Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – China has withdrawn as the 2023 Asian Cup host due to the coronavirus, football officials said Saturday, with Beijing's strict zero-Covid strategy dealing another blow to the country's sporting ambitions. Authorities in China are pursuing a strategy of stamping out the virus entirely, which includes rapid lockdowns and mass testing, and […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has hit back at former Manchester United stars Patrice Evra and Dimitar Berbatov for criticising the character of his Manchester City side after their painful Champions League exit. Guardiola was infuriated by comments from the two players after City's defeat over two legs against Real Madrid in the semi-finals of […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has conceded that only winning the League Cup would not mean a successful season for his team, who remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple. Klopp's men face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday in a repeat of the League Cup final in February, which the […]

London (AFP) – Leeds boss Jesse Marsch has hailed the spirit at the relegation-threatened Premier League club after owners met with the squad in an attempt to boost their survival push. Marsch's side are in grave danger of slipping back into the Championship after just two seasons in the top flight, with just two games […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard said Friday that Philippe Coutinho would "go up a level" afer signing a four-year deal to join the Premier League club from Barcelona. The 29-year-old Brazilian, who has moved for a fee of 20 million euros ($21 million, £17 million) has impressed since arriving at Villa on […]

Paris (AFP) – Gianluigi Donnarumma has warned Paris Saint-Germainthat they must choose between him and rival goalkeeper Keylor Navas next season. Italian Donnarumma signed from AC Milan last summer to join veteran Navas, 35, who has been in the French capital since leaving Real Madrid in 2019. Despite stressing his "very good relationship" with Navas, […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel hopes Mateo Kovacic can play through the pain barrier as the Chelsea midfielder battles to recover from an ankle injury in time for Saturday's FA Cup final against Liverpool. Kovacic limped out of Wednesday's 3-0 win at Leeds after being caught by Daniel James in a tackle that led to […]

Paris (AFP) – Leftist politicians were up in arms Friday after a US investment firm purchased a beloved blue-collar soccer club, warning that a French cultural and sporting icon could wither in American hands. Third-division Red Star — rendered in English for reasons obscure — is one of France's oldest clubs, created in 1897 by […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish club Espanyol announced the dismissal on Friday of coach Vicente Moreno, two rounds before the end of the La Liga season. "RCD Espanyol has decided not to continue with Vicente Moreno as coach of the first team," the club said in a statement which also announced the sacking of sports director Francisco […]

Berlin (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski has opened the door to a high-profile transfer after telling Bayern Munich that he will not be extending his contract beyond June 2023 when it expires, German media reported on Friday. The 33-year-old Poland international forward has scored 343 goals for Bayern and twice picked up FIFA's Player of the […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool will bid to keep their quadruple chase alive in Saturday's FA Cup final against a Chelsea side hoping to welcome incoming owner Todd Boehly with victory at Wembley. Jurgen Klopp's men have four matches left in their historic attempt to become the first English team to win all four major trophies […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland will be out to make his final mark on the Bundesliga this Saturday by breaking Hertha Berlin hearts on the last day of a gruelling relegation fight. Norwegian star Haaland will make his last appearance for Dortmund against Hertha this weekend before completing a long-awaited move to […]

Paris (AFP) – Bordeaux face relegation from Ligue 1 for the first time in 31 years this weekend, but the fallout for a club deep in financial turmoil risks extending far beyond simply dropping down a division. The six-time French champions realistically need to win their final two games, at home to Lorient on Saturday […]

Rome (AFP) – AC Milan welcome Atalanta to the San Siro on Sunday knowing this could be the weekend that they snatch the Scudetto from local rivals Inter Milan. Needing four points from their final two games of the season, Milan stand on the brink of a first Serie A title since 2011 and they […]

London (AFP) – Sergio Aguero admitted he was grateful to Manchester City as his former club prepared to unveil a statue celebrating their record scorer's most famous goal. Aguero memorably netted the stoppage-time strike against QPR that sealed City's Premier League title triumph at the Etihad Stadium in 2012. The Argentine forward's 93rd minute goal […]