Monaco, Principality of Monaco | AFP | Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim has claimed that star striker Kylian Mbappe was left on the bench last weekend “to protect him” rather than as a punishment. The 18-year-old sensation reportedly wants away from the French champions, with Paris Saint-Germain his favoured destination but Real …
Read More »Trump makes racism ‘fashionable’ – James
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James reacted swiftly Tuesday to US President Donald Trump’s repeated claim that there was “blame on both sides” in the deadly racial unrest in Charlottesville. “Hate has always existed in America. Yes we know that but Donald Trump just made …
Read More »German female ref ready to whistle in Bundesliga
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Germany’s Bibiana Steinhaus insists she is no feminist trailblazer as she prepares to become the first female ref in Europe’s top leagues having already tamed Bayern Munich’s stars. The 38-year-old is on the official list of Bundesliga referees for the 2017/18 season, which starts Friday, meaning …
Read More »Barca lack firepower without Neymar – Busquets
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets reiterated his call for the club’s board to strengthen in the transfer market on Tuesday, but warned replacing the departed Neymar will be almost impossible. The Brazilian’s absence was noticeable as Barca fell to a 3-1 Spanish Super Cup, first leg defeat …
Read More »China runners brave gawps, pollution and deadly driving
Shanghai, China | AFP | A group of elderly Chinese joggers are pounding along a deserted motorway when suddenly a taxi ploughs into the back of them, knocking them over like skittles. At least one person was killed and the footage from the eastern province of Shandong went viral on Chinese …
Read More »Kenya to bid for 2023 world championships
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya is to launch a bid to host the athletics world championships in 2023 after successfully staging two other international competitions in the last 10 years. No African nation has ever staged the sport’s flagship event, but Kenyan sports minister Hassan Wario said Kenya had shown …
Read More »Five infamous sulks
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Diego Costa’s stand-off with English Premier League champions Chelsea is just the latest in a long line of disputes between players and their employers. Here AFP Sport picks out five such infamous examples: French World Cup squad’s ‘Busman’s holiday’ Probably the most spectacular and humiliating …
Read More »Five drugs found in Tiger Woods’ system after arrest
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Tiger Woods had five drugs, including the opioid painkiller hydrocodone, in his system when he was arrested in May on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a toxicology report released Monday. A urine test revealed four other medications along with hydrocodone …
Read More »Barcelona begin spending spree with Paulinho
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona made Brazilian international midfielder Paulinho their first signing since banking a world record fee for Neymar on Monday after agreeing a 40 million-euro ($47 million) fee with Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande. “Barcelona and Guangzhou Evergrande have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player …
Read More »Ronaldo handed five-match ban for ref push
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo was hit with a five-match ban by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Monday for pushing the referee after being sent off in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Spanish Super Cup, first leg win over Barcelona. The World Player of the Year received an automatic one-match …
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