Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said Wednesday the Spanish Super Cup is being held in Saudi Arabia because of the money on offer and admits he preferred the previous format. Barca face Atletico Madrid in the second semi-final on Thursday after Real Madrid take on Valencia on Wednesday. The winner will […]

London (AFP) – Marcus Rashford admits Manchester United's woeful first-half display in their League Cup loss to Manchester City was well below the expected standards. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were completely outclassed in the first 45 minutes of their 3-1 League Cup semi-final first leg defeat on Tuesday. City scored three times at Old Trafford […]

London (AFP) – The British government has urged the Football Association to "reconsider" its relationship with bookmaker bet365 as concerns grow over the link between problem gambling and mental health issues. The gambling website streamed 23 third-round FA Cup games at the weekend as part of a deal signed with the FA in January 2017. […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United's demoralising defeat against Manchester City in their League Cup semi-final laid bare their desperate need for reinforcements if they are to salvage anything from their stuttering season. United conceded three first-half goals in a match at Old Trafford for the first time since May 1997 on Tuesday in their chastening 3-1 […]

London (AFP) – The Football Association says it will review the betting element of FA Cup broadcast rights related to ties being viewed on a gambling website. Bookmaker Bet365 showed 23 third-round matches last weekend as part of its deal with the FA, which was signed in January 2017. The matches were only available to […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola warned Manchester City of Manchester United's powers of recovery after his side outclassed their city rivals 3-1 at Old Trafford to put one foot in the League Cup final. The holders were rampant before the break as Bernardo Silva's wonder strike, Riyad Mahrez's cool finish and an own […]

Hurghada (Egypt) (AFP) – Liverpool star Sadio Mane was crowned on Tuesday as Africa's 2019 Player of the Year for the first time at an awards gala in Egypt. The 27-year old Senegalese striker was up against his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian who won the award the last two years, and Algerian Riyad […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City gained revenge for derby defeat to Manchester United last month by teaching their city rivals a lesson in a 3-1 League Cup semi-final, first-leg win at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The holders were rampant before the break as Bernardo Silva's wonder strike, Riyad Mahrez's cool finish and an […]

Glyfada (Greece) (AFP) – Former Serbia striker Darko Kovacevic was shot at on Tuesday evening outside his home in the Athens suburb of Glyfada, the Athens News Agency reported. According to the report the 46-year-old former Serbia and Montenegro national team player suffered a knee injury and was taken to a local hospital, but it […]

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said his team is solely focused on lifting the Spanish Super Cup trophy ahead of this week's revamped four-team competition taking place in Saudi Arabia. "We're not coming here for a walk," Zidane said at a news conference Tuesday, on the eve of his team's […]

Hurghada (Egypt) (AFP) – Liverpool star Sadio Mane was crowned on Tuesday as Africa's 2019 Player of the Year for the first time at an awards gala in Egypt on Tuesday. The 27-year old Senegalese striker was up against his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian who won the award the last two years, and […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool forward Rhian Brewster has joined Championship side Swansea on loan for the remainder of the season. The 19-year-old, who shot to fame as the top scorer when England won the under-17 World Cup in 2017, is highly rated at Anfield but has found first-team opportunities hard to come by as Liverpool's […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham suffered another injury blow on Tuesday with the news that midfielder Moussa Sissoko will be sidelined until April after undergoing knee surgery. The French international suffered medial collateral ligament damage during a 1-0 defeat at Southampton on New Year's Day. "Following a clinical assessment and scans, Moussa Sissoko has today undergone […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool announced a multi-year kit deal with Nike on Tuesday as the European champions seek to capitalise on their on-field success by boosting global commercial revenues. The US sportswear giant will supply playing, training and travel wear to the Premier League leaders from the 2020/21 season after the club won a court […]

London (AFP) – Danny Drinkwater has joined Aston Villa on loan from Chelsea for the rest of the season in a bid to revive his flagging career, the Villa Park club announced on Tuesday. The 29-year-old midfielder, capped three times by England, moves to Villa after an unsuccessful loan spell with Burnley, for whom he […]