Harare (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino met Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe on Friday a day after he attended a birthday party for the country's football chief, an official said. Zimbabwe Football Association spokesman Xolisani Gwesela confirmed to AFP that Infantino had paid a courtesy call on Mugabe at State House, but gave no details. […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri admitted his dream had died after he was ruthlessly sacked as Leicester manager in a brutal move that brought the wrath of the football world down on the troubled champions' Thai owners. Ranieri was axed barely two weeks after the owners gave him their "unwavering support" despite disastrous […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Favourites Manchester United were drawn on Friday to face faraway Russian outfit Rostov, who unlike Jose Mourinho were delighted with the Europa League last-16 tie. Mourinho's side beat French club Saint-Etienne 4-0 on aggregate in the last 32 and the English club will now travel to Russia on Thursday, March 9 […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Favourites Manchester United were drawn on Friday to face faraway Russian outfit Rostov, who unlike Jose Mourinho were delighted with the Europa League last-16 tie. Mourinho's side beat French club Saint-Etienne 4-0 on aggregate in the last 32 and the English club will now travel to Russia on Thursday, March 9 […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho confirmed Wayne Rooney will be in Manchester United's League Cup Final squad against Southampton after the club's record goal scorer declared he will remain at Old Trafford for the rest of the season. United manager Mourinho was impressed with the way England forward Rooney handled rumours of a […]

Berlin (AFP) – Franck Ribery is back from a five-week injury lay off and will be on the bench for Bayern Bundesliga game with Hamburg this weekend, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday. The charismatic 33-year-old French winger tore thigh muscles in training in January. "He's ready, I think we'll start him on the bench," […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has apologised to his team-mates and Gent midfielder Brecht Dejaegere after being sent off for a horror tackle in the Premier League club's shock Europa League exit. Alli saw red for a studs-up lunge on Dejaegere in the 39th minute at Wembley on Thursday and Tottenham were unable […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's France international central defender Raphael Varane has picked up a hamstring injury and risks missing up to three weeks as the European champions fight on two fronts for silverware. Real Madrid revealed on their website Friday that Varane suffered the injury in their shock 2-1 defeat at Valencia midweek where […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The sacking of Claudio Ranieri as Leicester City manager just nine months after guiding the unfashionable club to a sensational Premier League title stunned the football world Friday and brought widespread condemnation on the owners. The Thai owners axed the Italian barely two weeks after giving Ranieri "unwavering support" despite […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Manchester United is the most popular club online in China but the Bundesliga's web presence far outstrips the English Premier League, a new study has shown. The survey by sports marketing company Mailman also found that Cristiano Ronaldo was the player with the biggest presence among Chinese fans with United's Wayne Rooney, […]

Beijing (AFP) – Ronaldinho launched a Barcelona academy for about 1,000 students in China on Friday as the world's most populous nation pursues its grand ambitions in the world's most popular sport. The Barcelona and Brazil great and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu met children and toured the site at the Mission Hills golf complex […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic defender Kieran Tierney is desperate to help his side to a domestic treble because the teenager is too young to remember the Hoops' last clean sweep. The 19-year-old hadn't even started school when Martin O'Neill's side swept all before them as they claimed the Championship, League Cup and Scottish Cup in […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku's return to fitness has given Everton extra reason for optimism as they prepare to welcome their former manager David Moyes back to Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday. Lukaku was outstanding in Everton's last home match, scoring four times in a 6-3 victory over Bournemouth at the start […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will hope to take inspiration from England rugby union coach Eddie Jones when his Premier League leaders face Swansea City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Conte demonstrated his desire to improve his team's performance when he shared ideas with Jones, who has a perfect record of 15 wins […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan's Champions League qualifying hopes could hinge on victory over Roma this Sunday, and former coach Frank De Boer believes the 'Nerazzurri' only have themselves to blame. Inter, fourth at 15 points adrift of leaders Juventus and six behind Napoli in the third and final Champions League spot, have failed to […]