London (AFP) – The Premier League has launched an advisory panel to give a platform for black, Asian and minority ethnic players and managers to voice their opinions. Doncaster manager Darren Moore will lead the eight-person group of past and present players and managers, including former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi. It comes as the Premier […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the visit of rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday could help galvanize his struggling side to pull themselves out of their alarming slump. The difference in current fortunes between English football's two most successful clubs could not be greater, with Liverpool top […]

Madrid (AFP) – The Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Spain's biggest football match, has been postponed due to protests in Catalonia, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on Friday. The two clubs have until 10:00am (0800 GMT) on Monday to find a new date, which will be decided by the RFEF if they cannot reach […]

Sofia (AFP) – Five more Bulgarian football fans were detained for taking part in racist abuse at a Euro 2020 qualifier against England that sparked a storm of protest, the interior ministry announced Friday. Monkey chants and apparent Nazi salutes during Monday's match in Sofia overshadowed England's 6-0 win, sparking indignation in the football world […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool have nothing to lose in the Premier League title race despite amassing an eight-point lead after just eight games, according to defender Virgil van Dijk. The European champions are in pole position to end a 30-year wait to win a league title, but Van Dijk believes the pressure is still on […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool can rub more salt into Manchester United wounds with a first victory at Old Trafford in five years on Sunday, while Manchester City will try to haul themselves back onto the leader's coattails with victory at Crystal Palace. Just eight games into the season, 15 points separates Liverpool at the top […]

Berlin (AFP) – Niko Kovac says Bayern Munich need to prove their shock defeat to Hoffenheim was only a Champions League hangover in their bid to reclaim top spot in the Bundesliga Saturday. Bayern followed up their 7-2 thrashing of Tottenham in the Champions League by crashing to a 2-1 loss in the Bundesliga a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Political turmoil may have thrown next weekend's Clasico into doubt but Barcelona and Real Madrid cannot afford to let focus waver ahead of what could prove a pivotal period in their seasons. Ahead of their trip to Eibar in La Liga on Saturday, Barca held their press conference a day early to […]

Milan (AFP) – Stefano Pioli's new era at crisis-club AC Milan begins Sunday with a must-win game against lowly Lecce, as Claudio Ranieri starts his reign at basement club Sampdoria at home against former club Roma. The top four Italian teams — Juventus, Inter Milan, Atalanta and Napoli — are all warming up for Champions […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes his Major League Soccer postseason debut on Sunday with Los Angeles Galaxy fans wondering if the Swedish striker's first taste of playoff action may turn out to be his last. After a dazzling regular season campaign, which included 30 goals in 29 games, Ibrahimovic has inspired Galaxy's return […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward on Thursday backed manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to find a solution to the club's worst start to a season in 30 years and said it is "a myth that we have non-football people making football decisions". The 20-time English champions are just two points above the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard believes the Champions League format should not be changed if the quality of the competition is to be maintained. Proposals that could have seen promotion and relegation from the Champions League and the group stage of the 32-team competition extended to guarantee more games for those involved have […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City believe the sporting integrity of the Premier League has been compromised by the scheduling of a hectic festive period that will see the English champions play twice in less than 48 hours. City's game at Wolves has been pushed back from Boxing Day to December 27, kicking off at 7.45pm […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac cooled the hype over star striker Robert Lewandowski hunting down Gerd Mueller's record of 40 goals in a Bundesliga season by claiming: "There will be moments when he won't score like he is doing now." "A lot of things would have to come together. He is […]

Asuncion (AFP) – Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium has been chosen to host next year's Copa Libertadores final, South American football's governing body CONMEBOL announced on Thursday. The world-famous arena beat off competition from seven other stadiums — five of which are also in Brazil — to claim hosting rights after also holding the […]