Kharkiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Atalanta reached the Champions League last 16 in their first season in the tournament on Wednesday after a 3-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in Group C. The Italians, who were without a point until their fourth game in the campaign, joined Manchester City in the knock-out stages as Dinamo Zagreb failed […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Manchester City put their Premier League woes to one side as Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick in a dominant 4-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian capital on Wednesday. Dinamo needed to win to have any chance of joining City in the last 16 and got off to the perfect start […]

London (AFP) – Duncan Ferguson is to stay on as caretaker manager of Everton for their Premier League match away to Manchester United this weekend, the club announced Wednesday. Former Everton striker Ferguson oversaw the Toffees' 3-1 defeat of Chelsea last weekend after replacing Marco Silva, who was sacked following a comprehensive 5-2 Merseyside derby […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA is to take legal action by the end of the year to force Michel Platini to return two million Swiss francs ($2 million, 1.84 million euros) he received during Sepp Blatter's reign at world football's governing body. FIFA banned Platini, its then vice president, in 2015 over the payment he received, […]

Milan (AFP) – Gennaro Gattuso on Wednesday took over as coach of Napoli after Carlo Ancelotti was sacked despite guiding them to the Champions League last 16, the troubled Serie A side announced. Gattuso, who left AC Milan at the end of last season after failing to qualify for the Champions League, takes charge of […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA is to take legal action by the end of the year to force Michel Platini to return two million Swiss francs ($2 million, 1.84 million euros) he received during Sepp Blatter's reign at world football's governing body. FIFA banned Platini, its then vice president, in 2015 over the payment he received, […]

Zurich (AFP) – Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA, told AFP on Wednesday that he had opposed awarding the 2020 World Cup to Qatar, but that he has a "clear conscience." Blatter said he is willing to testify to French prosecutors about the 2010 vote in favour of Qatar. "If they ask me formally […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool are pushing hard for their first English league title for 30 years but the clamour to end a long wait on Merseyside has not diminished the European champions' ambitions to retain their Champions League crown. Jurgen Klopp's men overcame what the German described as a "tricky" test to beat an up-and-coming […]

Zurich (AFP) – Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA, told AFP on Wednesday that he had opposed awarding the 2020 World Cup to Qatar, but that he has a "clear conscience." Blatter said he is willing to testify to French prosecutors about the 2010 vote in favour of Qatar. "If they ask me formally […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Wednesday that he wants Manchester United to learn how to be consistent as his in-form team prepare for their Europa League clash with AZ Alkmaar. Group L leaders United have already qualified for the knockout stages of the competition going into Thursday's match at Old Trafford, and they […]

Milan (AFP) – Carlo Ancelotti's reign at feuding Napoli came to an abrupt end on Tuesday as the veteran coach was sacked despite a 4-0 win over Genk sealing their spot in the Champions League last 16. The 60-year-old is set to be replaced by his friend and former AC Milan player Gennaro Gattuso, 41, […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard hinted he could dip into the transfer market next month to strengthen his attacking options after they secured their place in the Champions League last 16. The club's FIFA-imposed transfer ban was last week reduced on appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning they are free […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Former Argentina and Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli has resigned as coach of Santos after guiding the club to a second-place finish in the Brazilian league, the club announced Tuesday. The 59-year-old was under contract until the end of 2020, but according to the Brazilian press, decided to leave because of his […]

Paris (AFP) – Last season's runners-up Arsenal and Steven Gerrard's Rangers have their sights fixed on the Europa League knockout phase Thursday with 19 clubs competing for the final 11 places. Interim Arsenal boss Freddie Ljungberg will look to lead the Gunners into the last 32 after Unai Emery was sacked following last month's 2-1 […]

Doha (AFP) – Fresh from securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, Liverpool's involvement in the Club World Cup does not begin until next week but the fight for the right to face Jurgen Klopp's men in Qatar starts on Wednesday. Competing as champions of the host country, Qatar's Al-Sadd — […]