Istanbul (AFP) – Turkish police on Thursday detained a former prominent footballer from the Istanbul giants Galatasaray on suspicion of links to the group blamed for the July 15 failed coup. Ismail Demiriz, who played for Galatasaray from 1984-1993 as well as 27 times for the Turkish national side, was detained in the Istanbul district […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at the "football Einsteins" who have criticised him during the club's recent run of three straight defeats. United stopped the rot with a 3-1 win over third-tier Northampton Town in the third round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday after losing to Manchester City, […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona star Lionel Messi will be sidelined for the next three weeks due to a groin strain, dealing a huge blow to his club and country. "To lose Lionel Messi means football loses and we lose," said Barca boss Luis Enrique. Messi limped off just before the hour mark of the Spanish […]

Seoul (AFP) – Chinese clubs have splashed out hundreds of millions of dollars in the quest for football glory but they could learn a few lessons from South Korea, which remains an Asian powerhouse at club and international level. Recent evidence suggests that despite China's headline-grabbing outlay on players and coaches, often for exorbitant sums, […]

Mumbai (AFP) – Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan said it's only a matter of time before underperforming midfielder Paul Pogba starts justifying his world-record price tag for Jose Mourinho's lacklustre side. Forlan, now playing for India's Mumbai City FC, endured a torrid start to his Red Devils career but went on to become a fan favourite […]

Madrid (AFP) – La Liga giants Valencia are searching for their ninth permanent coach in the past four years following the sacking of former Liverpool assistant manager Pako Ayestaran. The six-time Spanish champions are enduring their worst start to a league season for 17 years as four straight defeats to start to the campaign leaves them […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and his Manchester City rival Pep Guardiola were dealt an English Football League Cup rendezvous after both teams came through their third-round ties on Wednesday. United won 3-1 at third-tier Northampton Town to ease some of the pressure building on Mourinho following three consecutive defeats, while holders […]

Milan (AFP) – Gonzalo Higuain returned to scoring ways as champions Juventus regained top spot from misfiring Napoli thanks to a 4-0 rout of outclassed Genoa in Turin on Wednesday. Higuain, signed from Napoli for an Italian record 90m euros, had failed to find the net in Juve's past two outings — a scoreless draw […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi appeared to suffer the recurrence of a groin strain as he limped off early in the second-half of Barcelona's crunch La Liga clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. The five-time World Player of the Year missed Argentina's World Cup qualifier with Venezuela earlier this month due to the problem and […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Kaizer Chiefs won for the first time this season on Wednesday and Orlando Pirates surrendered a perfect record on matchday 3 of the South African Premiership. A harshly awarded second-half penalty was driven into the corner of the net on 65 minutes by George Lebese to give Chiefs a 1-0 win at […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Colombia international forward Radamel Falcao will spend the night in hospital after suffering a knock to the head in a Ligue 1 match on Wednesday. The Monaco striker was caught in a sandwich between goalkeeper Yoann Cardinale and defender Paul Baysse just before half-time in the 4-0 defeat at Nice. "Radamel […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United prevailed 3-1 at third-tier Northampton Town in the English Football League Cup on Wednesday to ease some of the pressure beginning to build on manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho had seen United lose their three previous games, but goals from Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and substitute Marcus Rashford at Sixfields took […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's record-equalling 16-game La Liga win streak came to an end as Villarreal held out for a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. The European champions were looking to surpass the Liga mark of 16 wins first set by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in 2010/11, but were made to pay […]

Berlin (AFP) – Leaders Bayern Munich are now the only team in Germany's top flight still with a perfect 100% record following Wednesday's 3-0 Bundesliga win at home to Hertha Berlin. Midfield stars Franck Ribery, Thiago Alcantara and Arjen Robben netted at the Allianz Arena in a workmanlike display from Carlo Ancelotti's side to make […]

Paris (AFP) – Controversial star Mario Balotelli continued his fine start to life on the French Riviera by helping fire Nice to the top of Ligue 1 on Wednesday. The Italy international scored his second brace in as many league appearances for Nice in a 4-0 thumping of local rivals Monaco to leap-frog champions Paris […]