Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil named star playmaker Marta, known as "Pele in skirts," and veteran defender Formiga to its Olympic women's team Tuesday. Marta, 30, is a key figure not just in Brazil but women's football in general. She was selected five times (2006-2010) as world player of the year. Formiga, 38, is […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Portuguese tourism officials on Tuesday invited the France supporter who was consoled by a young Portugal fan following the hosts' narrow Euro 2016 defeat in images that have taken the internet by storm. Video footage of the heartwarming moment when the boy offered kind words, a shoulder to cry on and a […]

London (AFP) – France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry ended his association with the English Premier League club on Tuesday preferring to focus on his burgeoning media career. The 38-year-old former striker — part of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winning teams — could have coached the Gunners' under-18 side but declined the […]

Bordeaux (AFP) – An ill-judged selfie of Andre Poko smoking a shisha and wearing a Marseille shirt has cost the Bordeaux midfielder the wrath of his club. The Gabon international was summoned on Tuesday for a dressing down by Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud and club director Alain Deveseleer. The 23-year-old was "reminded of his duties […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea rewarded their player of the year, Brazilian international midfielder Willian, with a new four-year contract on Tuesday, the Premier League club announced. The 27-year-old — who Chelsea beat off London rivals Spurs to buy for £32million three years ago from Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala — professed himself delighted to be continuing […]

Paris (AFP) – The doping case that caused Mamadou Sakho to miss Euro 2016 was "horrendous" for the defender, the French football president said Tuesday, days after the Liverpool man was cleared. Noel Le Graet told reporters that the centre-back "wants to get back playing as soon as possible without talking about the case". He […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona have completed the signing of France defender Samuel Umtiti from Lyon in a deal worth 25 million euros ($27.7 million), the Spanish champions announced on Tuesday. Umtiti, 22, will pen a five-year contract with Barcelona which includes a buy-out clause of 60 million euros, the club said in a statement. Barcelona […]

Berlin (AFP) – Joachim Loew ended speculation about his immediate future when he confirmed Tuesday that he would stay on as coach of Germany despite the disappointment of the Euro 2016 semi-final defeat by France. Loew, who took Germany to World Cup glory in Brazil in 2014, said in a statement issued by the German […]

London (AFP) – Prolific Dutch international striker Vincent Janssen signed for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday from AZ Alkmaar for a reported fee of £17 million ($22.3m, 20.1m euros), the buying club announced. The 22-year-old — well known to English football fans having scored in a 2-1 friendly win over England in […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Skipper Wayne Rooney says Jose Mourinho's appointment as Manchester United manager has given him extra motivation for the new Premier League season. Mourinho, tasked with making United title contenders once more after the sacking of Louis van Gaal in May, has signalled that he sees Rooney playing up front — […]

London (AFP) – French star playmaker Dimitri Payet's impressive performances at Euro 2016 will cost potential suitors at least £50million ($65m, 58m euros) David Gold the co-chairman of his Premier League club West Ham told the BBC on Monday. The 29-year-old Frenchman — who sparkled for The Hammers last season scoring nine goals in 30 […]

London (AFP) – Five facts on Italian international striker Graziano Pelle after he became the latest high profile player to move to China signing for Shandong Luneng on Monday from Southampton: Strictly Come Dancing..... Not necessarily the thing one would own up to in the macho world of football but Pelle was a national Under-12 […]

It was a night when history trumped beauty in a European Final that didn’t come to life until late. In time, few will remember the torpid tenor that preceded the late-stage drama. This was a night to join in Portugal’s jubilation at finally breaking through after so many close calls while marveling at France’s missed […]

London (AFP) – Highly-regarded Danish international midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg became manager Claude Puel's first signing for Premier League side Southampton on Monday as he joined from German champions Bayern Munich. The 20-year-old signed a five year deal with Saints reportedly paying £12.8million ($16.6m, 15m euros) for him — £800,000 more than they received for Italian […]

Paris (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will take charge of his first competitive game with the Scottish champions on Tuesday away to Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar in the second round of Champions League qualifying. The former Liverpool boss replaced Ronny Deila at Parkhead in May and is aiming to lead the 1967 European […]