Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid guaranteed top spot in Champions League Group D with a game to spare ahead of Bayern Munich as Kevin Gameiro and Antoine Griezmann struck in a 2-0 win over PSV Eindhoven. Already assured of their place in the last 16, Bayern's shock 3-2 defeat to Rostov earlier on Wednesday meant […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal squandered a chance to wrap up first place in Champions League Group A as Paris Saint-Germain hit back to earn a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. Arsene Wenger's side were on course to secure top spot and a possible easier draw in the last 16 after taking a […]

Paris (AFP) – The African Football Confederation (CAF) on Wednesday denied "persistent rumours" that next year's Africa Cup of Nations will be moved from Gabon. Gabon is scheduled to host the event from January 14 to February 5, although the country is mired in political crisis. In a statement the CAF said its president Issa […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Benfica must wait on a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after they squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Turkey's Besiktas on Wednesday. The Portuguese cruised into a 3-0 lead inside barely half an hour but were pegged back as the Turks maintained their unbeaten record with […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig are determined to defend their hard-earned status as the new Bundesliga leaders with a win at Freiburg on Friday to pile the pressure on faltering Bayern Munich. Leipzig, sponsored by Austrian energy drinks giant Red Bull, went top last Friday with a 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen, setting a new […]

Watford will be the next team featured on NBC Sports' critically-acclaimed Behind The Badge series, which takes viewers behind the scenes to reveal the inner workings of Premier League clubs. Last season, it was Crystal Palace that was the subject of the Behind The Badge series. This season, the four-part series debuts this Sunday, Nov. […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Portugal's Benfica must wait on a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after they squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Turkey's Besiktas on Wednesday. The Portuguese cruised into a 3-0 lead inside barely half an hour but were pegged back as the Turks maintained their unbeaten record […]

Paris (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that everyone agrees on the need to expand the World Cup finals but there are divisions on whether there should be 40 or 48 teams. Infantino campaigned for the FIFA leadership this year on the back of adding to the 32 nations at the current World […]

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – Christian Noboa's superb free-kick earned Rostov a shock 3-2 Champions League win over Bayern Munich in Russia on Wednesday, leaving Carlo Ancelotti's side facing a tough last-16 draw. Douglas Costa rifled Bayern ahead on 35 minutes at the Olimp-2 stadium, but Rostov equalised through Sardar Azmoun on the stroke of half-time […]

London (AFP) – A fourth former footballer said he too suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a youth coach as an aspiring player, in a snowballing scandal rocking the game in Britain. Former England and Manchester City star David White, now 49, joins ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker Paul Stewart and two other former players alleging […]

London (AFP) – FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Wales and Northern Ireland over the display of commemorative poppy symbols in their recent matches, the world governing body announced on Wednesday. Both countries' football associations opted against allowing their players to wear black armbands with poppy symbols, but they have been charged anyway. Both have […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale will miss his side's blockbuster clash with Barcelona next weekend due to an ankle injury, Spanish media reported on Wednesday. Bale was forced off just before the hour mark of Real's 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday as the European champions secured their place in the […]

Paris (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrapped up the first of 11 executive meetings with federation representatives Wednesday by saying those gathered in Paris were all in favour of expanding the World Cup. Infantino is all for growing the cash cow tournament from 32 to as many as 48 teams. A 48-team format would […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayer Leverkusen boss Rudi Voeller admits their qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur, was a welcome tonic before facing Bayern Munich. Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern, who are no longer top in Germany, are next up at the Allianz Arena on Saturday and Leverkusen will […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United will trigger an option to extend Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic's contract by a year, manager Jose Mourinho told a press conference on Wednesday. Ibrahimovic, 35, joined United from Paris Saint-Germain in July on a one-year contract with an option for an extra year. "Zlatan's situation is simple," Mourinho […]