Shanghai (AFP) – Chelsea's Oscar said he was looking forward to joining his "new family" on Friday after Shanghai SIPG sealed terms on what will be China's fifth Asian-record signing in less than a year. The 25-year-old Brazil midfielder, snared for a reported £60 million (70.5 million euros), becomes just the latest top player in […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Asian title-holders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors could be banned from next year's AFC Champions League over a match-fixing scandal after a new eligibility body was unveiled on Friday. Jeonbuk, who lifted the Asian trophy in November, two months after they were punished for match-fixing in South Korea's K-League, face a possible one-year […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admits he's not a fan of plastic pitches as the Scottish champions prepare to take on Hamilton. The runaway leaders play Hamilton on their FIFA-approved synthetic surface on Saturday as they bid to maintain their 14-point gap ahead of bitter rivals Rangers at the top of the Scottish […]

London (AFP) – The present Chelsea regime did not break any rules in keeping quiet about allegations of sex abuse suffered by former youth player Gary Johnson, the English Premier League said. "After careful consideration, the board has determined that no Premier League rules were broken by the club not reporting this matter to them […]

Milan (AFP) – A first-half free-kick from Stephan El Shaaraway sent Roma on their way to a precious 3-1 win over Chievo that moved them to within four points of Juventus on Thursday. With Juventus in Super Cup action in Doha this Friday against AC Milan but facing a relatively easy fixture with Crotone on […]

Paris (AFP) – The on form, all action Nice midfielder Younes Belhanda will be out of action for up to six weeks with a toe injury that also rules him out of the Africa Cup of Nation in Gabon. One of France's top performers of the Ligue 1 season so far the loss may be […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – FIFA Club World Cup flops Mamelodi Sundowns got back on the winning trail Thursday when they edged Baroka 1-0 away in the final South African Premiership match this year. After surprisingly winning the CAF Champions League in October, the Pretoria club came off second best against two Asian opponents in the world […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain have agreed a deal with Wolfsburg to sign German World Cup-winning midfielder Julian Draxler for 36 million euros (£30.5m, $37.5m), according to the website of French sports daily L'Equipe. Draxler, 23, is on the market after a difficult first half to the season with a struggling Wolfsburg side and was […]

Doha (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri denied on Thursday that his side were at an advantage because their Italian Super Cup final opponents AC Milan touched down in Qatar 24 hours late. Milan only arrived in Doha late Tuesday — a full day after Juve — after technical problems with their plane pushed back […]

London (AFP) – Alan Pardew has been sacked as Crystal Palace manager with the club just above the relegation places, the Premier League side's chairman Steve Parish said on Thursday. Pardew, 55, guided Palace to last season's FA Cup final where they lost to Manchester United in extra time but their Premier League form this […]

London (AFP) – Injured West Ham United striker Diafra Sakho is facing a two-month lay-off, ruling the Senegal international out of the Africa Cup of Nations, Hammers' manager Slaven Bilic revealed on Thursday. Bilic reported: "He had a back operation and he's going to be out for six to eight weeks. Of course it will […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur and France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has extended his contract until 2022, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. "We are delighted to announce that Hugo Lloris has signed a new contract with the club, which will run until 2022," Spurs announced on their official Twitter account. Lloris, 29, moved to […]

Univision Deportes has revealed the announcers and studio analysts for this week's Liga MX Apertura Final between Club America and Tigres. The first leg of the final will be played on Thursday, December 22 at 10pm ET at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The second leg will be featured on Christmas Day, December 25 at […]

Berlin (AFP) – Dieter Hecking was on Thursday named as the new coach of Borussia Moenchengladbach, the former Wolfsburg manager's arrival coming 24 hours after the sacking of Andre Schubert. Hecking, dismissed by Wolfsburg in October, has signed a deal with the struggling Bundesliga side until 2019. Schubert on Wednesday became the seventh Bundesliga coach […]

Zurich (AFP) – Lionel Messi's beaten Copa America finalists Argentina end the year top of FIFA's world rankings while France, defeated in the Euro 2016 final, were named "mover of the year". Argentina finish 2016 out in front of arch rivals Brazil to inherit the 'team of the year' title from Belgium, displaced from the […]