Paris (AFP) – UEFA on Friday dropped proceedings against Liverpool and France international defender Mamadou Sakho over a doping infringement, it said. "Following a hearing with the lawyers of the player and experts of the WADA-accredited laboratories on this case, the CEDB has decided to dismiss the case," UEFA said in a statement, referring to […]

Miami (AFP) – Mexico could open the final round of qualifying for the 2018 Russia World Cup at arch rival United States as a result of Friday's draw for the six-team, round-robin schedule. The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) conducted the draw for the "hexagonal" ahead of September's concluding semi-final round […]

Madrid (AFP) – A Spanish judge on Friday dropped a fraud and corruption case against Brazilian superstar Neymar and his father in relation to the player's 2013 transfer to Barcelona. However, the judge said that irregularities in the high-profile transfer were detected, but it was an issue for a civil court, not a criminal court […]

Paris (AFP) – After 12 traumatic months buffeted by terror attacks, political turmoil and floods, France finally has something to shout about with its team's success in Euro 2016. As the host nation's new sweetheart Antoine Griezmann and his team-mates prepare to do battle with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Sunday's final, an unfamiliar feeling of […]

For soccer fans in the United States, the 2016/17 Premier League will herald two major changes. First, the early kickoffs for Premier League games on Saturdays will begin at 7:30am ET instead of 7:45am ET. That'll impact soccer fans on the west coast of the United States most who will need to ensure that they're […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Nigerian international winger Ahmed Musa became Premier League champions Leicester City's second acquisition in a week on Friday for what is believed to be a club record fee of £16.6 million ($22 million, 20 million euros). The 23-year-old, who announced his talent globally in scoring a brace against Lionel Messi's […]

Marseille (AFP) – Slovakian international defender Tomas Hubocan has joined Marseille from Dynamo Moscow, the French League 1 outfit said on Friday. The 30-year-old played twice for Slovakia at Euro 2016 and spent six years at Zenit St Petersburg before his move to Dynamo two seasons ago. Marseille have already snapped up over the summer […]

The preliminary TV schedule for the first month of Premier League action of the 2016/17 season can now be revealed. With it, we've got a much better idea of which matches will be shown at what time and where the games can be watched online and on television. Leicester City will be featured in the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola believes his rivalry with Jose Mourinho will help push him on to achieve success at Manchester City. The two managers were bitter foes when they were in charge at Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. Now they have started work at the same time in Manchester, with […]

Paris (AFP) – FIFA's disgraced former president Sepp Blatter's appeal against his six-year ban from football will be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on August 25, it was announced Friday. The CAS made no official statement on Friday but released a list of hearings with Blatter pencilled among a number of […]

Paris (AFP) – Patriotic fervour gripped Euro 2016 hosts France and Portugal on Friday with Antoine Griezmann and Cristiano Ronaldo cast as the rival superheros ahead of the tournament final. France saw a return to the feverish days of 1998 when Zinedine Zidane guided the country to a World Cup triumph. Portugal go into Sunday's […]

Dinard (France) (AFP) – Wales will climb to 11th in the FIFA rankings following their stunning semi-final showing at Euro 2016, but manager Chris Coleman said on Friday that the team must now focus on the World Cup. Gareth Bale and his team-mates returned to a heroes' welcome in Cardiff after their shock exploits in […]

Prague (AFP) – Veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech has announced his retirement from international football after a record 124 games for the Czech Republic over an eventful 14-year career. "I would hate to end up in a situation when I would start feeling tired midway through a qualifying campaign," the 34-year-old told reporters in Prague on […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Fenerbahce are set to sign the fiery Slovakian international defender Martin Skrtel on a free transfer from Liverpool, the Istanbul giants said on Friday. Last season's Turkish runners-up said in a brief statement they were in advanced talks with Liverpool and the player, who made a strong showing in helping Slovakia to […]

Marcoussis (France) (AFP) – Portugal's veteran defender Pepe remained on the sidelines Friday as his team prepared to face the daunting challenge of taking on France on home territory in Sunday's Euro 2016 final. The 33-year-old Real Madrid star, who has played a key role in Portugal's advance to the final, stretched and did warm-up […]