Libreville (AFP) – Two political activists called on Monday for the 'boycott and sabotage' of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations if it is not moved from Gabon "to a more stable country". Last month organisers The African Football Confederation (CAF) denied "persistent rumours" that the Jan 14-Feb 5 event would switch from Gabon whose […]

London (AFP) – West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has been given a vote of confidence by co-owner David Sullivan following speculation he was set for the sack. Reports on Monday suggested Bilic was set for crisis talks with Sullivan and fellow owner David Gold following Saturday's humiliating 5-1 home defeat against London rivals Arsenal. The […]

Asuncion (AFP) – South American football confederation CONMEBOL agreed Monday to award the Copa Sudamericana to Brazilian club Chapecoense, whose team was wiped out in a plane crash while heading to the final. "CONMEBOL awards the title for the 2016 Copa Sudamericana championship to Chapecoense," the confederation said in a statement.

London (AFP) – Sergio Aguero's four-match suspension has been confirmed by the Football Association following his dismissal in Manchester City's loss to Chelsea. City striker Aguero was shown a red card for a dangerous two-footed foul on Chelsea defender David Luiz, which led to a bust-up between players and coaches from both teams in the […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will look to turn the page on their turbulent weekend defeat by Chelsea when they entertain Celtic in their final Champions League group game on Tuesday. City's 3-1 loss on Saturday left them four points below Chelsea, who top the Premier League table, and saw Sergio Aguero and […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists his side are on the right track despite a disciplinary crisis that includes a ban for star striker Sergio Aguero. City have collected six red cards this season, including two on Saturday when Aguero and Fernandinho were sent off towards the end of a […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Sport's highest court on Monday rejected the appeal of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter against a six year ban signalling the end of his efforts to clear his name. The 80-year-old former football powerbroker was ousted over a two million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) payment to UEFA boss Michel Platini […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Sport's highest court on Monday rejected the appeal of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter against a six year ban signalling the end of his efforts to clear his name. The 80-year-old former football powerbroker was ousted over a two million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) payment to UEFA boss Michel Platini […]

Kuwait City (AFP) – Fawaz al-Hassawi, the owner of English Championship side Nottingham Forest, has resigned from his post as head of Kuwait's temporary football association, after just over three months in office. Hassawi had been appointed in August after authorities dissolved Kuwait's Football Association amid a clampdown on sports governing bodies that triggered strong […]

London (AFP) – Sergio Aguero's four-match suspension has been confirmed by the Football Association following his dismissal in Manchester City's loss to Chelsea. City striker Aguero was shown a red card for a dangerous two-footed foul on Chelsea defender David Luiz, which led to a bust-up between players and coaches from both teams in the […]

Lausanne (AFP) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday upheld a six year ban against former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, the disgraced powerbroker's spokesman told AFP. Blatter, who was ousted over a suspicious payment to ex-UEFA leader Michel Platini, called the verdict "incomprehensible" in a statement released even before the tribunal had officially […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona striker Neymar is suffering from muscle fatigue but no serious injury after Saturday's 1-1 draw with arch rivals Real Madrid, the club said on Monday. The Brazil star was substituted just before Sergio Ramos's dramatic late equaliser in El Clasico and had complained of pain in his right leg. "The FC […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatar's much-criticised 2022 World Cup has been the victim of "malicious and unwarranted attacks", a senior tournament official in the Gulf said on Monday. Nasser Al-Khater, assistant secretary general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the body overseeing the organisation of the tournament in Qatar, also claimed that many of […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson on Monday took charge of second-division Chinese club Shenzhen FC, leaving the top tier of China football for the challenge of lifting a team out of relegation. Eriksson, who has raised the fortunes of Chinese Super League sides Guangzhou R&F and Shanghai SIPG in his three seasons […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jose Mourinho claimed he is being judged unfairly by critics after Manchester United conceded a late Leighton Baines penalty in a damaging 1-1 draw at Everton. Mourinho's team have won just twice in the league since the end of August, a run which has featured numerous draws and has derailed United's hopes […]