Evian (France) (AFP) – Jerome Boateng insists it will be business as usual for Germany when they return to Stade de France on Thursday for the first time since last November's terror attacks in Paris. Die Mannschaft will play Poland in their second Group C game at Euro 2016 on their first return to the […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Russia striker Artem Dzyuba on Tuesday hit out at English fans following trouble in Marseille, saying that they were being depicted as "angels" and that there were political motivations for blaming Russian supporters. The Zenit St Petersburg forward spoke after UEFA warned Russia they would be kicked out of Euro 2016 […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – Exchanges this week between Wales star Gareth Bale and England manager Roy Hodgson represented the latest potshots in an uneven football rivalry that stretches back 137 years. Speaking ahead of his side's 2-1 win over Slovakia in their Euro 2016 opener, Bale said that England, who Wales face in Lens on […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russia on Tuesday accepted a UEFA ruling that it will be kicked out of Euro 2016 if there is new stadium unrest after the European governing body slapped the country with a fine and suspended disqualification. "We will comply with UEFA's decision. What other position can there be?" Sports Minister and Russian […]

Monday night in Lyon at the grand Stade des Lumieres was the stage Romelu Lukaku would have been itching to perform on for a long time. Having toiled at the point of an Everton team that had downed tools on its manager Roberto Martinez in the final weeks of the 2015-16 season, the Belgium international […]

Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England's players will find it "devastating" if they are thrown out of Euro 2016 due to fan violence, midfielder Adam Lallana said on Tuesday. European governing body UEFA has formally threatened to expel Russia after stadium violence in Marseille and put England on notice over its fans' behaviour. "It would be […]

When Everton looked set to miss out on Ronald Koeman, the man anointed as the club’s top target to fill the vacancy left by the dismissed Roberto Martinez, there would have been a collective shrug of the shoulders from the majority of those of a blue persuasion. This was, after all, adhering to the recent […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA on Tuesday told Russia it would be kicked out of the European Championship if its fans cause one more incident of stadium trouble during the tournament. Europe's governing body declared Russia responsible for the stadium disturbances, racist chanting and fireworks thrown during the Russia-England game in Marseille on Saturday. It ordered […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich said Tuesday they would open an office in China, their second such setup abroad, in a bid to tap into the massive Asian market. The German giants, the first club to win four back-to-back Bundesliga titles, will open their office in Shanghai on September 1, with six employees […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Dutchman Ronald Koeman became the new manager of English Premier League club Everton on Tuesday after Southampton reluctantly agreed to release him a year early from his contract. The 53-year-old — who guided Southampton to their highest finish in the Premier League of sixth last term and a place in the Europa […]

Paris (AFP) – A group of Russian football supporters was being thrown out of France on Tuesday because authorities fear they will cause trouble at Euro 2016 matches, officials said. French officials were checking the identities of 29 supporters at a hotel in Mandelieu-La Napoule near Marseille and authorities have already decided to take some […]

Paris (AFP) – Social media fiend, clothing line designer and head of a football academy in New York, Austria captain Christian Fuchs is as committed off the pitch as he is to fairytale Premier League champions Leicester City. Signed on a free transfer from German side Schalke last summer, it's been a remarkable journey for […]

Toulouse (France) (AFP) – He symbolised the end of an era after a disastrous first-round exit from the 2014 World Cup, but Andres Iniesta's critics were eating their words as the champions flexed their Euro 2016 muscles on Monday. On a rain-soaked pitch in windy Toulouse, it took Vicente del Bosque's two-time defending champions 87 […]

Sydney (AFP) – Chinese high-tech company Ledman Group was Tuesday unveiled as the new owner of Australian team Newcastle Jets, with millionaire chairman Martin Lee saying he is excited by the club's potential. The Jets have been under the stewardship of Football Federation Australia since May last year when the body seized the team licence […]

Lyon (AFP) – Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle sparked wild celebrations by Italy after scoring the goals in a 2-0 win over world number two side Belgium in their opening Euro 2016 match. Defending champions Spain, seeking an unprecedented third triumph, also started with a hard fought 1-0 win over Czech Republic. Zlatani Ibrahimovic's Sweden […]