London (AFP) – Frank Lampard says he doesn't need to warn Callum Hudson-Odoi to cut out diving after the Chelsea winger was booked at Burnley. Hudson-Odoi was initially awarded a penalty when he tumbled in the Burnley area during Chelsea's 4-2 win on Saturday. But the England international was then booked for simulation after the […]

Paris (AFP) – Bulgaria must play their next home game behind closed doors and have been handed a fine of 75,000 euros ($83,000) after racist chanting by supporters marred their Euro 2020 qualifier against England earlier this month, UEFA said Tuesday. The disciplinary arm of European football's governing body also ordered Bulgaria to play a […]

London (AFP) – Granit Xhaka has been left "devastated" by the confrontation with Arsenal supporters on Sunday but still should apologise said Gunners manager Unai Emery on Tuesday. Emery, though, would not be drawn on whether the 27-year-old Swiss international midfielder will remain the captain following his tantrum on being substituted in the 2-2 draw […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Tuesday that Brazilian duo Fred and Andreas Pereira are up to the task of filling in for the injured Paul Pogba ahead of their League Cup fourth round clash with in-form Chelsea. Solskjaer's side travel to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and the Norwegian coach added he had […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane insists Gareth Bale was given permission by Real Madrid to travel to London on Monday, and claims the Welshman never talks about leaving the club. Bale has not played since injuring his calf during a game for Wales on October 13 and his trip to England has prompted speculation he […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur's players invited their manager and coaches to a bonding dinner in a fashionable London restaurant last week as a way of helping turn their season round, something their north London rivals Arsenal might want to copy. Both the North London giants hopes of contesting the title are already over — […]

Milan (AFP) – Italian giants AC Milan, struggling to recapture the glory days of seven European Cups and of their heyday under media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, on Monday posted a record loss of 145.9 million euros ($165 million) for 2018. The losses, which were some 20 million above 2017, will be covered by majority shareholder, […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Vlatko Andonovski was named as the new head coach of the United States' women's soccer team, taking over from two-time World Cup winner Jill Ellis who formally stepped down earlier this month. Andonovksi, 43, moves into the job after spending several years coaching in the National Women's Soccer League. He was […]

Milan (AFP) – Italian giants AC Milan, struggling to recapture the glory days of seven European Cups and of their heyday under media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, on Monday posted a record loss of 145.9 million euros ($165 million) for 2018. The losses, which were some 20 million above 2017, will be covered by majority shareholder, […]

Rome (AFP) – Franck Ribery has apologised after being suspended for three matches on Monday for pushing an assistant referee following Fiorentina's dramatic late loss to Lazio the night before. Ribery was handed the ban after he approached assistant referee Matteo Passeri "threateningly" and uttered "disrespectful words" before pushing him after the final whistle on […]

The Hague (AFP) – Jaap Stam has stepped down as coach of Feyenoord following their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of fierce rivals Ajax, the former Dutch international announced on Monday. In a statement, Stam said it had "certainly not been an easy decision" to resign, with the 15-time Dutch champions languishing in 12th place […]

Brussels (AFP) – Netherlands-born teenage defender Sergino Dest pledged his international future to the United States on Monday, turning down interest from the country of his birth. "I have chosen to play for Team USA going forward. I have based this decision on my feeling, however it was a tough one," said Dest, the son […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal would probably have preferred an easier League Cup opponent than Premier League leaders Liverpool as they bid to regroup following captain Granit Xhaka's tantrum and a poor run of form. However, that is the task that faces the Gunners on Wednesday heading to Anfield for their fourth round clash. Unai Emery's […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo is in line to return from a brief rest on Wednesday as Serie A leaders Juventus host a Genoa side reinvigorated by the appointment as coach of former Italy midfielder Thiago Motta. Ronaldo forward sat out Saturday's 1-1 draw at promoted Lecce with fatigue, although coach Maurizio Sarri refused to […]

Paris (AFP) – Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, consistently among the top African performers in the major European leagues this season, rescued English Premier League leaders Liverpool at the weekend. After conceding a first-minute goal to Tottenham at Anfield, the Reds recovered to win 2-1 with Egyptian Salah scoring the winner off a penalty won […]