Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho won't let his heart rule his head as the Manchester United manager ponders handing Wayne Rooney a start in the League Cup Final against Southampton on Sunday. Rooney, 31, announced on Thursday that he will remain at Old Trafford for the rest of the season after turning down […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Managerless Rangers slumped to their second consecutive defeat as a last-minute Billy McKay strike helped Inverness Caledonian Thistle to a 2-1 win in the Scottish Premiership at the Caledonian Stadium on Friday. Greg Tansey fired Inverness into a first-half lead before Martyn Waghorn's second-half penalty levelled matters. Inverness thought their chance had […]

Paris (AFP) – Mickael Le Bihan enjoyed a dream return from 18 months out injured by coming on to score twice as Ligue 1 title hopefuls Nice came from behind to beat Montpellier 2-1 on Friday. Steve Mounie had given Montpellier an early lead at the Allianz Riviera but Le Bihan was introduced just before […]

While the past 12 months have been a turbulent time for UEFA, the European soccer organization has managed to double the amount of revenue it'll generate for Champions League and Europa League coverage in the United States. Under UEFA's current deal with FOX Sports, the broadcaster pays approximately $52 million per year for the rights […]

Harare (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino met Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe on Friday a day after he attended a birthday party for the country's football chief, an official said. Zimbabwe Football Association spokesman Xolisani Gwesela confirmed to AFP that Infantino had paid a courtesy call on Mugabe at State House, but gave no details. […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri admitted his dream had died after he was ruthlessly sacked as Leicester manager in a brutal move that brought the wrath of the football world down on the troubled champions' Thai owners. Ranieri was axed barely two weeks after the owners gave him their "unwavering support" despite disastrous […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Favourites Manchester United were drawn on Friday to face faraway Russian outfit Rostov, who unlike Jose Mourinho were delighted with the Europa League last-16 tie. Mourinho's side beat French club Saint-Etienne 4-0 on aggregate in the last 32 and the English club will now travel to Russia on Thursday, March 9 […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Favourites Manchester United were drawn on Friday to face faraway Russian outfit Rostov, who unlike Jose Mourinho were delighted with the Europa League last-16 tie. Mourinho's side beat French club Saint-Etienne 4-0 on aggregate in the last 32 and the English club will now travel to Russia on Thursday, March 9 […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho confirmed Wayne Rooney will be in Manchester United's League Cup Final squad against Southampton after the club's record goal scorer declared he will remain at Old Trafford for the rest of the season. United manager Mourinho was impressed with the way England forward Rooney handled rumours of a […]

Berlin (AFP) – Franck Ribery is back from a five-week injury lay off and will be on the bench for Bayern Bundesliga game with Hamburg this weekend, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday. The charismatic 33-year-old French winger tore thigh muscles in training in January. "He's ready, I think we'll start him on the bench," […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has apologised to his team-mates and Gent midfielder Brecht Dejaegere after being sent off for a horror tackle in the Premier League club's shock Europa League exit. Alli saw red for a studs-up lunge on Dejaegere in the 39th minute at Wembley on Thursday and Tottenham were unable […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's France international central defender Raphael Varane has picked up a hamstring injury and risks missing up to three weeks as the European champions fight on two fronts for silverware. Real Madrid revealed on their website Friday that Varane suffered the injury in their shock 2-1 defeat at Valencia midweek where […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The sacking of Claudio Ranieri as Leicester City manager just nine months after guiding the unfashionable club to a sensational Premier League title stunned the football world Friday and brought widespread condemnation on the owners. The Thai owners axed the Italian barely two weeks after giving Ranieri "unwavering support" despite […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Manchester United is the most popular club online in China but the Bundesliga's web presence far outstrips the English Premier League, a new study has shown. The survey by sports marketing company Mailman also found that Cristiano Ronaldo was the player with the biggest presence among Chinese fans with United's Wayne Rooney, […]

Beijing (AFP) – Ronaldinho launched a Barcelona academy for about 1,000 students in China on Friday as the world's most populous nation pursues its grand ambitions in the world's most popular sport. The Barcelona and Brazil great and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu met children and toured the site at the Mission Hills golf complex […]