Preston (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsene Wenger says the FA Cup remains "a big priority" for Arsenal despite his side already waging two-pronged assaults on the Premier League and Champions League. The FA Cup has been good to the Gunners in recent years and Wenger's side travel to Championship side Preston on Saturday seeking to […]

Paris (AFP) – French club Metz were Thursday docked two points and ordered to replay their Ligue 1 match against Lyon which was abandoned after firecrackers thrown by their fans injured visiting goalkeeper Anthony Lopes. The game on December 3 at Metz's Stade Saint-Symphorien was abandoned in the 31st minute following the incidents, which came […]

World Soccer Talk has ranked the best commentators, co-commentators, studio analysts and presenters from world soccer. Up until now, each of the categories was separated, but we've decided to combine the best presenters and soccer analysts in order to compile a list of the best soccer broadcasters on television. With the ranking being based on […]

Madrid (AFP) – Athletic Bilbao held out with nine men to secure a first win over Barcelona in four years and carry a 2-1 lead into the second leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie on January 11. Two goals in three first-half minutes from Aritz Aduriz and Inaki Williams put the hosts […]

Abuja (AFP) – Algeria forward Riyad Mahrez was Thursday voted African Footballer of the Year after he inspired Leicester City to the English Premier League title last season. Mahrez, 25, beat Gabon skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scooped the prestigious accolade last year, into second place, with Senegal star Sadio Mane, who features for Liverpool, taking […]

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 […]