Tokyo (AFP) – France's bid for men's Olympic football glory got off to a nightmare start with a 4-1 defeat by Mexico on Thursday, while a strong Spain side stuttered to a goalless stalemate with Egypt. Sylvain Ripoll's France are looking for a first Olympic medal since winning gold in 1984, but collapsed in the […]

Arsenal have reportedly come to a £50 million (roughly $68 million) agreement with Brighton for defender Ben White. The successful move for the 23-year-old center back came after two previous bids were rejected by the Seagulls. Assuming the transfer is completed at the reported price, White will be the fifth most expensive center back in […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazilian legend Pele hailed Marta as "much more than a footballer" and an "inspiration" after she scored in a fifth Olympic Games on Wednesday. The 35-year-old scored twice as Brazil opened their Tokyo Olympics campaign with a 5-0 rout of China. "I hope you're dreaming about what you did a […]

Belo Horizonte (Brazil) (AFP) – Boca Juniors players and officials were released by Brazilian police on Wednesday after 12 hours being questioned following a brawl at the end of their clash with local side Atletico Mineiro. The Argentine giants' players and staff are accused of attacking opposing players and the match officials, including with an […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Gold medal favourites the United States began their bid for a fifth women's Olympic football title with an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Sweden, while Team GB kicked off their campaign at the Tokyo Games by beating Chile on Wednesday and the Netherlands put 10 past fellow debutants Zambia. The US have won […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Gold medal favourites the United States began their bid for a fifth women's Olympic football title with an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Sweden, while Team GB kicked off their campaign at the Tokyo Games by beating Chile on Wednesday. The US have won four of six Olympic titles since women's football was […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Players from the United States and Team GB were among those to take a knee ahead of Wednesday's opening matches in the women's Olympic football tournament to highlight racial injustice. All 22 players took part in the gesture prior to kick-off between four-time Olympic champions the US and Sweden in Tokyo, an […]

London (AFP) – Marcus Rashford has defended his off-field partnerships and questioned why footballers "can't just do the right thing" for charity after learning of claims that he has profited from his campaigning. The Manchester United and England forward, 23, said on Twitter that British political magazine The Spectator was set to run a story […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Players from Team GB and Chile took a knee ahead of Wednesday's opening match of the women's Olympic football tournament in Sapporo to highlight racial injustice. All 22 players took part in the gesture prior to kick-off, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently relaxing some of the rules for protests at […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Bryan Ruiz's headed second-half goal was all Costa Rica would need to beat Jamaica 1-0 and claim first place in Group C at the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament on Tuesday at Exploria Stadium in Florida. Costa Rica, who survived a red card to their goalkeeper Leonel Moreira, needed only a draw […]

London (AFP) – Everton have signed former England winger Andros Townsend on a two-year deal, the Premier League club announced Tuesday. Townsend, 30, was a free agent after his contract with Crystal Palace expired at the end of last season. The move to Merseyside will see Townsend linking up again with new Toffees manager Rafael […]

Tokyo (AFP) – South Africa's Olympic football coach fears his players' health could be at risk after being forced to isolate at the Tokyo Games, citing Christian Eriksen's traumatic ordeal at Euro 2020. The team head into their opening game against Japan on Thursday in disarray after two players and a video analyst tested positive […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – African football's governing body CAF supports staging the World Cup every two years and is pushing ahead with plans for a continental Super League, according to a statement released on Monday. An executive committee meeting chaired by president Patrice Motsepe in Morocco at the weekend backed a Saudi Arabian proposal at a […]

Milan (AFP) – Outspoken Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso regretted Monday having been unable to defend himself amid an online campaign by some Tottenham Hotspur fans accusing him of being homophobic and racist. The 2006 World Cup winner had looked set to succeed Jose Mourinho as manager of the Premier League side before the accusations. "I […]

Paris (AFP) – Two-time former European champions Benfica were paired with Spartak Moscow in the third qualifying round for this year's Champions League, in the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday. Scottish champions Rangers will face Malmo or HJK Helsinki while their Glasgow rivals Celtic will play PSV Eindhoven or Galatasaray if they beat Midtjylland […]