Glasgow (AFP) – Manchester City failed to win for the first time under Pep Guardiola as Mousa Dembele-inspired Celtic claimed a 3-3 draw in a pulsating Champions League encounter on Wednesday. City had won their first 10 games of the season and were bidding to equal Tottenham Hotspur's English record of 11 successive victories at […]

London (AFP) – Sam Allardyce admitted an "error of judgement" on Wednesday after his one-game career as England manager came to a humiliating end following controversial comments made to undercover reporters. "Entrapment has won on this occasion and I have to accept that," Allardyce told reporters outside his home in Bolton, northwest England. "I think that […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Jurgen Klinsmann has ruled out a move for the vacant England manager's job, saying Wednesday he remained firmly focused on the United States' upcoming World Cup qualification campaign. The US coach has been named in several reports as a potential candidate to succeed Sam Allardyce, who was ousted as England boss […]

Doha (AFP) – Former Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez has become an "ambassador" for a key initiative run by Qatar 2022 World Cup organisers, officials in Doha said on Wednesday. Xavi, 36, who now plays for Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League, will become the public face of the "Generation Amazing" programme and will visit […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho may leave Wayne Rooney out of Manchester United’s starting side for the second match in a row when they face Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League on Thursday. Rooney was on the bench for United's weekend game with Premier League champions Leicester City and didn't get […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Wednesday he "feels sorry" for Sam Allardyce and still respects him, a day after his reign as England boss came to a sudden and premature end. After a mere 67 days in charge of the national side, Allardyce paid the price on Tuesday for […]

Panaji (India) (AFP) – A top Chinese football official has urged FIFA to realise the "dream" of China's fans by bringing the World Cup to the giant Asian nation in 2030 — or even sooner. Chinese Football Association vice-president Zhang Jian said FIFA's rotation policy probably ruled out a return to Asia in 2026, after […]

Bolton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Sam Allardyce admitted an "error of judgment" on Wednesday after his career as England manager came to a humiliating end following controversial comments made to undercover reporters. "Unfortunately it was an error of judgment... Entrapment has won on this occasion," he told journalists outside his home in Bolton, the morning […]

Lhasa (AFP) – Green jersey soaked with sweat, midfielder Luosang Sanzhu practises his passing on the manicured pitch of Lhasa FC, Tibet's first football club — the latest gambit to soothe lingering tensions between Tibetans and Han Chinese. Officials hope the highest club in China, which was established last year, can break down barriers in the […]

London (AFP) – As Sam Allardyce beat a shame-faced retreat from Wembley after being forced out as England manager, his place as a punchline in the national team's ever-expanding hall of shame was already etched in stone. Allardyce had coveted the England post for decades and proudly hailed his appointment in July as an overdue […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Combating match-fixing in football is absolutely crucial for the integrity of the sport, says Emilio Garcia UEFA's head of disciplinary and integrity matters. However, he concedes that it is not an easy task with the mafia behind a lot of corruption. Garcia, who was speaking at the SoccerEx Global Football […]

Paris (AFP) – Manchester United host unheralded Ukrainians Zorya Luhansk at Old Trafford on Thursday with Jose Mourinho's side aiming to get their Europa League campaign off the ground after a bumpy start. Mourinho's reluctant contenders in Europe's second-tier club competition kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Feyenoord in Rotterdam a fortnight ago. […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manager Claudio Ranieri said he had seen reassuring signs of the 'old' Leicester City after his team's 1-0 Champions League victory over Porto at the King Power Stadium. Leicester's fairytale Premier League title success was built on a miserly defence, but they have suffered some heavy losses already this season, […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane admitted he was frustrated at Real Madrid's third straight draw after Andre Schuerrle's late equaliser ensured a 2-2 stalemate at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday. Real's serene run since Zidane took charge in January has hit a minor slump in the past week as Real dropped […]

Under the guidance of new manager Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern Munich’s immaculate start to the season hasn’t taken up too many column inches. For the apex juggernaut of the German game five wins from five Bundesliga games—including 15 goals scored and just one conceded—is par for the course, such is the depth of their squad and […]