Berlin (AFP) – Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he has little sympathy for Manchester City over their ban from European competition, especially as he regularly lost some of his best players to their wealthy Premier League rivals. "The rules are what they are and people who don't respect them... have to be punished," said […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – United States coach Vlatko Andonovski on Monday named a 26-player training squad for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup friendly tournament as the world champions build towards this summer's Olympic Games. All 20 of the players who helped the US women secure their place at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this month are included […]

Doha (AFP) – Bafetimbi Gomis was the hero yet again as reigning champions Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia bounced back from a goal down to edge out the UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli in the Asian Champions League on Monday. Gomis, the top scorer with 11 goals last year when Al Hilal won the tournament beating […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona have denied trying to boost the image of club president Josep Maria Bartomeu by hiring a company that criticised current and former players, including Lionel Messi, on social media. According to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser Cataluna, the PR company I3 Ventures was contracted by Barca and oversaw "dozens" of accounts […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre says how his team defend against Paris Saint-Germain stars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe will be the deciding factor in Tuesday's Champions League clash. Dortmund host PSG in the last 16, first leg at Signal Iduna Park with Neymar expected to return after missing four […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spain's World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas will run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), he confirmed on Monday. The date of the election has not yet been decided but Casillas said he has informed his current club Porto of his decision, with the 38-year-old now expected to retire from […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke gave a terse response when asked about the return of former coach Thomas Tuchel to Signal Iduna Park with his Paris Saint-Germain team for Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first leg. Tuchel coached Dortmund for two seasons until he was sacked in 2017, shortly after […]

Paris (AFP) – Reigning African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane scored the goal that brought Liverpool victory at Norwich and moved the Reds closer to a first English league title in 30 years. The 27-year-old Senegalese came off the bench to strike on 78 minutes and break the resistance of the gallant home side […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has told friends he is going to remain as manager of Manchester City even if the appeal against their two-year European football ban is rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), according to media reports on Monday. The 49-year-old Spaniard is said by The Times to have told […]

London (AFP) – Harry Gregg was uncomfortable talking about bravery after the Munich air disaster, and former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson best summed him up as "a most reluctant hero". Softly-spoken Gregg, who died aged 87 on Monday, stands tall among goalkeeping greats, even beating Soviet legend Lev Yashin to the accolade of best […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Neymar has been named in the Paris Saint-Germain squad for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg at Borussia Dortmund, despite missing the French club's last four games through injury. The world's most expensive player has been struggling with a rib problem, but was expected to be fit in time for the […]

London (AFP) – Harry Gregg — hailed as a hero for saving lives in the air crash which killed eight of Manchester United's "Busby Babes" in Munich — has died at the age of 87. Gregg, who was United's goalkeeper, rescued a mother and her baby daughter, team-mates Bobby Charlton and Jackie Blanchflower and manager Matt […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – At just 21, Kylian Mbappe is already a World Cup winner while at only 19, Erling Braut Haaland has emerged as a rising fast-star this season. As Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi approach the end of their careers, could Mbappe and Haaland be the next duo to dominate football? AFP Sport […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid might once have relished the challenge of resisting an opponent like Liverpool, but reaching the Champions League's quarter-finals will require a performance not yet seen from them this season. Diego Simeone's side are no longer the same Atletico famed for their inch-perfect defence, relentless work ethic and a knack for […]

Milan (AFP) – Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi gave warning his side are ready to fight for their first Serie A title since 2000 after moving into second in Serie A on Sunday, just one point off leaders Juventus after a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Inter Milan. Juventus reclaimed pole position thanks to Paulo Dybala and […]