Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA fined the Hong Kong Football Federation on Wednesday after local fans boosed and whistled the Chinese national anthem at a World Cup qualifier against Iran. The Disciplinary Commission of world football's governing body handed the federation a 15,000 Swiss francs (13,700 euros) fine, reprimanding Hong Kong fans for "disturbance during national […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi has admitted he wanted to leave Barcelona when he was under investigation from the Spanish tax authorities but insists now he intends to finish his career at the club. In an interview with Catalan radio station RAC1, Messi also said he had expected Neymar to sign for Real Madrid last […]

Milan (AFP) – Fallen Italian giants AC Milan have appointed Stefano Pioli as their new coach a day after his predecessor Marco Giampaolo was sacked after just seven games in charge. The 52-year-old former Inter Milan boss arrives on a two-year deal, reported to be worth in the region of two-million euros ($2.2 million) a […]

London (AFP) – Tammy Abraham says England are prepared to defy UEFA rules on racism and walk off the pitch if they face abuse during Euro 2020 qualifiers. Gareth Southgate's team travel to the Czech Republic and Bulgaria for back-to-back matches on Friday and Monday. The second game, in Sofia, will be closely watched as the […]

Jakarta (AFP) – Indonesia's national football association has been fined by FIFA over crowd trouble during a World Cup qualifier against Malaysia, the organisation said Wednesday. The Football Association of Indonesia was slapped with a $45,000 sanction over the chaos in Jakarta last month, when Malaysian fans were threatened and pelted with projectiles during the […]

Tehran (AFP) – Thousands of Iranian women fans are to attend a football match freely Thursday for the first time in decades, after FIFA threatened to suspend the country over its controversial male-only policy. The Islamic republic has barred female spectators from football and other stadiums for around 40 years, with clerics arguing they must […]

Sydney (AFP) – Robbie Fowler's first season as a coach gets underway this weekend when Australia's ailing and expanded A-League kicks off, with the Liverpool great keen to stamp his mark on a Brisbane Roar side that struggled last year. While Fowler was briefly player-coach of Thai club Muangthong United, and has worked extensively at […]

Bogota (AFP) – Colombia stars James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao have been omitted for a pair of friendlies against Chile and Algeria, coach Carlos Queiroz said on Tuesday. "All the decisions I make in my life as a coach are in response to a very simple question: 'what is best for the team?' Nothing else," said […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan on Tuesday sacked coach Marco Giampaolo after just seven games in charge as the former European giants slipped to 13th place in Serie A, with former Inter Milan coach Stefano Pioli reportedly poised to take over. "AC Milan announces it has relieved Mr. Marco Giampaolo from his position as coach of […]

Milan (AFP) – Atalanta were fined 10,000 euros ($11,000) by the Italian league on Tuesday for racist abuse by their fans aimed at Fiorentina defender Dalbert during a Serie A match last month. Italian football federation (FIGC) sports judge Gerardo Mastrandrea imposed the fine based on Dalbert's evidence, adding that the chants had not been […]

Malmö (Sweden) (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic unveiled a bronze statue of himself on Tuesday near the stadium where he launched his professional career in his hometown of Malmo. "No matter where you come from, where you are, no matter what you look like, the statue is the symbol that anything is possible," said Sweden's best-known […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Bastian Schweinsteiger is welcome to join the Germany coaching staff, national team coach Joachim Loew said Tuesday just hours before the veteran midfielder announced his retirement on Tuesday. "The time has now come and I will be finishing my active career at the end of the season," Schweinsteiger wrote on Twitter. […]

Paris (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann is just as happy playing for Barcelona as he is for France despite rumours of dressing room unrest amid an underwhelming start at the Catalan giants, his club and national side team-mate Clement Lenglet said on Tuesday. "I am with him at the club and he is very happy there too. […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Germany are set to hand out several debuts with Joachim Loew missing a host of first-choice names for Wednesday's friendly against an Argentina without Lionel Messi. Like the Germans, Argentina must do without some big names in Dortmund, where only two thirds of tickets have been sold for the friendly. The […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan are set to sack coach Marco Giampaolo after a dreadful start to the season, according to multiple reports in Italy on Tuesday. The former European giants are 13th in Serie A — three points above the relegation zone. Giampaolo, 52, replaced Gennaro Gattuso during the summer, but the former Sampdoria […]