London (AFP) – Football chiefs in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Monday announced a ban on heading in training for children up to the end of primary school, to take place with immediate effect. The three football associations issued a statement confirming changes to their heading guidance, which followed a study that showed former […]

Asuncion (AFP) – Emmanuel Adebayor made his eagerly anticipated debut for Paraguayan side Olimpia on Sunday, coming on as a substitute for his former Manchester City teammate Roque Santa Cruz. The 35-year-old Togolese striker was welcomed by hundreds of fans earlier this month when he arrived in Asuncion. Olimpia treasurer Miguel Brunote said at the […]

Paris (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took the honours among the African stars in Europe at the weekend, scoring twice as Arsenal edged Everton 3-2 in an English Premier League thriller. The brace from the 30-year-old Gabon star increased his league tally this season to 17, level with Jamie Vardy of Leicester City at the top […]

London (AFP) – Football chiefs in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Monday announced a ban on heading in training for children up to the end of primary school, to take place with immediate effect. The three football associations issued a statement confirming changes to their heading guidance, which followed a study that showed former […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Bruno Fernandes has lifted the mood at Old Trafford, comparing the January signing to a mix between former Manchester United players Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastian Veron. Fernandes arrived for an initial 55 million euros (£46 million) and, while that could rise to 80 million euros if a […]

Seoul (AFP) – South Korea's K-league postponed the start of the new football season on Monday as a leap in novel coronavirus cases wreaked havoc across its sporting calendar. The K-league, one of the strongest in Asia, was scheduled to start this weekend. Volleyball, basketball and handball have taken similar measures as cases spiked to […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard faces some big decisions ahead of Bayern Munich's visit to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League last 16 first leg on Tuesday. AFP Sport looks at three major calls Lampard must get right if Chelsea are to take a step towards the quarter-finals: Keep faith with Giroud? Having […]

Berlin (AFP) – A year after being dumped by Germany head coach Joachim Loew, Thomas Mueller is set to showcase why he is so important for Bayern Munich – and Robert Lewandowski – at Chelsea in the Champions League. Alongside Erling Braut Haaland, Bayern's star striker Lewandowski is joint top-scorer in the Champions League with […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi has said Barcelona are not playing well enough to win this season's Champions League but his four goals against Eibar on Saturday were a reminder that with him there will always be hope. Barca play Napoli in the first leg of the last 16 on Tuesday and will be expected […]

Rome (AFP) – The surge in the number of new coronavirus cases in Italy hit sporting events on Sunday, notably top flight football with four Serie A matches postponed. The match between Torino and Parma in the northern city of Turin was called off following earlier postponements of games between title-chasing Inter and Sampdoria, Atalanta […]

Paris (AFP) – Edinson Cavani scored his 200th Paris Saint-Germain goal and Marquinhos netted twice as the Ligue 1 leaders bounced back from their Champions League defeat by Borussia Dortmund to beat Bordeaux 4-3 on Sunday, but their victory was marred by Neymar's late sending-off. After losing 2-1 in Germany in the first leg of […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid followed up their surprise win over Liverpool by beating Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday as Joao Felix marked his return from injury with a first league goal since September. Felix came off the bench at the Wanda Metropolitano after almost a month out with an ankle problem and the […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Another giant fell by the wayside in the South African FA Cup as Kaizer Chiefs lost to Highlands Park after a last-16 penalty shootout this weekend. When Zimbabwe star Khama Billiat watched in horror as his spot-kick rebounded off the post, it opened the door for Highlands, based in a northeastern Johannesburg […]

Milan (AFP) – Lazio kept their bid for a first Serie A title in 20 years on track as they stayed one point behind leaders Juventus with a 3-2 win at Genoa on Sunday, but four Serie A matches were postponed amid growing coronavirus fears in northern Italy. Reigning champions Juve had edged out bottom […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sevilla delivered a huge boost to their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League by winning 3-0 away at top-four rivals Getafe on Sunday, for their first victory in six matches. A poor run of form had threatened to kill Sevilla's chances of securing a place in Europe's premier tournament but […]