London (AFP) – Former Arsenal and Tottenham star Sol Campbell was hired as manager of third tier strugglers Southend on Tuesday. Campbell is back in management after quitting as Macclesfield boss in the close-season. The ex-England international signed a two and a half year deal with Southend, who are second from bottom of League One […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Frank Lampard said on Tuesday that he was "aware" of the threat from a formidable Ajax team but had "confidence" in his young Chelsea team ahead of Wednesday's key Champions League clash. The new-look Blues, reinvigorated by an injection of youth, begin a double header with Group H leaders Ajax, on Wednesday. […]

Paris (AFP) – FIFA is hoping to renegotiate contracts already signed for the next women's World Cup in 2023 as it looks to increase the amount of money going to players, sources have told AFP. "FIFA plan to renegotiate contracts for the women's World Cup in order to offer much greater bonuses to players," a […]

Geneva (AFP) – A Swiss court has asked Austrian authorities for a report on Franz Beckenbauer's health, to determine whether to pursue a case against him for corruption in Germany's bid for the 2006 World Cup. The Swiss Public Prosecutor's Office (MPC) is investigating whether German football officials used a secret slush fund to buy […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Erik ten Hag insisted on Tuesday that his Ajax side have put last season's Champions League heartbreak behind them as they prepare to take their blistering early-season form into an intriguing clash with Chelsea's young guns. The Dutch champions had a place in last season's final snatched away from them with seconds […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona have paid Atletico Madrid 15 million euros for the right to be given first refusal on six Atletico players, AFP learned on Tuesday. Atletico sources have told AFP the agreement has "nothing to do" with the dispute between the two clubs over the transfer of Antoine Griezmann last summer. "It is […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – There are renewed calls in Germany for national head coach Joachim Loew to recall Mats Hummels just months after telling the Dortmund defender that his time in the national team was over. The calls for his return focus principally on the serious knee injury suffered by first-choice centre-back Niklas Suele playing […]

London (AFP) – Football Association chairman Greg Clarke wants concussion substitutes introduced "as quickly as possible" following a landmark report showing a link between football and dementia. A Glasgow University study shows former footballers are approximately three-and-a-half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative disease than the general population. The report, released on Monday, was […]

Milan (AFP) – Serie A strugglers Genoa announced on Tuesday coach Aurelio Andreazzoli has been sacked after just eight games in charge. The north-western Italian side have won just one game against Fiorentina on September 1 after holding Roma in their opener. They have lost five of their six games since and are second from […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Bernardo Silva, Goncalo Guedes and Joao Felix might be worth a combined 300 million euros in today's transfer market but they mean more than money to Benfica, the club that discovered them. For Benfica they are a source of pride and vindication of a youth policy that as seen the club surpass […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United development chief Nicky Butt has urged fans to remain patient with the club's young talent as they attempt to establish themselves during a rocky period for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side. United are 14th in the Premier League table after a miserable start to the season, although Sunday's 1-1 draw against […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund flew to Italy without captain Marco Reus and striker Paco Alcacer for Wednesday's Champions League match at Inter Milan, but previously suspended England winger Jadon Sancho and injured goalkeeper Roman Burki were included. The Bundesliga club said the 30-year-old playmaker Reus missed Tuesday's flight because he is "still in poor […]

London (AFP) – Former England international Chris Sutton has accused Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor of letting players down after a landmark study showing the link between football and dementia. A Glasgow University study found former footballers are approximately three-and-a-half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases than the general population. The report, […]

Milan (AFP) – Italian coach Antonio Conte has made his "gentle giant" Romelu Lukaku the focus of Inter Milan's attack this season where the striker has found his scoring touch again after leaving Manchester United. The Belgian got off the mark in his first league match against Lecce and has since scored five goals in […]

Prague (AFP) – Barcelona will be looking to extend their five-game winning streak when they take on Champions League underdogs Slavia Prague in the teams' first-ever encounter in Prague on Wednesday. Brushing aside political turmoil around them, Ernesto Valverde's men eased past Eibar 3-0 away on Saturday with goals from Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and […]