London (AFP) – A policeman has been charged with the murder of former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson, who died after being tasered near his father's home in 2016. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the officer would be appearing in court in Birmingham on Thursday along with a colleague who has been accused of […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur captain Hugo Lloris has had surgery on his elbow injury and remains on course to return early in the New Year, the club announced on Thursday. The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who captained France to World Cup glory last year, suffered a dislocation to the joint when he landed awkwardly on his […]

Paris (AFP) – African players still do not get the recognition they deserve, Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o told AFP in an exclusive interview, as he hopes that this will finally be the year another player from the continent wins the Ballon d'Or. George Weah, the former Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan striker who is now […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool forward Sadio Mane says he will not change his style of play despite Pep Guardiola's "diving" accusation. The Manchester City boss made the claim at the weekend, when the Senegal international was booked after going down in the penalty area following a challenge by Aston Villa's Frederic Guilbert. Manager Jurgen Klopp […]

Ankara (AFP) – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that UEFA was discriminating against Turkey's football team following a controversy over the players' use of military salutes on the pitch. UEFA opened disciplinary hearings against Turkey last month after its players saluted during Euro 2020 qualifiers — a gesture seen as supporting the country's military […]

Jakarta (AFP) – Indonesia will search for a new national team coach after football officials announced Simon McMenemy would be sacked following this month's World Cup qualifier against Malaysia. The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) said it would part ways with the Scot after a World Cup match in Kuala Lumpur on November 19. No […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has hit out at Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane for suggesting that Kylian Mbappe's dream was to play for the Spanish club. "Honestly, it's a bit irritating, it's annoying," the Brazilian said following PSG's 1-0 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, adding that […]

Rome (AFP) – Italian club Lazio have a deeply rooted stereotype that their fans are overwhelmingly right-wing but a group of supporters have mobilised themselves to build a new "Laziale and Anti-Fascist" (LAF) identity. The emblematic eagle of the Stadio Olimpico side, also the symbol of the fascist party of Benito Mussolini, under the slogan "Love […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Interim boss Hansi Flick said he was "happy" to steer Bayern Munich into the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, despite admitting the upheaval following Niko Kovac's sacking "had not been easy". Flick was only handed the role of caretaker coach when Kovac was dismissed on Sunday following a 5-1 thrashing […]

Milan (AFP) – Manchester City missed the chance to qualify for the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, being held to a 1-1 draw by Atalanta in a game they finished with right-back Kyle Walker in goal. Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson came off at half-time with substitute Claudio Bravo sent off in the final 10 minutes. […]

Belgrade (AFP) – Son Heung-min said he had repaid the support shown to him by teammates and fans by scoring twice against Red Star Belgrade, just days after being involved in an incident that saw Everton midfielder Andre Gomes break his ankle. The South Korean's red card for the challenge on Gomes in Sunday's 1-1 […]

Paris (AFP) – Douglas Costa scored a dramatic injury-time winner to send Juventus into the Champions League knockout stages after a 2-1 win at Lokomotiv Moscow on Wednesday, while Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich joined the Italian champions in the last 16. Mauro Icardi's first-half goal was enough for PSG to edge past Club Brugge […]

Madrid (AFP) – Rodrygo scored a sensational hat-trick and the fastest two goals in Champions League history on Wednesday as Real Madrid humiliated Galatasaray 6-0. The 18-year-old had his double after just six minutes and 14 seconds at the Santiago Bernabeu before teeing up Karim Benzema to make it four, after Sergio Ramos had chipped […]

Leverkusen (Germany) (AFP) – Bayer Leverkusen belatedly breathed life into their Champions League campaign by recording their first points of the group stage with a 2-1 victory at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. A bizarre Thomas Partey own goal gave Leverkusen the lead on 41 minutes at the BayArena before Germany international Kevin Volland […]

Paris (AFP) – Mauro Icardi scored the only goal and Keylor Navas saved a second-half penalty as Paris Saint-Germain edged out Club Brugge 1-0 to secure their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League with two group matches to spare on Wednesday. Argentine striker Icardi's close-range finish in the first half at the […]