Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic resumed his torment of Saint-Etienne with a hat-trick as Manchester United claimed a 3-0 victory in their Europa League last 32 first-leg encounter on Thursday. Saint-Etienne were the Swede's favoured prey during his time with Paris Saint-Germain and his treble took his tally against the French side to […]

London (AFP) – German playmaker Mesut Ozil is not happy at being singled out for criticism over Arsenal's abject 5-1 thrashing by Bayern Munich in Wednesday's Champions League last 16 first leg, his agent told the BBC on Thursday. The 28-year-old — who like fellow star Alexis Sanchez is yet to commit himself to a […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – United States forward Clint Dempsey has been given the all-clear to return to football following a six-month layoff due to an irregular heartbeat, US Soccer confirmed. The Seattle Sounders striker, who had not played since last August, has already played 30 minutes and a full 45 minutes during pre-season action for […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Experienced Uruguayan international defender Martin Caceres signed for English Premier League side Southampton until the end of the season on Thursday. The 29-year-old — capped 68 times and a member of the team that won the 2011 Copa America and reached the 2010 World Cup semi-finals — has been a […]

London (AFP) – Beleaguered Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger received some welcome support on Thursday from British athletics legend and Arsenal fan Mo Farah. Wenger has been pilloried in the press and by frustrated fans following Wednesday's 5-1 hammering by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16 first leg. With the 67-year-old Frenchman's contract due […]

Paris (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur have work to do in their Europa League round of 32 tie against Gent after losing 1-0 in the first leg in Belgium on Thursday. The only goal of the game came just before the hour mark when French striker Jeremy Perbet scored at the second attempt from a Danijel […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said all thoughts of their Champions League clash at Porto next week are banned as the Serie A champions prepare to host struggling Palermo on Friday. Juventus, beaten 3-1 by Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League final, travel to Portugal in the last 16 first leg next week. […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City have been fined £35,000 ($44,000, 41,000 euros) after accepting they breached Football Association rules on anti-doping. A statement issued by the FA, English football's governing body, on Thursday said City had failed to ensure their "club whereabouts" information was accurate. The fine was imposed following an independent regulatory commission hearing. […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City have been fined £35,000 ($44,000, 41,000 euros) after accepting they breached Football Association rules on anti-doping. A statement issued by the FA, English football's governing body, on Thursday said City had failed to ensure their "club whereabouts" information was accurate. The fine was imposed following an independent regulatory commission hearing. […]

London (AFP) – "Every good story has an ending. Au revoir Arsene," read the words on a sticker on display in Borehamwood, a commuter town where north London side Arsenal enjoy strong support. That sticker has been on display for several months and the words were positively polite compared to the torrent of criticism Arsene […]

London (AFP) – Former players were brutal in their criticism of manager Arsene Wenger following Arsenal's latest Champions League humiliation. And newspapers across Europe were no less scathing of Wednesday night's "nightmare" 5-1 thrashing at Bayern Munich. Just a few days after defending his former boss by saying it was "too soon" for Wenger to […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Twenty-two players and officials from Laos and Cambodia have been handed life bans in one of Asian football's biggest mass punishments for match-fixing. The Asian Football Confederation said the action follows an investigation that started in 2014, and that it will seek to have the bans extended worldwide. "The (AFC) Disciplinary […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hailed the impact of Karim Benzema after his compatriot lifted the European champions from the early blow of conceding to beat Napoli 3-1 on Wednesday. Madrid are now on the brink of a seventh successive Champions League quarter-final as they aim to become the first team to […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti has backed under-fire Arsene Wenger to lead Arsenal out of their slump, despite their "sensational" 5-1 Champions League thrashing in Germany. Wenger's 20-year reign as Arsenal coach is under pressure after their mauling at Thiago Alcantara-inspired Bayern. The Gunners had few answers to the hosts' second-half […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted his side had "collapsed mentally" in their 5-1 Champions League rout by Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The under-pressure Frenchman said there were no excuses as the Gunners faced a seventh successive last-16 exit after their latest mauling. "We conceded the second goal and then the most […]