Bellinzona (Switzerland) (AFP) – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, were cleared Friday over a suspected fraudulent payment that shook the sport and torpedoed their time at the top. Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court in the southern city of Bellinzona acquitted the pair in a trial following a mammoth […]

Paris (AFP) – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, were on Friday acquitted following a two-week trial in June over a suspected fraudulent payment that rocked the sport and brought a premature end to their time at the top. AFP Sport looks back at the colourful careers of […]

Bellinzona (Switzerland) (AFP) – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, were acquitted Friday over a suspected fraudulent payment that shook the sport and torpedoed their time at the top. Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court in the southern city of Bellinzona rejected the prosecution's request for a suspended prison sentence […]

Monterrey (Mexico) (AFP) – The United States steamrolled Jamaica 5-0 on Thursday to book a return to the women's World Cup, helped by Haiti's 3-0 victory over Mexico in the CONCACAF W Championship. Sophia Smith bagged a brace in the space of three minutes and Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis and Trinity Rodman scored second-half goals […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Manchester United and Liverpool will next week kick off a packed pre-season as European clubs return to the Asia-Pacific region for the first time since the pandemic, keen to tap back into lucrative markets. The English Premier League heavyweights face off in Bangkok on Tuesday for new United manager Erik ten Hag's […]

Milan (AFP) – Angel Di Maria landed in Turin on Thursday night ahead of his move to Juventus after being released by Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season. Argentina winger Di Maria will undergo his medical on Friday before signing a one-year deal with the Serie A club which will earn him a […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Norway eased to a 4-1 win over out-classed Northern Ireland in their Women's Euro 2022 opener on Thursday. Julie Blakstad and Frida Maanum gave Norway the perfect start with goals inside the first 13 minutes at Southampton. Caroline Graham Hansen's penalty put the two-time European champions on course to ruin […]

London (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo will not travel with Manchester United for their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia after the Portugal striker was given additional time off to deal with a family issue. Ronaldo was absent on Monday when new United boss Erik ten Hag welcomed the club's international players to Carrington for the […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool defender Joe Gomez signed a new five-year contract with the club on Thursday. Gomez had been linked with a move away from Anfield after making only 21 appearances last season. The 25-year-old has fallen behind Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate in Jurgen Klopp's list of preferred centre-backs. Gomez […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona are hoping for "a positive response" from Bayern Munich after making an offer for their Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, club president Joan Laporta said on Thursday. "We have made an offer for the player, we are waiting for the response, we will see if it is positive," Laporta said during the […]

London (AFP) – Leeds have completed their sixth pre-season signing, with the Premier League club announcing Thursday that Colombia winger Luis Sinisterra had joined from Dutch club Feyenoord for an undisclosed fee. According to British media reports, Leeds have paid a reported £21.4 million ($25.6 million, 25.1 million euros) for Sinisterra, taking their spending ahead […]

London (AFP) – Carlos Corberan has resigned as head coach of Huddersfield Town, the English second-tier club announced Thursday. The Spaniard guided the Yorkshire club to the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May, where Huddersfield missed out on the chance to play in next season's edition of the elite and lucrative Premier League following […]

Milan (AFP) – Junior Messias completed his rise from delivery man to Serie A star on Thursday when his move to AC Milan was made permanent by the Italian champions. Brazilian Messias signed for Milan last summer on a season-long loan from Crotone with an option to buy for just over five million euros and […]

Monterrey (Mexico) (AFP) – They may be considered international minnows, but women footballers from Haiti hope to finally make their mark on the world stage, helped by their experience playing professionally in Europe. The move across the Atlantic has been challenging for members of the national team, said Nerilia Mondesir, who has played in France since […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – France goalkeeper Steve Mandanda signed a two-year deal with Rennes on Wednesday after reaching an agreement with Marseille to rescind his contract. The World Cup winner has spent most of his career at Marseille, making a record 613 appearances for the club since his arrival from Le Havre in 2007. "Olympique […]