London (AFP) – The one thing people would not have expected of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, who takes his side to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, is inconsistency. Yet they veered between inspired and insipid in the lead-up to the international break, following up a superb 3-1 Champions League victory over […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the international break will not affect his side's momentum as they look to consolidate their position at the top of the Premier League. The Reds, who are a point clear of second-place Chelsea, travel to Southampton on Saturday on the back of seven wins in their […]

London (AFP) – The next chapter in one of the Premier League's most volatile managerial rivalries will be written this weekend when Arsene Wenger's Arsenal visit Jose Mourinho's Manchester United. Sparks often fly when the pair are obliged to share a touchline, typified by a notorious shoving match during a Chelsea-Arsenal fixture at Stamford Bridge […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Robbie Keane is leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy after six seasons with the Major League Soccer franchise, confirming his exit just days after Steven Gerrard announced his departure. Ireland international record goalscorer Keane, 36, said in a statement he was targeting one final challenge in club football before hanging up his […]

In addition to revenue generated, sponsorships and attendances, TV ratings are one of the key metrics that US Soccer measures to gauge the effectiveness of the federation. During 2016, both the US Men's National Team (USMNT) and US Women's National Team (USWNT) saw impressive ratings figures from participating in Copa America and the Olympics respectively. While […]

London (AFP) – Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is in contact with Milton Keynes Dons over the England third-tier club's vacant managerial role, the BBC reported on Thursday. Gerrard, 36, announced earlier this week that he will leave the LA Galaxy in December after 18 months in Major League Soccer. MK Dons are currently 21st […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has received unanimous backing from the Scottish Football Association despite his side's recent struggles, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan announced on Thursday. Scotland were the only team from the British Isles not to qualify for Euro 2016 and are currently six points below group leaders England in qualifying […]

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA said Thursday it has started "disciplinary proceedings" after England and Scotland wore poppies on an armband in tribute to their countries' war dead in breach of a ban on political symbols. "We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened on this matter," a FIFA spokesperson told AFP when asked about […]

London (AFP) – England captain Wayne Rooney faces a Football Association investigation over his role in a late-night hotel party, chief executive Martin Glenn said on Thursday. Rooney was thrown into the spotlight after The Sun tabloid alleged he drunkenly gatecrashed a wedding at England's team hotel in Watford, north of London, on Saturday. A […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate has made it clear he would like the England manager's job on a permanent basis, Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn said on Thursday. Southgate, 46, was placed in interim charge after Sam Allardyce left the role in September and has overseen wins over Malta and Scotland and draws with […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United posted sliding quarterly profits Thursday as the team paid the price for failing to qualify for the lucrative UEFA Champions League. Operating profit dived one third to £6.2 million (7.2 million euros, $7.7 million) in three months to September 30, or the first quarter of the club's 2016/2017 financial year. […]

London (AFP) – Wayne Rooney has apologised after "inappropriate" photos of him at a hotel party were released but the England captain has been defended by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who said all the game's greats "drank like devils". Rooney was thrown into the spotlight after The Sun tabloid alleged the Manchester United forward drunkenly […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig can claim a milestone in their fledgling history on Friday by taking a point at Bayer Leverkusen to knock Bayern Munich from the top of the Bundesliga table. "We definitely want to take something there and remain unbeaten. If there is a point available, then there will also be three," […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Spanish giants FC Barcelona sealed a massive shirt sponsorship deal Wednesday with Japanese online retailer Rakuten worth at least 55 million euros ($59 million) a year. One of world football's most lucrative shirt sponsorship deals sees Japan's leading e-commerce company replace Qatar Airways, Barcelona's shirt sponsor since 2013, confirming Asia's appetite for […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate intends to review how England's players spend their free time if he secures the manager's job permanently after newspaper photographs showed captain Wayne Rooney allegedly drunk. British tabloid The Sun published pictures of Manchester United skipper Rooney, 31, supposedly looking the worse for wear after "gatecrashing" a wedding last weekend. […]