Lyon (AFP) – Lyon have demoted Brazilian centre-back Marcelo to the reserves due to "inappropriate behaviour", the club announced on Tuesday. French media reported the two sides were negotiating ending the 34-year-old's contract. In a statement, the Ligue 1 outfit said Marcelo's behaviour in the dressing room was "inappropriate" following Sunday's 3-0 loss to Angers, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga club Wolfsburg have been thrown out of the German Cup after their new coach Mark van Bommel made one more substitution than the rules allow during their first-round win. The mistake happened when Wolfsburg's cup tie at fourth-tier minnows Preussen Muenster on August 8 went to extra-time, during which Van Bommel […]

Rome (AFP) – Tammy Abraham has completed his move to Roma from Chelsea, the Serie A club announced on Monday, the England forward joined former Blues boss Jose Mourinho in the Italian capital in a deal worth 40 million euros ($47 million). In a statement, Roma said that Abraham had signed a five-year contract and that […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Lille's Portugal midfielder Renato Sanches has undergone surgery on a knee injury and will be out for six weeks, the French champions announced. Sanches had been struggling with his knee for several weeks. He played the entire 3-3 draw at Metz in the first round but was not in the squad […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Carli Lloyd said on Monday she will retire from the US women's national soccer team later this year. Lloyd, who was also named FIFA Women's Player of the Year twice, announced she plans to hang up her cleats after a series of national team exhibition matches […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – German Josef Zinnbauer quit as coach of leading South African club Orlando Pirates on Monday after losing his first match of the season, the club announced. The 51-year-old, who took charge of the Soweto outfit in 2019, did not mention the surprise 2-1 home defeat by Swallows in a MTN 8 knockout […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku said on Monday believes he is now a "complete" striker as the club's record signing settles back into life at Stamford Bridge. Lukaku rejoined Chelsea in a £98 million ($135 million) move from Inter Milan last week. The 28-year-old was unavailable for Chelsea's 3-0 win against Crystal Palace in […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Monday gave details of the "dramatic" financial problems that persuaded him to release Lionel Messi. "The economic and financial situation of the club is worrying, and the financial situation is dramatic," Laporta told a two-hour press conference at the Camp Nou. Barcelona, he said, have debts of […]

Paris (AFP) – When an English Premier League season kicks off, one of the safest bets is that twice African Footballer of the Year Mohamed Salah will score. His goal for Liverpool in a 3-0 win at promoted Norwich City raised to five the number of consecutive seasons in which he netted on the opening […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane is in Tottenham's squad for their Europa Conference League tie this week as Nuno Espirito Santo admits he cannot wait for the transfer window to close and end speculation over the striker's future. Manchester City are keen to sign England captain Kane and were reported to have tabled a bid […]

Yaounde (AFP) – The Africa Cup of Nations in January and February is a "beacon of hope" for a Cameroonian economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic and two conflicts, businessmen and traders say. A sign of depressing times is that only a few merchants populate the once crowded aisles of a handicraft market in coastal […]

Yaounde (AFP) – "We are the champions" resonates in the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde as Cameroon sports minister Narcisse Mouele Kombi enters the main venue for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, surrounded by journalists. With the January 9 kick-off of the 24-team tournament drawing closer, the government is emphasising that the central African country […]

Marseille (AFP) – Bordeaux striker Samuel Kalu collapsed on the pitch in a French Ligue 1 game at Marseille on Sunday where temperatures hit a sweltering 30 degrees. The 23-year-old Nigerian international fainted and slumped to the Stade Velodrome surface in the early stages of the match. Worried teammates gathered around the stricken Kalu and […]

Paris (AFP) – Bordeaux's Remi Oudin said he was happy after his side came from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at Marseille on the weekend that Lionel Messi was unveiled to the Paris Saint-Germain crowd. The hosts led at half-time thanks to goals from in-form Dimitri Payet and Turkey winger Cengiz Under […]

Paris (AFP) – Bordeaux came from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at Marseille on the weekend that Lionel Messi was unveiled to the Paris Saint-Germain crowd. The hosts led at half-time thanks to goals from in-form Dimitri Payet and Cengiz Under before 18-year-old defender Timothee Pembele and Remi Oudin scored for the visitors. […]