Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Manchester City have been banned from European competitions for the next two seasons for "serious financial fair-play breaches", UEFA announced on Friday. The English champions, who were also fined 30 million euros ($32.5 million), immediately announced they were appealing the suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) "at the […]

Ar Rayyan (Qatar) (AFP) – Egypt's Zamalek outclassed Tunisia's Esperance 3-1 in the CAF Super Cup in Doha on Friday, driven by a duo of inspired goals by Achraf Bencharki. It was Zamalek's fourth win in the Cup's 28 editions, which both teams have contested five times previously, with the Cairo side now having won […]

Amiens (France) (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel on Friday said he was "sure" that Neymar would recover from his rib injury in time to play some part in the French club's Champions League last-16 first leg against Borussia Dortmund next Tuesday. The world's most expensive player has been out of action with the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich stars Kingsley Coman and Lucas Hernandez could start at Cologne on Sunday in the Bundesliga as they work their way back to full fitness in preparation for the Champions League clash with Chelsea. Coman and Hernandez came off the bench in the second half of last Sunday's goalless draw at […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists new signing Odion Ighalo does not need to know his Manchester United team-mates to be an instant hero at Chelsea on Monday. Ighalo will only meet the rest of United's squad for the first time on Sunday because the Nigerian striker has trained alone in 'quarantine' […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is confident the club's "mini pre-season" in Dubai will help them cope with a hectic schedule following the Premier League's new mid-season break. The Gunners return to action against Newcastle United on Sunday, the first in a run of games encompassing the Premier League, Europa League and the […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Liverpool's string of victories has made them hungry for more, "like a shark that smells blood," says Brazilian keeper Alisson Becker, whose recent form is partly responsible for the club's exploits. Alisson, recognized as the world's best goalkeeper, told Brazilian newspaper Folha that winning the Champions League last year had […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said on Friday he is impressed by how his first signing for the club Hakim Ziyech has not allowed his tough upbringing to influence his performances on the pitch. The 26-year-old winger will be a Blues player next season after Dutch side Ajax agreed an offer of 40 […]

London (AFP) – Dele Alli is not racist and regrets posting a social media video which appeared to joke about the new coronavirus, said Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho on Friday. Mourinho put the 23-year-old Spurs and England midfielder's Snapchat video down to "a young generation" error, although the player has been asked by the […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Rangers manager Steven Gerrard insisted Friday he had no qualms about publicly upbraiding his players after a damaging defeat at Kilmarnock all but handed the Scottish Premiership title to arch Glasgow rivals Celtic. Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Rugby Park left Rangers 10 points behind leaders Celtic, who moved closer to a ninth […]

Berlin (AFP) – Lothar Matthaeus believes his former Germany team-mate Jurgen Klinsmann will struggle to coach in the Bundesliga again, while the local press has slammed the ex-star striker for abruptly walking out on Hertha Berlin after just 10 weeks in charge. The 55-year-old Klinsmann dropped a bombshell on Tuesday with a Facebook announcement he […]

Getafe (Spain) (AFP) – Allan Nyom took a yellow card, scored a goal and was substituted before half-time and in those 16 minutes it was possible to understand why Getafe sit third in La Liga. Nyom celebrated his first goal for the club like it was the first of his life, racing one way and […]

London (AFP) – The first ever Premier League mid-season break pleased Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp as it allowed the runaway leaders to rest their aches and pains following the hectic festive period. The 52-year-old German takes his players to bottom-placed Norwich on Saturday holding a 22 point lead over two-time defending champions Manchester City. Klopp […]

Abuja (AFP) – In his playing heydey Taribo West was a tough-tackling defender taking on the best strikers in Italy's Serie A with his trademark shock of brightly-coloured braids. Now the former Inter Milan and AC Milan player is one of several ex-Nigeria national team stars and officials on a crusade to stamp out the […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus return to their home comforts of Turin after a poor away run, hosting struggling Brescia on Sunday with top spot in Serie A at stake as title rivals Inter Milan and Lazio go head-to-head in the Stadio Olimpico. Inter moved top last weekend ahead of Juventus on goal difference after the […]