Belgrade (AFP) – Red Star Belgrade fans stirred controversy after parking an army tank outside their stadium ahead of their Champions League play-off second leg against Swiss side Young Boys on Tuesday. The tank, a refurbished T-55 purchased from an army depot, was parked outside the stadium as an "attraction", the Serbian club said on […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Former Manchester United and France legend Eric Cantona is to receive the UEFA President's Award at the Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday. The 53-year-old, who won five English championships with Leeds and Manchester United in the 1990s and two French titles with Marseille, joins an illustrious list of previous recipients […]

Milan (AFP) – Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku scored on his Inter Milan debut as new coach Antonio Conte's reign got off to a perfect start with a 4-0 win over promoted Lecce on Monday. "There was a spark, but now we must become dynamite," said Conte as he begins his campaign to topple eight-time holders […]

Doha (AFP) – Xavi’s Al Sadd face an uphill task after a 2-1 defeat in their AFC quarter-final first leg against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr on Monday. Al Nassr, who qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time, missed star striker Abdelrazzaq Hamdallah through injury. But nevertheless they made most of their chances to clinch […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos completed its protracted takeover of Nice on Monday with the English petrochemical billionaire pledging investment to establish the Ligue 1 club in Europe. With this latest purchase 66-year-old Ratcliffe adds to a sports portfolio that already includes the former Sky cycling team and Swiss club Lausanne-Sport. Ineos was […]

Milan (AFP) – Croatian international defender Ivan Strinic has left AC Milan by mutual consent after just one season during which he never played after being diagnosed with a heart condition, the Italian club announced on Monday. The 32-year-old left-back — a key member of the Croatian team that reached the World Cup final in […]

Paris (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called a Mohamed Salah goal against Arsenal at the weekend "absolutely amazing" as the Egyptian once again stole the show among Africans in the major European leagues. The reigning African Footballer of the Year fired into the corner of the net after a run from close to the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Dutch striker Bas Dost is returning to the Bundesliga after signing for Eintracht Frankfurt from Sporting Lisbon, to replace Sebastien Haller, who has joined West Ham, the German club announced Monday. "I am happy to be here and look forward to my time with Eintracht Frankfurt. I'm a striker who loves scoring […]

Madrid (AFP) – James Rodriguez sustained a calf injury while playing against Real Valladolid on Saturday, Real Madrid have confirmed. James was included in the starting line-up for Madrid's 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite missing all their pre-season matches as he was expected to leave the club. The Colombian played well but was […]

Berlin (AFP) – Four former top football officials face trial in Germany after a Frankfurt court ruled Monday they must answer tax evasion charges linked to the 2006 World Cup vote-buying scandal. The court ruled that ex-German Football Association (DFB) presidents Wolfsgang Niersbach and Theo Zwanziger, as well as former general secretary Horst R. Schmidt, […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe will be out for four weeks and Edinson Cavani for three weeks after both came off injured in a Ligue 1 match against Toulouse on Sunday, the French champions have confirmed. French World Cup-winning star Mbappe limped off after hurting his left hamstring during a trademark sprint […]

Milan (AFP) – A cap on his head and wearing a Bologna shirt, coach Sinisa Mihajlovic courageously joined his players for their Serie A opener in Verona on Sunday despite undergoing treatment for leukaemia. It was a personal victory for the Serb, but the match ended 1-1 with Bologna settling for a point despite promoted […]

Madrid (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann copied Lionel Messi for the goal and LeBron James for the celebration but it was his night for Barcelona on Sunday after he scored twice in a 5-2 win over Real Betis. Griezmann imitated the basketball superstar by tossing confetti into the air to celebrate his second at Camp Nou, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann proved Barcelona can win without Lionel Messi and do without Neymar too after he scored twice in a 5-2 demolition of Real Betis on Sunday. Griezmann tossed confetti into the air as he celebrated his second at Camp Nou, where he was the star performer, if only for a night […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain lost star strikers Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe to injuries on Sunday as the French champions' problems continued to mount despite a 4-0 thrashing of Toulouse. Thomas Tuchel's men, who lost at Rennes last time out, have seen the start of their season dominated by the Neymar transfer saga. The […]