London (AFP) – England and Scotland have urged FIFA to "give the people what they want" by getting the global governing body to drop its opposition to players wearing poppies on Armistice Day. England play Scotland in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley on November 11, the day when the United Kingdom traditionally remembers its […]

London (AFP) – Sunderland manager David Moyes will serve a one-match touchline ban when his struggling side travel to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday after he admitted to a Football Association misconduct charge on Tuesday. Moyes was ordered off the touchline during Wednesday's 1-0 League Cup fourth-round loss away to Southampton. The former […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri hailed goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon ahead of his 100th Champions League appearance but insisted on Tuesday the Italians' full focus is on making the last 16 against Lyon. Buffon showed a fortnight ago that, at 38 years old, he still has the reflexes to go with his […]

Warsaw (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane takes charge of his 100th match as a coach when Real Madrid face Legia Warsaw behind closed doors in Poland on Wednesday seeking to seal their place in the Champions League last 16. The holders haven't tasted defeat in any competition in 26 games since April as Zidane's first season […]

Paris (AFP) – Napoli stayed on course for a place in the Champions League last 16 after Marek Hamsik's excellent late goal secured a 1-1 draw with Besiktas in Istanbul on Tuesday. The Turkish champions had claimed a stunning 3-2 win in the reverse fixture in Naples last month to improve their own prospects in […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Maxime Gonalons said sightseeing is off the menu when Lyon face Juventus in Turin looking to salvage their Champions League campaign on Wednesday. Lyon went down 1-0 at home to 10-man Juve two weeks ago after Alexandre Lacazette had a penalty saved by Gianluigi Buffon, with Juan Cuadrado scoring the winner […]

Paris (AFP) – Jose Mourinho is facing only the latest in a series of touchline bans after being charged with misconduct for the second time in less than a week by the English Football Association on Tuesday. Here, AFP looks at some of the Manchester United manager's most notable previous brushes with authorities. – Dirty […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane has been ruled out of Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen at Wembley on Wednesday but the England striker could return in this weekend's North London derby against Arsenal. Damage to ligaments in his right ankle has seen Kane sidelined for just over six weeks but he did […]

Madrid (AFP) – Europa League holders Sevilla finally look set to make their mark on the Champions League, but coach Jorge Sampaoli's in-form side will have to do without influential playmaker Samir Nasri for Wednesday's visit of Dinamo Zagreb. Nasri has starred since joining on-loan from Manchester City as Sampaoli's excellent start in Seville has […]

London (AFP) – England are negotiating with FIFA over whether they can wear a poppy tribute to war veterans when they play Scotland on Armistice Day on November 11, officials said. The Sun newspaper said FIFA had refused to let England and Scotland display poppies on their shirts during the game because it would be […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho faces a touchline ban after being charged with misconduct for the second time in less than a week by the Football Association on Tuesday. The outspoken Portuguese's latest brush with authority came after he was sent to the stands during Saturday's frustrating goalless draw home to Burnley. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany's prolific Miroslav Klose, the all-time World Cup top-scorer, announced his retirement on Tuesday at the age of 38. The striker, Germany's record scorer with 71 goals in 137 internationals, was without a club after his Lazio contract expired last season and he will now join the national side's coaching staff. Klose […]

Milan (AFP) – Frank de Boer has been sacked as coach of Inter Milan after just 11 Serie A games for failing to ignite the Italian giants at home and in Europe. Sunday's loss at similarly struggling Sampdoria was Inter's fifth league defeat since the start of the season and prompted a fan backlash on […]

Milan (AFP) – Frank de Boer has been sacked as coach of Inter Milan after just 11 Serie A games for failing to ignite the Italian giants at home and in Europe. Sunday's loss at similarly struggling Sampdoria was Inter's fifth league defeat since the start of the season and prompted a fan backlash on […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayer Leverkusen will be without influential captain Lars Bender for Wednesday's crunch Champions League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley. Right-back Bender, who won a silver medal with Germany at the 2016 Rio Olympics, is out with a bruised heel from Saturday's 2-1 comeback win at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. Also out […]