Spanish great Sergio Ramos could make his long-awaited first appearance for Paris Saint Germain in Wednesday’s Champions League group match with Manchester City. The 35-year-old defender has not played for the French side since joining from his long-time club Real Madrid in July due to a recurring problem with a calf muscle. Ramos is likely … Read more
When a youthful Nick Mwendwa took over the reins of Kenyan football five years ago, he was welcomed as a new broom who would clean up the troubled sport — but now he himself stands accused of corruption. The game was plunged into further turmoil this month when the government disbanded the Football Kenya Federation … Read more
Robert Lewandowski is in the running to retain his Best FIFA Men’s Player award after he was named Monday on an 11-man shortlist alongside Karim Benzema and Jorginho. Perennial candidates Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo feature among the nominees, with Neymar, Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe also up for a prize first awarded in 2017. … Read more
Thomas Tuchel has praised Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for being “in love” with football ahead of the title-holders Champions League match against Juventus. Abramovich, a Russian billionaire, was in London to host Israeli president Isaac Herzog at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and may stay on to see Chelsea at home against Italian giants Juventus on … Read more
Gareth Southgate said Monday he was excited to sign a two-year contract extension as England manager after an “incredible experience” during his five years at the helm. The 51-year-old’s deal was set to expire after next year’s World Cup but he has been rewarded by the Football Association after England reached the Euro 2020 final … Read more
Lyon were on Monday ordered to play home games until at least December 8 behind closed doors after their Ligue 1 fixture against Marseille on the weekend was abandoned after Dimitri Payet was hit in the head by a bottle. The Marseille captain required treatment after being struck on the side of the head as … Read more
Sunday’s Ligue 1 match between Lyon and Marseille was abandoned nearly two hours after it was interrupted when Dimitri Payet was hit by a water bottle thrown from the crowd for the second time this season. The Marseille captain required treatment after being struck on the side of the head as he prepared to take … Read more
Al Hilal face Pohang Steelers in the AFC Champions League final in Riyadh on Tuesday with both teams looking to be the first to lift Asian club football’s biggest prize four times. But South Korea’s Steelers will have to overcome fervent home support with an expected 68,000 Al Hilal fans packing out the King Fahd … Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo paid tribute on Monday to “outstanding human being” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the Norwegian was sacked as Manchester United manager. Ronaldo, who returned to Old Trafford in August, has scored nine times in 13 games for United this season but has failed to prevent the club’s slide down the Premier League table after … Read more
Mohamed Salah ended a five-match goal drought by scoring as third-placed Liverpool crushed Arsenal 4-0 at the weekend in the English Premier League. After scoring in 10 consecutive matches, the Egyptian failed to find the net in three matches for his club and two for his country before notching the third goal against the Gunners. … Read more
The French ministers of the interior and sports are to meet with football chiefs on Tuesday after the Marseille v Lyon Ligue 1 fixture was abandoned after Dimitri Payet was hit in the head by a bottle. The Marseille captain required treatment after being struck on the side of the head as he prepared to … Read more
Gareth Southgate has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension after leading England to the final of Euro 2020, the Football Association announced on Monday. Southgate, who also masterminded a run to the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has transformed his team into serious contenders at major tournaments after years of underachievement. … Read more
Nice battled back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Clermont on Sunday and move second in Ligue 1, after Lens were thrashed by Brest. Christophe Galtier’s side are now 11 points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain as they bid to qualify for the Champions League. The visitors were facing a second straight defeat … Read more
David Okereke struck the only goal to earn Venezia a surprise 1-0 win at Bologna on Sunday, their second impressive victory in as many Serie A games. Nigerian attacker Okereke, on loan at promoted Venezia from Belgian outfit Club Brugge, poked home the winner in the 61st minute to move Venezia up to 13th and … Read more
Vinicius Junior scored his 10th goal of the season as Real Madrid thrashed Granada 4-1 on Sunday to shoot back to the top of La Liga. Marco Asensio and Nacho Fernandez put Madrid two up inside the opening 30 minutes at Los Carmenes, where Granada briefly made a game of it when Luis Suarez pulled … Read more
Wayne Rooney saw his Derby County side wipe out their total points deduction with a 3-2 win at home to Bournemouth on Sunday that prevented the Cherries from returning to the top of English football’s second-tier. Tom Lawrence scored twice in the second half after Bournemouth had responded to falling behind to Jason Knight’s opener … Read more
Raheem Sterling, Rodri and Bernardo Silva got the goals as Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 win over Everton to move within three points of Premier League leaders Chelsea. With the focus of the football world on events across Manchester on Sunday as United sacked manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, City made light work of seeing … Read more
Jakob Glesnes unleashed a stunning winner from 25 yards out in the third minute of extra-time stoppage time on Saturday as the Philadelphia Union downed New York Red Bulls 1-0 in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs. Norway’s Glesnes came to the rescue of the second-seeded Union, who were unable to capitalize on … Read more
Manchester United ended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s three-year reign as manager at Old Trafford on Sunday, but plan to wait until the end of the season to name the Norwegian’s permanent successor. Saturday’s 4-1 embarrassment at the hands of struggling Watford was the final straw for the United board, who had stuck by Solskjaer in recent … Read more
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s launch of its first women’s football league on Monday will clear the way for girls who dream of turning professional — and maybe even playing in a World Cup. Long condemned for harsh restrictions on women, Saudi Arabia lifted a decades-old ban on female footballers only a few years ago, and it is now aiming … Read more
Jurgen Klopp has responded to Steven Gerrard’s comment that the Liverpool manager should sign a contract for life by making it clear his Anfield reign is “far from being over”. Asked this week if he harbours dreams of one day managing Liverpool, new Aston Villa boss Gerrard said he would be happy if his old … Read more
Xavi Hernandez said on Friday Barcelona must convert the positivity around his arrival into results, as he prepares for his first match in charge against local rivals Espanyol this weekend. Barca are ninth in La Liga ahead of Saturday’s game at Camp Nou on, when a bumper crowd is expected to welcome Xavi home. The … Read more
Antoine Griezmann will be available to play against AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday after Atletico Madrid successfully appealed his two-match suspension. Griezmann’s ban by UEFA has been reduced to one game, which has already been served after the Frenchman missed Atletico’s 2-0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield on November 3. “The appeal … Read more
Eddie Howe said on Friday he must shut out the “noise” as he prepares to take charge of his first match as Newcastle manager, weeks after the Saudi-led takeover of the club. The former Bournemouth boss is seeking to end his struggling club’s wait for a first Premier League win of the season against Brentford … Read more
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has challenged Tanguy Ndombele to prove he can put his own interests aside and become more of a team player as the French midfielder eyes a recall against Leeds on Sunday. Conte will be without Oliver Skipp due to suspension this weekend and Ndombele or Harry Winks are likely to step … Read more
Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out of Manchester City’s clash with Everton and next week’s Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain after testing positive for coronavirus, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday. The City boss said De Bruyne was isolating for 10 days after receiving the positive test during the recent international break. After … Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the intense pressure he and his struggling stars are under can make Manchester United a better team as they seek to rescue their faltering season. United travel to Watford on Saturday licking their wounds after four defeats in their past six Premier League matches, including chastening home losses to Liverpool and … Read more
West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna looks certain to miss the rest of the Premier League season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Liverpool, manager David Moyes said on Friday. Ogbonna, 33, is to undergo surgery after sustaining the knee injury in the Hammers’ 3-2 win at the London Stadium on November 7, which lifted … Read more
