A FIFA ethics tribunal on Monday banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for eight years saying they had abused their positions over a 2 million Swiss francs payment made to Platini. The sentence against the two most powerful men in football stunningly highlighted the troubles faced by the world's most popular sport where billions of […]

Chelsea's first-team coach Steve Holland backed Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa to win back the club's supporters after they were booed during the 3-1 Premier League win over Sunderland. Fans of the West London club jeered the pair as their names were read out before Saturday's game on the PA system and then when they […]

Pep Guardiola will leave Bayern Munich as head coach at the end of the season and be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti, club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed on Sunday. "We appreciate everything Guardiola gave to our club and hope to celebrate a lot of success this season, especially as we know now he is leaving," Rummenigge […]

Chelsea's new interim manager Guus Hiddink watched his team beat Sunderland 3-1 on Saturday, while Norwich City won at Manchester United to imperil their manager Louis van Gaal. Appointed prior to kick-off in place of the sacked Jose Mourinho, Hiddink was in the stands at a discontented Stamford Bridge as Chelsea prevailed through goals from […]

Two penalties from Riyad Mahrez and a fine finish from Shinji Okazaki helped Premier League leaders Leicester to a 3-2 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday. Claudio Ranieri's surprise title contenders again underlined their collective strength with a wonderful team effort that ensures Leicester go into the Christmas period at the top of […]

Bayern Munich opened an eight-point lead in the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 1-0 win at struggling Hanover as the Bavarians wait to learn whether Pep Guardiola will leave at the end of the season. Guardiola's contract as head coach expires in June and the club say an announcement on the 44-year-old's future plans will […]

Louis van Gaal's position as Manchester United manager will come under increased scrutiny after relegation-threatened Norwich secured a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday. Goals from Cameron Jerome and Alex Tettey either side of half-time gave Alex Neil's team a 2-0 lead and Anthony Martial's reply for United couldn't stop Norwich climbing out […]

Frank Lampard’s arrival in Major League Soccer was initially belated, and then rather disappointing. An extended spell at Manchester City, having agreed to join expansion outfit New York City FC, frustrated many, with the former England international arriving Stateside a year later than expected, and mid-season. Now 37 years of age, expecting the goal-getting midfielder to […]

In search of the 10th manager of his 12-year tenure as Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich appears no nearer to his dream of owning a self-sustaining, crowd-pleasing soccer team. Jose Mourinho, sacked on Thursday, came back to Chelsea in 2013 vowing to build a legacy, but he instead brought characteristic short-term success, followed by a staggeringly […]

Chelsea start life after Jose Mourinho with a vital showdown against Sunderland on Saturday as the crisis-torn Premier League champions look to climb away from the relegation zone. Prior to his sacking on Thursday, Mourinho insisted that while the club was struggling near the bottom three, they were not in a relegation fight. But if […]

Germany's soccer association promised a package worth millions of euros to secure a crucial vote from disgraced official Jack Warner for its bid to host the 2006 World Cup, Der Spiegel said Friday. The news magazine — which in October broke the story alleging Germany bought votes to secure hosting rights for the tournament — […]

Guus Hiddink is "absolutely perfect" to step in as Chelsea's savior following Jose Mourinho's sacking, former Blues assistant boss Ray Wilkins said Friday, as reports said the Dutchman was poised to get the job. The 69-year-old is in a London hotel "holding discussions with Blues officials," the BBC reported. Hiddink "is yet to sign a […]

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque says he plans to step down from the post after Euro 2016 in France, according to extracts from his new book which were published on Friday. "If everything goes as expected, after Euro 2016 I will leave the national team and the Spanish football federation. It is also a question […]

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has apologized to West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Pulis for his emotional outburst following last weekend's fiery Premier League clash. Klopp and Pulis had several heated exchanges on the touchline during the 2-2 draw at Anfield, and the Reds boss did not exchange the customary handshake with his opposite number at […]

When Quique Sanchez Flores took over at Watford in the summer, many expected the club's direction to change. He’s an exotic name, after all, and having managed Atletico Madrid to the UEFA Europa League crown in 2010, Flores came with a stellar reputation. Free-flowing, continental soccer was anticipated at Vicarage Road. But the former Valencia […]