Mexico City (AFP) – A delegation from Kuwaiti clubs lobbying for the FIFA Congress to lift a suspension of the nation's football association is confident of victory ahead of Friday's vote in Mexico City. "So far, we have received a lot of support from the FIFA family and we are very optimistic," said Saad Al-Hootie, […]

New York (AFP) – Striker Kei Kamara was traded Thursday from the Columbus Crew to the New England Revolution in a Major League Soccer swap days after a heated argument with teammate Federico Higuain. Kamara, a 31-year-old from Sierra Leone who led the MLS with 22 goals last year, was involved in a spat with […]

Paris (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps named his 23-man squad for Euro 2016 on Thursday, with both Mathieu Valbuena and Hatem Ben Arfa missing the cut. Valbuena's season has been overshadowed by the sextape blackmail affair in which he has been a victim and which has seen star striker Karim Benzema of Real Madrid […]

Warsaw (AFP) – Poland coach Adam Nawalka on Thursday unveiled his provisional 28-man squad for Euro 2016 led by Robert Lewandowski, the top scorer with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Poland compete in their third straight European Championship in France from June 10 to July 10 where they are drawn in Group C alongside Germany, Ukraine […]

Mexico City (AFP) – Canada's Victor Montagliani was elected on Thursday as president of the football confederation of North and Central America and the Caribbean, whose last three leaders left office under a cloud of corruption allegations. Montagliani, the 50-year-old head of the Canadian Soccer Association, defeated Bermuda football chief Larry Mussenden in a 25-16 […]

London (AFP) – Everton have sacked manager Roberto Martinez, the Premier League club announced on Thursday, confirming widespread reports in the British media. In place since joining from Wigan Athletic in 2013, the 42-year-old Spaniard paid the price for a run of one win in 10 league games and an FA Cup semi-final defeat at […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Six years from delivering the most important strike of a football in Spanish history, Andres Iniesta remains the cornerstone of a La Roja side hoping to rekindle former glories at Euro 2016. Iniesta's extra-time goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands will be his lasting legacy. But Iniesta's technique, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund signed France's young player of the year Ousmane Dembele from Rennes on Thursday, the German club fighting off strong English Premier League interest in the teenage forward. Dortmund called the 18-year-old "one of Europe's most sought after talents" in a statement announcing the transfer on a five-year contract. The Bundesliga […]

Brussels (AFP) – Belgium coach Marc Wilmots named a 24-man pre-Euro 2016 squad on Thursday, without injured captain Vincent Kompany. The 47-year-old coach must reduce the list to 23 players by May 31 ahead of the June 10-July 10 finals in France. And with Manchester City centre-back Kompany set to miss the tournament due to […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has extended his contract until 2021, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. The highly regarded Argentine, 44, arrived from Southampton in 2014 and came close to leading Spurs to their first league title since 1961 this season, only for them to lose out to Leicester City. […]

The Hague (AFP) – Ajax coach and former Dutch international Frank de Boer announced on Thursday he was quitting the Amsterdam club after failing to win the Dutch title. "Frank de Boer is quitting as Ajax trainer. He told the club's board in a meeting," Ajax said in a statement issued in Amsterdam. De Boer's […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle United's managing director issued an apology to fans after relegation from the Premier League, saying the club were "devastated" and "truly sorry". Bitter north-east neighbours Sunderland's 3-0 win at home to Everton on Wednesday was enough to put Newcastle in the Championship as they were consigned to the dreaded drop alongside […]

Norwich (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Norwich City manager Alex Neil declared that he felt humbled by the reception of the club's supporters after their relegation from the Premier League. The Canaries beat Watford 4-2 on Wednesday thanks to two goals from Dieumerci Mbokani, one from Nathan Redmond and an own goal by Hornets defender Craig […]

Madrid (AFP) – As a pot-bellied, softly-spoken, 65-year-old, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque can rarely be described as a man on a mission. Yet he is determined to put right a disastrous World Cup two years ago when La Roja defend their European Championship title. "The origin of everything is Brazil and the disappointment of […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic assistant manager John Collins heaped praise on striker Leigh Griffiths after he bagged his 40th goal of the season in his side's 2-1 defeat by St Johnstone. The Hoops frontman became only the eighth player in the club's history to reach the 40-goal barrier in a season when he scored a […]