Zurich (AFP) – Former world football chief Sepp Blatter on Monday met with a Swiss prosecutor investigating suspected fraud surrounding a FIFA payment to Michel Platini, as the long-running probe inches towards a conclusion. Former FIFA president Blatter, 85, is being investigated over a two million Swiss franc ($2.2 million, 1.85 million euro) payment in […]

Paris (AFP) – Barcelona could not afford to keep Lionel Messi but Paris Saint-Germain have made their move for the 34-year-old and, while the cost of the deal may be astronomical, it is still likely to be a very smart bit of business if or when it goes through. Barca — swimming in debt of […]

Geneva (AFP) – Murat Yakin was appointed Monday as the new boss of the Swiss national football team, with an eye on greater success after their impressive run to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals. Yakin, 46, takes over from Vladimir Petkovic, who stepped down after seven years in charge of the "Nati" to take over at […]

Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi is expected to arrive in the French capital on Monday, lured by the limitless funds of Paris Saint-Germain, having said a tearful farewell to Barcelona after 21 years. The 34-year-old, seen by the French giants' Qatari owners as the vital missing piece of their frustrating Champions League puzzle, has already […]

Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi is expected to arrive in Paris on Monday, lured by the limitless funds of PSG, having said a tearful farewell to Barcelona after 21 years. The 34-year-old, seen by the French giants' Qatari owners as the vital missing piece of their frustrating Champions League puzzle, has already had fans playing […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona started life without Lionel Messi on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Juventus in the pre-season Gamper Trophy. Messi had earlier Sunday said his farewells to the club he had served for 20 years at a tearful news conference. Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Barcelona after just three minutes with […]

Paris (AFP) – Marseille came back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Montpellier in their French Ligue 1 opener on Sunday but the game was held up when fans pelted the pitch with bottles. The clash at the Stade Mosson was halted in the 89th minute after Marseille substitute Valentin Rongier had been […]

London (AFP) – Fulham manager Marco Silva felt his first game in charge of the London club should have ended in victory after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Middlesbrough in English football's second-tier Championship on Sunday. Newly relegated from the Premier League, Fulham went ahead at their Craven Cottage ground through a […]

Paris (AFP) – Talsmanic Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz grabbed a last gasp goal as Lille fought back to a 3-3 draw at Metz as the French champions opened their title defence on Sunday. The surprise champions, who also beat Paris Saint-Germain in the French Super Cup last week, were trailing 3-1 before late goals from […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Kyogo Furuhashi marked his home debut for Celtic with a hat-trick as the Hoops hammered Dundee 6-0 in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday. The Japan international scored twice from close range in the first half and went off to applause from a crowd of 24,500 soon after completing his treble midway […]

Rome (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku will not play in Inter Milan's pre-season friendly at Parma on Sunday after widespread reports in Italy said the striker was set to rejoin Chelsea in a deal worth up to 115 million euros ($135 million). Belgium forward Lukaku was not in the Inter squad for the match at the Stadio […]

Rome (AFP) – Uruguay left-back Matias Vina has signed for Roma from Palmeiras in a deal worth an initial 13 million euros ($15.3 million), the Italian club announced on Sunday. In a statement, Roma said that Vina had signed a five-year contract and that the transfer agreement includes unspecified "performance-related clauses". Brazilian side Palmeiras also […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa have signed defender Axel Tuanzebe from Premier League rivals Manchester United on a season-long loan, the Birmingham club announced Sunday. "Aston Villa is delighted to announce the loan signing of Axel Tuanzebe from Manchester United," said a club statement. Tuanzebe had returned to Villa Park two years after helping the […]

Barcelona (AFP) – As Barcelona reeled from the reality that Lionel Messi really is leaving after 17 stellar years of trophy-laden success, former Barcelona and England star Gary Lineker was quick to salute the Argentinian's legacy. "So sad watching a clearly very emotional Lionel Messi having to say goodbye to @FCBarcelona," tweeted Lineker, who spent three […]

Barcelona (AFP) – An emotional Lionel Messi confirmed Sunday he is leaving Barcelona after 17 trophy-laden years, with Paris Saint Germain his likely next port of call for a career swansong. "I have still not come to terms with the reality of leaving this club now — I love this club," said a suited Messi, who […]