Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga side Cologne confirmed Tuesday they plan to work with cult club figure and 2014 World Cup winner Lukas Podolski when the ex-Germany striker finishes his career. Cologne president Werner Wolf told the club's website they are in talks with Podolski about a future role with a "concept and a time frame" […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho denied on Tuesday he had had a row with Danny Rose at the Tottenham Hotspur training ground for omitting him from the team for last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Watford. The 29-year-old left-back was reported by the Daily Mail to have confronted Mourinho as he was unhappy at being left […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has said Gareth Bale is fit and ready to play against Unionistas de Salamanca on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey. Bale was left out of the squad for Madrid's win over Sevilla on Saturday and Zidane said after the match he had picked up a knock. […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has contradicted former team-mate Gary Neville by saying on Tuesday United are on the "right track". Outspoken TV pundit Neville had said in a podcast after United's 2-0 defeat at leaders Liverpool on Sunday, which left the Red Devils 30 points behind their rivals […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russian international forward Alexander Kokorin, who was released from jail in September, has joined relegation-threatened FK Sochi on loan until the end of the season, the Russian Premier League side announced on Tuesday. Kokorin has not played since rejoining his parent club Zenit St Petersburg in September when he was released from […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United have been charged by the Football Association (FA) over misconduct of their players in the 2-0 defeat by runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool. United's players surrounded referee Craig Pawson midway through the first-half on Sunday after Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk challenged goalkeeper David de Gea. Roberto Firmino subsequently scored, but […]

London (AFP) – The death of Cardiff forward Emiliano Sala in a plane crash a year ago will be marked by his family on Tuesday in "private, quiet contemplation of their loss", their lawyer said. The 28-year-old striker was killed when the small plane taking him to join the then Premier League side after being […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United have been charged by the Football Association (FA) over misconduct of their players in the 2-0 defeat by runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool. United's players surrounded referee Craig Pawson midway through the first-half on Sunday after Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk challenged goalkeeper David De Gea. Roberto Firmino subsequently scored, but […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatar and FIFA published Tuesday the first jointly issued legacy planning strategy ahead of a football World Cup, with pledges on labour and LGBT rights alongside protections for activists and journalists. Qatar has faced intense scrutiny from rights groups over its treatment of migrant labourers working on construction projects ahead of the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea remain in pole position to claim fourth spot in the Premier League and a return to the riches and prestige of the Champions League next season. However, a slump in form from Frank Lampard's men has left the door open for Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal to secure a much-needed return […]

Bagnolet (France) (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe says he is dreaming of helping Paris Saint-Germain win a first Champions League trophy this year, as well as leading France to the title at Euro 2020 and the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The 21-year-old PSG and France star, a World Cup winner in 2018, was asked what was […]

London (AFP) – La Liga president Javier Tebas has warned Europe's top clubs of the destabilising effect seeking further riches through a revamped Champions League or FIFA's new Club World Cup will have on national leagues. China will host FIFA's expanded 24-team Club World Cup in June and July of 2021, while talks are ongoing […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes some competitions in English football must be scrapped to protect the welfare of players and increase the quality of matches. City face Sheffield United away on Tuesday night in the Premier League in their 17th match in 59 days since the last international break in November. Serious […]

Milan (AFP) – Andrea Petagna ignited a come-from-behind victory for struggling SPAL to hand his former club Atalanta a shock 2-1 defeat in Serie A on Monday. The Champions League-chasing side from Bergamo had won their last two home games against AC Milan and Parma with 5-0 scorelines each time. But they slipped up against […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa completed the signing of Tanzanian striker Mbwana Samatta from Genk for a reported £8.5 million ($11 million) fee on Monday. Samatta has signed a four-and-a-half year deal, subject to a work permit and international clearance being granted. The 27-year-old has scored 10 goals for Genk in all competitions this season, […]