Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | Former UEFA president Michel Platini is finally free to return to football next week when his four-year ban for ethics violations ends, although he remains linked to a corruption investigation in his home country relating to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The former France …
Read More »Salah ‘must rest’, says Egyptian coach
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Liverpool star Mohamed Salah “must rest” and will miss Egypt’s friendly against Botswana on October 14, national team coach Hossam El Badry said Thursday. The announcement came days after Salah raised eyebrows by changing his Twitter bio to say he only played for Liverpool, removing …
Read More »European football wrestles with racism
Paris, France | AFP | The interruption of the Dijon-Amiens Ligue 1 match on Friday after visiting captain Prince Gouano was the target of monkey chants adds to a string of recent racist incidents across Europe. It comes after rising Italy star Moise Kean was targeted by racist abuse …
Read More »Magufuli gifts Tanzania football team with land
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | AFP | Tanzanian president John Magufuli has gifted the national team players with parcels of land as a token for qualifying to the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. On Sunday Tanzania thumped east African rivals Uganda 3-0 to reach the finals for the …
Read More »Flexible Fabinho eases burden on Liverpool’s injury-hit defence
?????? pic.twitter.com/QPlidR0Jp8 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 16, 2019 Liverpool, United Kingdom | AFP | An untimely series of injuries to defenders has left Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp short-handed at the back as he tries to keep the Premier League leaders on track for a first title in 29 years at …
Read More »Lukaku on outside looking in at Solskjaer’s new-look Man Utd
Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Romelu Lukaku’s Manchester United future is in the spotlight as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plots to maintain his 100 percent winning record against Brighton on Saturday. Solskjaer is the first manager in the club’s history to begin his career with six straight victories and the …
Read More »Dembele double helps Barca defeat Levante but threat of disqualification looms
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona overturned a first leg defeat to beat Levante in the Copa del Rey on Thursday but could yet be thrown out of the competition after being accused of fielding an ineligible player. Barca won 3-0 at the Camp Nou, with Lionel Messi setting up …
Read More »Atletico crash out of Copa del Rey but Real, Sevilla sneak through
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Antoine Griezmann scored one and set up another but could not prevent Atletico Madrid tumbling out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as Girona progressed on away goals after a thrilling 3-3 draw. Real Madrid and Sevilla each avoided upsets, their first-leg victories proving …
Read More »Hundreds injured in months of Algeria football violence
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | More than 300 people were injured in football-related violence during the first four months of Algeria’s football season, with hundreds arrested, police said on Sunday. Algeria has for years seen nearly weekly violence at football stadiums between supporters, while police and players have also been …
Read More »Egypt embarks on Cup of Nations preparations
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Egypt’s sports ministry and Football Federation on Sunday outlined their bid to be ready for the Africa Cup of Nations which starts on June 15. Egypt took over as hosts for the 2019 tournament last week after Cameroon was stripped of the event due to …
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