Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Reigning world 100m champion Christian Coleman was provisionally suspended on Wednesday over a missed drugs test, putting him at risk of a two-year ban that would rule him out of next year’s Tokyo Olympics. The American sprinter is “suspended temporarily from participating in any …
Read More »100 days later: Premier League returns after coronavirus exile
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The Premier League makes its eagerly anticipated return on Wednesday after 100 days in lockdown, with Manchester City’s clash against Arsenal taking centre stage at the start of a frenetic dash to finish the season. While the coronavirus pandemic means the Premier League will look …
Read More »Barca cruise past Leganes to turn up heat on Real Madrid
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi was rugby tackled and then scored a penalty as Barcelona put the pressure back on Real Madrid by easing to a 2-0 victory over Leganes at an empty Camp Nou on Tuesday. Messi was hauled to the ground in the first half by a …
Read More »Ex-Uganda boss Desabre named coach of Ligue 2 side
Niort, France | AFP | Former Uganda coach Sebastien Desabre has been appointed as the new manager of French Ligue 2 outfit Niort on a two-year-deal, the club announced Tuesday. Desabre, 43, takes over a team that finished 18th in the second division this season, which was brought to a premature end in April. The …
Read More »Guardiola says Man City are not ready for punishing Premier League return
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Pep Guardiola fears his Manchester City players are not ready for the gruelling demands of the Premier League restart. Guardiola’s reigning champions host Arsenal behind closed doors on Wednesday in the second game of the Premier League’s return to action following the coronavirus hiatus. City play again on Monday …
Read More »Rashford 1 UK govt 0: footballer forces change on child poverty
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s government on Tuesday bowed to demands by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford to change its policy on free school meals for the poorest children, amid growing concerns about the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on low-income families. The England international drew on his own experience of growing up …
Read More »Key UEFA meeting to decide on way forward for suspended Champions League
Paris, France | AFP | As football around Europe returns after a long suspension, UEFA is set to announce the format for the latter stages of the Champions League at a key meeting on Wednesday which will also raise the thorny issue of the postponed, pan-continental Euro 2020. The Champions League …
Read More »Flick sees advantage in revamped Champions League for treble-chasing Bayern
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick believes a revamped Champions League format could be an ‘advantage’ for his side, who are still in the hunt for the treble this season. The Bavarian giants are just one win from an eighth straight Bundesliga title and Flick can win the German league in …
Read More »Tougher tests await for Madrid and Barca in race for La Liga
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Real Madrid and Barcelona will have tougher tests to come but emphatic victories on their return to action at the weekend suggest there may not be much margin for error in what is left of La Liga’s title race. Leaders Barca hammered Real Mallorca 4-0 on …
Read More »Four things to look for as European football picks up speed this week
Paris, France | AFP | The European club football trophies should already be stowed in the cabinets, instead most of the top leagues are only just resuming after the coronavirus interruption. While the Germans returned on May 16, the top two Spanish divisions have only just resumed, and the English Premier …
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