturday to have given them a chance to seal […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Most Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs fled abroad when the deadly coronavirus hit the country but they are now rushing back again as it takes hold elsewhere. The national side is still training in Dubai — where many CSL teams also went in recent weeks — but they too are now making […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Major League Soccer has extended its halt on training for all its 26 teams until at least next Friday, the league announced on Sunday. "MLS players are expected to remain in each club’s respective market, and have been advised to exercise safe social distancing measures," a spokesperson for the league said […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy coach Roberto Mancini said Sunday he was ready for the European Championship to be postponed until 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic. "We would have won the European Championship this summer, we can also win it in 2021," Mancini told Italian television station Rai Sport. "Let's wait to see what UEFA decides, […]

Paris (AFP) – Mowing the lawn, playing football with your dog, turning on the TV... footballers around Europe are struggling to fill the "big void" created by the coronavirus shutdown. Many are writing about the unfamiliar experience on social media. Some have already come to the conclusion that "there is nothing to do". Real Madrid […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League has postponed all matches until at least April 3 as the coronavirus wreaks havoc with the sporting schedule across Europe. That has left the league's players and clubs at a loose end, so AFP Sport looked at what some of them have been getting up to: Arsenal defender Shkodran […]