Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan on Monday insisted captain Mauro Icardi is not for sale amid reports Napoli have tabled a generous offer — including a future role in a film — for the Argentine striker. Icardi, who scored 16 goals in 33 league games last season, is a reported target for Arsenal as well […]

Geneva (AFP) – FIFA's ethics committee on Monday banned Wolfgang Niersbach, former president of the German Football Association (DFB), for one year over misconduct surrounding the country's successful 2006 World Cup bid. "Mr. Niersbach has been banned for one year from all football-related activities," a statement from FIFA's in-house court said, noting that the German […]

Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – New England manager Sam Allardyce vowed on Monday to break the psychological barrier hindering the performance of the country's big-name players at international level. Allardyce also revealed he has not yet made a decision on who will captain England, which leaves the Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney — heavily criticised […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery claimed Monday that he has finally felt trusted again since Carlo Ancelotti took over as head coach from Pep Guardiola. With Guardiola now coaching Manchester City after three years in Munich, Italian Ancelotti has taken charge of Bayern, who have won the Bundesliga title in each of […]

Beijing (AFP) – Manchester United's showpiece pre-season derby against Manchester City was cancelled just hours before kick-off Monday because the Beijing pitch was "too dangerous" for players. Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany said club staff had been working to get the game on after days of heavy rain in the Chinese capital, but had been […]

London (AFP) – Sam Allardyce said Monday that he was "very proud" to be named England manager and felt confident that he "fitted the chair". The 61-year-old Englishman — who succeeds Roy Hodgson, who stepped down after England lost to minnows Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2016 — refused to confirm Wayne Rooney […]

Beijing (AFP) – Manchester United said on Monday that its pre-season friendly with Manchester City in Beijing has been cancelled after torrential rains soaked the turf at the Bird's Nest Stadium venue. "Due to recent weather events, tournament organisers and participating clubs have decided to cancel tonight's International Champions Cup game," scheduled for Monday, Manchester […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Serge Aurier's two goals lifted Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-1 victory over Iter Milan on Sunday in an International Champions Cup friendly in Eugene, Oregon. Layvin Kurzawa also scored for the French champions, while Stevan Jovetic converted a penalty for the Italian outfit in first-half injury time. The International Champions Cup […]

London (AFP) – Burnley striker Andre Gray has condemned two of his own club's fans as living in the stone age after an incident of alleged racist abuse during the Premier League club's friendly win at Bradford. One of the Burnley supporters was ejected from Saturday's clash at Valley Parade and the Clarets on Sunday […]

For the first time since 1988, Aston Villa won't be playing in the top flight of English football. The last time the club was relegated from the top division to the second flight was in 1987. The Villans soon returned to the top flight, now known as the Premier League, where they've been for the […]

Beijing (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Sunday he was ready to go home as the club's pre-season tour of China threatened to descend into farce. The final match of their China tour is first Manchester derby outside the UK against City on Monday and Mourinho suggested he couldn't wait for it to […]

Beijing (AFP) – Pep Guardiola rejects any suggestion he would not shake hands with arch-rival Jose Mourinho and insisted relations would be friendly when Manchester City play Manchester United in Bejing on Monday. "We are polite guys, why not?" Guardiola said Sunday when asked if the pair would extend hands, despite an acrimonious rivalry which […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes scored early goals and the Los Angeles Galaxy ended the Timbers' nine-match unbeaten streak with a 2-1 Major League Soccer victory in Portland. Zarek Valentin scored for reigning MLS Cup champions Portland, who lost veteran defender Nat Borchers to what looked like a left ankle injury […]

After the disappointment of Euro 2012, World Cup in 2014 and Euro 2016, Roy Hodgson’s position as England manager had become untenable. If anything, he had been given too long a rope. The team’s tactics were confused and difficult to fathom. Plus difficult selection questions, such as what to do about Wayne Rooney, were repeatedly […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure is poised to be reunited with his former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers at Celtic although the 35-year-old won't feature in the forthcoming marathon trip to Kazakhstan for a Champions League tie. Toure, who has also played in the English top flight with Arsenal and Manchester City, was […]