Paris (AFP) – Premier League side West Ham United will face Romanians Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League play-off round later this month after Friday's draw. The ties on August 18 and August 25 will be a repeat of the tie last season when Astra beat the Hammers in the third qualifying round. Slaven Bilic's […]

Milan (AFP) – Silvio Berlusconi agreed on Friday to sell more than 99 percent of AC Milan to a group of Chinese investors, announced Fininvest, the holding company of the Berlusconi family. A preliminary agreement after months of negotiations sets the value of the Italian giants at 740 million euros ($825.4 million). The deal was […]

Paris (AFP) – Pep Guardiola's Manchester City were handed a relatively easy tie against Romanian side Steaua Bucharest as the Champions League Group phase play-offs were drawn in Nyon on Friday. "I wanted any team but City," said a blanched Steaua coach Laurențiu Reghecampf, while City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain took a cautious approach. "It’s […]

Jerusalem (AFP) – When Celtic play Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel in the playoff round for the Champions League group stages, it will in the most southernly stadium in UEFA's history. The Israeli side were drawn against the Scottish giants on Friday, with the winner qualifying for the group stages of Europe's top football competition. Hapoel […]

Geneva (AFP) – FIFA's ethics committee on Friday cleared president Gianni Infantino of ethics violations after investigating him over his use of private jets, personal expenses, hiring methods and a contract dispute. "After conducting both preliminary and formal investigation proceedings, the investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has decided to conclude its investigations concerning […]

Paris (AFP) – The UEFA Best Player in Europe award for 2016 is destined for Madrid after Real pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale plus Atletico's Antoine Griezmann were revealed as the three contenders Friday. Bale led Wales on a wonderful run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals and also won the Champions League, and while […]

London (AFP) – Everton's Bosnian midfielder Muhamed Besic is facing six months on the sidelines with a knee injury, he revealed on Friday. "6 months out! #devastated," the 23-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international wrote on his Twitter account. Besic was forced off by injury just 12 minutes after coming on in Wednesday's testimonial match for […]

London (AFP) – West Bromwich Albion have agreed to sell the club to Chinese investment group Yunyi Guokai (Shanghai) Sports Development Limited, the Premier League side announced on Friday. No financial details have been announced, but former chairman Jeremy Peace was looking for 150 million pounds ($197.1 million, 177 million euros) when he put the […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil captain Neymar slammed his side's goalless draw with South Africa to start their Rio 2016 campaign as "a defeat" and insisted there would be no easy path to a maiden Olympic gold. Neymar and Brazilian football's newest golden boys Gabriel Jesus, who completed a $35.4 million (31.7 million euros) […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil and superstar Neymar were booed off as their quest for a maiden Olympic football gold medal began with a 0-0 draw against 10-man South Africa. Barcelona ace Neymar is by far the biggest name in the competition and has been tasked with restoring pride to Brazilian football after a […]

Glasgow (AFP) – One of world football's most intense and bitter rivalries will be resurrected in this season's Scottish Premiership as Rangers return to challenge old foes Celtic, now managed by former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. Rangers won the second-tier Championship last season and so the Glasgow giants will now compete in the Scottish top […]

NBCSN netted 1.3 million viewers for the US women's soccer team's opening game of the 2016 Rio Olympics. For the broadcast of Wednesday's game where the US women won 2-0 against New Zealand, the viewing figure is up 107% from the 2012 London Olympics opener when the United States played France (629,000 viewers). Commentating the […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Barcelona star Neymar failed to provide the expected flying start to Brazil's quest for a maiden football Olympic gold medal as the hosts were held 0-0 by 10-man South Africa in their Rio 2016 opener Thursday. Neymar is by far the biggest name taking part in the football competition and […]

London (AFP) – Cheikhou Kouyate scored twice as West Ham United beat Slovenians NK Domzale 3-0 to reach the Europa League play-off round in their first game at their new ground. Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Slaven Bilic's side won 4-2 on aggregate at London Stadium courtesy of Senegalese midfielder Kouyate's first-half double and […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazil football legend Pele wants to light the Rio Olympic flame at the opening ceremony on Friday, but poor health may prevent him from accepting the honor, his spokesman said Thursday. Doubts over whether Pele, 75, would be free to carry the torch to the cauldron in the Maracana stadium have […]