Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – They share similar heavy burdens of expectation, but Brazil women's coach Vadao insists there is no battle between star footballers Marta and Neymar to be the country's darling of the 2016 Rio Olympics. Five-time World Player of the Year Marta was in sensational form as Brazil's women got off to […]

London (AFP) – Rafael Benitez and Roberto Di Matteo have no regrets about swapping the gilded life of the European elite for the Championship's war of attrition as they prepare to slug it out in the race for promotion from England's second tier. Just 12 months ago, Benitez was preparing Real Madrid for another assault […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Hosts Brazil and world champions the United States got off to winning starts in the Olympics women's football tournament although the competition met with a lukewarm response from fans. Brazil comfortably saw off the challenge of China 3-0 at the Olympic stadium in Rio thanks to goals from Monica, Andressa […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wayne Rooney has described Jose Mourinho's low-key approach to life as Manchester United manager but insists the new Old Trafford chief has a fierce will to win. The United and England captain was talking after he marked his testimonial with a goalless draw against Everton, his team’s final preparation before […]

Despite featuring a matchup between two of the MLS’s strongest fanbases (Sporting KC and Portland Timbers), the viewership for this season’s final MLS broadcast on the over-the-air FOX network was largely disappointing. The 348,000 viewers is the worst we have seen on the FOX broadcast network, and as one of only four MLS matches available free-to-air […]

Paris (AFP) – Radamel Falcao scored before coming off injured as Monaco beat Fenerbahce in the Champions League third qualifying round on Wednesday, while Celtic also advanced to the play-offs in dramatic fashion against Astana. Monaco played host to the Turkish giants at the Stade Louis II looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The two clubs of Wayne Rooney's professional career played out a 0-0 draw in his testimonial game at Old Trafford Wednesday as Jose Mourinho managed Manchester United for the first time at their home stadium. The low-key meeting with Everton was a predictable pre-season affair, with Mourinho using 22 players […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil's women footballers ensured the opening day of action at Rio 2016 was a happy one for the hosts with a 3-0 win over China on Wednesday. The sight of vast swathes of empty seats at the 60,000-seater Olympic stadium for Sweden's 1-0 win over South Africa in the first […]

New York (AFP) – A US judge has delayed until January 27 this week's planned sentencing of disgraced former Honduran president Rafael Callejas in the sweeping corruption scandal rocking world soccer. The 72-year-old was scheduled this Friday to become the first defendant sentenced in the FIFA scandal in New York after pleading guilty to conspiracy […]

Brussels (AFP) – Former Everton and Wigan coach Spaniard Roberto Martinez has been given the enviable task of leading Belgium's multi-talented national side to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, The Belgian federation said Wednesday. The 43-year-old Spaniard known for building flair sides with a penchant for attack, takes over from the unpopular coach Marc […]

Solna (Sweden) (AFP) – Barcelona thumped English Premier League champions Leicester City 4-2 in a pre-season friendly in Sweden on Wednesday but Claudio Ranieri's side were given hope by a second-half brace from new boy Ahmed Musa. Lionel Messi's sumptuous pass set up the first of Munir El Haddadi's two first-half goals while Luis Suarez […]

London (AFP) – South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar is training with Sunderland as he tries to win a contract with the Premier League club. New Sunderland manager David Moyes signed Pienaar when he was in charge at Everton in 2008 and the Scot is keen to see what his former player has to offer. The […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – Bordeaux have signed the full-back Youssouf Sabaly on loan from their Ligue 1 rivals Paris Saint-Germain for the coming season, the two clubs confirmed on Wednesday. Sabaly, 23, had earlier extended his contract with the French champions until 2020 before agreeing the switch to the south-west on a one-year loan. Sabaly has […]

London (AFP) – Senegal midfielder Mohamed Diame has dropped down a division to join Newcastle United from Hull City, his new club announced on Wednesday. The 29-year-old, capped 28 times, has signed a three-year contract and is reported to have cost Newcastle £4.5 million ($6 million, 5.4 million euros). Newcastle were relegated from the Premier […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy's Serie A giant Inter Milan said Wednesday it has snapped up Lazio winger Antonio Candreva on a four year contract. "I am really happy and proud to be here," Candreva told Inter Milan's website. "I always wanted to come to Inter and I'm really excited to become a Nerazzurri player at last," […]