Milan (AFP) – Italy veteran Andrea Pirlo was among the absentees as coach Antonio Conte named a provisional 28-man squad on Monday for a pre-Euro 2016 training camp with several stars absent with Cup finals to play. Conte, who earlier Monday was cleared of sporting fraud charges relating to a match-fixing affair while he was […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy coach and future Chelsea manager Antonio Conte on Monday welcomed the end of "a nightmare" after being acquitted of sporting fraud charges. "Four years ago when they came to search my house at five o'clock in the morning it was the start of a nightmare period that seemed never to end," […]

Santiago (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal were named in a strong 23-man Chile squad on Monday for next month's Copa America Centenario. Chile boss Juan Antonio Pizzi will rely heavily on the core of the side which lifted last year's Copa America when the South American showpiece kicks off in the United States […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The head of a security firm on Monday accepted "full responsiblity" for accidentally leaving behind a dummy bomb that caused Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium to be evacuated. Chris Reid, managing director of Security Search Management and Solutions, said he was "devastated" by the blunder, which left United facing a […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United blamed a security contractor on Monday over a dummy bomb that caused the abandonment of Sunday's final Premier League game against Bournemouth and left the club facing a multi-million-pound bill. The incident at Old Trafford triggered angry calls for action, with Tony Lloyd, Manchester's mayor and police and […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea and Tottenham have been fined £375,000 ($540,000, 476,000 euros) and £225,000 ($324,000, 286 euros) respectively for failing to control their players during a feisty 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this month. The tempestuous London derby boiled over as Chelsea came from two goals down to secure the point that ended […]

Milan (AFP) – Italian football federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio on Monday saluted Azzurri coach Antonio Conte, after he escaped a prison term by being acquitted of sporting fraud in a match-fixing affair. Prosecutor Roberto di Martino had requested a six-month sentence for Italy coach Conte and a fine of 8,000 euros ($9,063), as well […]

Sunderland want to sign right back DeAndre Yedlin in a £2 million transfer deal, according to reports out of England today. The potential move could be a big positive for both Sunderland and the American international. Finding a right back with 30 plus international caps under his belt at the age of 22 is rare. But since […]

Nervousness surrounded American soccer fandom in late August of last year. After two years of outstanding coverage of the Premier League in the United States, it was thought in many quarters that NBC Sports was going to lose the rights to the league to FOX Sports or ESPN. Instead, relief enveloped the soccer community when […]

London (AFP) – Bournemouth announced on Monday that they have offered free coach travel to supporters travelling to Old Trafford for Tuesday's rearranged final Premier League game against Manchester United. The match was called off on Sunday following the discovery of a suspect device, which turned out to be a fake bomb left in the […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United's teenage sensation Marcus Rashford and Newcastle United winger Andros Townsend were named in a provisional 26-man England squad for Euro 2016 on Monday. The uncapped Rashford, 18, has burst onto the scene with United this season, scoring seven goals in 16 games, while Townsend, who won the last of his […]

Here are the ten things we learned from Week 11 of the 2016 MLS season. 1. Columbus Acts, Trades Kei Kamara Thanks in part to a well-placed transfer deadline, it took just four days for the Columbus Crew to ship Kei Kamara out of town after his incredible tirade against Federico Higuain a week last […]

London (AFP) – Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta, whose contract with Arsenal is due to expire, has announced his intention to retire from playing and move into coaching. The 34-year-old said he was "99 percent" certain to hang up his boots after turning out for Arsenal for the last time in their 4-0 win over Aston […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy coach Antonio Conte has been cleared of accusations of sporting fraud following a hearing in Cremona on Monday at which prosecutors had requested a six-month prison sentence, Italian media reports said. Conte is now free to lead Italy at Euro 2016 before becoming Chelsea coach following the tournament's conclusion on July […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A fake bomb inside Old Trafford that forced the abandonment of Manchester United's last Premier League game of the season triggered angry calls Monday for action as the club faced a multi-million pound bill for the "fiasco". As inquiries started into the incident which led to bomb disposal experts blowing […]