Milan (AFP) – Napoli have the Milan giants breathing down their necks in the Serie A title race after throwing away a two-goal lead late at Sassuolo to draw 2-2 on Wednesday. Luciano Spalletti's side looked set to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the league following second-half strikes from Dries Mertens and […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan moved to within one point of Serie A pacesetters Napoli on Wednesday after comfortably seeing off Spezia 2-0, while Roma crashed to a miserable 1-0 defeat at Bologna. Roberto Gagliardini and Lautaro Martinez struck in each half for Inter at a freezing San Siro as Simone Inzaghi's side jumped above […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal defender Gabriel fought off a baseball bat-wielding thief who attempted to steal his car in video footage released by the Metropolitan Police. The Brazilian had just returned to his home in Barnet, north London, when he was approached by three men as he got out of his car on August 20. […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United caretaker manager Michael Carrick says he has not spoken to incoming interim boss Ralf Rangnick as he prepares to take charge of a third match at home to Arsenal on Thursday. United confirmed the appointment of Rangnick as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's short-term replacement this week but the German […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United co-chairman Avram Glazer has acquired a franchise for a new T20 professional cricket league in the United Arab Emirates, organisers announced on Wednesday. Glazer, also an owner of NFL Super Bowl winners Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completed the purchase in his role as chairman of private equity firm Lancer Capital. The […]

London (AFP) – Ellen White broke England Women's all-time scoring record as the Lionesses recorded their biggest ever victory by crushing Latvia 20-0 in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. White scored twice early on to take her level with and then past Kelly Smith's mark of 46 goals, before completing her hat-trick shortly after the […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus escaped Salernitana with a hard-fought 2-0 win on Tuesday which brought some positivity after a difficult week, while Atalanta are on the heels of Serie A's leaders following a Mario Pasalic-inspired 4-0 win over Venezia. Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata struck the goals which gave struggling Juve the points at the […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Teemu Pukki denied 10-man Newcastle a first win all season as Norwich earned a 1-1 draw at St James' Park on Tuesday, but wasted a huge chance to deepen the Magpies' relegation fears. Newcastle were a man short for more than 80 minutes after Ciaran Clark saw red for pulling […]

London (AFP) – Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear said proposals for greater wealth distribution in English football would only reward "incompetence" as he compared a transfer levy on Premier League clubs to Maoism and the Great Chinese Famine. The transfer levy and an independent regulator were just two of 47 recommendations made by a fan-led […]

Caracas (AFP) – Veteran Argentine coach Jose Pekerman was appointed Tuesday to take over the Venezuela national team, tasked with leading them to the 2026 World Cup. "I know I'm in the right place. We have one idea in common: leave a mark," the 72-year-old Pekerman said during his presentation in Caracas. Venezuela are the […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard said on Tuesday Jack Grealish has earned the right to a warm reception when he returns to Villa Park for the first time as a Manchester City player this week. Grealish moved for a Premier League record £100 million ($133 million) in August after making over 200 […]

Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi was awarded a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or on Monday, but for the first time in his illustrious career, there was a mixed reaction to his success. The Argentinian great has made a slow start to life in France after a turbulent year which saw him bid a tearful farewell to […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel said on Tuesday Chelsea midfielder Jorginho does not need Ballon d'Or recognition to prove he is among the world's best after the Italian finished third in the prestigious player of the year award. Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or for a seventh time on Monday, with Bayern […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday that Manchester City are dealing with an injury "emergency" as the wounded Premier League champions limp into the hectic December schedule. Kevin de Bruyne is yet to return to training as City's star midfielder recovers from the coronavirus, while Ferran Torres is a long-term absentee with a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday Karim Benzema is "not crying" about missing out on winning his first Ballon d'Or. Lionel Messi, who left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain last summer, won the Ballon d'Or for a record seventh time on Monday. The 34-year-old Messi led Argentina to the Copa America […]