London (AFP) – Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers doesn't expect Jamie Vardy to end his England retirement despite his prolific form this season. Vardy has been linked with a return to international football after Three Lions captain Harry Kane ruptured a tendon in his left hamstring that requires surgery. With Vardy sitting top of the Premier […]

Sheffield (United Kingdom) (AFP) – West Ham midfielder Declan Rice claimed "nobody wants VAR" in the Premier League after the controversial review system condemned his side to a dramatic 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United on Friday. Trailing to Oliver McBurnie's second half striker, David Moyes' men thought they had snatched an equaliser in stoppage-time when […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists Manchester United will not look for short-term solutions in the January transfer window just to guarantee his job security. Solskjaer will not countenance bringing in players if they do not fit in with United's long-term plan. His squad has been stretched by injuries and a gruelling […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Algerian police surrounded a Rwandan referee and escorted him to safety Friday after he was threatened by players from local club JS Kabylie at the end of a CAF Champions League match. A vital Group D showdown between Kabylie and Moroccan visitors Raja Casablanca, which finished 0-0, ended controversially with the home […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Kevin Strootman scored a late winner as Marseille edged out high-flying Rennes 1-0 on Friday to move within four points of Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Andre Villas-Boas' men clinched victory in a tight encounter when Dutch midfielder Strootman volleyed into an empty net after Dimitri Payet's 84th-minute free-kick hit the […]

London (AFP) – Two Manchester City supporters have received five-year bans from football matches and lifetime suspensions from the Premier League champions' stadium after being found guilty of racist abuse. Ian Baldry, 58, made a racist comment towards City and England winger Raheem Sterling as he celebrated scoring a goal in a Premier League game […]

Sheffield (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Scotland's Oliver McBurnie fired Sheffield United into fifth place in the Premier League as a calamitous mistake and more VAR drama condemned West Ham to a 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane on Friday. McBurnie clinched the points in the second half when the striker took advantage of a blunder from […]

Doha (AFP) – Barcelona have asked former captain Xavi to take over from the under-pressure Ernesto Valverde as head coach, Spanish media reported on Friday. The club's sporting director Eric Abidal has reportedly spoken to the boss of Qatari side Al Sadd about arriving on a two-year-deal, with radio station Cadena Ser claiming the former […]

London (AFP) – Two Manchester City supporters have received five-year bans from football matches and lifetime suspensions from the Premier League champions' stadium after being found guilty of racist abuse. Ian Baldry, 58, made a racist comment towards City and England winger Raheem Sterling as he celebrated scoring a goal in a Premier League game […]

Washington (AFP) – Former Fulham captain Brian McBride, a three-time World Cup striker for the United States, was named Friday as the new US national team general manager by the US Soccer Federation. McBride, 47, scored 30 goals in 95 caps for the Americans during a 14-year international career and played 17 pro seasons, including […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy international striker Patrick Cutrone has completed his loan move from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Fiorentina, both clubs confirmed on Friday. The Serie A club said the 22-year-old has joined on an initial two-year loan with an obligation to make the move permanent. The deal is reported to be worth in the region […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Gianni Infantino was one of three newcomers elected on to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday and belatedly succeeded his predecessor as FIFA president Sepp Blatter. David Haggerty, an American who is President of the International Tennis Federation, and Yasuhiro Yamashita, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee and an Olympic judo […]

London (AFP) – A Manchester City supporter has received a five-year ban from football matches after racially abusing Raheem Sterling. Ian Baldry, 58, made a racist comment towards the City and England winger as he celebrated scoring a goal in a Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in December 2018. The defendant, […]

London (AFP) – Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has been rewarded with a new contract after his club's fine run in their first season back in the Premier League. Wilder signed a four-and-a-half-year contract extension on Friday to keep him with the Blades until 2024. The deal comes after Wilder guided United to eighth place […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Aymeric Laporte's return to training has given Manchester City a huge boost ahead of their Champions League last 16 tie with Real Madrid next month, but Pep Guardiola is wary of rushing the French defender back into action. Laporte suffered knee ligament damage in August and his presence has been […]