Paris (AFP) – Controversial Paris Saint-Germain full-back Serge Aurier is under investigation by FIFA after making a throat slitting gesture duing a World Cup qualifier last weekend. Ivory Coast international Aurier celebrated a goal against Mali by turning to the crowd and dragging his finger across his throat. "A preliminary investigation is underway," football's world […]

London (AFP) – Mike Phelan has become the new permanent head coach of Hull City, the English Premier League club announced Thursday. "The Tigers are pleased to confirm the appointment of Mike Phelan as the club's new head coach on a permanent basis," said a Hull statement. Phelan had been in caretaker charge of the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea have signed a club record kit deal with Nike that is reported to be worth £60 million ($73 million, 66 million euros) per season to the Premier League club. The Blues have been in talks with American sportswear giants Nike since May, when it was confirmed Chelsea were ending their partnership […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool and Manchester United fans have been warned to cut out their offensive behaviour during Monday's potentially explosive Premier League clash at Anfield. Meetings between the bitter rivals have been marred by violence between supporters and vile chants from the stands since the 1970s. Last season, the unsavoury atmosphere ramped up when […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's World Cup-winning German midfielder Toni Kroos on Thursday defended coach Zinedine Zidane as "very important" for the La Liga giants despite a series of draws. "I don't read the newspapers or opinion pieces but it's obvious that Zidane is very important for Real Madrid," the 26-year-old told a press conference […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to expand the World Cup faces a key test from Thursday at a meeting of world football's top executives. Infantina wants to expand the tournament to 48 teams, a contentious move that critics say would dilute the quality of World Cup competition and add new fixtures to […]

Paris (AFP) – Nice coach Lucien Favre urged the surprise Ligue 1 leaders to look no further than Friday's clash against traditional French giants Lyon as they bid to extend their unbeaten start. Nice lead Cote d'Azur rivals Monaco by a point at the top after eight matches, and Favre is counting on his players […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa appointed Steve Bruce as the Championship side's new manager on Wednesday, the struggling second-tier English club confirmed. Bruce, 55, replaces Roberto Di Matteo at the helm of a team who were relegated from the Premier League last season and who are now languishing in 19th place in the Championship. He […]

Washington (AFP) – For the past 15 years, the United States has owned arch-rival Mexico in World Cup home qualifying matches, each time coming away with a 2-0 victory at Columbus, Ohio. Now with an emotional last-round qualifying opener between the border foes only a month away, US supporters are already practicing their battle cry: […]

Paris (AFP) – Controversial Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier has been praised after his quick-thinking helped save another player's life. Mali's French coach Alain Giresse thanked Aurier, who has made the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons, for helping a stricken Moussa Doumbia during an African World Cup qualifier in the Ivory Coast last […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Former Manchester United great Eric Cantona has backed Jose Mourinho's squad to get back to challenging for top honours, three years since they last won the Premier League. "It's just the beginning. Manchester can still be champions. Jose Mourinho is a successful manager at a successful club which this year has succesful […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi returned to training with Barcelona on Wednesday following three weeks out with a groin injury. France international defender Samuel Umtiti also returned to training according to a statement on the Catalan giants' website. "Both Leo Messi and Samuel Umtiti, despite neither yet being declared fit for selection as they battle to recover from […]

Washington (AFP) – German-born Julian Green scored his second goal in as many matches for the United States in a 1-1 draw with New Zealand, showing critics of dual-citizen players on Jurgen Klinsmann's squad how much America means to him. The 21-year-old Bayern Munich forward, in only his third US career start and eighth appearance, […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Brazil powered to the top of the table in South America's 2018 World Cup qualifying race with a victory over Venezuela as Argentina suffered a shock defeat at home to Paraguay. Goals from Manchester City teenager Gabriel Jesus and Chelsea's Willian secured a 2-0 win over Venezuela in a match interrupted by […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Argentina crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Paraguay in South America's 2018 World Cup qualifiers as two goals from Arturo Vidal helped Chile reignite their campaign with a victory over rivals Peru. A superb counter-attacking goal from striker Derlis Gonzalez on 18 minutes was enough to give Paraguay all three points in […]