Berlin (AFP) – Hertha Berlin secured their place in the Bundesliga for next season with a 2-0 away win at Hamburg on Monday to take the promotion/relegation play-off 2-1 on aggregate. An early headed goal by Hertha captain Dedryck Boyata and a speculative second-half free-kick from Marvin Plattenhardt saw Hertha turn their fortunes around in Monday's return […]

Milan (AFP) – Leonardo Spinazzola will made his return to the Italy squad after Roberto Mancini named him among 39 players for the European champions' 'Finalissima' clash with Argentina and the Nations League. Roma full-back Spinazzola was one of the stars of Italy's charge to Euro 2020 glory but ruptured his Achilles tendon during his […]

London (AFP) – Scotland manager Steve Clarke expects Ukraine to be focused in their World Cup play-off showdown despite the impact of the war in their homeland. Clarke's side host Ukraine on June 1, in a rescheduled play-off semi-final which was due to be played in March before Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a […]

London (AFP) – Avram Glazer has defended his family's controversial reign as Manchester United owners after a troubled season marred by fan protests. Supporters stepped up their calls for the Glazers to sell United throughout a dismal campaign that ended in a dismal sixth-placed finish for Ralf Rangnick's side after Sunday's limp 1-0 defeat at […]

Paris (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe made the startling revelation Monday that he had talked over his potential transfer to Real Madrid with Emmanuel Macron, saying he appreciated the "good advice" of the French president, who wanted the Paris Saint-Germain star to stay in France. World Cup winner Mbappe had for months seemed certain to sign […]

London (AFP) – West Ham defender Kurt Zouma is due in court this week after a video emerged of him earlier this year allegedly slapping and kicking one of his cats. Zouma and his brother Yoan were listed to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, in a case brought by the Royal Society for […]

Paris (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe said Monday he would not interfere in the management of Paris Saint-Germain or in transfer policy after he decided to snub Real Madrid to stay with the club. World Cup winner Mbappe had for months seemed certain to sign for Real Madrid before being persuaded to sign a new three-year […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund have continued rebuilding for next season by naming Edin Terzic as head coach and signing Turkey midfielder Salih Ozcan on Monday. Terzic, 39, was made interim boss for the last five months of 2020/21 when Dortmund won the German Cup, but has been made permanent head coach after […]

Chester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City and France footballer Benjamin Mendy denied nine sexual offences against six young women as he appeared in court on Monday. The 27-year-old player stood in the dock at Chester Crown Court and repeated: "Not guilty" as the charges were put to him and he entered pleas for the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United's new manager Erik ten Hag believes it is possible to end the dominance of Manchester City and Liverpool despite taking over a struggling side that finished a lowly sixth in the Premier League. United ended up 35 points behind champions City, who pipped Liverpool to the title by […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona's teen striker Ansu Fati returns to national duty with Spain for the first time in nearly two years after coach Luis Enrique named him on Monday in his squad for the upcoming round of Nations League matches. Spain play Portugal on June 2 followed by two games against the Czech Republic […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola described his Manchester City players as "legends" after they staged an incredible fightback to win the Premier League, with fans preparing to line the streets on Monday to hail their heroes. City sealed their fourth title in five seasons in breathless fashion on Sunday, scoring three goals in five minutes […]

Berlin (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski's agent Pini Zahavi has made it clear the Polish striker wants to leave Bayern Munich, amid reports Barcelona have made an offer. "For Robert, things are very clear: he wants to leave FC Bayern this summer," Zahavi told German daily Bild. Lewandowski has already said he wants to leave Bayern, […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United announced on Monday that Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag had been appointed as assistant coaches to new manager Erik ten Hag. It marks a return to Old Trafford for former England boss McClaren, who worked under Alex Ferguson at United from 1999 to 2001, while Van der Gaag […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich and Germany captain Manuel Neuer has signed a one-year extension to his contract with the Bundesliga champions until 2024, it was confirmed Monday. Neuer has just led Bayern to a tenth straight Bundesliga title and will be 38 by the time his new deal expires. "Manuel Neuer is the best […]