When Mario Balotelli was granted a free transfer to French club Nice in the summer, most people were not expecting much from the former Liverpool misfit. After all, the Italian striker departed Merseyside after netting just four goals in 28 total appearances. He spent two years as a Red, but managed only one full season […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United's Jesse Lingard has signed a new contract that is set to keep him at Old Trafford until at least 2021, it was announced Thursday. The winger, who has been attached to United since he was a seven-year-old, made his mark in the first team under former manager Louis van […]

The average MLS TV viewing audience for the 2017 season is down 8% compared to last season, according to data aggregated by Sports TV Ratings and World Soccer Talk. For the 2017 season through April 3, which totals 15 games, MLS is averaging 261,667 viewers compared to 284,842 after 11 games during the same time […]

London (AFP) – Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe said Thursday he was prepared to change his football boots for some very different footwear in order to take part in the BBC's hit television show Strictly Come Dancing. The 34-year-old England international is trying for the time being to help northeast side Sunderland avoid relegation from the […]

Zurich (AFP) – Qatari football official Saoud Al-Mohannadi on Thursday won his appeal over a one-year ban handed to him by an independent ethics committee for refusing to help in an investigation, FIFA announced. Al-Mohannadi was punished for refusing to cooperate with a corruption inquiry and fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($19,900) although his ban was […]

London (AFP) – Watford will salute their former manager Graham Taylor, who died earlier this year, with a memorial friendly against Aston Villa on July 29. Taylor's passing in January at the age of 72 sparked tributes from across the world of football and Watford have decided to play an annual pre-season fixture for the […]

London (AFP) – Theo Walcott says Arsenal have finally steadied the ship after ending a "challenging few weeks" with an important victory over West Ham. Arsene Wenger's fifth placed side won the London derby 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday for their first league win since February. England winger Walcott was on the scoresheet, […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp has told his Liverpool stars to copy Chelsea's blueprint as they fight to qualify for the Champions League. Klopp's side conceded an 87th minute equaliser in a damaging 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Anfield on Wednesday. That late slip means the gap to fifth-placed Arsenal was cut to six points, […]

Milan (AFP) – Gonzalo Higuain defiantly drew a line under his controversial move to Juventus with a brace against Napoli, picking out the president of his former club and mouthing: "It's your fault". With a 3-1 lead from the first leg of their Italian Cup semi-final, Juventus travelled to Naples on Wednesday expected to secure […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City's owners have confirmed their purchase of Uruguayan club Atletico Torque as the Abu Dhabi-based investors add to their growing portfolio. City's parent company, City Football Group (CFG), announced second tier Atletico will become part of their global network of clubs. They already own Major League Soccer's New York City, Melbourne […]

Zurich (AFP) – Brazil surged to the top of the FIFA world rankings for the first time in seven years on Thursday, made all the sweeter as they usurped great rivals Argentina. It caps a terrific week for forward Neymar and Brazil — last week they became the first country to qualify for the 2018 […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Mexico's stranglehold on the CONCACAF Champions League will be assured once more after Tigres UANL downed Major League Soccer's Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 to set up a final showdown with Pachuca. Mexican teams have been near-invincible in the CONCACAF region's premier club competition over the past decade, winning every title since 2006. […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger praised Mesut Ozil after the German World Cup winner helped Arsenal to a 3-0 Premier League victory over struggling West Ham and maintain their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League on Wednesday. The result lifted the Gunners above Manchester United into fifth place in the Premier League table — […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp said he felt like being sick after Liverpool conceded a damaging late equaliser in their 2-2 draw against Bournemouth. Klopp’s side looked set for a crucial victory in their chase for Champions League football on Wednesday, having recovered from Benik Afobe’s early goal to lead 2-1 through finishes from Philippe […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino praised his team's "big character" in scoring three late goals to beat Swansea 3-1 and keep alive their Premier League title hopes on Wednesday. Goals in the final 10 minutes from Dele Alli, Son Heung-Min and Christian Eriksen kept them seven points behind leaders Chelsea — […]