London (AFP) – An armed mugger has been jailed for 10 years after attempting to rob Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac of luxury watches worth £200,000 ($257,000, 231,000 euros). Harrow Crown Court heard that Ashley Smith and his accomplice did not count on the bravery of Bosnian defender Kolasinac in fighting back during […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders will meet in the Major League Soccer final for the third time in four years on Sunday, each seeking supremacy in their championship trilogy. Nearly 70,000 spectators are expected for MLS Cup 2019 in Seattle, the first time the US city has hosted the title […]

Rome (AFP) – Mario Balotelli was not included in Roberto Mancini's squad on Friday for Italy's final Euro 2020 qualifiers, despite the president of the country's football federation (FIGC) calling for him to be selected. After Balotelli was the victim of racist abuse by Verona fans while playing for Brescia last weekend, FIGC boss Gabriele […]

Paris (AFP) – Edinson Cavani is set to make his first start for Paris Saint-Germain since August against Brest on Saturday after recovering from a hip injury, coach Thomas Tuchel said on Friday. "He should play tomorrow, we need him to start playing," Tuchel said ahead of the weekend's clash. Cavani has been absent from […]

Brussels (AFP) – Senegalese forward Mbaye Diagne has been left out of Club Brugge's game at Royal Antwerp this weekend after insisting on taking a penalty against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. The 28-year-old prevented Brugge captain Hans Vanaken from taking the spot-kick with PSG leading 1-0 in the 76th minute on Wednesday, before […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called for a cauldron of an atmosphere when the European champions host Manchester City on Sunday, but warned fans against overstepping the line. City's team bus was damaged by thrown bottles ahead of their Champions League quarter-final, first leg at Anfield in April 2018. Liverpool were fined 20,000 […]

The Hague (AFP) – Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman named injured pair Matthijs de Ligt and Memphis Depay in the squad for his side's upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers. Juventus centre-back De Ligt missed Wednesday's Champions League win at Lokomotiv Moscow with an ankle injury, while Depay will sit out Lyon's Ligue 1 game against rivals […]

Berlin (AFP) – Midfielders Leon Goretzka and Toni Kroos will return from injury for Germany in their upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers after Joachim Loew named his squad on Friday. The Germans will take on Belarus on November 16 before facing Northern Ireland in their final qualifying match three days later. Loew still has problems to […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane has said Karim Benzema deserves to be recalled for France after the striker's absence from the national team continued on Thursday when the latest squad was announced. Benzema has not played for France since 2015, when he was placed under formal investigation over his alleged part in an attempt to […]

Brussels (AFP) – Ajax winger David Neres has been ruled out of action "until the winter break" with a knee injury, his coach Erik ten Hag said on Friday. The 22-year-old Brazilian played 72 minutes of the Dutch champions' incredible 4-4 Champions League draw at Chelsea on Tuesday, but could now be sidelined until next […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City suffered a huge blow ahead of Sunday's top-of-the-table clash at Premier League leaders Liverpool with goalkeeper Ederson ruled out through injury. The Brazilian international came off at half-time during Wednesday's 1-1 Champions League draw at Atalanta with a muscular problem. "He's not able to play," said City manager […]

London (AFP) – Championship strugglers Stoke announced Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill as their new manager on a three-and-a-half year contract on Friday. O'Neill will take charge of Saturday's visit to Barnsley, but will return to lead Northern Ireland's final two Euro 2020 qualifiers against Germany and the Netherlands later this month and potential playoff […]

Madrid (AFP) – Alvaro Morata returned to the Spain squad on Friday after scoring six goals in six games for Atletico Madrid. Spain have already qualified for Euro 2020 ahead of their final two group matches at home to Malta on November 15 and Romania on November 18. Coach Robert Moreno has rewarded Morata for […]

London (AFP) – Celtic and Rangers gave Scottish football a badly-needed shot in the arm after a famous night for the Glasgow giants as they defeated Lazio and Porto respectively in the Europa League. Olivier Ntcham's dramatic 95th-minute goal handed Celtic a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday, their first ever win in […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Former UEFA president Michel Platini is taking action to obtain substantial amounts of back pay as well as a bonus and legal fees, he told AFP on Friday. According to sources close to Platini, whose four-year suspension from football ended in October, the former France international is seeking to recoup around 7.2 […]