Middlesbrough's bid for promotion to the Premier League suffered a setback after they were forced to settle for a controversial 2-2 draw against Birmingham on Friday. Aitor Karanka's side are battling with Burnley and Brighton for the Championship's two automatic promotion places and their attempt to secure one of those lucrative berths in the top-flight […]

TV viewing numbers for MLS have increased 15% so far this season compared to the regular season averages from last year. With ESPN, FOX Sports and Univision establishing a set schedule of broadcasts each weekend as well as improved coverage, it's finally some good news for a league that hasn't had much to rave about […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Leigh Griffiths says it has been a disappointing season for Celtic, despite the Hoops closing in on the Scottish Premiership title. The Scotland striker has been in the form of his career and is the country's top scorer with 38 goals. His goal-scoring exploits and match-winning performances have led to a PFA […]

Bangkok (AFP) – A sex-tape of a racially charged orgy in a Bangkok hotel was a public relations catastrophe for Thai-owned Leicester City — but it proved an unlikely turning point in their journey to the top of the English Premier League. The offending video featured three young players including James Pearson, son of then […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona hold the slightest of advantages in a thrilling three-way La Liga title race with just three games remaining ahead of their trip to Real Betis on Saturday. The Catalans lead Atletico Madrid solely thanks to their better head-to-head record with Real Madrid just a point behind the leaders in third. However, […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew insists he has no hard feelings towards Newcastle United as he prepares to return to his struggling former club for the first time on Saturday. Pardew claims he would love to see current Magpies boss Rafael Benitez lead Newcastle to safety as they battle to avoid […]

Paris (AFP) – While Paris Saint-Germain have long since had the Ligue 1 title wrapped up, the battle for Champions League qualification beneath them is only intensifying in the final weeks of the French season. Just two points separate Lyon in second from Saint-Etienne in fifth with three matches remaining, including a crucial set of […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger will be forced to confront renewed supporter protests at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday as he attempts to stop Arsenal's troubled season imploding in the final weeks. A number of fans' groups are planning to mark the visit of struggling Norwich by displaying placards during the game demanding change after […]

Lviv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Holders Sevilla remain on course to reach yet another Europa League final after escaping from Ukraine with a 2-2 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in their semi-final first leg on Thursday. Marlos and Taras Stepanenko scored for Shakhtar after Vitolo had given Sevilla an early lead, but Kevin Gameiro's 82nd-minute penalty ensured […]

Beijing (AFP) – He has never seen a Premier League match live or even set foot outside China, but Leicester City's fairytale season has made Zhang Tianbo, 16, their most high-profile fan in the country. For the last two years Zhang has run the most active Chinese social media account devoted to the Foxes, racking […]

London (AFP) – Leicester City defender Danny Simpson insists the prolonged absence of star striker Jamie Vardy won't stop the Premier League leaders clinching the most incredible title triumph in English football history at Manchester United on Sunday. Claudio Ranieri's side have the eyes of the world on them as they head to Old Trafford […]

Paris (AFP) – Michel Platini appears before the Court of Arbitration for Sport to appeal his six-year FIFA ban for ethics violations, with his future in football hanging on the outcome. The stakes could not be higher for the suspended head of European football. A favourable verdict and the 60-year-old will take his place in […]

Liverpool have been ordered to pay English second-tier club Burnley £6.5 million ($9.5 million, 8.4 million euros) for striker Danny Ings following a tribunal on Thursday. Ings joined Liverpool last year after his Burnley contract expired, but because he was aged under 23 at the time of the move, Burnley, who rejected an offer of […]

Watching grass grow is not usually considered exciting but there's currently a buzz of anticipation among Qatar's World Cup organizers about 12 different types of turf gently sprouting on former Doha farmland. If all goes well, one of these dozen grasses will eventually take centre stage and become the most watched strips of green on […]

Adrian Lopez's stoppage-time winner put Villarreal on the verge of reaching their first ever Cup final with a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday. A game of few chances was decided by a brilliant goal at the death as Denis Suarez unselfishly squared for substitute Lopez […]