Berlin (AFP) – Defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos says Borussia Dortmund must improve '300 percent' in Wednesday's Champions League showdown in their bid to reach the quarter-finals and add to Benfica's miserable record in Germany. Benfica arrive in Dortmund for the last 16, second-leg, clash holding a precious 1-0 lead after Konstantinos Mitroglou's winning goal in the […]

London (AFP) – Former football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with eight fresh counts of non-recent child sexual abuse, England's Crown Prosecution Service announced Tuesday. The 63-year-old is due to appear at South Cheshire Magistrates' Court in northwest England via video-link on March 13 to face the charges, which relate to two victims and […]

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Diego Maradona fans have another reason to make a pilgrimage to Naples: a new mural of the Argentine legend has gone up to mark 30 years since he led local club Napoli to its first Italian title. Painted by artist Jorit Agoch, the giant, head-and-shoulders depiction of a middle-aged Maradona with […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has indicated he will look to Europe and beyond for new Manchester City players this summer because English talent costs too much. Guardiola has signed eight players since becoming City's manager last July but only one was produced in England, reflecting a larger issue in the Premier League […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss Monday's FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea after accepting a charge of violent conduct and an immediate three-match ban, England's Football Association said. The 35-year-old, United's leading scorer this season with 26 goals, will also miss the Premier League matches against Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion, […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United warned supporters travelling to Rostov for Thursday's Europa League tie not to wear club colours or travel alone while in the Russian city, which will host World Cup matches. The advice comes after England and Russia supporters were involved in violent clashes during last year's European Championships in France and […]

Nicosia (AFP) – Asia wants a significant increase in its allocation of places in the 48-nation 2026 World Cup, the head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) told AFP. Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said Asia was counting on a fair distribution of 2026 World Cup slots, demanding a rise from its four guaranteed […]

If you're trying to find out how you can watch US Women's National Team against France in the SheBelieves Cup, you've come to the right place. USA's chance of winning the 2017 SheBelieves Cup comes down to its last game of the tournament against France in Washington DC. Before Tuesday, the US Women's National Team […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – With Germany winger Marco Reus injured, French 'wunderkind' Ousmane Dembele will look to shine as Borussia Dortmund bid to overturn a first leg deficit against Benfica in the Champions League. Dortmund host Benfica at their Westfalenstadion home in the last 16 second-leg on Wednesday looking to overturn a 1-0 defeat in […]

Fuenterrabia (Spain) (AFP) – A proud Basque, Unai Emery takes part every year in his home town's commemorations of a famous victory over the French, but on Wednesday he will be very much in the French camp. The Spanish coach's Paris Saint-Germain take on Barcelona in the Champions League with an unbelievable 4-0 lead after […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Three weeks on from suffering a 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona still believe that a Champions League "miracle" is possible at the Camp Nou on Wednesday. Since that fateful night in Paris, Barcelona have regained both leadership of La Liga and their confidence ahead of the last 16, […]

The opening weekend of MLS featured two new clubs and a new stadium. The action opened Friday night as Portland hosted new entrant Minnesota United FC, a team that has spent the last six seasons in the second-division NASL. FOX Sports was broadcasting the match and did a wonderful job of capturing the atmosphere in Portland, […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte joked he is struggling to find ways to improve N'Golo Kante after the France midfielder starred in his side's 2-1 win at West Ham United. Kante's interception laid the foundation stone for Eden Hazard's 25th-minute opener at London Stadium on Monday and he harried his opponents from first […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Yaya Toure says making up the ground on Chelsea to win the Premier League title is not beyond his club Manchester City if they retain belief in themselves as they did in 2014. The 33-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder — who has battled his way back into favour with City manager […]

London (AFP) – Eden Hazard's dazzling goal inspired Chelsea to a 2-1 victory at West Ham United on Monday as Antonio Conte's side restored their 10-point advantage in the Premier League. Hazard finished off a lightning counter-attack in the 25th minute and Diego Costa's 49th league goal for Chelsea rubber-stamped victory before Manuel Lanzini belatedly […]