London (AFP) – Liverpool are expected to take another step towards clinching a long-awaited Premier League title at bottom-of-the-table Norwich, while behind the runaway leaders the battle for Champions League places takes centre stage this weekend. The Reds can extend their mammoth 22-point lead over Manchester City at Carrow Road on Saturday as they aim […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – The new coronavirus has scattered Chinese football clubs across the globe, with homesick players training for a season that has no start date and teams from other countries too scared to play them. The Chinese Super League (CSL) was supposed to start later this month but the campaign was indefinitely postponed […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazilian football legend Pele sought to reassure fans on Thursday that he was doing fine, after his son alluded to depression and said the ageing star now barely leaves home. "Thanks for your prayers and your worry. I am doing fine. I will be 80 this year," Pele, considered by […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Sociedad edged second division Mirandes 2-1 in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Thursday, taking a tentative step closer to a potential all-Basque final against Athletic Bilbao. Sociedad had knocked out Real Madrid 4-3 in the quarter-finals and they were in control early on at home against Mirandes, the […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's injury-time penalty grabbed Juventus a 1-1 draw at AC Milan in their Italian Cup semi-final, first leg on Thursday as his incredible scoring run continued. The 35-year-old has now scored 12 goals in his last eight games in all competitions after the Portuguese ultimately got the better of old rival […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund must tighten their defence and trust teenage striker Erling Braut Haaland to provide the goals at Bundesliga giant-killers Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday after a "week to forget". Dortmund conceded two goals inside 82 seconds late on during last Saturday's 4-3 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen which left senior club bosses fuming. […]

The Hague (AFP) – Hakim Ziyech will join Chelsea from Dutch champions Ajax this summer in a 40 million-euro ($43.4 million) deal, the two clubs confirmed Thursday. The announcement ends days of speculation over the future of the 26-year-old attacking midfielder, a Moroccan international. "Ajax and Chelsea have reached an agreement for the transfer of […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid could welcome back their priciest Galactico this weekend at home against Celta Vigo, while Barcelona must adjust to life without yet another of the most expensive members of their squad as they entertain Getafe. Eden Hazard cost Real 100 million euros ($108.4 million) last summer, eclipsing the initial fee paid […]

London (AFP) – Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech became Chelsea manager Frank Lampard's first signing on Thursday when he joined the Londoners on a 40 million-euro ($43.4 million) deal from Dutch side Ajax. Here AFP Sport picks out three things about the 26-year-old who overcame a troubled youth to become an integral part of an outstanding […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he could be sacked if he fails to beat Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League. Guardiola has won five major trophies in three seasons at the Etihad, but a failure to progress beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League has been the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Jurgen Klinsmann has been stripped of a place on the supervisory board at Hertha Berlin following his shock resignation as head coach of the Bundesliga club after just 10 weeks in charge, it was confirmed Thursday. "Unfortunately, the manner in which Klinsmann took his leave means further co-operation with him on the […]

Paris (AFP) – France's National Assembly voted on Thursday to ban professional football matches on May 5 in homage to the victims of the Corsican stadium disaster. In 1992, a stand collapsed at Bastia's Furiani stadium just before their French Cup semi-final against Marseille, killing 18 people and injuring more than 2,300. For more than […]

London (AFP) – Odion Ighalo, Manchester United's January signing from China, has been training away from the club's facilities as a precaution due to the coronavirus outbreak, British media reported on Thursday. The 30-year-old Nigerian international striker joined United on loan until the end of the season on January 31 — transfer deadline day — […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain cruised into the semi-finals of the French Cup on Wednesday after thumping Dijon 6-1 in a match that saw the French champions benefit again from comical own goals. PSG were ahead just 47 seconds after kick off thanks to Wesley Lautoa shanking Mitchel Bakker's low cross into his own net […]

London (AFP) – The Oxford English Dictionary has updated its definition of the word "Yid" to include "a supporter of or player for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club", publishers announced Wednesday. The word has often been deployed as a term of abuse against Jews but a section of Spurs' support has taken to using it in […]