Berlin (AFP) – Sergis Adamyan and Andrej Kramaric scored late goals as Hoffenheim fought back for a 2-1 win to stop Borussia Dortmund from moving within a point of Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig on Friday. Adamyan and Kramaric responded following the break after Mario Goetze, who was making his first start in over a month, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona have been fined 1,500 euros ($1,660) and warned the Camp Nou could be closed after beach balls were thrown on to the pitch during this week's Clasico against Real Madrid, the Spanish football federation announced on Friday. Inflatable balls were tossed on to the field Wednesday in a politically charged fixture […]

London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal's underachieving stars that he will be "ruthless" as the new boss looks to restore a winning mentality to his troubled club. Arteta, who had been working as an assistant to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, was hired by Arsenal on Friday after agreeing a three-and-a-half-year contract to […]

Doha (AFP) – Gianni Infantino is determined to make his new, expanded Club World Cup "the best club competition in the world" as well as the most lucrative, as he revealed that FIFA have had nine offers to buy the commercial rights to the tournament. The president of world football's governing body is in Qatar […]

Doha (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the decision to award the hosting of his much-vaunted new Club World Cup to China despite the country facing international condemnation for the treatment of its Uighur minority. "Maybe that with going there, playing there, in China or anywhere else in the world, people will continue […]

London (AFP) – Everton caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson said it would be fantastic to work under a top manager like Carlo Ancelotti should the Italian, as widely anticipated, be appointed full-time manager of the Premier League strugglers. Ferguson — who will still be in charge for Saturday's home match with Arsenal — has guided Everton […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho insists his loyalties are completely with Tottenham as the former Chelsea boss prepares for an emotional clash with his old club. Mourinho once claimed he could never manage Tottenham due to his two successful spells with their London rivals Chelsea. But the Portuguese coach accepted Tottenham's offer to replace Mauricio […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola says Mikel Arteta had to "follow his dream" as the Manchester City manager's former assistant was announced as Arsenal's new head coach on Friday. Arsenal have turned to their former midfielder Arteta to replace the sacked Unai Emery after agreeing a compensation package with City. And while he […]

London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta has been given the job of reviving the fortunes of Arsenal after he was appointed head coach of the English Premier League side on Friday. The 37-year-old Spaniard, who played more than 100 games for the Gunners between 2011-16, signed a three-and-a-half year contract and ends a three-year stay as […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal are the latest Premier League club to turn to a former player as their manager, with Mikel Arteta named the new head coach on Friday. The Spaniard takes over with Arsenal languishing 10th in the Premier League and their last title-winning campaign under Arsene Wenger 15 years ago a distant memory. […]

Doha (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has responded to suggestions the Club World Cup doesn't matter by insisting Saturday's final against Flamengo represents a "massive opportunity" for the Anfield club. Klopp's team have taken time out from their Premier League title push to come to Qatar for a competition that is viewed differently in […]

Berlin (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski may be facing off against the Bundesliga’s stingiest defence, but the Bayern Munich striker has every reason to think he will find the net when Wolfsburg visit on Saturday. Lewandowski has been in vintage form this season in the 2019-20 Bundesliga, scoring 19 goals. In 16 matches this season, Wolfsburg […]

Doha (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is hopeful Virgil van Dijk will be fit to play in Saturday's Club World Cup final against Flamengo after the Dutchman missed their semi-final. "Virgil was part of training today so we will see how it looks at the end," Klopp said at a press conference at the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Friday that French World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba will not leave the club in the January transfer window. The 26-year-old — persistently linked with Real Madrid — has only played two matches for United since the end of August due to an ankle […]

London (AFP) – Belgian international Toby Alderweireld signed a new contract with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur which will keep him at the club until 2023. The 30-year-old central defender, capped 98 times and a pivotal figure in Belgium's run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, has been at Spurs since signing from Atletico Madrid […]