London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has changed his team's fractious nature, the Premier League club told an FA disciplinary committee following an explosive clash with Manchester City earlier this season. The Blues were fined £100,000 ($124,000, 117,000 euros) for their part in the brawl at the end of their 3-1 win at City […]

London (AFP) – Swansea's new manager Paul Clement says he is willing to embrace the Moneyball influence of the club's American owners when he looks for signings. Clement was officially unveiled on Thursday after Swansea marked his appointment with a crucial 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace 48 hours earlier to move within a […]

Paris (AFP) – Mario Balotelli was handed a two-match ban Thursday after being sent off for an off-the-ball incident in last month's 0-0 draw at Bordeaux, his club Nice said. The Italian striker and team-mate Younes Belhanda — who was given a one-match ban — were dismissed in the dying seconds as Bordeaux frustrated the […]

London (AFP) – Jaap Stam returns to Manchester United on Saturday with the Reading manager plotting an FA Cup giant-killing at the club that sold him when he fell out with Alex Ferguson. The 44-year-old Dutch former hardman defender, who won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the 1999 Champions League during his […]

Cairo (AFP) – Egypt's competition watchdog has referred Confederation of African Football chief Issa Hayatou to prosecution accusing him of breaching monopoly rules with an exclusive billion dollar television deal. The Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) announced the measure on Wednesday, days before the 16-country Cup of African Nations starts in Gabon. The authority, which comes […]

London (AFP) – Southampton captain Jose Fonte has made an official transfer request, the club said on Thursday, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City all linked with the central defender. The 33-year-old Portuguese international could move away from St Mary's in this transfer window because he has only 18 months left on his current […]

Harare (AFP) – Star Khama Billiat and fellow midfielder and captain Willard Katsande are among eight South Africa-based footballers chosen by Zimbabwe for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. The 'Warriors' will be the outsiders this month in Group B, where they will play former champions Algeria and Tunisia, and Senegal, with the […]

Harare (AFP) – Zimbabwe's sports ministry stumped up $1 million emergency funding after player grievances over accommodation and training facilities threatened preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, an official said Thursday. The side was training at a private school outside the capital Harare because the financially hamstrung football association failed to pay a $60 […]

The Hague (AFP) – A Dutch court on Thursday ordered the Chinese owners of top-flight side ADO Den Haag to pay almost 2.5 million euros ($2.6 million, £2.1 million) to the club in back payments and costs. The decision against the Chinese sports events company United Vansen and its wealthy owner Wang Hui comes after […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola denied on Thursday that he was already planning his retirement at age 45, after saying that he was "arriving at the end" of his career. The Spaniard sparked feverish speculation about his future after saying in an interview with American television station NBC that he […]

NBC Sports' fourth year of Premier League coverage has been, in some manners, stale and predictable. But as always, the real test of coverage of the world’s most popular soccer league doesn’t come in August or May, but during the festive period. This festive period was a mixed bag for NBC Sports. Let’s take a […]

Kampala (AFP) – Uganda coach Milutin Sredejovic has named only four home-based players in his 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. The Serbian-born coach, who has successfully managed to steer the Ugandan team to their first Nations Cup in 39 years, has included 18-year-old striker Muhammad Shaban in the squad. Shaban, […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Highly-rated teenager Ademola Lookman achieved his 'dream move' on Thursday signing for Premier League Everton from third tier Charlton Athletic for a fee reported to be £11 million ($13.5 mn, 12.8 mn euros). The 19-year-old forward — who broke into the Charlton first team last season, scoring five goals when they were […]

London (AFP) – Premier League strugglers Hull City appointed Marco Silva as manager for the rest of the season on Thursday. The 39-year-old Portuguese — who guided Olympiakos to the Greek title last term before resigning — replaces Mike Phelan, who was sacked on Tuesday. Silva's first match in charge of the bottom-placed club will […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Thursday downplayed Chilean star Alexis Sanchez's moody behaviour during and after the 3-3 Premier League draw with Bournemouth saying it was natural at his being frustrated. The 28-year-old forward — who is holding off from signing a new contract — had a heated discussion with midfielder Aaron […]