Tehran (AFP) – The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) said on Sunday that Dragan Skocic has been reinstated as coach less than a week after sacking the Croat. On Monday, the official IRNA news agency said 53-year-old Skocic had lost his job just five months before the start of the World Cup in Qatar. According to […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain's star-studded squad landed in Japan Sunday for a three-game tour against local teams, with new manager Christophe Galtier hoping to make a strong start with the French giants. PSG, featuring attacking trio Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, will take on J-League sides Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka […]

Brisbane (Australia) (AFP) – Danny Ings scored a penalty, but Philippe Coutinho missed another, as Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa edged Leeds United 1-0 in a high-intensity clash of English Premier League teams marred by 16-year-old Archie Gray being stretchered off on Sunday. England international Ings converted in the second half after his teammate Coutinho was […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Chelsea, prepping for their first Premier League season since Todd Boehly's consortium bought the club, beat Mexico's Club America 2-1 in an international club friendly in Las Vegas. Mason Mount sealed the victory in the 83rd minute with a sensational right-footed shot from outside the box. Timo Werner had given Chelsea […]

Washington (AFP) – Recent acquisition Gabriel Jesus wasted little time in making his presence felt in his first start for Arsenal, opening the scoring in a 2-0 friendly win over Everton in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday. Brazil forward Jesus, signed from Manchester City for a fee of around 45 million pounds ($54 million) earlier this […]

London (AFP) – Spain set up a quarter-final meeting with England at Euro 2022 after Marta Cardona's late goal secured a 1-0 win over Denmark on Saturday. A first defeat since 2019 to Germany in their second group game meant Jorge Vilda's side needed a point to avoid an early exit. La Roja were made […]

Berlin (AFP) – The departure of Robert Lewandowski leaves Bayern Munich with the unenviable task of finding a replacement for the Bundesliga's most prolific contemporary striker after his relationship with the club turned sour. Following eight glorious years in Munich, winning the Bundesliga each season and lifting the Champions League trophy in 2020, Lewandowski announced […]

Suwon (South Korea) (AFP) – Harry Kane scored from Son Heung-min's pass as Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 against Sevilla on Saturday, to the delight 43,000-plus fans at the Suwon World Cup Stadium. Spurs faced a much tougher test against the Spanish side in the final game of their preseason trip to South Korea than on […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich said on Saturday they had extended the contract of Germany winger Serge Gnabry until 2026, the news closely following the announcement of a deal to sell Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona. Bayern announced the two developments in quick succession as they presented their squad for the upcoming season at the Allianz […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich confirmed on Saturday they have agreed a deal with Barcelona for the sale of Polish star Robert Lewandowski to the Spanish club. "We have a verbal agreement from Barcelona. It's good for both sides that we have clarity," Bayern president Herbert Hainer said on the club's Twitter account. "Robert is […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski is set to move to Barcelona in a deal worth 50 million euros ($50.4m), according to multiple reports on Saturday. Both clubs reached agreement overnight Friday, according to Bild and Kicker newspapers and the Sky Germany channel, ending a standoff with the Polish forward who has said […]

London (AFP) – Senegal international defender Kalidou Koulibaly has signed a four-year deal with Chelsea from Serie A club Napoli, the Premier League club said on Saturday. The 31-year-old Senegal captain becomes the second signing after Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling since Todd Boehly's consortium bought the club. "I'm very happy to be here with […]

London (AFP) – Norway suffered a shock exit from Euro 2022 as the pre-tournament title contenders crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Austria on Friday. Despite the presence of Lyon star Ada Hegerberg in their line-up, Norway paid the price for another lacklustre display in Brighton. Norway failed to advance from Group A after a […]

New York (AFP) – Major League Soccer issued a 10-game doping suspension to Sporting Kansas City defender Kortne Ford on Friday and fined him 20% of his annual salary. The 26-year-old American tested positive for an unspecified performance-enhancing substance in a violation of the MLS Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Policy. The ban began Wednesday […]

New York (AFP) – Darren Eales, president of Major League Soccer's Atlanta United and a former executive director at Tottenham Hotspur, will become the new chief executive officer at Newcastle United, clubs announced Friday. Eales, a 49-year-old Englishman, was hired by the US side in 2014. He will remain with Atlanta through August 8 and […]