Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England interim manager Gareth Southgate is satisfied Manchester United's Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw are genuinely injured, he said on Monday, despite reservations voiced by their club manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho hit out after Smalling and Shaw missed United's 3-1 win at Swansea City on Sunday, making a distinction between […]

Madrid (AFP) – Relegation threatened La Liga side Osasuna sacked coach Enrique Martin Monreal on Monday after just one win in 11 games on their return to the Spanish top flight. "The club has taken the decision to relieve coach Enrique Martin Monreal of his duties," Osasuna said in a statement. "After analysing the sporting […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Iceland will meet Mexico next February at Las Vegas to launch the 15th annual US tour for "El Tricolor." The Mexican Football Foundation announced the friendly match Monday, the team's first-ever visit to the US gambling haven coming February 8 at Sam Boyd Stadium. "Soccer is the world's game and Las […]

Soccer fans love belting out jaunty and uplifting tunes, like “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at Anfield and Parkhead, “Glory Glory Man United” at Old Trafford, “Delilah” at the Britannia, “No One Likes Us We Don’t Care” at the New Den, and “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” at West Ham’s new Olympic home. But unless you’re fortunate […]

Berlin (AFP) – New boys RB Leipzig are level with leaders Bayern Munich on 24 points at the top of the Bundesliga table in Germany's top flight and on a record run. AFP sports looks at five reasons why the Red Bull-backed outfit from the former East Germany city is still unbeaten after their first […]

Madrid (AFP) – The prospect of Barcelona superstar Neymar standing trial moved closer Monday as a Madrid judge accepted an appeal by prosecutors for corruption charges to be brought against the Brazilian, a court filing said. The decision overturns a ruling in July that said irregularities detected in the Brazilian's 2013 transfer to Barcelona were […]

Berlin (AFP) – A severed bull's head thrown onto the pitch during a German Cup match cost second-division Dynamo Dresden a 60,000 euros ($66,222) fine plus a spectator ban on Monday. The gruesome incident occurred during Dynamo's first round win over RB Leipzig on August 20 with the head hurled from an enclosure of home […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo signed a new Real Madrid deal on Monday, tying him to the Spanish giants until 2021. AFP Sports looks at some of Ronaldo's finest moments since joining Madrid from Manchester United in 2009: – Pep's Barca beaten – Amid a run of four heated El Clasico clashes between Pep Guardiola's […]

London (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic has apologised for the booking that earned him a suspension for Manchester United's clash with Arsenal. Ibrahimovic was shown his fifth yellow card of the season for a second half incident with Swansea's Leroy Fer in United's 3-1 win at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday. The Swedish striker scored twice […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo signalled his intention to keep playing for 10 more years after rounding off a "dream year" by signing a bumper new five-year contract with Real Madrid on Monday. The deal, expected to protect Ronaaldo's status as the world's highest paid footballer, will keep the Portuguese tied to the European champions […]

Milan (AFP) – The dislocated shoulder that saw Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli stretchered off at the weekend is to keep the Italy international out of action for two months, his club said on Monday. "Further examinations at J-Medical today have confirmed the scale of the shoulder inury sustained by Andrea Barzagli five minutes into Sunday's […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo signalled his intention to keep playing for 10 more years after rounding off a "dream year" by signing a bumper new five-year contract with Real Madrid on Monday. The deal, expected to protect Ronaldo's status as the world's highest paid footballer, will keep the Portuguese tied to the European champions […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Dutch striker Robin Van Persie on Monday calmed fears for his eyesight after an ugly injury picked up playing for his Turkish club Fenerbahce at the weekend had sparked concern. After colliding with a defender during Sunday's clash with Akhisar Belediyespor the 33-year-old was stretchered off the pitch with a plaster covering […]

Here are the ten things we learned from the second leg of the Conference Semifinals in the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs. 1. The Playoffs Have Underwhelmed There’s no getting around it. Thus far, the playoffs have been terrible. Sunday should have been the best day of MLS of the year. It featured four back-to-back-to-back-to-back playoff […]

Doha (AFP) – Holding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is a "done deal", a confident head of the Gulf state's tournament organising committee said Monday, shrugging off ongoing corruption and human rights concerns. Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary-general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, told the local Arabic daily Al-Sharq newspaper that football's biggest […]