Johannesburg (AFP) – Djibouti triumphed unexpectedly, Zimbabwe survived a scare and Rwanda created a record as the first round of African qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar concluded on Tuesday. French coach Julien Mette was hired by Djibouti recently and promised to restore the "dignity" of a national team used to heavy losses. […]

Paris (AFP) – England and Portugal both scored five goals while France scored three as they overcame lowly-ranked Kosovo, Andorra and Lithuania in Euro 2020 qualifying on Tuesday. Captain Ronaldo, making his 160nd international appearance, scored four as Portugal won 5-1 in Vilnius and strengthened their position in Group B after a sluggish start. For […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan president Steven Zhang said on Tuesday he was ready to shake up European football with his youthful energy and enthusiasm after being elected onto the board of the European Club Association (ECA). Zhang, 27, becomes the first Chinese among the 24 board members of the ECA which represents 246 clubs, […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jadon Sancho scored his first international goals as England's devastating goalscoring form in Euro 2020 qualifying continued in a thrilling 5-3 win over Kosovo in Southampton. Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling were also on target again as Gareth Southgate's men took their tally to 19 goals in four comprehensive wins […]

Paris (AFP) – Another goal from Kingsley Coman set France on their way to a 3-0 victory over Andorra in their Euro 2020 qualifying clash at the Stade de France on Tuesday as Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty for his country for the second game running. Coman had scored twice in Saturday's 4-1 win over […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Police in Sao Paulo said Tuesday they will bring extortion and slander charges against a Brazilian model who accused football star Neymar of rape. Najila Trindade filed a rape complaint with Sao Paulo police upon her return from a trip to Paris in May in which she said she was assaulted […]

Doha (AFP) – Brazil-born striker Elkeson struck twice on his debut to give China a crushing 5-0 win over Maldives in a World Cup qualifier in Male on Tuesday. Chinese football authorities included the 30-year-old in the national side last month in a bid to improve their chances of qualifying for the 2022 tournament in […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – African football minnows Somalia were eliminated from 2022 World Cup qualifying Tuesday after a dramatic 3-1 loss to Zimbabwe in Harare. Zimbabwe qualified for the second round 3-2 on aggregate thanks to a stoppage-time goal from star forward Khama Billiat, who plays for South African club Kaizer Chiefs. Somalia, who have to […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso will be sidelined until late October after injuring a hip on international duty with Argentina. Lo Celso suffered the damage during Argentina's 0-0 friendly draw against Chile in Los Angeles last week. The 23-year-old was forced to withdraw from the Argentina squad and is back at his […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – Hong Kong fans booed their own national anthem and sang in protest against Beijing's rule as months of political unrest spilled onto the football pitch in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Iran on Tuesday. Ear-splitting booing all but drowned out "March of the Volunteers", the anthem the semi-autonomous territory […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iran's judiciary has been asked to investigate the death of a woman football fan, state media said Tuesday, after she reportedly self-immolated because she feared imprisonment for trying to enter a stadium. The country's vice president for women and family affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, asked the judiciary chief to look into the case […]

London (AFP) – Everton defender Yerry Mina has been fined £10,000 ($12,338) after admitting a Football Association misconduct charge in relation to betting rules, English football's governing body said on Tuesday. In a statement, the FA said that Mina was fined for "participating in an advertisement for betting activity which he is prohibited from engaging […]

Paris (AFP) – The head of French football said Tuesday that he had told referees to no longer stop matches for homophobic abuse from fans, putting him on a collision course with the sports ministry and the football league. Speaking to France Info, president of the French Football Federation (FFF) Noel Le Graet said that […]

Stroud (United Kingdom) (AFP) – English football clubs will only wake up to the security risks their players face when either one of them or a member of their family are maimed or killed, a security expert told AFP. The stark warning from former soldier Alex Bomberg comes after Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Sead […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Belgium manager Roberto Martinez believes a fresh Kevin De Bruyne will be even better for club and country this season after the Manchester City midfielder tore Scotland apart in a 4-0 win for Martinez's men on Monday. De Bruyne set up Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Vermaelen and Toby Alderweireld to score inside the […]