Jerusalem (AFP) – A UN resolution condemning settlements has raised pressure on FIFA to take action against Israeli football clubs based in the occupied West Bank, Human Rights Watch said Thursday. The United Nations Security Council last week demanded an end to Israeli settlements in the first such resolution in decades. Israel labelled the resolution […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Underpinned by ferocious passion, century-old mistrust and Sectarian conflict, the sound and fury of the Old Firm derby between Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers is unique in modern football. "The noise and the passion, there's nothing like it," said late Rangers star Sandy Jardine. "I've been fortunate to see derby games all […]

London (AFP) – Sunderland's promising young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will be sidelined for up to eight weeks with a knee ligament strain, manager David Moyes revealed on Thursday. The 22-year-old Englishman sustained the injury during his side's 3-1 defeat at Manchester United on Boxing Day. Initial fears he had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, which […]

London (AFP) – Reports linking Liverpool with a January move for Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are "nonsense", the Merseyside club's manager Jurgen Klopp said on Thursday. British media reports suggest Liverpool will make a move for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has been in and out of the Arsenal first team, when the transfer window opens next week. […]

Univision delivered record-breaking viewing numbers for the 2016 Liga MX Final featuring Club America against Tigres. The second leg of the final, played on Christmas Day, was watched by 3.3 million soccer fans in the United States, while last Thursday night's first leg was viewed by 2.8 million. Altogether, a combined 6.1 million watched the […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Alex Rae grew up dreaming of playing for Rangers in an Old Firm derby while living in the shadow of Celtic Park. The midfielder, who was on Rangers' books as a youth player before being released, had to wait until he was 34 to realise his dream after spending the majority of […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says the pressure will be firmly on Rangers as the Glasgow rivals prepare to clash in Saturday's Old Firm derby at Ibrox. The Hoops head into the match on New Year's Eve with a 16-point lead over Rangers and a game in hand following their comfortable 2-0 win […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Argentina's former Manchester United and Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has signed for Shanghai Shenhua in the latest big-money Chinese deal, the club said Thursday, reportedly making him the world's best-salaried footballer. The acquisition of the 32-year-old from Buenos Aires side Boca Juniors will "greatly enhance" the team's front line, Shenhua said […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Considered a saint by fans of Palmeiras and hailed by Brazilian superstar Ronaldo as his successor, teenage sensation Gabriel Jesus arrives at Manchester City with a skyrocketing reputation. City manager Pep Guardiola sanctioned a £27 million ($33 million, 31.7 million euros) move for Jesus, 19, earlier this year, but allowed him […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Argentina's former Manchester United and Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has signed for Shanghai Shenhua in the latest big-money Chinese deal, the club said Thursday. The acquisition of the 32-year-old from Buenos Aires side Boca Juniors will "greatly enhance" the team's front line, Shenhua said on a verified social media account. "The […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino is hoping his latest victorious return to Southampton will have a similar effect on Tottenham's season to the previous one. Spurs came back from behind on Wednesday to win 4-1 at St Mary's and move to within a point of Arsenal in fourth place. Pochettino, who left Saints […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea can take another step towards English football history when they host Stoke City on Saturday, as the Premier League's jam-packed festive schedule rumbles into 2017. Chelsea's 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Boxing Day was their 12th in succession, leaving them two wins short of Arsenal's overall top-flight record of 14, set […]

MLS' share of TV soccer is scarily small. Over the period August to December 2016, MLS accounted for only 7% of total viewing of soccer in US while Liga MX accounted for one third. The TV ratings data collected by World Soccer Talk's Collin Werner provides an interesting insight into the current position of MLS. […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Dele Alli scored twice as Tottenham came back from behind to win emphatically, 4-1, at Southampton on Wednesday. Harry Kane, who missed a penalty, and substitute Son Heung-min were also on the score-sheet in a game that saw Virgil van Dijk give Southampton an early lead. Nathan Redmond was sent […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership as they warmed up for Saturday's Old Firm clash against rivals Rangers with a comfortable 2-0 win over Ross County. The visitors had looked dangerous on the break before Erik Sviatchenko fired Celtic into a 38th minute lead with a long […]